ADB Basics

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
adb devices: lists connected devices
adb root: restarts adb 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 shell: starts the backround terminal
exit: exits the background terminal
adb help: list all commands
adb -s <deviceName> <command>: redirect command to specifc device
adb –d <command>: directs command to only attached USB device
adb –e <command>: directs command to only attached emulator

Paths

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
/data/data/<package>/databases: app databases
/data/data/<package>/shared_prefs/: shared preferences
/data/app: apk installed by user
/system/app: pre-installed APK fles
/mmt/asec: encrypted apps / App2SD
/mmt/emmc: internal SD Card
/mmt/adcard: external/Internal SD Card
/mmt/adcard/external_sd: external SD Card

Path Commands

COMMAND EXPLANATION
adb shell ls: list directory contents
adb shell ls -s: print size of each file
adb shell ls -R: list subdirectories recursively

Table

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
adb shell list packages: list package names
adb shell list packages -r: list package name + path to apks
adb shell list packages -3: list third party package names
adb shell list packages -s: list only system packages
adb shell list packages -u: list package names + uninstalled
adb shell dumpsys package packages: list info on all apps
adb shell dump <name>: list info on one package
adb shell path <package>: path to the apk file

Package Installation

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
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

File Operations

LOCATOR: EXPLANATION
adb push <local> <remote>: copy fle/dir to device
adb pull <remote> <local>: copy fle/dir from device
run-as <package> cat <fle>: access the private package fles

Phone Info

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
adb get-state: 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
dumpsys window windows | grep -E 'mCurrentFocus|mFocusedApp': print current app's opened activity

Configure Settings Commands

COMMAND EXPLANATION
adb shell dumpsys battery set level <n>: change the level from 0 to 100
adb shell dumpsys battery set status <n>: change the level to unknown, charging, discharging, not charging or full
adb shell dumpsys battery reset: reset the battery
adb shell dumpsys battery set usb <n>: change the status of USB connection ON or OFF
adb shell wm size WxH: sets the resolution to WxH

Logs

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
adb logcat [options] [flter]: view device log
adb bugreport: print bug reports

Permissions

COMMAND EXPLANATION
adb shell permissions groups: list permission groups defnitions
adb shell list permissions -g -r: list permissions details

Device Related Commands

COMMAND: EXPLANATION
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
adb shell am start|startservice|broadcast <INTENT>[<COMPONENT>] -a <ACTION> e.g. android.intent.action.VIEW -c <CATEGORY> e.g. android.intent.category.LAUNCHER: start activity intent
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d URL: open URL
adb shell am start -t image/* -a android.intent.action.VIEW: opens gallery