Develop Reference

Is it possible to pull and inspect the database file of contacts in android

I am using android Pie, tring to understand contentprovider in the context of contacts table, it is a bit confusing so I am trying to figure out how to pull the contacts database file from android's storage, so that I can inspect the structure and contents of the table.
Please advise. did some research and it is apparently supposed to be here
/data /data /com.android.providers.contacts /databases /contacts2.db
Using android studio when I browse this location it does not show any contents please advise

Yes, it is possible, although you may need a device that allows root access. The path you posted looks correct, but you connect to your device via ADB and search for it on the device:
$ adb root
$ adb remount
$ adb shell
$ find . -name "contacts2.db"
Copy the path, and then exit out of adb and use:
$ adb pull <path>
You will then be able to access the file with a SQL database browser.

Get SQLite database from Android app

I need get SQLite database from Android app from Genesis device where user has populated by hand.
How I can create another app or any other way to get this db and save in place where I can get?
obs.: the device has root
Thanks

Steps from .../platform-tools of Android on cmd:
1) type adb shell
2) run-as com.your.package
3) type ls
cache
databases
lib
You can find Your Database Here...Also You didn't even have to root the Device
Hope this could helpful for you...

Provided you have the device attached to a box with adb on the PATH you can use this command:
adb -d shell 'run-as your.package.name.here cat /data/data/your.package.name.here/databases/your_db_name_here.sqlite > /sdcard/recovered_db.sqlite'
Or you can use Ecliplse DDMS file explorer.

VERY EASY WAY TO DO IT
In the latest releases of Android Studio (I am using AS v3.1.2) the Google team has made it really straight forward. You just have to open the Device File Explorer window which should be at the bottom of the right vertical toolbar, if you cannot find it you can also open it this way:
View -> Tool Windows -> Device File Explorer
Once you have Device File Explorer window open, use your mouse to navigate to the following path:
data -> data -> your.package.name -> databases
Inside the databases folder you should see the database you want to explore, do a right click and Save As... select your desired computer destination folder and voila!!

