ADB Commands Every Android User Should Know (2026 Cheat Sheet)

ADB — Android Debug Bridge — is the single most powerful free tool for any Android device. It's a command-line interface that sits between your computer and your phone, and it lets you do things the regular Android UI will never expose: uninstall system apps the manufacturer won't let you touch, back up everything to your hard drive, install APKs directly bypassing the Play Store, mirror your screen, and recover devices that are stuck in loops.

You don't need to be a developer. You don't need root. You just need a USB cable, five minutes of setup, and the commands below.

Setting Up ADB (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Step 1: Enable USB Debugging

First, unlock Developer Options and enable USB Debugging. Without this, your computer will see the phone as a storage device but won't be able to send commands to it.

Step 2: Install ADB on Your Computer

• Windows: Download "Platform Tools" from the Android developer site. Extract to a folder (e.g., C:\adb). Hold Shift, right-click in the folder, select "Open PowerShell window here."
• Mac: Install via Homebrew: brew install android-platform-tools
• Linux: sudo apt install adb (Ubuntu/Debian) or sudo pacman -S android-tools (Arch)

Step 3: Authorize the Connection

Connect your phone via USB. In the terminal type: adb devices. Your phone will display a dialog asking you to authorize the computer's RSA key. Tap "Always Allow" to avoid doing this every time.

Essential ADB Commands

Check Connected Devices

adb devices

Lists all connected devices. If your device shows as "unauthorized," you missed the authorization dialog on the phone screen.

Install an APK

adb install /path/to/app.apk
adb install -r /path/to/app.apk    # reinstall / update existing
adb install -d /path/to/app.apk    # allow version downgrade

This installs any APK file directly to your phone without the Play Store. Useful for apps pulled from APKMirror, sideloaded betas, or apps banned in your region.

Uninstall System Apps (Bloatware Removal)

# Remove for current user (reversible without factory reset)
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.package.name

# Examples of common bloatware:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.katana
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.microsoft.bing
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.netflix.mediaclient

The -k flag keeps the data, and --user 0 removes it only for the current user (not system-wide), making this reversible. To find the package name of any app: long-press the app in Settings → App Info and look at the URL-like string in the title bar, or use adb shell pm list packages.

Re-enable a Removed App

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.package.name

Full Backup to Your Computer

adb backup -all -apk -shared -f backup.ab

Creates a full device backup file including apps, app data, and shared storage. Accept the backup on your phone when prompted. Note: some apps opt out of backup (banking apps, for example). For a more complete backup, consider pairing with adb pull for specific directories.

Pull Files from Your Phone

# Pull a specific file
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/photo.jpg ~/Desktop/

# Pull an entire folder
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM ~/Desktop/DCIM_backup

# Pull WhatsApp backups
adb pull /sdcard/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp ~/Desktop/

Push Files to Your Phone

adb push ~/Desktop/file.mp4 /sdcard/Movies/

Screen Capture & Screen Record

# Screenshot (saves to phone, then pull to computer)
adb shell screencap /sdcard/screenshot.png
adb pull /sdcard/screenshot.png ~/Desktop/

# Screen record (max 3 mins by default, Ctrl+C to stop)
adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/recording.mp4
adb pull /sdcard/recording.mp4 ~/Desktop/

Mirror Screen to Computer (scrcpy)

Install scrcpy (free, open source) — it uses ADB under the hood to display and control your Android phone on your computer in real time with near-zero latency. brew install scrcpy on Mac, or download the Windows binary. Then just run scrcpy with your phone connected. Full keyboard and mouse control. No app installation required on the phone.

Reboot Commands

adb reboot              # normal reboot
adb reboot bootloader   # reboot into fastboot/bootloader
adb reboot recovery     # reboot into recovery mode
adb reboot sideload     # reboot into ADB sideload mode

Grant or Revoke App Permissions

# Grant a permission
adb shell pm grant com.package.name android.permission.CAMERA

# Revoke a permission
adb shell pm revoke com.package.name android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION

This is useful for granting permissions apps request but the system UI won't let you grant (rare but happens), or for locking down specific apps that are overreaching with location or microphone access.

Change Screen Resolution / DPI

# Check current settings
adb shell wm size
adb shell wm density

# Set custom resolution (example: 1080x1920)
adb shell wm size 1080x1920

# Set custom DPI (lower = more content on screen)
adb shell wm density 360

# Reset to default
adb shell wm size reset
adb shell wm density reset

Lowering DPI is a great trick to fit more content on a smaller screen or force a tablet layout on a phone. It persists across reboots.

Read Logcat (Live Device Logs)

adb logcat
adb logcat -d > logcat.txt       # dump to file
adb logcat | grep "YourApp"      # filter by app name

When an app is crashing and you can't figure out why, Logcat shows you the exact error. Even if you're not a developer, being able to copy a crash log is invaluable when asking for help.

Kill a Frozen App

adb shell am force-stop com.package.name

Simulate Button Presses

adb shell input keyevent 3    # Home button
adb shell input keyevent 4    # Back button
adb shell input keyevent 26   # Power button
adb shell input keyevent 24   # Volume Up
adb shell input keyevent 25   # Volume Down
adb shell input keyevent 82   # Menu button

Wireless ADB (No Cable Needed)

On Android 11+, open Developer Options, tap Wireless Debugging, then Pair device with pairing code. Enter the IP, port, and pairing code shown on screen:

adb pair 192.168.1.100:PORT PAIRINGCODE
adb connect 192.168.1.100:PORT

Once paired, all commands work identically over Wi-Fi. No cable. Your phone and computer just need to be on the same network.

ADB for Recovery Situations

If your phone is in a boot loop, you can often fix it via ADB from recovery mode without wiping data. Boot to recovery (adb reboot recovery or hold Power + Volume Down), then use adb sideload update.zip to flash a system update or patch. This is a significantly safer alternative to a factory reset for diagnosing boot issues.

For a full walkthrough on recovering a locked or boot-looped device, see our guide: How to Recover a Locked Android Phone.

Complete ADB Reference PDF

Download the full 120-command ADB cheat sheet with examples for rooted and non-rooted devices.

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