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Authors: fire1ce, TalonWay, bikalpa | Created: 2021-09-12 | Last update: 2023-10-15

Android ADB Cheat Sheet

ADB, Android Debug Bridge, is a command-line utility included with Google's Android SDK. ADB can control your device over USB from a computer, copy files back and forth, install and uninstall apps, run shell commands, and more. ADB is a powerful tool that can be used to control your Android device from a computer. Below are some of the most common commands you can use with ADB and their usage. You can find more information about ADB and its usage by visiting the official website.

Common ADB Commands

Push a file to Download folder of the Android Device

adb push example.apk /mnt/sdcard/Download/

Lists all the installed packages and get the full paths

adb shell pm list packages -f

Pulls a file from android device

adb pull /mnt/sdcard/Download/example.apk

Install apk from host to Android device

adb shell install example.apk

Install apk from Android device storage

adb shell install /mnt/sdcard/Download/example.apk

Set network proxy

adb shell settings put global http_proxy <address>:<port>

Disable network proxy

adb shell settings put global http_proxy :0

ADB Basics Commands

Command Description
adb devices Lists connected devices
adb connect 192.168.2.1 Connects to adb device over network
adb root Restarts adbd with root permissions
adb start-server Starts the adb server
adb kill-server Kills the adb server
adb reboot Reboots the device
adb devices -l List of devices by product/model
adb -s <deviceName> <command> Redirect command to specific device
adb –d <command> Directs command to only attached USB device
adb –e <command> Directs command to only attached emulator

Logs

Command Description
adb logcat [options] [filter] [filter] View device log
adb bugreport Print bug reports

Permissions

Command Description
adb shell permissions groups List permission groups definitions
adb shell list permissions -g -r List permissions details

Package Installation

Command Description
adb shell install <apk> Install app
adb shell install <path> Install app from phone path
adb shell install -r <path> Install app from phone path
adb shell uninstall <name> Remove the app

Paths

Command Description
/data/data/<package name>/databases App databases
/data/data/<package name>/shared_prefs/ Shared preferences
/mnt/sdcard/Download/ Download folder
/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
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adb shell ls List directory contents
adb shell ls -s Print size of each file
adb shell ls -R List subdirectories recursively
adb shell pm path <package name> Get full path of a package
adb shell pm list packages -f Lists all the packages and full paths

File Operations

Command Description
adb push <local> <remote> Copy file/dir to device
adb pull <remote> <local> Copy file/dir from device
run-as <package> cat <file> Access the private package files

Phone Info

Command Description
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

Package Info

Command Description
adb shell list packages Lists package names
adb shell list packages -r Lists package name + path to apks
adb shell list packages -3 Lists third party package names
adb shell list packages -s Lists only system packages
adb shell list packages -u Lists package names + uninstalled
adb shell dumpsys package packages Lists info on all apps
adb shell dump <name> Lists info on one package
adb shell path <package> Path to the apk file
Command Description
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
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adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d URL Opens URL
adb shell am start -t image/* -a android.intent.action.VIEW Opens gallery

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