You can either include the Stetho library on your app,
http://facebook.github.io/stetho/
which will allow you to access your DB using Chrome's Web Debug tools
or use the following shell script:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Requesting data from Android"
adb backup -f data.ab -noapk YOUR.APK.NAME
echo "Decoding...."
dd if=data.ab skip=24 iflag=skip_bytes | python -c "import zlib,sys;sys.stdout.write(zlib.decompress(sys.stdin.read()))" | tar -xvf -
rm data.ab
echo "Done"
```
None of the methods above require your device to be rooted and the latter works even on apps that you did not write yourself, as long as the ApplicationManifest.xml does not contain "backup=false"

After trying dozens of commands that didn't work for me on Marshmallow, I've found this one that works (for debuggable apps at least):
adb shell "run-as your.package.name cp /data/data/your.package.name/databases/you-db-name /sdcard/file_to_write"
Then you simply can view the DB with aSQLiteManager for instance.

You can use this script.
humpty.sh
You should know the application package name and sqlite database name.
You can check the available databases.
$ adb shell
$ run-as <package-name>
$ ls databases/
To dump database or other file.
./humpty.sh -d <package-name> databases/<db-name>

Cursor keys not working when using sqlite3 from adb shell

When using sqlite3 through adb shell arrow keys, instead of moving the cursor to the desired position or summoning the history facility, the following is showed in the screen: ^[[A, ^[[B, ^[[C, ^[[D.
I'm using Mac OS X and I have tried Terminal and iTerm terminal emulators.
Does anybody know how to fix this?

To allow editing and history in the input of a console program, that program must be linked with the readline library.
The sqlite3 tool does support readline, but on Android, readline support has been disabled.
(Probably because readline is licensed only under the GPL.)

A workaround would be to use a local version of SQLite with readline support.
Copy a database file from your device to your local machine:
adb pull <database-file-on-device>
Use your local version of SQLite to access the database file:
sqlite3 <database-file-on-local>
If you made changes you can transfer them to the device. Copy your local database file from your local machine to your device:
sqlite3 <database-file-on-local> <database-file-on-device>

You can use the previous command functionality in the adb shell. So just adb shell. Then cd to the /data/data//databases directory. From here run (for example): sqlite3 "select * from "
Then you can use up arrow to redo that command. Kind of a hack, but way better than having to retype the command inside the sqlite3 interactive prompt.

Working off of Khanad's answer: I wrote a shell script on the device and I send my sqlite commands through it.
First create a script file on the device and make it executable:
# get on the device
$ adb shell
# get write access on the device (this will also put you in the data/data directory)
$ run-as com.YOUR_PACKAGE.YOUR_APP_NAME
# create the script file
$ touch qlite
# make it executable
$ chmod +x qlite
Then add this code to the script. Remember to put your actual app name in there. (The echoes just add a little breathing room to the output.)
echo
sqlite3 databases/YOUR_APP_NAME -cmd ".mode column" ".headers on" "$1;"
echo
Then you just have to do something like:
./qlite "select * from table limit 1"
The script will pass the sqlite command through, tack on the semi-colon, pretty print it with column names and you can use the up arrow to get your last command. And because you have write access you can make updates directly to the DB on the device.
I hope this makes someone's life easier!

Use ADB shell instead of sqlite3 shell to get the advantage of the readline package.
generic_x86:/data/data/com.example.musicplayer/databases $ sqlite3 music_player_database -line 'select * from lastplayedsong;'
Just make sure you are in the correct package and don't put .db at the end of the database name otherwise a new database would be created and the query would return you no result.
P.S: source

Debugging sqlite database on the device

I am presently working on an WiFi application for Android. I am having trouble trying to access the database on the device. Debugging in the emulator doesn't work for me, because there is no WiFi support in the emulator. I tried pulling the database file out of the device by using
adb pull data/data/package-name/databases/database-name
But I get the error "Permission denied.".
In this answer Android: Where are database files stored?, Commonsware has suggested to pull database file by running in debug mode. But it doesn't work too. Any help on how to debug the database without rooting the device would be much appreciated.

I'll repeat myself from another answer:
Starting from API level 8 (Android 2.2), if you build the application as debuggable, you can use the shell run-as command to run a command or executable as a specific user/application or just switch to the UID of your application so you can access its data directory.
So if you wish to pull your application database from the device you should run the debug build of the application, connect with adb shell and run the following command:
run-as com.yourpackage sh -c "cat ~/databases/db-file" > /sdcard/db-file.sqlite
This will copy your db-file to the root of your SD card / external storage. Now you can easily get it from there by using file manager, adb pull or whatever else you like. Note that with this approach, there is NO need for your app to have WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, as the copying is done by the shell user who can always write to the external storage.
