Adb

Android ADB

Important: Use Scripts First

ALWAYS prefer the scripts in `scripts/` over raw `adb` commands. Scripts are located in the scripts/ subdirectory of this skill's folder. They provide features that raw commands do not, such as:

• Automatic circular masking for Wear OS screenshots
• Device wake-up before capture
• Clipboard integration on macOS
• Sensible default filenames and error handling

When to read the script source: If a script doesn't do exactly what you need, or fails due to missing dependencies, read the script source. The scripts encode solutions to edge cases and platform quirks that may not be obvious—use them as reference when building similar functionality.

Quick Start

Target specific devices using the ANDROID_SERIAL environment variable if multiple devices are connected.

Highest-Value Commands

• Screenshot (auto-masks circular Wear OS displays):

scripts/adb-screenshot

• Wear OS Tile Debugging Workflow:

scripts/adb-tile-add com.example/.MyTileService -> output gives INDEX scripts/adb-tile-show INDEX

• Inspect Wear OS Data Layer: scripts/wearableservice-capabilities

scripts/wearableservice-nodes

• Package Information: scripts/packagename tiles PACKAGE_NAME

scripts/packagename services PACKAGE_NAME

• Device Info: scripts/adb-device-properties

• Discover Activities: scripts/adb-activities (find launcher, TV, settings

activities)

Script Index

See references/command-index.md for detailed usage.

Device Basics

• scripts/adb-devices: List connected devices.
• scripts/adb-device-properties: Show key device properties (model,

manufacturer, etc.).

• scripts/adb-api-level: Get the device API level (SDK version).
• scripts/adb-keyevent-wakeup / sleep: Wake up or put device to sleep.

Media Capture

• scripts/adb-screenshot: Take a screenshot. **Always use this instead of raw

adb shell screencap.** Features: auto-detects square Wear OS displays and applies circular mask, wakes device before capture, copies to macOS clipboard, generates timestamped filenames by default.

• scripts/adb-screenrecord: Record the screen to a file.

Tile Management (Wear OS)

• scripts/adb-tile-add: Add a tile component for debugging.
• scripts/adb-tile-show: Show an added tile.
• scripts/adb-tile-remove: Remove a tile.
• scripts/adb-tiles: List currently added tiles.

Activity Discovery

• scripts/adb-activities: List activities tagged by category (Launcher, Home,

TV/Leanback, Settings). Use --launcher-only, --tv-only, --settings-only to filter. Add --all to include system apps.

Package Operations

• scripts/packagename: Comprehensive package tool (uninstall, launch, stop,

clear-cache).

• scripts/adb-logcat-package: Show logcat filtered for a specific package.
• scripts/apk-tiles: List tiles declared in an APK file.

Wear OS Data Layer

• scripts/wearableservice-capabilities: Dump advertised capabilities.
• scripts/wearableservice-nodes: List connected nodes.
• scripts/wearableservice-items: List data items.

Display & Demo Mode

• scripts/adb-demo-on / off: Toggle Android demo mode (clean status bar).
• scripts/adb-fontscale-default / large: Change font size.
• scripts/adb-settings-theme: Toggle dark/light theme.
• scripts/adb-touches-on / off: Show/hide taps on screen.

Safety Notes

• Debug Broadcasts: Tile management relies on Wear OS debug broadcasts

(com.google.android.wearable.app.DEBUG_SURFACE) which may not work on production builds without developer options or specific system images.

• USB Debugging: Requires adb authorization.
• Destructive Actions: Scripts like adb-tile-remove or

packagename uninstall modify device state.