ADB is a command-line tool that makes it easier for your Android smartphone and a PC to communicate. The tool has many more applications besides only rooting and updating Android ROMs (more on this later).
The traditional method for using ADB entails connecting your Android device to the Desktop through USB. But there is an alternative. Let’s examine at some wireless ADB usage options.
Set up ADB
You can skip this step if ADB has previously been configured on your Android and PC. If you haven’t, remember that everything is new to you!
You must first download and unzip the Android SDK Platform Tools from the Android developer website before you can use ADB on your machine.
By executing the command: brew install homebrew/cask/android-platform-tools, Mac users can use Homebrew to install ADB.
Before you may connect your Android smartphone using ADB, you must first enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
Go to Settings > About phone then tap on the Build number several times. Once again, go to Settings > Developer options, then toggle on USB debugging.
Once that is finished, use a USB cord to connect the Android device to your Desktop. You must utilize a cable initially even though we’re going to set up a wireless connection. The USB debugging prompt that will display on your Android device should always be accepted.
Open the command line or Terminal and navigate to the Platform Tools folder.
If you’re on Windows, you can head to the downloaded Platform Tools folder and open the PowerShell window by pressing Shift and right-clicking anywhere in the folder, and selecting Open PowerShell Window here. On a Mac, open the Platform Tools folder and go to Finder > Services > New Terminal at Folder.
If you’re using Windows, use the command adb devices into the command prompt. All instructions should be prefixed by a dot-slash on Linux and Mac, so it would be./adb devices.
You should be able to find your device’s serial number in the list of attached devices if everything functions as it should.
How to use Android wireless ADB
The main topic at hand right now is how to connect your Android smartphone wirelessly to an ADB server. To use ADB wirelessly after configuring it and connecting your Android device to your PC, follow the instructions below.
- Type adb tcpip 5555 in the command line or Terminal and press Enter.
- Find your phone’s IP address in Settings > About Phone > Status > IP Address.
- Back in the command line or Terminal, type adb connect [your Android device’s IP address].
- Finally, press Enter again.
The Android device should now be connected to ADB over a wireless connection. You can safely remove the USB cable.
Is wireless ADB not working?
Try installing Minimal ADB and Fastboot from the XDA Forums if your Android device won’t connect to Windows using ADB (you are getting errors in the command line). The required Android drivers are installed by this package, which may also assist you in fixing any command line issues.
You can also utilize WebADB, which transfers all of ADB’s capabilities to your web browser. You can use the online tool to use ADB via Wi-Fi. In other words, you can completely forego installing ADB.
What is ADB used for?
The idea that Android ADB is solely helpful when rooting Android is a common one. It, however, is merely one of the several uses for the Android Debug Bridge.
For example, you can use an ADB command to delete pre-installed apps from your Android device that is not rooted. Unwanted apps may be tough to remove from some Android cellphones, but ADB can assist.
Without needing to root your device, you may also mirror your Android screen to a Desktop using the command line utility. This can be done using the free program Scrcpy. The tool’s wireless ADB connection results in extremely fantastic performance.
Is safe to use?
Using the utility won’t be a problem if you are familiar with ADB commands. There are risks involved with using ADB, especially if you are new to this field. If you are trying to root your device, using the incorrect commands could result in problems or, at worse, brick your phone.
Although your Android smartphone won’t have any problems once you set up wireless ADB, you should always keep a backup of your data in the cloud or on an external storage device as a safety measure.
No cables anymore
Although though you first require a USB cord to set up ADB, the ability to utilize it wirelessly is incredibly useful. It allows you to walk around more freely while you work, allows you to simultaneously charge your phone at full speed, and is just much more practical in general. It’s definitely worth a go if you use ADB.
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Cristian Penisoara is a Guides Writer and Android specialist at Droid Tools. An Android user since version 2 and a professional event photographer, he combines technical curiosity with a detail-oriented approach - every guide he publishes is tested step-by-step on a real device before it goes live.
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