Develop Reference

'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

I am trying to run google map v2 on emulator, I am following this tutorial.
When I was trying to install required apk file on emulator, I am getting below error.
I tried to solve this using this tutorial.Followed all steps, added the path to paltform-tools to environment path. Also after modifying the PATH variable started a new CommandPrompt window.
But getting the same error. I need to check my google map application on emulator.
Kindly suggest me.
'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Set the path of adb into System Variables. You can find adb in "ADT Bundle/sdk/platform-tools" Set the path and restart the cmd n then try again.
Or
You can also goto the dir where adb.exe is located and do the same thing if you don't wanna set the PATH.
If you wanna see all the paths, just do
echo %PATH%

From Android Studio 1.3, the ADB location is at:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools.
Now add this location to the end of PATH of environment variables. Eg:
;C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools

If you want to use it every time add the path of adb to your system variables:
enter to cmd (command prompt) and write the following:
echo %PATH%
this command will show you what it was before you will add adb path
setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Program Files\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools"
be careful the path that you want to add if it contains double quote
after you restart your cmd rewrite:
echo %PATH%
you will find that the path is added
PS: if you just want to add the path to cmd just to this session you can use:
set PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools

I did this on Windows 7, by going to:
Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Environment Variables...
In this Environment Variables window, in the User variables for (your-username) highlight Path and click Edit...
You then need to append a ; if there isn't already one at the end of the Variable value field, and then append C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools; to that same field.
Then click the three OK buttons to get out.
If you already have a Command Prompt window open, close it then re-open and the adb devices command should then work.

In Windows 10,
Add User Variable PATH: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools.
Restart cmd (if any open).
adb devices, it should list, if it does, you are all set.
That's it!

On Window, sometimes I feel hard to click through many steps to find platform-tools and open Environment Variables Prompt, so the below steps maybe help
Step 1. Open cmd as Administrator
Step 2. File platform-tools path
cd C:\
dir /s adb.exe
Step 3: Edit Path in Edit Enviroment Variables Prompt
rundll32 sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables
more, the command to open environment variables can not remember, so I often make an alias for it (eg: editenv), if you need to work with environment variables multiple time, you can use a permanent doskey to make alias
Step 4: Restart cmd

Add your path into environment variable "PATH" where you installed your sdk with below:
\Sdk\platform-tools
You can in image below for example:
and reopen your command prompt to see changes.

Follow path of you platform tools folder in android setup folder where you will found adb.exe
D:\Software\Android\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools
Check the screenshot for details

If your OS is Windows, then it is very simple.
When you install Android Studio, adb.exe is located in the following folder:
C:\Users\**your-user-name**\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools
Copy the path and paste in your environment variables.
Open your terminal and type: adb it's done!

adb command can be under the new path below-
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools
for new versions of Android studio.
I found in this location for me.

For environment variable, we have to need to follow some steps.

just open Android studio and press "Tools" on Top navigation bar
tools->SDK Manager
Where you can get SDK location
Open SDK folder -> platform-tools

You will need to set the PATH variable pointing to the directory where adb.exe is to be found. If you are using cmd.exe, this command will help:
set PATH=%PATH%;%USERPROFILE%\appdata\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools

1st: goto the drive where your eclipse reside and goto sdk and platform tool in my case C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20140702\sdk\platform-tools
2nd:copy that address for ease of access
3:open command prompt win+r and type cmd hit enter
4:paste the address in cmd and hit enter thats all

In new version PowerShell, after all steps that mentioned before this, please attend:
before
adb
now
.\adb

I recommand you using PowerShell
Set Android Studio Terminal to PowerShell:
Settings > Tools > Terminal > Shell path = pwsh.exe (instead of cmd.exe)
Open Terminal on Android Studio
PowerShell 7.0.1
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
https://aka.ms/powershell
Type 'help' to get help.
PS >
Test the path for adb.exe
# `pikachu` should be replace your username
PS > test-path "C:\Users\pikachu\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools"
True
Open your powershell profile file in your text editor
PS > notepad $profile
add below line, save and exit
# `pikachu` should be replaced with your username
$env:PATH+=";C:\Users\pikachu\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools"
re-open Terminal and try adb
PS > adb
Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.41
Version 30.0.1-6435776
Installed as C:\Users\hdformat\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools\adb.exe
global options:
-a listen on all network interfaces, not just localhost
-d use USB device (error if multiple devices connected)
-e use TCP/IP device (error if multiple TCP/IP devices available)
-s SERIAL use device with given serial (overrides $ANDROID_SERIAL)
-t ID use device with given transport id
-H name of adb server host [default=localhost]
-P port of adb server [default=5037]

Based on Vamsi Tallapudis earlier answer I came up with this dynamic path:
%LOCALAPPDATA%/Android\sdk\platform-tools
It's using a Windows Environment Variables. I find this solution to be both elegant and easy and would therefor like to share it.

