Execute ADB shell commands

The integration of Android Debug Bridge (ADB) shell support within the LambdaTest Manual Testing platform for app testing on Android devices empowers users to run supported ADB shell commands directly on devices during manual testing sessions, receiving instant output. This feature addresses the challenge of remote device communication, enabling users to interact with devices as if they were physically present.

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Benefits

• Unlock new testing scenarios that require direct device interaction, simplifying the development process.
• Speed up testing by easily accessing native device capabilities and APIs, reducing reliance on framework-specific commands.
• Gain better control over device configurations to execute specific commands tailored to your test cases.

Accessing ADB Shell Terminal

Step 1: Login to your LambdaTest account and navigate to App Testing under Real Device from the left sidebar.

Step 2: Choose the OS version (Android), select your application and device from the device listing, and start your test session.

Step 3: Access ADB Shell

• Once in the test session, find the ADB Shell icon on the top bar.
• Click the ADB Shell icon to open the terminal and start running supported ADB shell commands.
• With a single click, you can clear the terminal content or download the terminal output as a .txt file.

Supported ADB Commands

To ensure security and compatibility, we have a list of ADB commands that can be executed within our Real Device Cloud. Please refer to the following list of supported commands:

Supported ADB Commands - Public Device

Command	Description
am start	Launches an activity on the device. Useful for opening apps or specific screens.
am force-stop	Force-stops an application by its package name.
am compat enable	Enables app compatibility options.
cat /sdcard/Download/	Displays the content of a specific file inside the Download folder.
cat /sdcard/Pictures/	Displays the content of a specific file inside the Pictures folder.
cat /sdcard/Movies/	Displays the content of a specific file inside the Movies folder.
cat /proc/version	Displays kernel version and build info.
dumpsys	Dumps system service information (battery, activity, memory, etc.).
echo	Prints text to the terminal. Useful for testing output or scripting.
getprop	Gets system properties. Often used for device diagnostics.
grep	Searches for text patterns. Useful for filtering logs or command output.
input	Simulates user input like taps, swipes, or key events.
log.tag.FA	Firebase Analytics SDK logs (e.g., event recording, session start).
log.tag.FA-SVC	Firebase background service logs (e.g., data uploads, scheduled jobs).
ls /sdcard/Download	Lists all files and folders located in the device's Download folder.
ls /sdcard/Pictures	Lists all files and folders located in the device's Pictures folder.
ls /sdcard/Movies	Lists all files and folders located in the device's Movies folder.
pm clear	Clears all data associated with a package (app).
pwd	Displays the current working directory.
setprop debug.firebase.analytics.app	Enables Firebase Analytics debug mode for a specific app.
wm fixed-to-user-rotation	Controls screen rotation policy.

Supported ADB Commands - Private Device

All the public commands along with the following:

Command	Description
am instrument	Executes instrumented tests. Often used in automated testing pipelines.
am broadcast	Sends custom broadcast messages for triggering in-app actions.
am	All other app manager commands.
cmd connectivity airplane-mode	Toggles airplane mode on/off (requires permissions).
logcat	Streams real-time logs from device, including app logs.
ls	Lists files and directories. Commonly used to inspect folders like /sdcard/Download.
mkdir	Creates a new directory.
pm	All other package manager commands.
rm	Removes files or directories.
setprop	Sets custom system properties (e.g., for debugging frameworks).

note

adb shell is already pre-applied in our terminal environment. Rewriting it explicitly may prevent the command from executing properly.

If the command you require is not listed, please reach out at our 24x7 Chat Support or you could also mail us at support@lambdatest.com.