10 ADB Commands Interview Questions and Answers

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands are essential tools for developers and testers working with Android devices. These commands facilitate a wide range of tasks, from debugging applications and managing device files to automating workflows and performing system-level operations. Mastery of ADB commands can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness when working with Android environments.

This article offers a curated selection of ADB command questions and answers to help you prepare for technical interviews. By familiarizing yourself with these commands, you will be better equipped to demonstrate your proficiency and problem-solving abilities in an interview setting.

ADB Commands Interview Questions and Answers

1. Write the command to list all connected devices and explain what each column in the output represents.

To list all connected devices using ADB, use the command:

adb devices

The output typically looks like this:

List of devices attached
emulator-5554   device
0123456789ABCDEF device

Each column represents:

• Device Serial Number: A unique identifier for each connected device or emulator, such as “emulator-5554” or “0123456789ABCDEF”.
• Device State: Indicates the current state of the device, such as “device” (connected and ready), “offline” (not responding), or “unauthorized” (connected but not authorized for debugging).

2. How would you use ADB to install an APK on a connected device? Provide the command and explain any options you might use.

To install an APK on a connected device, use:

adb install path/to/your/app.apk

Replace path/to/your/app.apk with the actual path to the APK file. Options include:

• -r: Reinstall an existing app, keeping its data.
• -d: Allow version code downgrade (debugging packages only).
• -s: Install the APK on the device’s SD card.
• -g: Grant all runtime permissions to the app.

For example, to reinstall an app and keep its data:

adb install -r path/to/your/app.apk

3. Write a command to pull a file from the device’s internal storage to your computer. Explain the syntax.

To pull a file from a device’s internal storage to your computer, use:

adb pull <remote> <local>

• <remote>: Path to the file on the device.
• <local>: Path on your computer to save the file.

Example:

adb pull /sdcard/Download/example.txt C:/Users/YourUsername/Desktop/example.txt

This pulls example.txt from the device’s Download directory to your computer’s Desktop.

4. How can you use ADB to logcat and filter logs by a specific tag? Provide an example command.

To filter logs by a specific tag, use:

adb logcat -s <TAG>

For example, to filter logs by the tag “MyAppTag”:

adb logcat -s MyAppTag

5. How would you use ADB to record the screen of a device? Provide the command and explain any options.

To record the screen of an Android device, use:

adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/filename.mp4

Options include:

• --time-limit <time>: Maximum recording time in seconds (default is 180 seconds).
• --size <width>x<height>: Video resolution (default is the device’s native resolution).
• --bit-rate <rate>: Video bit rate in megabits per second (default is 4Mbps).

Example with options:

adb shell screenrecord --time-limit 120 --size 1280x720 --bit-rate 8M /sdcard/recording.mp4

6. Explain how to use ADB to simulate a touch event on the device screen. Provide an example command.

To simulate a touch event on the device screen, use:

adb shell input tap <x> <y>

For instance, to simulate a touch at coordinates (100, 200):

adb shell input tap 100 200

7. Write the command to uninstall an app from a connected device and explain any options you might use.

To uninstall an app from a connected device, use:

adb uninstall <package_name>

For example, if the package name is com.example.myapp:

adb uninstall com.example.myapp

Option:

• -k: Keep the app’s data and cache directories after uninstallation.

Example:

adb uninstall -k com.example.myapp

8. Explain how to use ADB to manage device permissions for an app. Provide an example command to grant a specific permission.

To manage device permissions for an app, use:

adb shell pm grant com.example.app android.permission.CAMERA

Here, com.example.app is the package name, and android.permission.CAMERA is the permission being granted.

9. Write the command to push a file from your computer to the device’s internal storage. Explain the syntax.

To push a file from your computer to the device’s internal storage, use:

adb push <local-file-path> <remote-file-path>

• <local-file-path>: Path to the file on your computer.
• <remote-file-path>: Path on the device where the file will be stored.

Example:

adb push /path/to/local/file.txt /sdcard/file.txt

This pushes the file from your computer to the device’s internal storage.

10. Explain how to kill and restart the ADB server. Why might this be necessary?

To kill and restart the ADB server, use:

adb kill-server
adb start-server

This might be necessary for:

• Connection Issues: Restarting can help re-establish a stable connection.
• Device Recognition: Forces ADB to re-scan and recognize devices.
• Resource Management: Frees up system resources.
• Configuration Changes: Ensures changes take effect.