Android Debug Bridge: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Tool for debugging Android-based devices}}

{{distinguish|Advanced Debugger}}

{{good article}}

{{Short description|Tool for debugging Android-based devices}}

{{Infobox software

| title = Android Debug Bridge

| name =

| logo = Android robotRobot headHead 2023.svg

| logo caption =

| logo alt =

| logo size = 100px

| collapsible = <!-- Any text here will collapse the screenshot. -->

| screenshot = Android Debug Bridge in GNOME terminal.png

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| discontinued = <!-- Set to yes, if software is discontinued, otherwise omit. -->

| latest release version = 3134.0.31 (March 2023)

| latest release date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->

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| website = {{URL|https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb}}

| AsOf =

| games list =

}}

The '''Android Debug Bridge''' (commonly abbreviated as '''adb''') is a [[programming tool]] used for the [[debugging]] of [[Android (operating system)|Android]]-based devices. The [[Daemon (computing)|daemon]] on the Android device connects with the server on the host PC over [[USB]] or [[Transmission Control Protocol|TCP]], which connects to the client that is used by the end-user over TCP. Made available as [[open-source software]] under the [[Apache License]] by [[Google]] since 2007, its features include a shell and the possibility to make backups. The adb software is compatibleavailable withfor [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]] and [[macOS]]. It has been misused by [[Botnet|botnetsbotnet]]s and other [[Malware|malicious softwaremalware]], for which mitigations were developed such as [[RSA (cryptosystem)|RSA]] authentication and device [[whitelisting]].

== Features ==

[[File:Android Device Monitor.png|thumb|left|Android Device Monitor ]]

Features of adb include copying files from the host computer,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Darcey|first=Lauren|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/749852462|title=Android wireless application development|date=2012|publisher=Addison-Wesley|others=Shane Conder|isbn=978-0-321-81383-1|edition=3rd|___location=Upper Saddle River, NJ|oclc=749852462|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926122121/https://www.worldcat.org/title/android-wireless-application-development/oclc/749852462|url-status=live}}</ref> installing apps, viewing logcat output, getting a [[Unix shell]], <ref>{{Cite web|title=Things You Can Do with Android's adb Command|url=https://www.dummies.com/web-design-development/mobile-apps/android-apps/things-you-can-do-with-androids-adb-command/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-09|website=[[For Dummies]]|language=en|archive-date=2018-05-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515143530/https://www.dummies.com/web-design-development/mobile-apps/android-apps/things-you-can-do-with-androids-adb-command}}</ref> and rebooting into [[Qualcomm EDL mode]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=EASTTOM|first=CHUCK|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1250310301|title=An In-Depth Guide to Mobile Device Forensics|date=2021|publisher=CRC PRESS|isbn=978-0-367-63300-4|___location=[S.l.]|pages=72|oclc=1250310301|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926122044/https://www.worldcat.org/title/in-depth-guide-to-mobile-device-forensics/oclc/1250310301|url-status=live}}</ref> For example, Android [[Android application package|applications]] can be saved by the command <code>[[backup]]</code> to a file.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jack Wallen|date=2015-03-06|title=How to create a full backup of your Android device without root|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-create-a-full-backup-of-your-android-device-without-root/|access-date=2016-01-29|archive-date=2016-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124184710/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-create-a-full-backup-of-your-android-device-without-root/|url-status=live}}</ref> It also includes support for the [[Java Debug Wire Protocol]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Regupathy|first=Rajaram|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/880673864|title=Unboxing Android USB: a hands-on approach with real World examples|date=2014|isbn=978-1-4302-6209-1|___location=Berkeley, CA|oclc=880673864|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926122019/https://www.worldcat.org/title/unboxing-android-usb-a-hands-on-approach-with-real-world-examples/oclc/880673864|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some [[Graphical user interface|graphical interfaces]] have been made available. The graphical Android Device Monitor in [[Android Studio]] can be used for retrieving information from an Android device.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Morgillo|first1=Ivan|last2=Viola|first2=Stefano|url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.incom/books/edition/Learning_Embedded_Android_N_Programming/bOrUDQAAQBAJ?hlid=enbOrUDQAAQBAJ|title=Learning embedded Android N programming: create the perfectly customized system by unleashing the power of Android OS on your embedded device|date=2016|___location=Birmingham, UK|page=89|isbn=9781785283284|oclc=1020708322|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926122010/https://www.worldcat.org/title/learning-embedded-android-n-programming-create-the-perfectly-customized-system-by-unleashing-the-power-of-android-os-on-your-embedded-device/oclc/957278992|url-status=live}}</ref>

