ADB Commands Support

Android Debug Bridge (adb) is a versatile command-line tool that lets users communicate with a device. The adb command facilitates a variety of device actions, such as installing and debugging apps.

LambdaTest provides support for limited commands which can be executed in your app automation test scripts via javascript executors. The following command with the below mentioned parameters need to be used to execute adb command with LambdaTest real device cloud.

driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)

Supported Commands

NOTE : All these commands are supported on both Real and Virtual Devices except for the adb shell dumpsys command, which is not supported for Virtual Device.

Swipe

adb shell input swipe Real Device Virtual Device

The command is used to generate a swipe gesture by defining the coordinates of starting and ending point of the swipe. The following is a Python sample of using the adb swipe command with LambdaTest executor.

params = {"command":"input-swipe", "startX":200,"startY":900,"endX": 200,"endY":300}
result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

Clipboard

adb shell input sendKeys Real Device Virtual Device

The command is used to sends text as if typed at the keyboard in the real devices. The following is a Python sample of using the adb sendKeys command with LambdaTest executor.

params = {"command":"input-text", "text":"this is my text"}
result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

Home Button

• Navigate to the home screen Real Device Virtual Device

The command is used to navigate to the home screen of the device while running an app automation test script. The following is a Python sample of using the adb command to navigate to the home screen with LambdaTest executor.

params = {"command":"keyevent", "keycode":3}
result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

Enable/Disable auto rotate

• enableAutoRotate Real Device Virtual Device

  The command is used to auto rotate the screen of the device while running an app automation test script. The following is a Python sample using the adb command to allow auto rotation with LambdaTest executor.

  params = {"command":"autorotate", "enableAutoRotate": True}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

ADB Shell Command

LambdaTest allows execution of ADB shell commands during automated test runs.

ADB Shell Command - Public

• adb shell dumpsys Real Device

  The adb shell dumpsys command is used to obtain detailed information about installed packages on device. When you run this command, it provides a list of information for each package installed on the device. The output includes various details about each package.The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "dumpsys package <package_info>"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

  Example -

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "dumpsys package dumpsys input_method"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell getprop Virtual Device Real Device

  The command adb shell getprop is used to retrieve system properties from an Android device. When executed, it provides a list of key-value pairs representing various system settings and configurations. These properties include information about the device's build, hardware, and other system-related details. The output can be useful for debugging, development or understanding the device's current state. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "getprop"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

  Example -

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "getprop ro.build.version.security_patch"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell cat /proc/version Real Device

  The adb shell cat /proc/version command outputs detailed information about the Linux kernel version running on the Android device, including the build date and compiler details. This information is essential for debugging compatibility issues and understanding the device’s operating system internals.The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "cat /proc/version"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

ADB Shell Command - Private

• adb shell pm Real Device

  The adb shell pm command enables management of Android apps programmatically. It supports installing, uninstalling, clearing data, and querying installed packages. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "pm list packages"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell rm Real Device

  The adb shell rm command is used to delete files or directories from the Android device's filesystem directly from your terminal or during automated test execution. It helps in clearing residual data, removing temporary test files, or resetting the test environment by deleting specific logs, APKs, screenshots, or other generated data. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "rm /sdcard/Download/tempfile.txt"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell mkdir Real Device

  The adb shell mkdir command is used to create new directories on an Android device’s filesystem. It is especially useful when preparing the device environment before automated test runs—ensuring that the required folder structure exists for storing screenshots, logs, or other test-related files. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "mkdir /sdcard/TestResults"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell screencap Real Device

  The adb shell screencap command captures the current screen on a real device and saves it as an image file. It’s useful for debugging UI issues or validating visual test results during automation. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "screencap /sdcard/screen.png"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell content Real Device

  The adb shell content command interacts with Android’s content providers to query, insert, update, or delete shared data like contacts, SMS, or calendar entries. It's commonly used in tests to read data, insert test entries, or reset content to a known state. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "content query --uri content://contacts/phones"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell am Real Device

  The adb shell am command uses the Activity Manager to control app components on a real device. It’s useful for launching activities, restarting apps, or sending broadcast intents—commonly done during tests to simulate user actions or reset app state. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "am start -n com.example/.MainActivity"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell dumpsys Real Device

  The adb shell dumpsys command is used to obtain detailed information about installed packages on device. When you run this command, it provides a list of information for each package installed on the device. The output includes various details about each package.The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "dumpsys package <package_info>"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

  Example -

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "dumpsys package dumpsys input_method"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell getprop Real Device

The adb shell getprop command retrieves system-level properties in the form of key-value pairs. These properties include internal runtime details such as device model, manufacturer, OS version, network state, security patch level, and debug flags. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

params = {"command": "shell", "text": "getprop"}
result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell setprop Real Device

  The adb shell setprop command sets system properties on a real device, allowing you to modify device behavior. It’s often used to change debug flags, adjust logging levels, or simulate different configurations and network conditions during testing. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "setprop debug.test true"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell cat /proc/version Real Device

  The adb shell cat /proc/version command outputs detailed information about the Linux kernel version running on the Android device, including the build date and compiler details. This information is essential for debugging compatibility issues and understanding the device’s operating system internals.The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "cat /proc/version"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

• adb shell ls Real Device

  The adb shell ls command lists files and directories within a specified folder on the Android device. It is commonly used during automated tests to verify the presence and contents of files created, modified, or downloaded by the app. This helps ensure test artifacts are correctly generated and stored on the device.

