This document is a WORK IN PROGRESS.
This is just a quick personal cheat sheet: treat its contents with caution!

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Android Debug Bridge

ADB is a versatile CLI tool that lets you communicate with an android device. The adb command facilitates a variety of device actions, such as installing and debugging apps, and it provides access to a Unix shell that you can use to run a variety of commands.

Reference(s)

• https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Android
• https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/dev-options#enable
• https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools
• https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/android-sdk-platform-tools/
• https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb
• https://technastic.com/adb-shell-commands-list/

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table of contents

• android prerequisites
• install
• use
• troubleshooting
  • device unauthorized

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android prerequisites

In your android device, do the following:

• Enable developer options: https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/dev-options#enable (go in settings -> about phone -> build number -> tap the build number option 7 times)

• Enable ADB: https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/dev-options#enable (go in settings -> system -> developer options -> Android debugging on)

access android services

go in settings -> system -> developer options -> running services

access android memory stats

go in settings -> system -> developer options -> memory

access android local terminal app

go in settings -> system -> developer options -> local terminal

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install

Install the android SDK platform tools:

Arch basedOther

On Arch based distros, install android-sdk-platform-tools with AUR:

$ mkdir -p ~/apps/aur-apps
$ cd ~/apps/aur-apps
$ git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/android-sdk-platform-tools.git
$ cd android-sdk-platform-tools
$ makepkg -si # --syncdeps to auto-install deps, --install to install after building

The tools will be found in /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/.

Install android-sdk-platform-tools from here, in /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/.

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use

Reference(s)

• https://technastic.com/adb-shell-commands-list/

• Now if you connect your android device to your computer via USB, you will be able to run adb commands after running the ADB server:

  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb kill-server
  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb start-server
  

• E.g. for the android finder application.

• Enter ADB shell:

  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell
  

• Exit ADB shell:

  ...
  > exit
  

• Print current user:

  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell am get-current-user
  

• Print installed packages:

  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell pm list packages # all apps
  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell pm list packages -3 # third party apps
  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell pm list packages -s # system apps
  

• Print local storage location:

  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell echo $EXTERNAL_STORAGE
  

• Extract photos:

  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell echo $EXTERNAL_STORAGE
    > /sdcard
  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell ls $EXTERNAL_STORAGE
    > ...
  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb shell ls /sdcard/DCIM # this location may vary depending on your device
    > ...
  $ sudo /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/OpenCamera /path/to/your/download/folder
  

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troubleshooting

device unauthorized

If you get the following error when running adb:

adb: device unauthorized.
This adb server's $ADB_VENDOR_KEYS is not set
Try 'adb kill-server' if that seems wrong.
Otherwise check for a confirmation dialog on your device.

• Restart the ADB server: adb kill-server && adb start-server

• Next time you use adb to access the device, a pop-up will appear on the device asking to allow to connect to the adb server.

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