Android's method to install APK files on a device has been used as a way to sideload unofficial apps onto [[Windows Subsystem for Android]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-sideload-android-apps-on-windows-11/ | title=How to sideload Android apps on Windows 11 | date=23 January 2022 }}</ref> and Chrome OS's Android virtual machine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.xda-developers.com/how-sideload-apps-chromebook/ | title=How to sideload apps to a Chromebook | date=5 March 2023 }}</ref>

Shizuku allows an Android phone to connect to its own ADB when connected to a wireless network. The application is available for free on the Google Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web |title=User manual {{!}} Shizuku |url=https://shizuku.rikka.app/guide/setup/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=shizuku.rikka.app}}</ref>

== Development history ==

The [[Android SDK|Android Software Development Kit]] (SDK) was first released in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google releases Android SDK|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/188112/androidsdk.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-10|website=[[Macworld]]|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910144537/https://www.macworld.com/article/188112/androidsdk.html}}</ref> Since 2017, Google made it possible to download adb separately from the Android SDK.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-01-05|title=Google makes ADB, fastboot, and other platform tools available without full SDK or Android Studio download|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/01/05/google-makes-adb-fastboot-platform-tools-available-without-full-sdk-android-studio-download/|access-date=2021-09-09|website=Android Police|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410215628/https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/01/05/google-makes-adb-fastboot-platform-tools-available-without-full-sdk-android-studio-download/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Microsoft released an Android emulator that can connect to the adb client.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vasile|first=Cosmin|title=Microsoft Releases Android Emulator and It's Supposed to Be Faster than Google's|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-releases-android-emulator-and-it-s-supposed-to-be-faster-than-google-s-488016.shtml|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-10|website=[[Softpedia]]|language=english|archive-date=2021-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910152702/https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-releases-android-emulator-and-it-s-supposed-to-be-faster-than-google-s-488016.shtml}}</ref> In 2016 for [[Android Studio]] 2.0 a 5x performance improvement was made for installing apps and pushing files through adb.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Android Studio 2.0 - Beta|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/02/android-studio-20-beta.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910162958/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/02/android-studio-20-beta.html|archive-date=2021-09-10|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Android Developers Blog|language=en}}</ref> For easier usage of [[Android Things]], a wrapper was made in 2017 around manual adb commands.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Android Things Developer Preview 6|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/11/android-things-developer-preview-6.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910162953/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/11/android-things-developer-preview-6.html|archive-date=2021-09-10|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Android Developers Blog|language=en}}</ref> For Android 11 in 2020, Google added adb incremental installations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Turning it up to 11: Android 11 for developers|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/09/android11-final-release.html|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Android Developers Blog|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917230702/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/09/android11-final-release.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Wi-Fi adb was integrated into Android Studio for macOS.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Announcing Android Studio Arctic Fox (2020.3.1) & Android Gradle plugin 7.0|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/12/announcing-android-studio-arctic-fox.html|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Android Developers Blog|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912132619/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/12/announcing-android-studio-arctic-fox.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021 for [[Android 12]], the <code>adb backup</code> command was limited so that backing up user data from apps is opt-in using a per-app manifesto configuration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Behavior changes: Apps targeting Android 12 {{!}} Android 12 Beta|url=https://developer.android.com/about/versions/12/behavior-changes-12?hl=bg|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Android Developers|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928195103/https://developer.android.com/about/versions/12/behavior-changes-12?hl=bg|url-status=live}}</ref> after being deprecated in Android 10 along with <code>adb restore</code>.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/mobile/google-considers-removing-android-adb-backup-and-restore/ | title=Google Considers Removing Android ADB Backup and Restore }}</ref> [[Fuchsia (operating system)|Fuchsia]] will be backwards-compatible with ADBadb. It will be replaced with fx and ffx.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Kyle |date=2022-08-26 |title=Google wants to make Fuchsia devices manageable with Android's ADB tool |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/08/26/fuchsia-adb-proposal/ |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=[[9to5Google]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Setup ==