  These are the ls commands that can are enabled:

  • ls /sdcard/Download — Lists all files and directories inside the Downloads folder. Typically used to check if test downloads or app-generated files exist, and to validate proper file creation or cleanup.

  • ls /sdcard/Pictures — Lists all files in the Pictures directory, which usually stores photos and screenshots. Useful for confirming screenshots are saved correctly or for accessing images created during tests.

  • ls /sdcard/Movies — Lists media files in the Movies folder. Commonly used to validate recorded or downloaded videos and manage video artifacts from test executions.

  # List files in the Downloads folder
  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "ls /sdcard/Download"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)
  # List files in the Pictures folder
  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "ls /sdcard/Pictures"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)
  # List files in the Movies folder
  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "ls /sdcard/Movies"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)

• adb shell cat Real Device

  The adb shell cat command in Android's shell outputs a file’s contents to the console, allowing quick access to text or binary data on the device. Short for “concatenate,” it’s a common Linux command used to read files. In automation, cat helps inspect logs, reports, images, or videos without manual device access. Text files show readable content, while binary files output raw data that may need special handling.

  These are the cat commands that can are enabled:

  • cat /sdcard/Download/<filename> — Outputs the contents of a file in the Downloads folder. Typically used to read logs, reports, or downloaded test artifacts.

  • cat /sdcard/Pictures/<filename> — Outputs the raw binary data of an image file in the Pictures folder, useful for verifying screenshots or photos.

  • cat /sdcard/Movies/<filename> — Outputs raw binary content of video files in the Movies folder, helpful for validating recorded or downloaded videos.

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "cat /proc/version"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)
  # Read a log or report from Downloads
  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "cat /sdcard/Download/test_log.txt"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)
  # Read an image file (raw binary) from Pictures
  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "cat /sdcard/Pictures/screenshot.png"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)
  # Read a video file (raw binary) from Movies
  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "cat /sdcard/Movies/test_video.mp4"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params)

Additional ADB Shell Commands

• adb shell ping -c 4 YOUR_URL Virtual Device

  This command is used to test the network connectivity between the Android device and a specified host, such as google.com. When executed it sends four ICMP request packets to the host and wait for responses. The output includes details such as packet transmission time, success rate and round-trip time, which helps diagnose network connectivity and latency issues. The following is a Python sample using the adb command:

  Note : The -c is required in this command

  params = {"command": "shell", "text": "ping -c 4 google.com"}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

Enable/Disable Notification

• enableNotification Real Device Virtual Device

  These commands enable or disable your app notifications on the device based on the value provided for enableNotification. True is used to enable notifications, while False is used to disable them. The following is a Python sample using the adb command with LambdaTest executor:

  params = {"command": "enable-notification", "enableNotification":True/False}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)
  note

  • These commands are compatible with Android versions 13 and above.
  • When you disable app notification permissions using the command, the app go into the background. This behavior occurs due to limitations with ADB, and you need to reactivate the app through test script.

Enable/Disable Battery Optimization

• disableBatteryOptimization Real Device Virtual Device

  This command is used to enable or disable battery optimization for your app on the device. The following is a Python sample using the adb command to disable battery optimization with LambdaTest executor:

  params = {"command":"disable-battery-optimization", "disableBatteryOptimization":True/False}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

Fixed-to-User Rotation

• fixedToUserRotation Real Device Virtual Device

  This command serves to lock the screen rotation in alignment with the app's default behavior and user-defined settings. Below is a Python example utilizing the adb command to enforce fixed screen rotation with the LambdaTest executor:

  params = {"command":"fixed-to-user-rotation", "fixedToUserRotation":True}
  result = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb",params)

Disabling Animations on Android Devices Real Device Virtual Device

Disabling animations can enhance test execution speed by preventing unnecessary visual effects. The following commands are used to disable different types of animations:

• adb shell settings put global animator_duration_scale 0: Disables property animation effects, such as object transitions and transformations.

• adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0: Disables window transition animations, making UI transitions instant.

• adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0: Disables activity window animations, eliminating fade-in or zoom-in effects.

  These commands set the respective global animation scales to 0, effectively disabling animations.

  Map<String, String> params = Map.of("command", "shell", "text", "settings get global animator_duration_scale");
  androidDriver.executeScript("lambda-adb", params);

Enabling Automatic Timezone and Automatic Time Using ADB Virtual Device App

By default, Automatic Timezone and Automatic Time settings are enabled on the device. These settings ensure that the device updates its time and timezone automatically based on network-provided information. If needed, you can manually enable these settings using ADB shell commands. To enable these settings via ADB, run the following commands:

• settings put global auto_time_zone 1: Enables Automatic Timezone, allowing the device to adjust its timezone based on network data.
• settings put global auto_time 1: Enables Automatic Time, ensuring that the device syncs time automatically from the network.

These commands help maintain accurate time and timezone settings without requiring manual intervention. If you're using Python with LambdaTest’s App Automation, you can execute these commands using the execute_script function:

# Define ADB commands for enabling automatic time and timezone
params_timezone = {"command": "shell", "text": "settings put global auto_time_zone 1"}
params_time = {"command": "shell", "text": "settings put global auto_time 1"}

# Execute commands using LambdaTest's ADB execution method
result_timezone = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params_timezone)
result_time = driver.execute_script("lambda-adb", params_time)

This approach is particularly useful when testing applications that rely on correct time settings, ensuring they function properly across different time zones.