ADB, Android Debug Bridge, is a command-line utility included with Google’s Android SDK. ADB can control your device over USB from a computer, copy files back and forth, install and uninstall apps, run shell commands, and more.
We’ve covered some other tricks that require ADB in the past, including backing up and restoring your smartphone or tablet. ADB is used for a variety of geeky Android tricks.
Set Up the Android SDK
Head to the Android SDK download page and scroll down to “SDK Tools Only”, which is a set of tools that includes ADB. Download the ZIP file for your platform and unzip it wherever you want to store the ADB files–they’re portable, so you can put them anywhere you want.
Start the SDK Manager EXE and deselect everything except “Android SDK Platform-tools”. If you are using a Nexus phone, you may also want to select “Google USB Driver” to download Google’s drivers. Click the Install button. This downloads and installs the platform-tools package, which contains ADB and other utilities.
When it’s finished, you can close the SDK manager.
Enable USB Debugging on Your Phone
To use ADB with your Android device, you must enable a feature called USB debugging. here’s How to Enable USB Debugging Mode on Android Phones.
Test ADB and Install Your Phone’s Drivers (if Needed)
Open the folder that you installed the SDK tools in and open the platform-tools folder. This is where the ADB program is stored. Hold Shift and right-click inside the folder. Choose “Open Command Window Here”.
To test whether ADB is working properly, connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable and run the following command:
adb devices
You should see a device in the list. If your device is connected but nothing appears in the list, you’ll need to install the appropriate drivers.
Your phone’s manufacturer may provide a downloadable driver package for your device. So head to their website and find the drivers for your device–Motorola’s are here, Samsung’s arehere, and HTC’s come as part of a suite called HTC Sync Manager. You can also search XDA Developers for driver downloads without the extra software.
You can also try installing the Google USB Driver from the Extras folder in the SDK Manager window, as we mentioned in the first step. This will work with some phones including Nexus devices.
If you use Google’s USB driver, you may have to force Windows to use the installed drivers for your device. Open the Device Manager (click Start, type Device Manager, and press Enter), locate your device, right-click it and select Properties. You may see a yellow exclamation mark next to the device if its driver isn’t installed properly.
On the Driver tab, click Update Driver.
Use the Browse my computer for driver software option.
You’ll find the Google USB Driver in the “Extras” folder where you installed your Android SDK files. Select the google\usb_driver folder and click Next.
Once you’ve installed your device’s drivers, plug in your phone and try the adb devices command again:
adb devices
If all went well, you should see your device in the list, and you are ready to start using ADB!
Useful ADB Commands
In addition to the variety of tricks that require ADB, ADB offers some useful commands:
adb install C:\package.apk – Installs the package located at C:\package.apk on your computer on your device.
adb uninstall package.name – Uninstalls the package with package.name from your device. For example, you’d use the name com.rovio.angrybirds to uninstall the Angry Birds app.
adb push C:\file /sdcard/file – Pushes a file from your computer to your device. For example, the command here pushes the file located at C:\file on your computer to /sdcard/file on your device
adb pull /sdcard/file C:\file – Pulls a file from your device to your computer – works like adb push, but in reverse.
adb logcat – View your Android device’s log. Can be useful for debugging apps.
adb shell – Gives you an interactive Linux command-line shell on your device.
adb shell command – Runs the specified shell command on your device.
For a full guide to ADB, consult the Android Debug Bridge page on Google’s Android Developers site.
FAQs about How to Install and Use ADB
Q: What is ADB?
ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge. It is a versatile command-line tool that allows you to communicate with an Android device from your computer. ADB is primarily used for debugging and troubleshooting purposes.
Q: How do I install ADB?
To install ADB on your computer, follow these steps:
- Download the Android SDK Platform Tools from the official Android developer website.
- Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a location on your computer.
- Open a Command Prompt or Terminal window.
- Navigate to the folder where you extracted the Android SDK Platform Tools.
- Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable.
- Enable USB debugging on your Android device (find this option in the “Developer Options” or “Developer Settings” section of your device’s settings).
- In the Command Prompt or Terminal window, enter the command
adb devices. This should display the list of connected devices. - If your Android device is listed, it means ADB is successfully installed and recognized.
Q: How do I use ADB?
ADB offers a wide range of commands that can be executed from the Command Prompt or Terminal window. Here are a few common use cases:
- To install an APK file on your Android device:
adb install /path/to/app.apk - To uninstall an app from your Android device:
adb uninstall package.name - To capture screenshots:
adb shell screencap /path/to/screenshot.png - To access the device’s shell:
adb shell
Please note that some commands may require your Android device to be rooted. It is also important to be cautious when using certain commands, as they can modify system files and settings.
Q: Are there any alternatives to ADB?
Yes, there are a few alternatives to ADB, such as Fastboot, which is another command-line tool provided by Android. Other third-party tools like Vysor and Mobizen offer more user-friendly interfaces to control Android devices from a computer.
Q: Where can I find more information about ADB?
You can find more detailed information, including a comprehensive list of ADB commands and usage examples, in the official Android documentation. Additionally, various tutorials and forums online provide helpful resources for using ADB effectively.
Q: Is ADB safe to use?
ADB is generally safe to use if you follow instructions carefully and avoid executing commands you are unsure about. It is important to exercise caution, especially when dealing with system-level commands or modifying critical settings. Always make sure to back up your device before performing any potentially risky actions.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!