How to Install Android Apps via ADB

Android Debug Bridge, or ADB, is a command-line tool that can communicate between your computer and your Android device. ADB allows you to run commands on your Android device directly from your computer, giving you total control over your device.

How to Install Android Apps via ADB

The ADB tool is a quick way to sideload APK files onto your Android device. Here’s how to do it.

1. Install ADB on Your Computer

First things first, you need to install ADB on your computer. ADB is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. We’ll be using a Windows device.

There are two pathways you could take to install ADB. The first method is downloading ADB and extracting it on your computer. The second and preferred method is installing it with a command-line installer such as Scoop for Windows or Homebrew for Mac.

Installing ADB through a command-line installer allows you to use it in any directory on your computer. Once you’ve installed Scoop, you can install ADB on Windows by running the following command:

For Windows

scoop install adb

For Linux would be:

sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb

For Homebrew on Mac:

brew install android-platform-tools

See also: How to Setup ADB and Fastboot on Windows, Mac

2. Locate the APK File

Store your APK files in a folder of your choosing. Give the files short and concise names to reduce inaccuracies when inputting the file’s name in ADB.

3. Launch the Terminal

You can use a terminal such as Command Prompt to operate ADB. To make things as efficient as possible, it’s best to launch Command Prompt in the same directory as your APK files. Here’s how you can do that on Windows:

1. Open the folder in File Explorer.
2. On your keyboard, press Alt + D. This will highlight the address bar.
3. In the address bar, type cmd and then press Enter.

This will open an instance of Command Prompt in that directory so that you don’t have to refer to each file’s location.

4. Connect to Your Android Device With ADB

You need to enable USB debugging to connect to your Android device. With USB debugging enabled, connecting your device to your computer with a USB cable will automatically connect it to ADB. If a prompt comes up on your Android device, accept it to grant your computer the required permissions.

To ensure you’re connected, run the command below in Command Prompt:

adb devices

This command will list the connected devices. Your Android device’s serial should show up in the list.

Connect Wirelessly

If you’re keen on connecting wirelessly, go to your Android device’s Developer options and enable Wireless debugging and Wireless ADB debugging.

Then head back to Settings, go to About phone, and tap on Status. Scroll down and jot down your device’s local IP.

Open Command Prompt, replace the IP in the command below with your device’s IP, and then run it.

adb connect 192.168.1.138

With everything ready, it’s time to connect your Android device wirelessly. Ensure the two devices are on the same connection (your home Wi-Fi, for instance).

Once you run this command, a prompt will appear on your Android device. Allow it to give your computer debugging permissions. Now run the command below to see a list of connected devices. Your device’s IP address should be listed.

adb devices

4. Install the APK With ADB

Finally, it’s time to install the APK file on your Android device. This final step is easy as pie—assuming that you’ve opened Command Prompt in the same directory as your APK files and are connected to your Android device.

It takes one simple command to install APK files with ADB:

adb install file.apk

Replace file.apk with your file’s name in the command above and run it in Command Prompt. The .apk extension is necessary, so don’t leave it out!

ADB should reply with Performing Streamed Install. This will take a while, depending on the app and your device. Once the installation is complete, ADB will return Success.

Tada! Your APK is now successfully sideloaded on your Android device.

How to Install Android Apps via ADB by SDK

To install an Android app via ADB, you need to follow these steps:

1. Enable Developer Mode on your Android device: Go to “Settings” > “System” > “About phone” > Tap “Software information” > Tap “Build number” 7 times.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer via a USB cable.
3. Enable USB debugging on your Android device: Go to “Settings” > “System” > “Developer options” > “USB debugging.”
4. Download and install the Android SDK on your computer.
5. Open the Command Prompt or Terminal on your computer.
6. Navigate to the platform-tools folder in the Android SDK directory using the command line.
7. Type the following command to confirm that your device is connected: “adb devices”.
8. Type the following command to install the app: “adb install [app-name].apk”. Replace “[app-name]” with the actual name of the APK file you want to install.
9. Wait for the app to install and then launch it from your device.

install Android apps via ADB is by using Android Studio

Another method to install Android apps via ADB is by using Android Studio:

1. Download and install Android Studio on your computer.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer via a USB cable.
3. Enable USB debugging on your Android device: Go to “Settings” > “System” > “Developer options” > “USB debugging.”
4. Launch Android Studio.
5. Click on “Run” in the top menu, then select “Edit Configurations.”
6. Click on the “+” sign in the top left corner and select “Android App.”
7. Fill in the configuration details for the app you want to install.
8. Click on “Apply” and then “Run.”
9. Android Studio will install the app on your device and launch it.

install Android apps via ADB is by using Google Chrome browser:

Another method to install Android apps via ADB is by using a third-party software such as the Google Chrome browser:

1. Download and install the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer via a USB cable.
3. Enable USB debugging on your Android device: Go to “Settings” > “System” > “Developer options” > “USB debugging.”
4. Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
5. Type “chrome://apps” in the address bar and press Enter.
6. Click on the “ARC Welder” app to launch it.
7. Click on “Choose” and select the APK file for the app you want to install.
8. Configure the app settings and click on “Launch App.”
9. The app will be installed and launched on your device.

This method is convenient for users who do not have access to a computer with the Android SDK installed, or who prefer to use a graphical user interface instead of the command line.

TIP: to uninstall an app, use adb uninstall *package name*. For example, adb uninstall com.headjack.myapp (this package name is shown behind the app name in the list of Unknown Sources in your Library).