Android/adb
This wiki article has been created for non-rooted devices. For rooted devices please create another article or add a rooted section at bottom.
ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge[1], and it is a part of the Android Software Development Kit (SDK)[2]. It can be installed with dev-util/android-sdk-update-manager.
root #
emerge --ask dev-util/android-sdk-update-manager
Installation
Install ADB and Fastboot
Fastboot is included with ADB inside the dev-util/android-tools package:
root #
emerge --ask dev-util/android-tools
Enable USB debugging
Enable the USB Debugging option on the Android device under Settings > Developer options.
For Android 4.2 and later, Developer options is hidden by default; use the following stepsː
- On the device, go to Settings > About <device>.
- Tap the Build number seven times to make Settings > Developer options available enable.
- Go back to system settings and scroll down to bottom > Developer Options.
- Now hit Enable USB-Debugging.
Tips: You might also want to enable the Stay awake option, to prevent Device from sleeping while plugged into the USB port.
Detect devices
If the device is listed then connect to the android devices shell (the first time an authorized request on the device must be accepted when typing adb shell):
user $
adb devices
List of devices attached 8NH7N17B0XX9898 device
To run adb without root privileges then the unprivileged user account must be added to the plugdev group:
root #
gpasswd -a <username> plugdev
Enter shell
user $
adb shell
Multiple devices connected
When multiple devices are connected to the PC then the -s
option will be needed to specify which device. If the device has not been specified, an error message message similar to the following will appearː
error: more than one device/emulator
user $
adb devices
List of devices attached 9QZ7N11B0ZX8999 device 8NH7N17B0XX9898 device
user $
adb -s <device̠-number> shell
Connect to ADB via WiFi
Set TCP port
To use adb over a WiFi connection instead of using the cable, type the below command with the USB plugged in first timeː
user $
adb tcpip 5555
restarting in TCP mode port: 5555
Print IP address
To get the IP of the connected Android device (cabled connection):
user $
adb shell ip route | awk '{print $9}'
192.168.1.51
Connect
Once the IP address is known, use it to connect to the device:
user $
adb connect 192.168.1.51ː5555
connected to 192.168.1.80:5555
Now control the device as usual via adb.
It is highly not recommended to flash, or perform any similar action to that can brick the device if the connection is lost, when connecting over WiFi.
Control daemon
Start ADB daemon
user $
adb start-server
Kill ADB daemon
Sometimes it may be necessary to kill adb if the device is not showing up connect. This can occur when adb is running before connecting the device. In this case kill and restart the adb server:
user $
adb kill-server
Reboot
System reboot
The device can be rebooted from adb:
user $
adb reboot
Recovery mode
user $
adb reboot recovery
Bootloader mode
user $
adb reboot bootloader
File transfer
Push a file
user $
adb push mypicture.png /storage/on/device
Push a folder
user $
adb push myfolder /storage/on/device
Push all files in a folder
Files from the myfolder/ directory will be transferred into storage/on/device. Notice the trailing slash on the directory name is specifiied in the command:
user $
adb push myfolder/ /storage/on/device
Pull a file
user $
adb pull /storage/on/device/mypicture.png
Pull a folder
user $
adb pull /storage/on/device /home/̩$(whoami)/android-folder/
Pull all files in a folder
Notice the trailing slash after the myfolder/ directory name:
user $
adb push myfolder/ /storage/on/device
ADB properties
Print properties
user $
adb shell getprop
Set a property service
user $
adb shell setprop key value
ADB service
Service syntax
user $
adb shell service call <your_service_name> <number at which the function appears in your_service_name.aidl> <type of the argument like i32 or i64> <argument>
List all services
user $
adb shell service list
iphonesubinfo: [com.android.internal.telephony.IPhoneSubInfo] phone: [com.android.internal.telephony]
Exampleː Make a call via service
user $
adb shell service call phone 1 s16 '+6512345678'
Exampleː Print IMEI via a call service
user $
adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 1
Result: Parcel( 0x00000000: 00000000 0000000f 00360038 00340034 '........8.6.2.0.' 0x00000010: 00330036 00330030 00300035 00350032 '6.3.0.3.5.1.2.5.' 0x00000020: 00370038 00000038 '8.7.8... ')
Convert the output to a readable formatː
user $
adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 1| cut -d "'" -f2| grep -Eo '[0-9]'| xargs| sed 's/\ //g'
862063035125878
Print IMEI 1 & IMEI 2
Imei 1:
user $
service call iphonesubinfo 3 i32 1 | grep -oE '[0-9a-f]{8} ' | while read hex; do echo -ne "\u${hex:4:4}\u${hex:0:4}"; done; echo862063035125878
Imei 2:
user $
service call iphonesubinfo 3 i32 2 | grep -oE '[0-9a-f]{8} ' | while read hex; do echo -ne "\u${hex:4:4}\u${hex:0:4}"; done; echo862063035125880
Content
Enable accessibility
user $
adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:accessibility_enabled --bind value:s:1
Enable on accessibility injection accessibility
user $
adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:accessibility_script_injection, --bind value:s:1
Enable lock feature
user $
adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:lock_function_val --bind value:s:0
Allow us to use volume buttons
user $
adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:volume_controller_service_component --bind value:s:1
Enable max brightness (Default: 72)
user $
adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/secure --bind name:s:brightness_pms_marker_screen --bind value:s:255
ADB Activity Manager
Take a photo by open camera application
user $
am start -a android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE"
Take photo
user $
input keyevent 27
Open Default Camera Application in Photo Mode
user $
adb shell am start -a android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE
Open Camera in 'Photo Mode' and Take Photo
user $
adb shell am start -a android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE
user $
adb shell input keyevent 66
Open Camera in Video mode
user $
adb shell am start -a android.media.action.VIDEO_CAPTURE
Start recording
user $
adb shell input keyevent 66
Stop recording
user $
adb shell input keyevent 66
Set wallpaper
When an image is open in the photo gallery, set the image as wallpaper for all screens with below
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.SET_WALLPAPER
Open any URL in default browser
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d https://www.gentoo.org
Launch video player and play sound
user $
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d file:///sdcard/sound.ogg -t audio/ogg
Open developer settings
user $
am start -a com.android.settings.APPLICATION_DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGS
Open power settings
user $
am start -a com.android.settings/.Settings\$PowerUsageSummaryActivity
Launch Android Settings, subsettings for connection settings
user $
adb shell am start com.android.settings/com.android.settings.SubSettings
Launch video player and play a movie
user $
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d file:///sdcard/video.mkv -t video/mkv
Open Google Maps with fixed coordinates
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "geo:46.457398,-119.407305"
Open contacts application
user $
am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW content://contacts/people/
Simulate pressing home button
user $
am start -W -c android.intent.category.HOME -a android.intent.action.MAIN
Enabling Night Mode (If Supported)
user $
adb shell am start --ez show_night_mode true com.android.systemui/.tuner.TunerActivity
Start facebook application inbox by using URI
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d facebook://facebook.com/inbox
Open a vcard file from sdcard (will open contacts app)
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d file:///sdcard/me.vcard -t text/x-vcard
Open an application to get content
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.GET_CONTENT -t image/jpeg
There is several ways to send a SMS via AM, here is just one of several ways
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.whereismywifeserver.intent.TEST --es sms_body "test from adb"
Add contact without GUI
user $
am start -a android.intent.action.INSERT -t vnd.android.cursor.dir/contact -e name 'larry the cow' -e phone 123456789
Add contact via GUI simulation
user $
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.INSERT -t vnd.android.cursor.dir/contact -e name 'Larry' -e phone '+467277777' -e email 'larrythecow@gentoo.org' -e postal '12345, FooStreet 10, Sweden'
For save the contact enter keyevent 4 twice
user $
adb shell input keyevent 4;sleep 0.2; adb shell input keyevent 4
ADB package manager (pm)
'pm list' commands have moved! Run 'adb shell cmd package' instead
List installed packages
user $
adb shell pm list packages
package:com.android.email package:com.android.phone package:com.android.shell package:com.android.wallpaperbackup .......
List enabled packages
user $
adb shell pm list packages -e
List disabled packages
user $
adb shell pm list packages -d
List third party packages installed by user
user $
adb shell pm list packages -3
List users
user $
adb shell pm list users
Users: UserInfo{0:Owner:13} running
List permission groups
user $
adb shell pm list permission-groups
permission group:com.google.android.gms.permission.CAR_INFORMATION permission group:android.permission-group.LOCATION permission group:android.permission-group.STORAGE permission group:android.permission-group.MICROPHONE .......
List features
user $
adb shell pm list features
feature:android.hardware.camera feature:android.hardware.camera.autofocus feature:android.hardware.faketouch feature:android.hardware.fingerprint feature:android.hardware.nfc feature:android.software.vr.mode .......
Uninstall a package
user $
pm uninstall --user 0 package.name
Exampleː
user $
pm uninstall --user 0 com.facebook.orca
Success
Tip: Uninstalling several packages at once can be achieved by a loop:
user $
for packages in com.package1 com.package2; do adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 $packages; done
Make a Demo Call
Establishes a fake Bluetooth connection to Dialer and must be called first to enable access to all call-related commands.
