Adb
ADB = Android Debug Bridge
It's a software-interface for the android system, which can be used to connect an android device with a computer using an USB cable or a wireless connection. It can be used to execute commands on the phone or transfer data between the device and the computer.
The tool is part of the Android SDK (Android Software Development Kit) and is located in the subdirectory platform-tools.
adb help // List all comands
Adb Server
adb kill-server
adb start-server
Adb Reboot
adb reboot
adb reboot recovery
adb reboot-bootloader
adb root //restarts adb with root permissions
Shell
adb shell // Open or run commands in a terminal on the host Android device.
Devices
adb usb
adb devices //show devices attached
adb devices -l //devices (product/model)
adb connect ip_address_of_device
Get device android version
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release
Logcat
adb logcat
adb logcat -c // clear // The parameter -c will clear the current logs on the device.
adb logcat -d > [path_to_file] // Save the logcat output to a file on the local system.
adb bugreport > [path_to_file] // Will dump the whole device information like dumpstate, dumpsys and logcat output.
Files
adb push [source] [destination] // Copy files from your computer to your phone.
adb pull [device file location] [local file location] // Copy files from your phone to your computer.
App install
adb -e install path/to/app.apk
-d - directs command to the only connected USB device...
-e - directs command to the only running emulator...
-s <serial number> ...
-p <product name or path> ...
The flag you decide to use has to come before the actual adb command:
adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -IX adb -s X install -r com.myAppPackage // Install the given app on all connected devices.
Uninstalling app from device
adb uninstall com.myAppPackage
adb uninstall <app .apk name>
adb uninstall -k <app .apk name> -> "Uninstall .apk withour deleting data"
adb shell pm uninstall com.example.MyApp
adb shell pm clear [package] // Deletes all data associated with a package.
adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -IX adb -s X uninstall com.myAppPackage //Uninstall the given app from all connected devices
Update app
adb install -r yourApp.apk // -r means re-install the app and keep its data on the device.
adb install –k <.apk file path on computer>
Home button
adb shell am start -W -c android.intent.category.HOME -a android.intent.action.MAIN
Activity Manager
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW
adb shell am broadcast -a 'my_action'
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CALL -d tel:+972527300294 // Make a call
Open send sms screen with phone number and the message:
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.SENDTO -d sms:+972527300294 --es sms_body "Test --ez exit_on_sent false
Reset permissions
adb shell pm reset-permissions -p your.app.package
adb shell pm grant [packageName] [ Permission] // Grant a permission to an app.
adb shell pm revoke [packageName] [ Permission] // Revoke a permission from an app.
Change density
adb shell wm size 2048x1536
adb shell wm density 288
Reset to default
adb shell wm size reset
adb shell wm density reset
Print text
adb shell input text 'Wow, it so cool feature'
Screenshot
adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screenshot.png
$ adb shell
shell@ $ screencap /sdcard/screen.png
shell@ $ exit
$ adb pull /sdcard/screen.png
Record video
adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/NotAbleToLogin.mp4
$ adb shell
shell@ $ screenrecord --verbose /sdcard/demo.mp4
(press Control + C to stop)
shell@ $ exit
$ adb pull /sdcard/demo.mp4
ShPref replace org.example.app with your application id
Add a value to default shared preferences.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key key_name --es value "hello world!"'
Remove a value to default shared preferences.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.REMOVE --es key key_name'
Clear all default shared preferences.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.CLEAR --es key key_name'
It's also possible to specify shared preferences file.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es name Game --es key level --ei value 10'
Data types
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key string --es value "hello world!"'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key boolean --ez value true'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key float --ef value 3.14159'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key int --ei value 2015'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key long --el value 9223372036854775807'
Restart application process after making changes
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.CLEAR --ez restart true'
Monkey
adb shell monkey -p com.myAppPackage -v 10000 -s 100 // monkey tool is generating 10.000 random events on the real device
Paths
/data/data/<package>/databases (app databases)
/data/data/<package>/shared_prefs/ (shared preferences)
/data/app (apk installed by user)
/system/app (pre-installed APK files)
/mmt/asec (encrypted apps) (App2SD)
/mmt/emmc (internal SD Card)
/mmt/adcard (external/Internal SD Card)
/mmt/adcard/external_sd (external SD Card)
adb shell ls (list directory contents)
adb shell ls -s (print size of each file)
adb shell ls -R (list subdirectories recursively)
Device information
adb get-statе (print device state)
adb get-serialno (get the serial number)
adb shell dumpsys iphonesybinfo (get the IMEI)
adb shell netstat (list TCP connectivity)
adb shell pwd (print current working directory)
adb shell dumpsys battery (battery status)
adb shell pm list features (list phone features)
adb shell service list (list all services)
adb shell dumpsys activity <package>/<activity> (activity info)
adb shell ps (print process status)
adb shell wm size (displays the current screen resolution)
dumpsys window windows | grep -E 'mCurrentFocus|mFocusedApp' (print current app's opened activity)
Package info
adb shell list packages (list package names)
adb shell list packages -r (list package name + path to apks)
