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Install Google’s SDK Platform-Tools for Windows, enable USB debugging on your Android phone, connect a data-capable USB cable, then run adb devices in Command Prompt. When the phone shows an RSA authorization prompt, unlock it and tap Allow. A serial ending in device confirms that ADB is ready; unauthorized means the phone still needs approval.
What ADB does
Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a command-line tool for communicating with an Android device. On Windows, an ADB client runs in Command Prompt, an ADB server runs on the PC, and the adbd daemon runs on the phone or emulator.
With ADB you can open a device shell, install or remove APKs, copy files, read logs, inspect system properties, and reboot the device. USB debugging and the phone’s on-screen RSA approval are security gates: commands cannot run until you unlock the phone and approve that computer.
Install ADB on Windows
- Download the current SDK Platform-Tools for Windows package from Google’s Android Developers site. Android Studio is not required for basic ADB use.
- Extract the ZIP to a simple directory such as
C:Androidplatform-tools. - Open that folder in File Explorer, click the address bar, type
cmd, and press Enter. Command Prompt opens with the folder already selected. - Verify the executable with:
adb versionYou should see the installed Android Debug Bridge version rather than a “not recognized” error.
Make ADB available from every folder
For convenience, add the absolute platform-tools directory to the Windows PATH environment variable:
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- Open Windows Search and type environment variables.
- Choose Edit the system environment variables, select Environment Variables, then edit Path under your user variables.
- Add
C:Androidplatform-tools, confirm every dialog, close existing Command Prompt windows, and open a new one. - Run
adb versionagain. A new terminal is necessary because old processes keep the previous PATH.
Prepare and connect an Android phone over USB
- On the phone, open Settings > About phone. Tap Build number repeatedly until Android reports that Developer options are enabled. The exact wording and location vary by manufacturer.
- Return to Settings, open Developer options, and turn on USB debugging.
- Connect the phone with a USB cable that supports data, not charging only. If Windows does not recognize it, install the appropriate OEM USB driver.
- Unlock the phone and run this in Command Prompt:
adb devices - Read the phone’s Allow USB debugging? RSA dialog and tap Allow. Run
adb devicesagain.
Understand the device list
| Output | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
A serial followed by device |
Connected and authorized | Run ADB commands. |
A serial followed by unauthorized |
The phone has not approved this computer | Unlock the phone, accept the RSA prompt, and rerun the command. |
| No entries | ADB sees no usable device | Check the cable, USB port, USB mode, driver, and debugging setting. |
adb devices -l adds descriptive information such as the model and transport details.
Essential ADB commands in Command Prompt
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
adb version |
Displays the installed client version. |
adb devices / adb devices -l |
Lists connected phones and emulators. |
adb shell |
Opens an interactive shell on the Android device. Type exit to return to Windows. |
adb shell getprop |
Prints Android system properties, useful for model, build, and release details. |
adb install "C:pathtoapp.apk" |
Installs an APK from Windows. |
adb uninstall com.example.app |
Removes an installed package by its application ID. |
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/photo.jpg "C:UsersyouPictures" |
Copies a file from Android to Windows. |
adb push "C:pathtofile.txt" /sdcard/Download/ |
Copies a Windows file to Android. |
adb logcat |
Streams Android system and application logs; press Ctrl+C to stop. |
adb reboot |
Restarts the device. |
adb help |
Shows command-line help and available options. |
Quote any Windows path containing spaces. A command such as adb shell changes the command environment to Android; Windows paths and Android paths are not interchangeable.
Choose a specific phone or emulator
If adb devices lists more than one target, ADB cannot guess which one you mean. Copy the desired serial and insert it after -s:
adb -s SERIAL install "C:Appsdemo.apk"
adb -s SERIAL shell getprop
adb -s SERIAL pull /sdcard/Download/report.txt "C:Reports"The ADB reference also supports -d to select a USB device and -e to select an emulator. Explicit targeting is safer in scripts and CI jobs.
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Use wireless debugging instead of USB
Android 11 (API level 30) and later support wireless debugging. The phone and PC must be on the same trusted network.
- Open Developer options and enable Wireless debugging.
- Choose the phone’s pairing option and note the IP address, pairing port, and code shown on screen.
- In Command Prompt, pair using the address and port displayed by Android:
adb pair PHONE_IP:PAIRING_PORTEnter the pairing code when prompted.
