[android] How to open adb and use it to send commands

I use ADT to try to make android apps, and use AVD. I know there is another tool called adb. I know it has been installed, and I want try to use it to send commands. Where is it? How to open it? Which button is used to open ADB in ADT?

Another question is where are the API documents? How to find it except on the website, like download or whatever?

This question is related to android adb

The answer is


The short answer is adb is used via command line. find adb.exe on your machine, add it to the path and use it from cmd on windows.

"adb devices" will give you a list of devices adb can talk to. your emulation platform should be on the list. just type adb to get a list of commands and what they do.


The adb tool can be found in sdk/platform-tools/

If you don't see this directory in your SDK, launch the SDK Manager and install "Android SDK Platform-tools"

Also update your PATH environment variable to include the platform-tools/ directory, so you can execute adb from any location.


If you have downloaded the AS + SDK bundle: in Windows 10

C:\Users\ your User Name \AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools\

Run adb.exe

Type adb shell.

Now able to access adb and the db.


Check out Android Documentation Managing Virtual Devices



In Windows 10 while installing Android SDK, by default latest SDK gets installed.
Platform List is part of Android SDK and the best way to find the location is to open SDK manager and get the path.
It will be available at:
Android SDK Location: C:\Users\<User Name>\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools\
In SDK Manager, SDK path can be found by following the below
Appearance & Behaviour --> System Settings --> Android SDK You can get the path where SDK is installed and can edit the location as well.


You should find it in :

C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools

Add that to path, or change directory to there. The command sqlite3 is also there.

In the terminal you can type commands like

adb logcat //for logs
adb shell // for android shell