The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What are the essential ADB shell commands for Android? Start with adb devices to verify the connection, select a specific serial when necessary, and then use adb shell commands such as pm, am, getprop, df, push, pull, screencap, and logcat. ADB commands run on your computer; commands after adb shell run on Android. This distinction helps you predict syntax, permissions, and side effects.
What ADB is and how a command reaches Android
Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a command-line tool for communicating with an Android phone, tablet, TV, Wear OS device, or emulator. It is included in Android SDK Platform Tools. The system has three parts: an ADB client that you run on your workstation, an ADB server on that workstation, and an adbd daemon on the Android device. The connection exposes a device shell as well as installation, file-transfer, and diagnostic operations.
Install or update Platform Tools through Android Studio’s SDK Manager, the sdkmanager command-line tool, or Google’s standalone Platform Tools download. Platform Tools updates are designed to remain backward compatible with earlier Android platform versions.
Connect a device safely
USB debugging
- On Android, open Settings and enable Developer options if they are hidden. In Developer options, turn on USB debugging.
- Connect with a USB cable that supports data transfer. Check that the connector fits both your device and computer; not every cable carries data.
- On your workstation, run
adb devices. - Unlock the device and accept the RSA debugging prompt. Android 4.2.2 (API 17) and later require this approval for a computer key.
adb devicesA device shown as device is ready. unauthorized means the RSA prompt has not been accepted; offline usually indicates a stale or interrupted connection.
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Wireless debugging
Android phones support the modern Wireless debugging workflow from Android 11 (API 30), using pairing and a shared network. The exact menu labels differ by manufacturer. Android’s stated minimum for TV and Wear OS is Android 13 (API 33). Wireless mode is useful when a cable is inconvenient, but pairing and same-network requirements make USB the simpler first choice.
Choose the intended target
Never assume the default target when more than one phone or emulator is attached. Use the serial printed by adb devices:
adb -s SERIAL shell-d selects a connected hardware device and -e selects an emulator when those selectors are unambiguous. Explicit targeting is especially important for commands that install, uninstall, clear data, change permissions, or stop applications.
Enter and identify the Android shell
Open an interactive shell
adb shellYou can leave it with exit. For a one-off command, put the device command after adb shell:
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adb shell getprop ro.build.version.releasegetprop prints Android system properties. Output and available utilities vary by build. To discover commands on a particular device, use the shell’s help output and inspect commonly available programs in /system/bin. A command that works on one manufacturer’s build may be absent or restricted on another.
Quoting across two shells
Your computer’s shell parses the first time, and Android’s shell parses again. Platform Tools 23 and later changed argument handling to make this more predictable, but spaces and special characters still require care. Quote the complete remote expression when passing a value containing spaces:
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Inspect storage, files, and basic state
List shared storage and check capacity
adb shell ls /sdcard
adb shell df -hls lists a directory; df -h reports filesystem capacity in readable units. Android permissions and storage restrictions can limit what you see. The shared-storage path is commonly exposed as /sdcard, but it is not the same as unrestricted access to private app directories.
List installed packages
adb shell pm list packagesThe device-side package manager, pm, can also narrow results with package-manager options documented for the Android version on the device. Capture the exact package name before using a later command; display names are not reliable identifiers.
Manage applications with pm and am
These commands change application state. Read the package name twice and target the correct device before executing them.
Install an APK
adb install path/to/app.apkFor a test APK, Android documents adding -t:
adb install -t path/to/test-app.apkInstallation can fail because of signing conflicts, an incompatible SDK, insufficient storage, or device policy. The command’s error text is usually the first diagnostic clue.
Start an activity
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEWam is the activity manager. This example asks Android to resolve a view action; without a data URI, the result depends on installed handlers. For deterministic automation, provide the package, component, action, and data your test requires.
Stop an application
adb shell am force-stop PACKAGEThis stops the package and its associated processes. It is useful for resetting a test before relaunching, but it can discard in-progress work.
Grant or revoke a runtime permission
adb shell pm grant PACKAGE android.permission.CAMERA
adb shell pm revoke PACKAGE android.permission.CAMERAGrant and revoke work only when the Android version permits the operation and the application declares the permission. They are primarily testing and debugging tools. A change can alter application behavior immediately; do not use it as a substitute for normal user consent or production policy.
Commands that need extra caution
Uninstalling, clearing app data, disabling a package, changing properties, and changing install location are state-changing operations. Android specifically warns that changing install location is intended for debugging and can break applications or cause other undesirable effects. Verify the serial and record a recovery path before using such commands.
