Overview
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands are useful for various tasks, such as installing apps, accessing device files, and debugging Android devices. This guide will walk you through the steps to use ADB commands for your Android-based VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) devices and Android phones and tablets in the Windows Command Prompt.
⚠️ WARNING: Exercise caution when using ADB commands, as some commands can have significant effects on your device.
Prerequisites
Have ADB installed on your computer. If you haven't installed it yet, you can follow the official Android documentation for instructions on how to set up ADB for your operating system.
Android's USB Debugging is enabled (included under Developer Mode, for devices like Meta Quest). Refer to the device manufacturer's documentation for instructions or see our USB Debugging Collection for help enabling Developer Mode/USB Debugging.
Using ADB Commands in the Windows Command Prompt
💡 NOTE: These steps require comfortability with the Windows Command Prompt/PowerShell. Recommended for advanced users only. It is recommended that ADB be added to your system PATH.
Open the Command Prompt on your Windows computer. Search for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu.
Connect your Android device to your computer using a supported USB cable for your device.
In the Command Prompt window, enter
adbfollowed by the desired command. Your ADB installation will either need to be in your system’s PATH or you will need to be in the directory where ADB is installed. If you have installed ADB toC:/Users/USERNAME/Downloads, navigate tocd C:/Users/USERNAME/Downloadsin your Command Prompt.Type the desired ADB command and press Enter to execute it. For example, you can use the command
adb devicesto list all Android-based devices with USB Debugging enabled that are connected to your computer.
Useful ADB Commands
As ADB is an expansive tool that allows you to perform many functions on your USB Debugging-enabled devices, we won’t go into depth with all of the commands available for ADB. To learn all the available commands for ADB, type in adb help then hit Return/Enter on your keyboard or see Android’s ADB documentation to learn more (see the link above in Prerequisites). Below are some common commands that you might find useful!
adb devices
Lists all Android-based devices with USB Debugging enabled that are currently connected to your computer via USB.
adb shell pm list packages
Gathers a list of all APKs installed on devices connected to your computer. This is particularly useful when gathering Package Names for installed applications for our Unmanaged Apps feature.
Alternatively, you can use flags
-3and-sto filter specific types of applications:Third-party applications (apps downloaded from your device’s respective app store:
adb shell pm list packages -3
System applications:
adb shell pm list packages -s
adb logcat > logcat.log
A useful troubleshooting tool for developers. Once run, it will capture activity occurring on the device and send the data to a text file. You’ll typically only need this when working with ArborXR Support and they request a logcat for troubleshooting/debugging purposes. To learn more about using this command in the context of ArborXR, see our article Gather Local Device Logs!
By following these steps, you can effectively use ADB commands in the Windows Command Prompt to manage and interact with your VR device!