👉Android Debug Bridge ADB

Introduction

Android Debug Bridge ADB: Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a powerful command-line tool that enables communication between your computer and Android devices or emulators. It is widely used in mobile automation testing, app installation, debugging, and more.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What is ADB?
  
• How to connect devices using USB
  
• How to connect devices over Wi-Fi
  
• Commands to manage ADB connections
  
• Troubleshooting common issues
  

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👉What is Android Debug Bridge (ADB)?

Android Debug Bridge ADB: ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a client-server utility that facilitates communication with Android devices or emulators. It allows developers and testers to execute shell commands, install apps, access logs, and debug applications.

🔧 ADB Components:

• Client: Runs on your development machine.
  
• Daemon (adbd): Runs on the device/emulator.
  
• Server: Manages communication between client and daemon.
  

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👉USB Debugging and ADB Configuration

Android Debug Bridge ADB: Before starting mobile automation testing using tools like Appium, you must:

• Enable USB debugging on the device.
  
• Install Android SDK Platform Tools (includes ADB).
  
• Configure desired capabilities based on the device.
  

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👉How to Connect to an Emulator using ADB

✅ Prerequisite:

Make sure Android SDK is installed on your system.

🔹 Steps:

1. Navigate to SDK Folder
   Go to the installed Android SDK directory.
   
2. Open SDK Manager
   Launch the SDK Manager and install:
   
   • Android SDK Tools
     
   • Android SDK Platform-tools
     
3. Open Command Window
   Inside the platform-tools folder, use:
   
   • Shift + Right Click → “Open Command window here”
     

Connect to Emulator
ADB automatically detects running emulators. Use:

bash
adb devices

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👉How to Connect a Real Android Device via USB

🔹 Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Enable USB Debugging
   
   • Go to Settings > About phone > Tap “Build number” 7 times to enable Developer Options.
     
   • Then enable USB Debugging under Developer Options.
     
2. Connect Device via USB Cable
   Use the original cable for better stability.
   
3. Navigate to Platform-Tools Folder
   Example path: C:\android-sdk\platform-tools
   

Check Connected Devices
Run:

bash
adb devices

4.  You should see a list of connected devices.
   

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👉Understanding ADB Ports

• ADB server binds to TCP port 5037.
  
• Devices are connected to odd-numbered ports (5555–5585).
  
• Emulator uses two ports: one for ADB connection (odd) and one for console (even).
  
  • Example: Emulator on 5554 uses 5555 for ADB, 5556 for console.
    

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👉ADB Commands to Manage Devices

Purpose	ADB Command
List connected devices	adb devices
Kill ADB server	adb kill-server
Start ADB server	adb start-server
Connect to specific device	adb -s <deviceID> shell
Install app on device	adb -s <deviceID> install myapp.apk

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👉How to Connect Android Device Over Wi-Fi using ADB

🔹 Pre-requisites:

• Android Debug Bridge ADB: Device and computer should be on same Wi-Fi network
  
• Bluetooth should be turned off on the device
  

✅ Steps to Connect:

1. Connect Device via USB First
   
   • Enable USB debugging
     

Enable ADB TCP/IP mode

bash
adb tcpip 5555

3. Find Device IP Address
   
   • On phone: Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced > IP Address
     
4. Disconnect USB Cable
   

Connect via IP

bash
adb connect <device_ip>:5555

Verify Connection

bash
adb devices

💡 Example:

bash

adb tcpip 5555

adb connect 192.168.1.5:5555

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👉Troubleshooting ADB Connection Issues

Issue	Solution
Device not detected	Reconnect USB, enable USB Debugging
ADB server not responding	adb kill-server → adb start-server
Wi-Fi connection not working	Ensure same network, disable Bluetooth
IP address not reachable	Recheck IP address and firewall settings

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👉Conclusion

Android Debug Bridge ADB: Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a vital tool for connecting and managing Android devices and emulators for testing, debugging, and automation. Whether you’re connecting over USB or Wi-Fi, ADB offers flexible control and helps streamline mobile testing workflows.

Official Appium Capability Docs

Appium Desired Capabulity