adb shell list packages -3 (list third party package names)
adb shell list packages -s (list only system packages)
adb shell list packages -u (list package names + uninstalled)
adb shell dumpsys package packages (list info on all apps)
adb shell dump <name> (list info on one package)
adb shell path <package> (path to the apk file)
Configure Settings Commands
adb shell dumpsys battery set level <n> (change the level from 0 to 100)
adb shell dumpsys battery set status<n> (change the level to unknown, charging, discharging, not charging or full)
adb shell dumpsys battery reset (reset the battery)
adb shell dumpsys battery set usb <n> (change the status of USB connection. ON or OFF)
adb shell wm size WxH (sets the resolution to WxH)
Device Related Commands
adb reboot-recovery (reboot device into recovery mode)
adb reboot fastboot (reboot device into recovery mode)
adb shell screencap -p "/path/to/screenshot.png" (capture screenshot)
adb shell screenrecord "/path/to/record.mp4" (record device screen)
adb backup -apk -all -f backup.ab (backup settings and apps)
adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup.ab (backup settings, apps and shared storage)
adb backup -apk -nosystem -all -f backup.ab (backup only non-system apps)
adb restore backup.ab (restore a previous backup)
adb shell am start|startservice|broadcast <INTENT>[<COMPONENT>]
-a <ACTION> e.g. android.intent.action.VIEW
-c <CATEGORY> e.g. android.intent.category.LAUNCHER (start activity intent)
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d URL (open URL)
adb shell am start -t image/* -a android.intent.action.VIEW (opens gallery)
Logs
adb logcat [options] [filter] [filter] (view device log)
adb bugreport (print bug reports)
Other
adb backup // Create a full backup of your phone and save to the computer.
adb restore // Restore a backup to your phone.
adb sideload // Push and flash custom ROMs and zips from your computer.
fastboot devices
// Check connection and get basic information about devices connected to the computer.
// This is essentially the same command as adb devices from earlier.
//However, it works in the bootloader, which ADB does not. Handy for ensuring that you have properly established a connection.
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Shared Preferences
replace org.example.app with your application id
Add a value to default shared preferences.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key key_name --es value "hello world!"'
Remove a value to default shared preferences.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.REMOVE --es key key_name'
Clear all default shared preferences.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.CLEAR --es key key_name'
It's also possible to specify shared preferences file.
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es name Game --es key level --ei value 10'
Data types
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key string --es value "hello world!"'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key boolean --ez value true'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key float --ef value 3.14159'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key int --ei value 2015'
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.PUT --es key long --el value 9223372036854775807'
Restart application process after making changes
adb shell 'am broadcast -a org.example.app.sp.CLEAR --ez restart true'
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Few bash snippets
@Source (https://jonfhancock.com/bash-your-way-to-better-android-development-1169bc3e0424)
Using tail -n
// Use tail to remove the first line. Actually two lines. The first one is just a newline. The second is “List of devices attached.”
$ adb devices | tail -n +2
Using cut -sf
// Cut the last word and any white space off the end of each line.
$ adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf -1
Using xargs -I
// Given the -I option, xargs will perform an action for each line of text that we feed into it.
// We can give the line a variable name to use in commands that xargs can execute.
$ adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf -1 | xargs -I X echo X aw yiss
Three options below together
// Will print android version of all connected devices
adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf -1 | xargs -I X adb -s X shell getprop ro.build.version.release
Using alias
-- Example 1
alias tellMeMore=echo
tellMeMore "hi there"
Output => hi there
-- Example 2
// Define alias
alias apkinstall="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X install -r $1"
// And you can use it later
apkinstall ~/Downloads/MyAppRelease.apk // Install an apk on all devices
-- Example 3
alias rmapp="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X uninstall $1"
rmapp com.example.myapp // Uninstall a package from all devices
-- Example 4
alias clearapp="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X shell pm clear $1"
clearapp com.example.myapp // Clear data on all devices (leave installed)
-- Example 5
alias startintent="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X shell am start $1"
startintent https://twitter.com/JonFHancock // Launch a deep link on all devices
Setting up your .bash_profile
Finally, to make this all reusable even after rebooting your computer (aliases only last through the current session), we have to add these to your .bash_profile. You might or might not already have a .bash_profile, so let’s make sure we append to it rather than overwriting it. Just open a terminal, and run the following command
touch .bash_profile && open .bash_profile
This will create it if it doesn’t already exist, and open it in a text editor either way. Now just copy and paste all of the aliases into it, save, and close.
alias startintent="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X shell am start $1"
alias apkinstall="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X install -r $1"
alias rmapp="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X uninstall $1"
alias clearapp="adb devices | tail -n +2 | cut -sf 1 | xargs -I X adb -s X shell pm clear $1"