adb

List every connected device / emulator with serial and state (`device`, `unauthorized`, `offline`).

-l show long detail (product, model, transport); -e only emulators; -d only USB devices

Connect to a device over Wi-Fi or TCP/IP (default port 5555). Pair first with `adb pair <ip>:<port>` for Android 11+.

ip:port; --one-time disconnect on session end

Disconnect from one or every wireless device. Pass no argument to drop all connections.

Target a specific device when multiple are attached (replace `<serial>` with the value from `adb devices`).

Install an APK. `-r` reinstalls keeping data; `-d` allows version-code downgrade; `-t` allows test-only APKs; `-g` grants all runtime permissions.

-r; -d; -t; -g; --abi <abi>; --user <id>

Install a split APK bundle atomically — used for App Bundles with multiple ABIs / configs.

Uninstall an app by package name. `-k` keeps data + cache directories.

-k keep user data

Stream the device's log buffer. Tag / priority filters: `*:V` (verbose), `*:E` (errors).

-v threadtime; -d dump and exit; -s <tag>; -t <N>; --pid=<pid>; -f <file> write to file

Dump the current buffer to stdout and exit (non-streaming). Combine with grep for one-off inspection.

-d -t 500 last 500 lines

Show only entries for a specific tag at a given level (V/D/I/W/E). Combine tags with whitespace.

MyTag:D MyTag2:E

Drop into an interactive shell on the device. Most Unix utilities work; `/sdcard` is the public storage root.

-t allocate a TTY (for interactive programs)

Run a single command on the device and return the output. Quote carefully when mixing host / device args.

List installed packages. `-f` shows path, `-3` filters to user-installed apps, `-d` filters to disabled packages.

-f path; -3 user apps; -d disabled; -e enabled; -s system; <filter>

Launch an activity by its `package/activity` qualified name. Use `am start -W` to wait for the launch to complete.

-a <action>; -d ; --es <key> <val> extra string; -W wait

Capture the device screen to a PNG. Pair with `adb pull` to retrieve.

-p PNG (default)

Inject input events. Common: `tap x y`, `swipe x1 y1 x2 y2 [ms]`, `keyevent <code>`, `text "string"`.

tap; swipe; keyevent; text; roll; press

Copy a local file / directory to the device. Sync semantics; preserves binary files.

--sync overwrite only stale files; --copy-links preserve symlinks; -p show progress

Copy a device file / directory to the host. Default destination is `.` (current directory).

-a preserve timestamps; -p show progress

Forward a host port to a device port — common for opening a Chrome remote-debug socket against a Chrome tab.

--remove; --remove-all

Reverse-forward a device port to a host port — useful when your dev server runs on `localhost:3000` and the device needs to hit it.

List active port forwards and reverses. Pair with `adb forward --remove-all` to reset.

Wipe app data + cache for a specific package — the same effect as `Settings → Apps → Storage → Clear`.

Grant a runtime permission (e.g. `android.permission.CAMERA`) without UI prompts — common in test setups.

Force-stop a running app (its process is killed). Useful when reinstalling a foreground app.

Reboot the device. Variants: `recovery`, `bootloader`, `fastboot`, `download`, `edl`.

recovery | bootloader | fastboot | download | edl

Sideload a signed OTA / factory image zip from recovery mode (typically entered via `adb reboot recovery`).

Run a command as the app's UID — required for debuggable APKs to read their own private data directory.

<package> cat ./databases/my.db > /sdcard/dump.db

Dump the state of a system service (`battery`, `window`, `activity`, `package`, `gfxinfo`, `netstats`).

battery; activity; package; window; gfxinfo <pkg>; netstats

Start the adb server explicitly (it normally auto-starts on any command). Use after `kill-server`.

Stop the adb server and disconnect every device. Useful when adb gets stuck in `offline` state.

Print Platform Tools version.

List every adb subcommand with one-line descriptions.

Pair with a device over Wi-Fi using the 6-digit pairing code shown in Developer Options. Then `adb connect` to the actual debug port.

<ip>:<port>