On Linux/Mac systems there is a possibility to copy a database directly to your computer with the following command one can use without entering the adb shell:
adb shell 'run-as com.yourpackage sh -c "cat ~/databases/db-file"' > db-file.sqlite
This however will not work correctly on Windows because of CR/LF symbols conversion. Use the former method there.

I use this shell script on my MAC, that copies database directly to my home folder. Easy one click solution, just change package name (com.example.app) and database name (database.sqlite)
Simple Script
#!/bin/bash
adb -d shell 'run-as com.example.app cat /data/data/com.example.app/databases/database.sqlite > /sdcard/database.sqlite'
adb pull /sdcard/database.sqlite ~/
Script which accepts arguments [package_name] [database]
#!/bin/bash
REQUIRED_ARGS=2
ADB_PATH=/Users/Tadas/Library/sdk/platform-tools/adb
PULL_DIR="~/"
if [ $# -ne $REQUIRED_ARGS ]
then
echo ""
echo "Usage:"
echo "android_db_move.sh [package_name] [db_name]"
echo "eg. android_db_move.sh lt.appcamp.impuls impuls.db"
echo ""
exit 1
fi;
echo""
cmd1="$ADB_PATH -d shell 'run-as $1 cat /data/data/$1/databases/$2 > /sdcard/$2' "
cmd2="$ADB_PATH pull /sdcard/$2 $PULL_DIR"
echo $cmd1
eval $cmd1
if [ $? -eq 0 ]
then
echo ".........OK"
fi;
echo $cmd2
eval $cmd2
if [ $? -eq 0 ]
then
echo ".........OK"
fi;
exit 0

The best way to view and manage you android app database is to use this library https://github.com/sanathp/DatabaseManager_For_Android
With this library you can manage your app SQLite database from you app itself.
you can view the tables in your app database , update ,delete, insert rows to your tables .Everything from your app.
Its a single java activity file ,just add the java file to your source folder.When the development is done remove the java file from your src folder thats it .
It helped me a lot .Hope it helps you too .
You can view the 1 minute demo here : http://youtu.be/P5vpaGoBlBY

Although, it's an old question I think it's still relevant and deserves a current state answer. There are tools available, which allow you to inspect databases directly (without the need to pull them from the device or emulator).
The tool, I most recently discovered (and favor most) is Android Debug Database.
You only need to add this dependency:
debugImplementation 'com.amitshekhar.android:debug-db:1.0.3'
No further code is required.
After you started your app, open logcat and filter for "DebugDB" and you will find a message saying
D/DebugDB: Open http://192.168.178.XXX:8080 in your browser
It works with every browser and you can inspect your database tables and shared preferences.
It also works with the default and the Genymotion emulators.
The tool I used before is stetho.
Downside: You need to add a bit of code and you are bound to the Chrome browser.
Advantage: You have the option to also inspect network traffic.

In the new Android Studio 4.1 there is the new Database Inspector.
You can select the following options from the menu bar View > Tool Windows > Database Inspector to open it (App Inspector in Android Studio 4.2). More detailed instructions can be found in this blog and in Exploring the Database Inspector in Android Studio medium article.
Another way is to use stetho for this. You add the dependency and then can use the Chrome DevTools ( chrome://inspect ) to check the database when the device is plugged in.

In my application I export the database to the SD card. Once the database is on the SD card it can be accessed by plugging the device into your computer.
Look at this post: Making a database backup to SDCard on Android

If you get
The system cannot find the path specified.
try
adb -d shell "run-as com.yourpackage cat /data/data/com.yourpackage/databases/dbname.sqlite > /sdcard/dbname.sqlite"
Note the double quote!

I simply did:
$ adb shell
shell#android:/ $ run-as myapp.package.name sh
shell#android:/data/data/myapp.package.name $
Then I can debug an sqlite database or whatever I wanna do from shell with the right permissions.

Android Studio 4.1 Added a new feature to view/ edit Android SQLite databases.
How to open Database Inspector
To open the Database Inspector in Android Studio, you need to select View > Tool Windows > Database Inspector from the menu bar.
Also you need to run the app to a device running API level 26 or higher.
Using this tool you can
Query your databases
Modify and debug your database

There is a way if an apk is debuggable to use a program called run-as from the (non-root) adb shell to copy an application's private file.

Here is step by step instructions - mostly taken from a combination of the other answers. This works with devices that are not unlocked.
Connect your device and launch the application in debug mode.
Copy the database file from your application folder to your sd card: execute:
./adb -d shell 'run-as com.yourpackge.name cat /data/data/com.yourpackge.name/databases/filename.sqlite > /sdcard/filename.sqlite'
Pull the database files to your machine: execute:
./adb pull /sdcard/ execute: ./adb
Install Firefox SQLLite Manager: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sqlite-manager/
Open Firefox SQLLite Manager and open your database file from step 3 above.
Enjoy!

You need to be running adb as root, or be using it on a rooted phone.
To run adb as root, use adb root
See also: Why do I get access denied to data folder when using adb?

None of the run-as-and-cat-to-sdcard solutions worked for me on Android 4.4.2. I'm not sure, but I suspect it may be due to the run-as tool not correctly handling the new sdcard_r and sdcard_rw permissions.
I first had to copy the database file to /files in my application's private internal storage:
shell#hammerhead:/ $ run-as com.example.myapp
shell#hammerhead:/data/data/com.example.myapp $ cp databases/mydb files/mydb
