ADB Android Control Skill

Complete Android device control and automation via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) for Claude Code.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when user asks about:

• Device Management: Connect, disconnect, check status, device info
• App Operations: Install, uninstall, list packages, clear data, force stop
• File Transfer: Push/pull files between host and device
• Screen Control: Screenshots, screen recording, mirroring
• Input Simulation: Taps, swipes, text input, key events
• Shell Access: Run commands on device
• Debugging: Logcat, dumpsys, process info
• Automation: Scripted workflows, batch operations

Quick Reference

Device Connection

# Check connected devices
adb devices

# Connect wirelessly (device already paired)
adb connect <device-ip>:<port>

# Disconnect
adb disconnect <device-ip>:<port>

# Kill ADB server (troubleshooting)
adb kill-server && adb start-server

App Management

# List all packages
adb shell pm list packages

# List third-party apps only
adb shell pm list packages -3

# Search for specific package
adb shell pm list packages | grep -i "keyword"

# Install APK
adb install /path/to/app.apk

# Install with options
adb install -r app.apk          # Replace existing
adb install -d app.apk          # Allow downgrade
adb install -g app.apk          # Grant all permissions

# Uninstall app
adb uninstall com.example.app

# Keep data when uninstalling
adb uninstall -k com.example.app

# Clear app data
adb shell pm clear com.example.app

# Force stop app
adb shell am force-stop com.example.app

# Get app info
adb shell dumpsys package com.example.app

# Get APK path
adb shell pm path com.example.app

# Extract APK from device
adb pull $(adb shell pm path com.example.app | cut -d: -f2) ./app.apk

# Disable/Enable app
adb shell pm disable-user com.example.app
adb shell pm enable com.example.app

# List disabled packages
adb shell pm list packages -d

File Operations

# Push file to device
adb push local_file.txt /sdcard/

# Push directory
adb push ./local_dir /sdcard/

# Pull file from device
adb pull /sdcard/file.txt ./

# Pull directory
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM ./photos

# List files on device
adb shell ls -la /sdcard/

# Create directory
adb shell mkdir -p /sdcard/MyFolder

# Delete file
adb shell rm /sdcard/file.txt

# Delete directory
adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MyFolder

# Check storage space
adb shell df -h

# Find files
adb shell find /sdcard -name "*.jpg" -type f

Screenshots & Screen Recording

# Take screenshot (save on device)
adb shell screencap /sdcard/screenshot.png

# Take screenshot (direct to local)
adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png

# Screen recording (max 180 seconds)
adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/video.mp4

# Screen recording with options
adb shell screenrecord --time-limit 30 --size 720x1280 --bit-rate 4000000 /sdcard/video.mp4

# Stop recording: Ctrl+C or wait for time limit

# Pull recording
adb pull /sdcard/video.mp4 ./

Input Simulation

# Tap at coordinates (x, y)
adb shell input tap 500 1000

# Swipe (x1, y1, x2, y2, duration_ms)
adb shell input swipe 500 1500 500 500 300

# Swipe up (scroll down)
adb shell input swipe 500 1500 500 500 200

# Swipe down (scroll up)
adb shell input swipe 500 500 500 1500 200

# Swipe left
adb shell input swipe 800 1000 200 1000 200

# Swipe right
adb shell input swipe 200 1000 800 1000 200

# Long press
adb shell input swipe 500 1000 500 1000 1000

# Input text (no spaces)
adb shell input text "HelloWorld"

# Input text with spaces (use %s)
adb shell input text "Hello%sWorld"

# Key events
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_HOME
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_BACK
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_MENU
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_POWER
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_VOLUME_UP
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_VOLUME_DOWN
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_ENTER
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_DEL          # Backspace
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_TAB
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_ESCAPE

# Key event codes (numeric)
adb shell input keyevent 3    # Home
adb shell input keyevent 4    # Back
adb shell input keyevent 26   # Power
adb shell input keyevent 24   # Volume Up
adb shell input keyevent 25   # Volume Down
adb shell input keyevent 66   # Enter
adb shell input keyevent 67   # Backspace
adb shell input keyevent 82   # Menu

# Wake up device
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_WAKEUP

# Lock device
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_SLEEP

# Toggle power (wake/sleep)
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_POWER

# Open recent apps
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_APP_SWITCH

# Take screenshot via key
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_SYSRQ

Activity & Intent Management

# Start activity
adb shell am start -n com.package.name/.ActivityName

# Start with action
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://google.com"

# Open URL in browser
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://example.com"

# Open settings
adb shell am start -a android.settings.SETTINGS

# Open specific settings
adb shell am start -a android.settings.WIFI_SETTINGS
adb shell am start -a android.settings.BLUETOOTH_SETTINGS
adb shell am start -a android.settings.DISPLAY_SETTINGS
adb shell am start -a android.settings.SOUND_SETTINGS
adb shell am start -a android.settings.APPLICATION_SETTINGS

# Send broadcast
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED

# Start service
adb shell am startservice -n com.package.name/.ServiceName

# Kill background processes
adb shell am kill-all

# Force stop all background apps
adb shell am kill-all

Device Information

# Get device model
adb shell getprop ro.product.model

# Get Android version
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release

# Get SDK version
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.sdk

# Get serial number
adb shell getprop ro.serialno

# Get all properties
adb shell getprop

# Get battery info
adb shell dumpsys battery

# Get memory info
adb shell dumpsys meminfo

# Get CPU info
adb shell dumpsys cpuinfo

# Get display info
adb shell dumpsys display | grep -i "mBaseDisplayInfo"

# Get screen resolution
adb shell wm size

# Get screen density
adb shell wm density

# Get WiFi info
adb shell dumpsys wifi | grep -i "mWifiInfo"

# Get IP address
adb shell ip addr show wlan0

# Get network stats
adb shell dumpsys netstats

# Get running processes
adb shell ps -A

# Get top processes (like top)
adb shell top -n 1

# Get storage info
adb shell df -h

Logcat (System Logs)

# View all logs (streaming)
adb logcat

# Clear log buffer
adb logcat -c

# View recent logs (dump and exit)
adb logcat -d

# Filter by tag
adb logcat -s "MyTag:*"

# Filter by priority (V/D/I/W/E/F)
adb logcat "*:E"          # Errors only
adb logcat "*:W"          # Warnings and above

# Filter specific app
adb logcat --pid=$(adb shell pidof -s com.example.app)

# Save logs to file
adb logcat -d > logs.txt

# View with timestamps
adb logcat -v time

# View with thread info
adb logcat -v threadtime

# Specific buffer
adb logcat -b crash       # Crash logs
adb logcat -b events      # Event logs
adb logcat -b main        # Main log
adb logcat -b system      # System log

System Settings

# Get setting value
adb shell settings get system screen_brightness
adb shell settings get global airplane_mode_on
adb shell settings get secure android_id

# Set system settings
adb shell settings put system screen_brightness 128

# Set global settings
adb shell settings put global airplane_mode_on 1

# List all settings
adb shell settings list system
adb shell settings list global
adb shell settings list secure

# Common settings changes
# Brightness (0-255)
adb shell settings put system screen_brightness 200

# Screen timeout (ms)
adb shell settings put system screen_off_timeout 60000

# Enable/disable animations
adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0
adb