So, for example, to check for an established ADB connection to a device, you’ll use the command ADB devices. Each command is prefaced with the ADB command. (ADB itself does not have a “rooting” feature, rather, common root exploits published online frequently use ADB to execute the necessary commands to achieve superuser access.)ĪDB is a relatively straightforward tool. ADB is also often used when rooting (also known as “jailbreaking”) devices, as well, and works alongside Fastboot to flash the root filesystem. It’s used to interface with Android phones, tablets, or other devices running any version of Android to execute specific commands that are either difficult or impossible from the device itself.įor example, you can use ADB to install standalone APKs (Android app installation packages), move files between your computer and device, run shell commands, take screenshots (or record video of the screen), find detailed information about the device, generate bug reports, view system logs, and a lot more. (The full IDE installation is very large.)ĪDB can be used via the command line on Windows, Linux, macOS, or even ChromeOS on modern Chromebooks. The Android Debug Bridge is included as part of Android Studio, Google’s IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for Android app development, but you can also download it as a standalone tool if you don’t need the full IDE. Lastly, there is a server on your development machine that establishes the connection to your device or emulator. It runs in the background on all devices and emulators equipped with ADB.

Second, there is a daemon (ADBD) that actually executes the commands you send using the client. To achieve that, the tool is composed of three distinct parts.įirst, there is the client interface that lives on the machine you use for developing or debugging that sends commands to your device or emulator. ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge, a powerful command line tool that you can use to debug your Android phone or tablet and send a large number of commands to control behavior on the device, allowing for the installation of apps and the logging of processes.

Using adb in android studio