- Use the connection address shown by the phone (which can use a different port):
adb connect PHONE_IP:CONNECT_PORT adb devices
Android’s labels and ports can vary by release, so use the values currently shown in Wireless debugging. To return to USB, disable wireless debugging or disconnect the network connection and reconnect the cable.
USB versus wireless ADB
| Factor | USB | Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Enable debugging, use a data cable, and possibly install an OEM driver. | Requires Android 11/API 30 or later, pairing, IP addresses, ports, and a shared network. |
| Reliability | Usually fewer network dependencies. | Can drop when the network changes, sleeps, or blocks peer traffic. |
| Speed | Consistent local cable transfer. | Depends on Wi-Fi conditions and network congestion. |
| Security exposure | Approval is tied to the connected computer and cable. | Use only a trusted network; turn wireless debugging off when finished. |
| Best use | Initial setup, large transfers, recovery, and unstable networks. | Development when a cable is inconvenient and the network is trusted. |
Practical workflows
Install and verify an APK
adb devices
adb install "C:UsersyouDownloadsapp.apk"ADB reports success or an installation error. If the package is already installed, use the app’s documented update or reinstall procedure rather than deleting data unnecessarily.
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adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/photo.jpg "C:UsersyouPictures"
adb push "C:UsersyouDesktoptest.json" /sdcard/Download/Confirm that the destination directory exists and that Android grants access to the source location.
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Capture logs while reproducing a problem
adb logcatStart logging, reproduce the issue on the phone, then press Ctrl+C. For a repeatable diagnostic script, redirect output to a Windows file, for example adb logcat > adb-log.txt.
Run repeatable commands from a batch file
Place one command per line in a .bat file. Add adb devices near the beginning and use -s SERIAL whenever more than one target may be connected. Test the script interactively first so a typo cannot affect the wrong device.
Troubleshooting ADB on Windows
“adb is not recognized”
Command Prompt cannot find adb.exe. Open Command Prompt from the extracted platform-tools folder, or add that folder to PATH, close the terminal, and open a new one.
No device is listed
- Unlock the phone and verify Developer options > USB debugging.
- Try a known data cable and another USB port; charging-only cables will not work.
- Choose a file-transfer USB mode if the phone offers a USB notification.
- Install the correct OEM USB driver for the phone.
- Run
adb kill-server, reconnect the phone, then runadb start-serverandadb devices.
The status is “unauthorized”
Look at the phone, accept the RSA dialog, and rerun adb devices. If no prompt appears, revoke USB debugging authorizations in Developer options, disconnect and reconnect, unlock the phone, and approve the new prompt.
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“More than one device/emulator”
Run adb devices, copy the required serial, and prepend adb -s SERIAL to every command. This includes commands in scripts.
Wireless pairing fails
Confirm Android 11 or newer, keep both devices on the same trusted Wi-Fi network, use the current pairing code and port shown on the phone, and check that the PC firewall or guest-network isolation is not blocking local connections. Reopen Wireless debugging to obtain fresh ports if the old values expired.
Commands fail because of syntax
Run adb help, check whether the command expects an Android path or a Windows path, and quote Windows paths containing spaces. For a package operation, verify the APK path or application ID exactly.
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Security, reliability, and cost notes
Platform-Tools is the supported package for ADB and costs nothing to download. USB debugging gives an authorized computer powerful access to the phone, so approve only computers you trust and revoke authorizations when a shared or temporary PC is no longer needed. Wireless debugging adds network exposure; keep it disabled outside a trusted local network.
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USB generally provides the most predictable connection for recovery work and large file transfers. Wireless is convenient but sensitive to sleep, roaming, firewall rules, and changing IP addresses. In either mode, check adb devices before a destructive or automated operation and target a serial explicitly when multiple devices are present.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can ADB factory-reset a phone by accident?
The commands covered here do not factory-reset a device. A reset requires a separate, explicitly destructive command or recovery action, so review any script before running it and verify the selected serial.
Can I use ADB with a work-managed phone?
Possibly, but an organization’s Android management policy can disable USB or wireless debugging, block drivers, or restrict package installation. Contact the administrator rather than attempting to bypass those controls.
The Bottom Line
Install Platform-Tools, enable USB debugging, approve the RSA prompt, and make adb devices show device. From there, shell access, APK installation, file transfer, logs, rebooting, and—on Android 11 and later—paired wireless debugging are available directly from Command Prompt.
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