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|width=200 | height=350

|align=right

|File:USB debugging prompt warning - Android 13.png|For enabling USB debugging on the Android device, it needs to be enabled in the "developer settings" window

|File:Android Debug Bridge allow.png

|For enabling File:USB debugging onprompt the- RSA auth - Android 13.png|After the device is connected to the host computer, itthe user needs to beverify enabledthe inRSA thekey "developerfingerprint of the settings"host windowcomputer

|File:Android Debug Bridge RSA key fingerprint.png

|After the device is connected to the host computer, the user needs to verify the RSA key fingerprint of the host computer

}}

=== Host computer ===

For Windows, the Android SDK contains the adb.exe binary that can be extracted and installed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Harwani|first=B. M.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/862745697|title=PhoneGap build: developing cross platform mobile applications in the cloud|date=2013|isbn=978-1-4665-8975-9|___location=Boca Raton|pages=38|oclc=862745697|access-date=2022-01-29|archive-date=2022-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307163655/https://www.worldcat.org/title/phonegap-build-developing-cross-platform-mobile-applications-in-the-cloud/oclc/862745697|url-status=live}}</ref> How-To Geek recommends adding the folder containing the binaries to the [[PATH (variable)|PATH]] environment variable.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Hoffman|first1=Chris|last2=Fedewa|first2=Joe|date=4 September 2021|title=How to Install and Use ADB, the Android Debug Bridge Utility|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/125769/how-to-install-and-use-abd-the-android-debug-bridge-utility/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-09|website=How-To Geek|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918232917/https://www.howtogeek.com/125769/how-to-install-and-use-abd-the-android-debug-bridge-utility/}}</ref>

On [[Ubuntu]], adb can be installed with the <code>android-tools-adb</code> package.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Smyth|first=Neil|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1190906409|title=Android Studio 4. 0 Development Essentials - Java Edition: Developing Android Apps Using Android Studio 4. 0, Java and Android Jetpack.|date=2020|isbn=978-1-951442-21-7|___location=Cary|chapter=7|oclc=1190906409|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926121959/https://www.worldcat.org/title/android-studio-4-0-development-essentials-java-edition-developing-android-apps-using-android-studio-4-0-java-and-android-jetpack/oclc/1190906409|url-status=live}}</ref> For [[Debian]], it has been recommended to also install the <code>android-sdk-platform-tools-common</code> package next to the <code>adb</code> package, which installs the [[udev]] rules which makes it possible to run the tool without [[Superuser|root permissions]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Debian -- Details of package adb in bullseye|url=https://packages.debian.org/stable/adb|access-date=2021-09-08|website=packages.debian.org|archive-date=2021-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908120401/https://packages.debian.org/stable/adb|url-status=live}}</ref> For macOS and other Linux distributions, the platform tools can be downloaded and the PATH variable can be modified in [[Bash (Unix shell)|bashrc]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to Install Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and Fastboot|url=https://www.lifewire.com/android-debug-bridge-adb-4149410 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220130/https://www.lifewire.com/android-debug-bridge-adb-4149410 |archive-date=2022-01-30|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-18|website=[[Lifewire]]|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Android device ===

In [[Android 4.2.2]] or later ([[Android version history#Overview|API level 17]]), a dialog is shown with an RSA [[Public key fingerprint|fingerprint]] that the user needs to accept. This protects against computers exploiting the debugging mechanism without consent of the device user.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Run apps on a hardware device|url=https://developer.android.com/studio/run/device?hl=de|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Android Developers|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908120934/https://developer.android.com/studio/run/device?hl=de|url-status=live}}</ref> Starting in Android 4.2, the developer settings are hidden by default. Pressing seven times on the build number in the about menu makes them visible to the user. After that, the USB debugging option can be enabled.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wallen|first=Jack|title=How to enable Developer options in Android 4.2|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/pro-tip-how-to-enable-developer-options-in-android-42/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-09|website=[[TechRepublic]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909131841/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/pro-tip-how-to-enable-developer-options-in-android-42/}}</ref> Some Android vendors have different procedures to enable it. For example, Huawei requires entering a pincode before adb can be enabled.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Aranzulla|first=Salvatore|author-link=Salvatore Aranzulla|title=Come attivare debug USB|url=https://www.aranzulla.it/come-attivare-debug-usb-1144637.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-09|website=Salvatore Aranzulla|language=it-IT|archive-date=2021-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909140557/https://www.aranzulla.it/come-attivare-debug-usb-1144637.html}}</ref>

