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How to Send ADB Commands Over Wi-Fi on Android

Feb 16, 2015 06:05 PM

Network settings screen on a smartphone displaying connection status and options.

Android Debug Bridge, or ADB for short, is a very powerful utility that can remotely execute commands on your Android device. This remote terminal interface, however, is not very "remote" at all. You have to be tied down to your computer to use it, since a USB cable is normally required.

But Android has a wireless ADB service built into it that can establish this same connection over a Wi-Fi network. The only trouble here is the fact that enabling this connection has always been rather difficult.

So developer Liam Williams created an app that can enable the wireless ADB service at the press of a button on your rooted Android device. What's more, it even works over a tethering network, so it's never been easier to run ADB commands without wires.

Install Network ADB

Williams' app is called Network ADB, and it's available on the Google Play Store for free. So search it by name to get it installed, or head to the install page directly at this link.

Network ADB app interface with options to uninstall or open, attributed to Liam Williams.

Enable the Wireless ADB Service

When you first launch Network ADB, the app will ask for Superuser access. Tap "Grant" on this popup.

Network access request for app permissions on a mobile device.

Network feature settings interface with button to enable.

The app only has one button, which serves as a toggle for the wireless ADB service. Tap this button to enable wireless ADB on your device, but keep in mind that a running service like this causes battery drain, so you'll want to come back and hit this button again to disable the service when you're done.

Network settings interface with an option to enable Network ADB.

Network ADB Free app interface with instructions to change network status and enable ADB.

When the service is running, the app will display a "Connect Command." This is the command that you'll be using on the computer side of things, so keep this screen on standby.

ADB connection command displayed on a mobile device interface.

Connect to Your Device Over Wi-Fi

From any computer connected to the same network as your Android device, launch an ADB command prompt. Type the "Connect Command" that Network ADB gave you, then hit "Enter."

Command line interface displaying a successful connection to an IP address.

You'll know the connection was made successfully when the response reads "connected to (your device's IP address)." At this point, you can go about using ADB commands like you normally would, but you don't have to fuss with those pesky wires anymore.

What have you used the wireless ADB interface for so far? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

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