Transfer files between the computer and Android
Copy from Android to the workstation
adb pull /sdcard/Download/example.txt ./example.txtCopy from the workstation to Android
adb push ./example.txt /sdcard/Download/example.txtThe destination must be writable, and Android’s scoped-storage rules can affect application-specific paths. For large transfers, keep the device awake and use a stable cable or network connection. A successful command reports the transferred file and byte count; verify the destination when automation depends on it.
Capture screenshots
Stream a PNG directly to your workstation
adb exec-out screencap -p > screen.pngexec-out is intended for a single stream without the extra transport formatting used by an interactive shell. The device-side screencap -p writes PNG data, which the workstation redirects to screen.png.
Save on the device, then retrieve it
adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
adb pull /sdcard/screen.png ./screen.pngThe streamed form avoids leaving a temporary file. If the resulting image is empty or corrupted, check that the display is available, repeat without shell-specific redirection, and confirm that your local shell did not interpret the binary output.
Read and filter logs with Logcat
See the live stream
adb logcatLogcat prints Android’s system and application logs. Unfiltered output is useful briefly, but it becomes difficult to scan on an active device.
Filter by tag and minimum priority
adb logcat ActivityManager:I MyApp:D *:SThis expression requests informational messages from ActivityManager, debug-and-higher messages from MyApp, and silences all other tags. In shells that expand *, quote the expression:
adb logcat 'ActivityManager:I MyApp:D *:S'Show warnings and errors
adb logcat '*:W'Priority letters and available options depend on the device’s Android release. Some Logcat options require root access, and production builds may restrict visibility. Treat logs as potentially sensitive: they can contain URLs, identifiers, and application data.
USB or wireless: which connection should you use?
| Factor | USB debugging | Wireless debugging |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum version stated in Android guidance | Available through the standard USB-debugging workflow; the RSA approval requirement applies on Android 4.2.2/API 17 and later | Phones: Android 11/API 30; TV and Wear OS: Android 13/API 33 |
| Physical cable | Required during connection | Not required after pairing |
| Network | No same-network requirement | Pairing and the computer and device on the same network |
| Best starting point | Most predictable setup and recovery | Convenient for repeated work where cable access is awkward |
Troubleshoot common ADB failures
adb devices shows no device
- Confirm USB debugging is enabled and the phone is unlocked.
- Try a known data-capable cable and another USB port.
- Accept the RSA prompt; revoke USB-debugging authorizations in Developer options and reconnect if the prompt is stuck.
- On wireless debugging, repeat pairing and verify both devices share the required network.
The device is unauthorized
Unlock Android and accept the computer-key prompt. If no prompt appears, disconnect, revoke authorizations, reconnect, and run adb devices again.
The device is offline or ADB hangs
Restart the workstation ADB server:
adb kill-server
adb devicesThe next ADB command starts the server again. Reconnect the cable or repeat wireless pairing if the state persists.
A command says permission denied or unknown command
Many shell utilities are build-dependent, and private paths normally require privileges unavailable to a regular shell. Check the command’s device-side help, inspect /system/bin, and avoid assuming root access. For pm grant, confirm that the package declares the permission and that the Android release supports granting it through ADB.
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Stop and rerun adb devices. Use -s SERIAL on every subsequent command, including installation, file transfer, and shell operations.
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Quick reference
| Purpose | Command |
|---|---|
| List targets | adb devices |
| Target a serial | adb -s SERIAL shell |
| List packages | adb shell pm list packages |
| Start an activity | adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW |
| Stop a package | adb shell am force-stop PACKAGE |
| Install an APK | adb install path/to/app.apk |
| Transfer files | adb pull REMOTE LOCAL and adb push LOCAL REMOTE |
| Capture PNG | adb exec-out screencap -p > screen.png |
| Read logs | adb logcat |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ADB control an emulator as well as a physical phone?
Yes. ADB communicates with both connected Android devices and emulators; use the serial shown by adb devices when more than one target exists.
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Why does my Logcat filter show nothing?
The tag, priority, or suppression rule may exclude the message, or the device may restrict visibility. Temporarily run adb logcat, then add filters one tag at a time.
Are ADB shell commands portable across Android brands?
Core ADB operations are broadly consistent, but device-side utilities, output, permissions, and available options vary by Android release and manufacturer build.
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