Since I installed version 1.0.41,
I had to use the command "adb version" instead of "adb –version", in Windows 10.
Check and add these below loacations to the path variable:
C:\Users\Sameera\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\tools
C:\Users\Sameera\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools
C:\Users\Sameera\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\build-tools
ANDROID_HOME
C:\Users\Sameera\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk

I had same problem when I define PATH below
C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_45\bin;C:\dev\sdk\android\platform-tools
and the problem solved when I bring adb root at first.
C:\dev\sdk\android\platform-tools;C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_45\bin

In my case it was:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools

This is where I found it:
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\platform-tools
I had to put the complete path into the file explorer. I couldn't just click down to it because the directories are hidden.
I found this path listed in Android studio:
Tools > Android > SDK Manager > SDK Tools

This answer assumes that the PATH has been correctly set as described in the other answers.
If you're on Windows 10 and don't have Admin rights, then right click on the CMD, powershell ... program and select run as administrator. Then try adb [command]

First select drive that is where Android sdk folder is there. Then you Follow the below steps
cd DriveName:/ or Ex : cd c:/ Press 'Enter'
then you will give the path that is adb console path is there in a platform-tools folder
so
cd Root Folder/inner root folder if there/Platform-tools Press 'Enter' then it selects the adb directory.

If you didn't set a path for ADB, you can run .\adb instead of adb at sdk/platformtools.

It seems that Avast antivirus detects adb.exe as a virus and adds it to it chest

For those using macOS, this osxdaily.com article shows several ways to add adb to the $PATH.
Here's the one I prefer:
Add a file named adb to /etc/paths.d/ folder that just contains the path to adb's location: /Users/YourUserName/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/
In a Terminal window, sudo vim /etc/paths.d/adb
-> enter the path and save the file.
Close/re-open Terminal in order for it to see the change.

You could just drag the adb.exe on to the command prompt from sdk/platformtools and leave a space and type the command you want: like logcat.
It looks like this for me:
C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130917\adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130917\sdk\platform-tools.exe logcat
and hit enter.

Is it possible to run the .apk file on android/emulator?

I got an APK from the Internet.
Can I install and run the APK on the emulator?
If yes, how to do it?

Yes it is possible
first copy that .apk file into "platform-tools" folder of your android-SDK then open the command prompt and go to "platform-tools" folder now type "adb install _" here underline means your .apk file name. then press enter. it's DONE
Be sure that your emulator is running.

Use adb to install apk on emulator (or any connected device as well):
adb install file.apk
Re-install, keeping application data:
adb install -r file.apk
adb documentation is available here: http://developer.android.com/tools/help/adb.html

Yes you can.
Easiest way is to download the apk file from within the browser on the emulator, then install it from the notifications menu.
Alternatively, you can install the Android SDK (which you might already have done if you have the emulator) and use adb install my.apk which should install to any available device (so long as only one is available). Use adb devices to check what devices are available - when you run the emulator, it should show up there.
N.B. you will need to enable unknown sources in the applications menu of settings for this to work.

Place it in your host and download the .apk file from your emulator browser.

Yes!
Place your .apk file in the platform-tools folder of SDK, go to command prompt (path to ADB) and run the following command:
adb install your_apk_file.apk

I'm not sure if it will work, but try to open the File Explorer of the emulator through DDMS perspective in Eclipse, and copy/paste your apk in a folder. Then navigate to that folder from your emulator and launch the apk.

Installing an apk on android emulator on Mac OS

I tried following these steps(from here):
go to sdk folder, then go to tools.
copy your apk file inside the tool directory
./emulator -avd myEmulator
to run the emulator on mac
./adb install myApp.apk
to install app on the emulator
But when I run "./emulator -avd phoneEmulator" (phoneEmulator is the name of my emulator)
it just displays:
My-MacBook-Pro:tools myName$ ./emulator -avd phoneEmulator
2012-07-30 22:44:33.377 emulator-arm[2859:80b] Warning once: This application, or a
library it uses, is using NSQuickDrawView, which has been deprecated.
Apps should cease use of QuickDraw and move to Quartz.
It's as if that command is never returning.
If I can't input the 2nd command ./adb install myApp.apk in that window, where do I call it?

Open Terminal
go to android-sdk-mac\platform-tools
type ./adb install myApp.apk

You can work around by:
You have a *.apk file with you if you don't have, download it.
Open Android Studio and Run the emulator.
Open the finder and go to the location which contains your *.apk file.
Drag that *.apk and drop into the emulator and it will ask for confirmation after your confirmation it will install the *.apk in the emulator.
You can find it in application menu once installation succeeds.

