adb

Android Debug Bridge client-server tool

TLDR

List connected devices

$ adb devices

Install an APK

$ adb install [app.apk]

Copy file from device to computer

$ adb pull [/sdcard/file.txt] [./local/]

Copy file from computer to device

$ adb push [local_file] [/sdcard/]

Open a shell on the device

$ adb shell

Pair with device for wireless debugging (Android 11+)

$ adb pair [host]:[port]

Connect wirelessly to a device

$ adb connect [host]:[port]

SYNOPSIS

adb [-d|-e|-s serial] command [options]

adb (Android Debug Bridge) is a versatile command-line tool for communicating with Android devices. It provides access to a Unix shell for running commands, installing/uninstalling apps, transferring files, and debugging applications.The tool operates through a client-server architecture where the adb server runs on your computer and communicates with the adb daemon (adbd) on connected devices. Connections can be made via USB or wirelessly over TCP/IP.

PARAMETERS

-d

Direct command to the only connected USB device

-e

Direct command to the only running emulator

-s serial

Direct command to device with specified serial number

-t transportid_

Direct command to device with given transport ID

devices

List all connected devices and their states

install [-r] [-g] apk

Install an APK file. -r reinstalls keeping data, -g grants all runtime permissions.

uninstall [-k] package

Remove an application by package name. -k keeps data and cache directories.

pair host:port [pairingcode_]

Pair with a device for wireless debugging (Android 11+).

connect host:port

Connect to a device over TCP/IP.

push local remote

Copy file from computer to device

pull remote local

Copy file from device to computer

shell

Open interactive shell or run command on device

logcat

View device log output

forward local remote

Set up port forwarding

reverse remote local

Set up reverse port forwarding

reboot

Reboot the device (bootloader, recovery options available)

start-server

Start the adb server

kill-server

Stop the adb server

sideload otapackage

Sideload an OTA update package in recovery mode

bugreport [path]

Generate a bug report and save to path

CONFIGURATION

~/.android/adb_usb.ini

List of USB vendor IDs for device detection, one per line.

~/.android/adbkey

RSA private key used for device authentication. The corresponding public key (adbkey.pub) is pushed to authorized devices.

ANDROID_ADB_SERVER_PORT

Environment variable to override the default adb server port (5037).

ADB_VENDOR_KEYS

Environment variable specifying colon-separated paths to additional RSA key files for device authorization.

CAVEATS

USB debugging must be enabled on the device. First connection requires authorizing the computer on the device. Some commands require root access. Wireless debugging requires initial USB setup or pairing (Android 11+).

HISTORY

adb was developed by Google as part of the Android SDK, first released with Android 1.0 in 2008. It has evolved to support features like wireless debugging, scoped storage access, and improved security through RSA key authentication.

adb