[WINDOWS][TUT]ADB tutorial, setting up ADB, usefull commands, collecting debug info.

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Hi all.

Everyone here on our forum wants to help devs by testing different stuff but devs wants testers to send debug info to them so they can resolve bugs. Notifying bugs without logcats is useless and some users don't know how to collect these debug data.

To collect debug info there is a tool named ADB (Android Debugging Bridge). we r very small community and there are not plenty of sgr users around here so we have to worry about knowledgeable testers. so i m making this basic instructional guide to ADB. about how to set up ADB on windows and some basic usage.

Setting up ADB on windows.

Know this first.

> ADB requires usb drivers. So first of all install kies so that ur pc detects ur phone and ADB can recognise ur phone.

> Android is linux based and in linux commands are case sensitive so while typing these command use propare case otherwise commands won't execute.

> Windows uses back slash [\] and linux uses forward slash [/] so while typing file locations. For location of file in ur pc use back slash and for files in ur phone/sd card use forward slash.

there are two ways to setup adb on ur windows pc.
1 > download the android sdk, it includes the adb
u can download latest android sdk from HERE.

2 > only download adb package, no need of downloading the whole sdk.
look at the end of post to find the zip file of adb package.


now after downloading:
if u have downloaded sdk read this:
> after downloading sdk, extract it to ur desired location.
> after extracting, open that folder and goto "platform-tools" folder.
> now hold the shift key and hit right click in that directory
> click "open command window here"
> u will see command promp, type "adb" in command prompt. if adb executes means u have successfully setup adb on ur windows.

if u r using without sdk:
> just extract the package
> hold shift key, hit right click and choose "open command prompt here"
> type "abd" in command prompt and check if adb executes.

now as we have successfully setup adb lets begin to some basic commands.

first of all connect ur phone using usb cable. make sure u have checked usb debugging in settings>applications>development>check usb debugging.

now open adb as mentioned above and type

adb devices

u should see

list of attached devices
xyz device

xyz will be name of ur device, as default it will be some number.

Basic usefull ADB commands

1.

adb pull

this command can be used copy files from ur device to ur pc.
for eg.

adb pull /system/app/Camera.apk

this will copy the camera app to the directory where adb is extracted.
if u know the path u can copy anything using this command.

2.

adb push

this command can be used to push files to ur phone.
type the command, drag and drop the file in command prompt and than type location where u want to push that file and hit enter.
for eg, if i want to push image named android.jpg stored in my C drive.

adb push C:\android.jpg /sdcard/

this will push that image to sdcard.

sometimes we have to push some packages in specified folders. just type the location after file name.
for eg

abd push C:\sanim.zip /system/media

3.

adb install

with help of this command we can install apps to our phone dorectly from pc.
for eg. type "adb install" than leave one space with mouse choose apk file of app u want to install and drag and drop it in command prompt. path of that app will be displayed in command prompt. like this.

adb install C:\adb\Camera.apk

by executing this command u can install the app u have dragged and dropped in command prompt.




As i have written for windows but these commands can be used on ADB on linux/MacOS as well but i have only mentioned the set-up guide for windows only.

Credits/Source.

http://developer.android.com/tools/help/index.html

Getting Debug Infos (Logcats)

1. logcat
logcat is a report from android logging system which runs in background from the moment u boot ur phone. and it haves all the info what went wrong with system.

generally we can see logcat by typing

 adb logcat

but that will show the constant data flow so better save it as file so can be sent to dev or u can study it later.

adb logcat > log.txt

this will store the logcat to directory of adb and collect log in text file.

2. bugreport

adb bugreport

bug report prints dumpsys, dumpstate, and logcat data to the screen. which can be used for bug reporting.

3. Java Debug Wire Protocol

adb jdwp

this command prints the list of available JDWP processes on connected device in command prompt.

Logcats On Mobile

u can directly generate logcat on ur mobile using Terminal Emulator app, there are many terminal apps in market. CM comes with pre-loaded Terminal Emulator.
some terminal apps:
Android Terminal
Terminal Emulator
RomToolbox
u will need root access to generate logs

open terminal app, u will see following screen

$ export PATH=/data/local/bin:$PATH
$

now type su and hit enter.
allow super user permissions.

now to get a logcat type following command.

logcat > /mnt/sdcard/logcat.txt

this will generate text file named logcat.txt on root of ur sdcard which is containing logcat.

to get DMESG (Kernel Debug)
open terminal and type following command

su
dmesg > /mnt/sdcard/dmesg.txt

this will generate text file named dmesg.txt on root of ur sdcard which is containing kernel debug log.

Kernel Debugging.

we can use adb to debug kernel issues.

adb shell
dmesg

this will generate a log which is very helpful to resolve kernel issues, we just have to send this log to dev, he will look after it.

sometimes after flashing kernel we go into bootloop in that cases generate logcat using this commands and send to dev it will be very helpfull for dev to know and resolve reason causing bootloop.

 adb shell
cat /proc/last_kmsg > /sdcard/last_kmsg

this command should be executed immediately on reboot otherwise it will be over written by new kernel message. the file will be stored on root of ur sdcard named last_kmsg. send this file to kernel dev it will help him great to resolve the problem.

Read this if u dont know how to get files from ur sdcard even if ur phone is not booting and stuck at bootloop.

u must have CWM to do this.

>boot ur phone in recovery mode (by holding VOL UP and HOME key together on boot)
>goto "Mounts and Storage"
>Select "Mount USB Storage" and plug in your data cable.
>Now u can access ur sdcard on ur pc, after ur work is done click "Unmount"

Hi,
Just a noob question... if my phone is stuck in a bootloop, is there anyway for me to get a logcat without flashing a new rom???

Sent from my GT-I9103 using xda app-developers app

Originally Posted by JoJo2012

Hi,
Just a noob question... if my phone is stuck in a bootloop, is there anyway for me to get a logcat without flashing a new rom???

Sent from my GT-I9103 using xda app-developers app

If you have enabled USB Debugging , yes

"I have to go. It's just....they really need me." - Sora

Re: Toggle mobile data on and off via adb

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Does anybody know how to toggle mobile data on and off via ADB?? IM WILLING TO PAY FOR THIS INFO lol I NEED IT THAT BAD!! PM ME PLEEEASE!!!!!

Originally Posted by 12manytimes

Does anybody know how to toggle mobile data on and off via ADB?? IM WILLING TO PAY FOR THIS INFO lol I NEED IT THAT BAD!! PM ME PLEEEASE!!!!!

'adb shell su -c "svc data disable"' and 'adb shell su -c "svc data enable"'. You must be rooted.

Sent from my GT-I9103 with CM10

Originally Posted by Adam77Root

'adb shell su -c "svc data disable"' and 'adb shell su -c "svc data enable"'. You must be rooted.

Sent from my GT-I9103 with CM10

Thanks alot, i just sent you a PM but it shows that i didn't send anything, so if you didn't get the message please send me one cuz id like to buy you a beer!

I wish i could hit your thanks button a million times right now lol

Hello I am trying to create a batch file that has an infinite loop and was wondering if there are any adb commands that can do this.


I am also looking for an adb command that waits x amount of seconds before performing the next command.?


Any help would be greatly appreciated