How to Use Android ADB Command Line Tool
Home » Information Technology » Programming » Android » How to Use Android ADB Command Line ToolAndroid Debug Bridge (adb) is a tool that lets you manage the state of an emulator instance or Android phone. ADB is bundled with Android SDK package that can be downloaded from Android SDK download page. This tool is usefull for communicating with Android phone such as install application, copy files from/to device and perform some linux shell commands.
How to Install
- Download and install Java SDK (Ex: jdk-6u20-windows-i586.exe)
- Download Android SDK package (Ex: android-sdk_r06-windows.zip)
- Extract SDK package into anywhere on your drive (Ex: D:\android-sdk-windows)
Phone Setup
In order to use ADB, you have to enable USB Debugging option in phone settings (Settings->Applications->Development)
How to Use
- Connect the phone to your pc/notebook usb port
- Run Windows command line tool (cmd) and go to D:\android-sdk-windows\tool
Update!!
New Android SDK puts adb executable file on \platform-tools directory instead of tool. So the path should be D:\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools
Usefull Commands
1. Check connected phone
Syntax: adb devices
2. Login to Android shell
Syntax: adb shell
Note:
If you get ‘#’ after typing adb shell, you are already get root access on the phone, no need to type su. Otherwise if you get ‘$’ , type ’su’ to get root access (only for rooted device).
3. Some usefull shell commands
- ls
- cp
- mv
- chmod
- rm
List directory
Syntax: ls [path]
Example:
#ls /system/lib
Copy file or directory
Syntax: cp [options] source dest
Note:
To copy or delete files in Android root directories you have to change the directory access mode to ‘read and write (rw)’ using command: remount rw
Example:
#remount rw
#cp /sdcard/libsec-ril.so /system/lib
#remount ro
Move file or directory
Syntax: mv [options] source dest
Example:
#mv /system/lib/libsec-ril.so /sdcard/backup
Change file/directory permission
Syntax: chmod [-R] mode[,mode] …. file
Example:
#chmod 0644 /system/lib/libsec-ril.so
Remove file or directory
Syntax: rm [options] file
Example:
#rm /system/lib/libsec-ril.so
4. Install application
You can use adb to install aplication from your local drive into phone.
Syntax: adb install appname.apk
Example:
D:\android-sdk-windows\tools\adb install D:\AnReboot.apk
5. Copy files from phone to local drive
Syntax: adb pull source [destination]
Example:
D:\android-sdk-windows\tools\adb pull /sdcard/arm11-dvm.zip
D:\android-sdk-windows\tools\adb pull /sdcard/arm11-dvm.zip D:\
6. Copy files from local drive to phone
Syntax: adb push source destination
Example:
D:\android-sdk-windows\tools\adb push D:\AnReboot.apk /sdcard
118 Responses to “How to Use Android ADB Command Line Tool”
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I’ve got root access, ran my windows cmd shell in admin mode, opened the adb tool with ‘adb shell’ command.. then i was able to run linux commands so i know it was running (have the ‘#’ sign). I ran the ‘remount rw’ command but got a remount: not found error. When i attempt to delete or chmod files i get a ‘read-only file system’ error and get denied. Does anyone know how i change this ‘read-only file system’ setting? Would really like to change my boot animation. Thanks!
Hi,Andy
You need run command:
mount
Now you can see which device mount to /system
Then you can run:
mount -o remount,rw /path/to/device /system
Now /system can be write.
Sorry was too hasty in posting here; i figured it out. Just had to run the commands from my windows shell using the adb.exe like so: ‘D:android-sdkplatform-tools>adb remount’.
It displayed ‘remount succeeded’ and then was able to go in and gain access to the file-system.
My problem is that I have a Craneboard with a precompiled Android image. I can only connect to the device through the serial port. After booting, it outputs to the terminal the # sign. So far, so goog. My problem is that I cannot install an application by using this shell.
I know that from windows one has to issue a adb instal App.apk command. But what is the command from inside the shell?
Many thanks!
i have a rooted samsung galaxy s plus after i type on cmd adb shell su,he give me this # sign, and im stock on it i cannot do other command.. any help pls.
I had the same problem, try typing “adb shell” then enter and then type “su”.
im using rooted samsung galaxy s plus, and im inside the adb shell su, what is the command to copy application from my computer to my phone?
It’s a PUSH command…..Google it
[...] This works for me How to Use Android ADB Command Line Tool [...]
Hi Lorenz,
I have some problems whit ADB
I use a Windows 7 Home editon PC
* I download and install the android-
sdk_r16-windows and install it
* updates all the aivaible updates
* I conact A Acer Iconia Tablet A500 to
the USB port
* I Windows exploder i can see my Acer
and can copy an delete files from it
* Start command prompt
* Go to the dir platform-tools
* Type the command
C:\Android\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools>adb devices
* daemon not running. starting it now on
port 5037 *
* daemon started successfully *
List of devices attached
BUT I cat no devices attached
* Restarted the acer BUT still no result
* Remarkt the ADB app whit XP
compartibility and always run as
Administrator
BUT Still no succes
Do you have a solotion for this behave
Best regard,
Martin
Hi Martin, I am facing the same problem. Did you find a solution?