If the [[touchscreen]] of an Android device is broken, it can be possible to connect a mouse to the device using [[USB On-The-Go]] and enable USB debugging.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ogubuike|first=Udochi|date=2019-08-09|title=How to enable USB debugging mode on Android|url=https://punchng.com/how-to-enable-usb-debugging-mode-on-android/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-09|website=[[The Punch]]|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917190512/https://punchng.com/how-to-enable-usb-debugging-mode-on-android/}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Aranzulla|first=Salvatore|author-link=Salvatore Aranzulla|title=Come attivare debug USB|url=https://www.aranzulla.it/come-attivare-debug-usb-1144637.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-09|website=Salvatore Aranzulla|language=it-IT|archive-date=2021-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909140557/https://www.aranzulla.it/come-attivare-debug-usb-1144637.html}}</ref>

== Architecture ==

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* Second argument

* Length of the payload, 0 or higher

* [[CRC32CRC-32]] of the data payload

* Magic value, calculated through command XOR <code>0xFFFFFFFF</code>

== Security ==

Up to [[Android 2.2]], Android was vulnerable to the ''RageAgainstTheCage'' [[Exploit (computer security)|exploit]]. The adb [[Daemon (computing)|daemon]] did not check for the return value of the [[setuid]] [[system call]] when [[dropping privileges]]. The exploit [[Fork (system call)|forks]] processes until it fails due to the exhaustion of [[Processprocess identifier|process identifiers]]s. When the daemon crashes and restarts, it cannot start a new process with dropped privileges and keeps running as root. Then adb provided a root shell.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Drake|first=Joshua J.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/875820167|title=Android hacker's handbook|date=2014|publisher=Wiley|others=Zach Lanier, Collin Mulliner, Pau Oliva, Stephen A. Ridley, Georg Wicherski|isbn=978-1-118-60861-6|___location=Indianapolis, IN|pages=75|oclc=875820167|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926122022/https://www.worldcat.org/title/android-hackers-handbook/oclc/875820167|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, a security vulnerability was disclosed that exploited ADB to take over the onboard [[modem]]. The attack required adb to be already enabled and authorized, although some workarounds were available.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mendelsohn|first=Tom|date=2017-01-09|title=Google plugs severe Android vulnerability that exposed devices to spying|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/01/google-plugs-severe-android-bootmode-vulnerability/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-10|website=[[Ars Technica]]|language=en-us|archive-date=2021-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910135518/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/01/google-plugs-severe-android-bootmode-vulnerability/}}</ref>

Various families of malware such as ADB.Miner, Ares, IPStorm, Fbot and Trinity have scanned the internet for public availability of the adb interface and installed malware on those devices.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cimpanu|first=Catalin|title=Android devices ensnared in DDoS botnet|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/android-devices-ensnared-in-ddos-botnet/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-10|website=[[ZDNet]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910135518/https://www.zdnet.com/article/android-devices-ensnared-in-ddos-botnet/}}</ref> adb can also be used to remove [[malware]], by booting into [[safe mode]] and running the <code>adb uninstall</code> command.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schuman|first=Evan|title=This Vultur app takes malicious to the next level|language=en|work=[[Computerworld]]|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3627326/this-vultur-app-takes-malicious-to-the-next-level.html|access-date=2021-09-10|archive-date=2021-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910135522/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3627326/this-vultur-app-takes-malicious-to-the-next-level.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

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== External links ==

* [{{Official website|https://developer.android.com/studio/command-linetools/adb Android Debug Bridge - Android Developers]}}

* [{{Cite web |title=Using ADB and fastboot |url=https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html ADB and Fastboot guide],|access-date=2023-05-02 |website=[[LineageOS]] wiki}}

* [{{Cite web |title=Android Debug Bridge |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Android_Debug_Bridge Android Debug Bridge],|access-date=2023-05-02 |website=[[Arch Linux]] wiki}}

* [[gentoo:{{Cite web |title=Android/adb - Gentoo Wiki |url=https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Android/adb]], |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=[[Gentoo Linux]] wiki}}

*[ {{Cite web |title=Android Debug Bridge |url=https://en.droidwiki.org/wiki/Android_Debug_Bridge |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Android DebugWiki Bridge,|language=en}}{{dead Droidlink|date=March Wiki]2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Android}}