Then I copied to /sdcard/Android/data/com.example.myapp/files in Javaland (this requires the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission):
public class MainActivity extends BaseActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
...
if (isExternalStorageWritable()) {
final FileInputStream input;
try {
input = openFileInput("mydb");
File output = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), "mydb");
copy(input, output);
} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
public void copy(FileInputStream in, File dst) throws IOException {
OutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(dst);
// Transfer bytes from in to out
byte[] buf = new byte[1024];
int len;
while ((len = in.read(buf)) > 0) {
out.write(buf, 0, len);
}
in.close();
out.close();
}
public boolean isExternalStorageWritable() {
String state = Environment.getExternalStorageState();
return Environment.MEDIA_MOUNTED.equals(state);
}
}
Finally, I copied the file to my laptop:
$ adb pull /sdcard/Android/data/com.example.myapp/files/mydb

My Device was not having sdcard so the first solution did not work for me.
If you are having similar issue try like this:
adb shell "run-as package chmod 777 /data/data/package/databases/yourdb.sqlite";
adb pull /data/data/package/databases/yourdb.sqlite

Try this app: SQLiteWeb (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=br.com.cm.sqliteweb). It provides remote access to your database without pulling it out.
In paid version, it has root access for private database (/data/data/package-name...) or implement a Content Provider to connect using SQLiteWeb (Instructions inside app)
But if want to stay with the free version, you may create your database in external storage:
database = SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()
+ "/" + DATABASE_NAME, null, DATABASE_VERSION);

On OSX,using #Tadas answer with automator and sqllitebrowser(https://github.com/sqlitebrowser/sqlitebrowser):
open Automator and create new workflow.
add "Run Shell Script" action.
Paste this :
source ~/.bash_profile
adb shell 'run-as cat /data/data/your_app_uid/databases/db.name > /tmp/db.name'
adb pull /tmp/db.name ~/
open -a sqlitebrowser ~/db.name
click run to refresh the database on sqlitebrowser.

Open up a terminal
cd <ANDROID_SDK_PATH> (for me on Windows cd C:\Users\Willi\AppData\Local\Android\sdk)
cd platform-tools
adb shell (this works only if only one emulator is running)
cd data/data
su (gain super user privileges)
cd <PACKAGE_NAME>/databases
sqlite3 <DB_NAME>
issue SQL statements (important: terminate them with ;, otherwise the statement is not issued and it breaks to a new line instead.)
Note: Use ls (Linux) or dir (Windows) if you need to list directory contents.

How to install or get access to sqlite3 from adb shell

I need a way to install or somehow get access to sqlite3 in the adb shell. I have rooted my device.
I've tried to find an answer but the closed I could come is:
Why do I get a "sqlite3: not found" error on a rooted Nexus One when I try to open a database using the adb shell?
But I don't think it's good idea to push my windows sqlite3.exe on a linux system?
So is it possible to install the sqlite3 terminal browser somehow?
[SOLUTION]
From the different comments and some asking around at #android-dev (irc), I found a solution. First I copied the database file to my desktop. But fist I had to install BusyBox, because cp isn't included?!? After that ran I into the problem that I couldn't pull or push from anywhere but /sdcard/ . I could then use /sdcard/ as a "middle station" and pull/push my db.
Then I got exhausted! I really had to have my sqlite terminal explore. Then I got the idea to start the emulator pull the sqlite binary from /system/xbin/sqlite3. Then remount /system with rw:
# mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
and push sqlite to the /sdcard/, and from there copy it to /system/xbin/
Now it works :D

Download this app from google play will help you install sqlite3 on android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ptSoft.util.sqlite3forroot

You don't need root to pull the database from your device. Simply run the following commands:
adb shell run-as <package-name> "cp databases/<db_name>.db /sdcard/ && exit"
adb pull /sdcard/<db_name>.db ~/Downloads/
From there, you can use sqlite3 for whatever operating system you're using (http://www.sqlite.org/download.html), or a sqlite browser such as "DB Browser for SQLite" (http://sqlitebrowser.org/)

I use Rajath's technique... Adb "Pull" the db from the emulator/device, work on it, then adb "push" it back onto/into the emulator device.
also:
I use the free SQLite Editor from the Android Market. I have not rooted my LG Ally and therefor can only edit database tables on my sdcard with SQLite Editor.
Rajath suggests using the adb to push and pull the databases to and from the emulator/device. The work on the database with the windows (or whatever) sqlite3 program you have. He does not suggest pusing the windows sqlite3 onto the Android device, IMHO.
I note that java/android "query()" sends actual SQL commands programmacitacly to ones program with user input. I conclude that sqlite3 is in Android somewhere.
When using the emulator Dev Tools is available, and way down at the bottom of the list is the Terminal Emulator. This allows exploration of file structure of Android in the emulator. However using "adb shell" from the PC has root permissions.
good luck. cactus mitch

You can do this with adb shell without issue.
In terminal or CMD (assuming you have the ADB path set and your phone has ROOT) type:
$ adb shell
$ cd data/data/com.nameofyourpackage/databases/
$ ls to find the name of your database
$ sqlite3 nameofyourdb.db
Then you can use .tables .schema to see the data you need to create the appropriate query.