Hi
you need to install a software called usbview, run the application and delete the adb drivers, then remove and replug the drvice to your computer, when the computer ask for drivers, point it to your sdk folder, the drivers under your sdk\extras\google\usb_driver
When i type ‘adb shell’ i get:
adb server is out of date. killing…
ADB server didn’t ACK
* failed to start daemon *
error: protocol fault (no status)
Hey i got root acsses, i m using adb prompt, i got SuperUser permission, but i cant delete “vimi.apk”, its on system/secro/app/vimi.apk, gives erro msg, “permission denied” but im using a filemanager with Superuser permission…
i try to change vimi.apk permision on adb but its gives failure msg
can u help me?
nice post really useful
Billions of Thanks for your tips …
anyone heard of this website http://www.unlockscodes.com/. need to unlock my Samsung galaxy
i have accientally change my system settings through build prop afyer rooting my phone but now my phone ’s display become oversize and some of the buttons and functions are nt able to fit into the screen go be seen…i know i can change the build prop settings once more but the problem is i cant even.see the button to grant superuser request! and im stuck with a phone of oversized display n the call function cant seem to work anymore..please does anyone knows how i can solve this problem? i really need an anseer…
Hi,
You can manually edit the build prob file by downloading it to your computer/pc then upload it to your phone using adb command. Please see the adb command number 5 and 6 in this tutorial.
[...] OPTIONAL: I said, ok then, I want proof of concept. I need to access the Kernel. I needed a way in though, using a command line interface. This is where I switched to using the developed tools. Basically you turn on the USB debug of the device, install the Java and Android SDK’s and then run the Windows terminal emulator that talks to the device Kernel over the USB device: http://www.londatiga.net/it/how-to-use-android-adb-command-line-tool/ [...]
[...] Untuk memulainya, terlebih dahulu file executable adb harus tersedia terlebih dahulu. Adb bisa didapatkan dengan mendownload SDK Android atau dari tool GalNexJBRoot.zip. Pada SDK android, adb bisa ditemukan dalam direktori android-sdk-<windows/mac>/platform-tools. Untuk memahami adb lebih dalam, bisa membaca panduan penggunaan adb. [...]
Hello,
how do i get superuser permision? su doesn’t work
Frits
hi,
How can we connect to mobile using ADB but without using any commands. Is there any way that we run a software or something and we are connected to mobile. We don’t need to type the commands.
I have installed SDK Tools but there is no folder named “platform-tools” so i am unable to find ADB Files. I opened SDK and it shows that Android SDK Tools is installed but i dont know where it is. Already checked in Tools folder but nothing is there. Please advise..
Installing the Android SDK only gets you half of the way. in order to use the ADB command, you must install tools from the Android SDK download manager. Run the application called android in the tools folder of the Android SDK to bring up the graphical user interface to download the software development tools.
hey guys! please help me i’m new and i don’t know much about it but every time when i open adb it opens for few seconds and then is automatically closed. i don’t know why is this happening so please help me to figure this out guys.
How do I do this on a Mac
after typing “adb shell” i am getting $ sign so than i fired “su” command. and it shows me output “su:permission denied”
What to do? plz help
if u solved ur problem please tell me
I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. Perhaps the problem is caused by the fact that a botched root job has already taken place on my phone. I’ve downloaded the sdk, installed the recommended packages with only one issue (the log shows an item saying “stopping adb server failed (code -1)”. Attempting to get to adb through the command prompt simply doesn’t work. I am sure I’m entering the path listed at the top of the sdk manager and all the system says is that my command is not recognizable as a command. I’ve tried changing the path, but when I did that, the sdk started having all sorts of issues installing packages. What’s the next step here? The first root went down with revolutionary and it had no problems with adb, although I’m on a different computer and my phone (by virture of undergoing the botched root) is a different phone. I was attempting to simply do a factory reset and a competent friend suggested that I do the wipe through the sdk, but I just can’t make it work. Should I just go into recovery through the phone, wipe it, then try to re-root it? Btw, when I check on hboot, it shows “s-off” which is supposed to mean that I’m rooted, but htc sense is currently what’s running. It’s some sort of half-rooted limbo. Thanks for taking the time to read all this, I really appreciate it. I’m trying to do all the reading I can, but every tutorial I read leads to a point that the command prompt won’t let me get past.
How do I send commands out /dev/ttyMSM2 from the adb shell? Or can I even do this?
[...] Set up Python for Android development Posted on April 15, 2012 by pydude Python Android adb cmd example [...]