1) Connect to device
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb --es "action" "connect"
2) Place outgoing call from car dialer
user $
am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb \--es "action" "addCall" --es "id" "123456789"
3) Receive the incoming call from car mode
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb --es "action" "rcvCall" --es "id" "123456789"
4) Hold Current Call
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb --es "action" "holdCall"
5) Unhold the current call
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb --es "action" "unholdCall"
6) Merge Calls
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb --es "action" "unholdCall"
4) End current call
user $
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.car.dialer.intent.action.adb --es "action" "endCall" --es "id" "123456789"
Dumpsys
A tool that runs on Android devices and provides information about system services. To get a diagnostic output for all system services for the connected device, simply run adb shell dumpsys. However, this outputs far more information than typically needed. For more manageable output, specify the service to examine by including it in the command.
Dumpsys syntax
user $
adb shell dumpsys [-t timeout] [--help] [-l] [--skip services] [service] [arguments] [-c] [-h]
Exampleː Print battery stats
user $
adb shell dumpsys battery
AC powered: false USB powered: true Wireless powered: false Max charging current: 500000 Max charging voltage: 5000000 Charge counter: 0 status: 2 health: 2 present: true level: 45 scale: 100 voltage: 3826 temperature: 240 technology: Li-poly
List options
user $
dumpsys -l
If above command does not work then useː
user $
dumpsys | grep -a 'DUMP OF SERVICE'
Print current application in use via dumpsys
This is a good command to figure out how to start the application via am:
user $
dumpsys window windows | grep 'mCurrentFocus'
Tips and tricks
Show network speed at top beside battery icon
user $
settings put system show_network_speed_enabled 1
Enter a number to phone application without pressing on call
user $
service call phone 1 s16 "+4612345678"
Debug an application by simulating 10000 touches
user $
monkey -p com.example.myapp -v 10000
Allow device to trace GPS position
user $
settings put secure location_providers_allowed gps
Disallow GPS tracing
user $
settings put secure location_providers_allowed gps ' '
Allow installing applications outside play store
user $
settings put secure install_non_market_apps 1
Allow taking photo via fingerprint
user $
settings put secure fp_take_photo 0
Allow notifications to be viewed at home screen when its locked
user $
settings put secure lock_screen_allow_private_notifications 1
Enable owners message at lock screen
user $
settings put secure lock_screen_owner_info_enabled 0
Swipe down notification center via input
user $
input swipe 0 0 0 300
Get bluetooth mac-addr
user $
settings get secure bluetooth_address
Backup
WARNING: adb backup is deprecated and may be removed in a future release
Create full backup
user $
adb backup -all -f <filepath>/backup.ab“
user $
adb backup -apk -shared -all -f <filepath>/backup.ab“
Restore a backup
user $
adb restore <filepath>/backup.ab
Extract a backup (.ab extension) on PC
user $
( printf "\x1f\x8b\x08\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00" ; tail -c +25 backup.ab ) | tar xfvz -
HTC backup
With a non rooted device, the only things you can backup locally is what the couple device/android will let you do. That is pretty much the same files you can copy with the already mentioned software. With the Android 4.x devices, a nice solution to make such a partial backup is the so-called "adb backup".
user $
adb backup [-f <file>] [-apk|-noapk] [-shared|-noshared] [-all] [-system|nosystem] [<packages...>]
where:
- -f : the path of the *.ab file that will be saved on your computer. This file is a compressed file that contains an archive of the data/apks from your device.
- -apk|-noapk : indicates if the *.apk files should be backed up (default is -noapk)
- -shared|-noshared: enable/disable backup of the device's shared storage / SD card contents (default is -noshared)
- -all : indicates that you want the entire system backed up. you can use the packages filter to just backup specific packages, or use -all for a full system backup.
- -system|-nosystem: indicates if all the system applications and data are included when backing up. (default is -system)
- <packages> : this is where you can list specific packages to backup. Use these if you want to back up only specific applications. If using -all, you do not need to specify packages.
To backup the phone into ~/HTC_backup
user $
cd ~
user $
mkdir HTC_backup
user $
adb devices
will start the daemon and show you the devices on the USB.
user $
adb backup -apk -shared -all -system -f ~/HTC_backup/backup<date_of_the_day>.ab
will backup every thing the device will let you to backup.
user $
adb restore ~/HTC_backup/backup<date_of_the_day>.ab
will restore the backup into the device.
To stop the daemon:
user $
adb kill-server