First of all, you SHOULD NOT copy APKs to the tools or any other SDK directory.
Do not cd to the SDK directories, just add them to the PATH environment var or use their absolute path in command lines.
Then, if you want to run the emulator and then execute command from the same terminal, send the process to background (&):
$ export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/sdk/tools:path/to/sdk/platform-tools
$ emulator -avd myEmulator &
$ adb install /path/to/my.apk

You can work around by:
Upload yourapp.apk to internet. I.e: yourhost.com/yourapp.apk
Run emulator
Open internet browser on your emulator, visit link yourhost.com/yourapp.apk
Download and install

adb can be run from a seperate terminal once this emulator boots up.

May Be, Useful to all the command in MAC OS Terminal

Am I the only one whose apps install in the emulator when I run them as Android Application from eclipse?
I mean - why go though the trouble of adb when you could just use eclipse? (unless you have something against eclipse!)

Try this app. It will install the apk by just double clicking on it after you create an association to .apk files. It's all explained in the github source.

Alternatively You can use 'adb install' command as follows. "adbinstall/filename.apk"
ex. adb install /Users/manojclinberg/Downloads/ad3e0e46-d716-4fa9-b603-b8db3accf260.apk

How do you install an APK file in the Android emulator?

I finally managed to obfuscate my Android application, now I want to test it by installing the APK file and running it on the emulator.
How can I install an APK file on the Android Emulator?

You can simply drag and drop the .apk file of your application to the emulator and it will automatically start installing.
Another option:
Windows:
Execute the emulator (SDK Manager.exe->Tools->Manage AVDs...->New then Start)
Start the console (Windows XP), Run -> type cmd, and move to the platform-tools folder of SDK directory.
Paste the APK file in the 'android-sdk\tools' or 'platform-tools' folder.
Then type the following command.
adb install [.apk path]
Example:
adb install C:\Users\Name\MyProject\build\Jorgesys.apk
Linux:
Copy the apk file to platform-tools in the android-sdk linux folder.
Open Terminal and navigate to platform-tools folder in android-sdk.
Then Execute this command -
./adb install FileName.apk
If the operation is successful (the result is displayed on the screen), then you will find your file in the launcher of your emulator.
Mac:
PATH=$PATH:~/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools
Example : PATH=$PATH:/users/jorgesys/eclipse/android-sdk-mac_64/tools
Then run adb.
Mac:
1.Run the emulator,
2.then copy your .apk file and paste into /Users/your_system_username/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools,
if you are not able to find sdk path in your mac system, do the following steps: Open finder->select Go option on top menu -> select Go to Folder option -> it will popup a window with a textfield: /Users/your_system_username/Library/Android/sdk/ -> now open platform-tools folder and paste your copied .apk file,
Now open the terminal and type the following:
cd Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools
execute the following in your terminal: ./adb install yourapkfilename.apk if you get the following error message: error: no devices found - waiting for device, follow step 5.
Run your emulator from Android Studio, once emulator active then repeat step 4, you will see the success message on your terminal.

If you've created more than one emulators or if you have an Android device plugged in, adb will complain with
error: more than one device and emulator
adb help is not extremely clear on what to do:
-d - directs command to the only connected USB device...
-e - directs command to the only running emulator...
-s <serial number> ...
-p <product name or path> ...
The flag you decide to use has to come before the actual adb command:
adb -e install path/to/app.apk

Nowadays, you can simply drag and drop the Android apk to the emulator and it will automatically starts installing.

go to sdk folder, then go to tools.
copy your apk file inside the tool directory
./emulator -avd myEmulator
to run the emulator on mac
./adb install myApp.apk
to install app on the emulator

go to the android-sdk/tools directory in command prompt and then type
adb install fileName.apk (Windows)
./adb install fileName.apk (Linux or Mac)

Copy .apk file in your SDK's platform-tools/ directory,then install the .apk on the emulator by using cmd(on windows):
adb install <path_to_your_bin>.apk
or
./adb install <path_to_your_bin>.apk
If there is more than one emulator running,
you can find all running emulators by this command:
adb devices
or
./adb devices
then you must specify the emulator upon which to install the application, by its serial number, with the -s option. For example:
adb -s emulator-5554 install path/to/your/app.apk
or
./adb -s emulator-5554 install path/to/your/app.apk

First you need to install Android Studio on your machine. Then simply follow these steps.
Go to you navigation bar and open Android Studio.
From the toolbar open AVD Manager. (If you cannot see it create a new android project)
Create a Virtual Device.
Select a hardware device that you want to install your app.
Select an android image that you want to install on your device. (If you cannot see any images you can download the require image from Recommended, x86 Images or Other images)
Add a name to your AVD.
Now the virtual device has been created and you can simply run it by clicking the play button.
Now you have setup the virtual device and now you need to install the APK file.
Download the APK file that you want to install and Drag and Drop it to the emulator.
The APK file has been successfully installed and you can see it in your applications.
Now you can simply run the installed app.

Drag and drop
Simply drag-and-drop the apk file into your emulator.
You can also run your android emulator without Android Studio.

In Genymotion just drag and drop the *.apk file in to the emulator and it will automatically installs and runs.
http://www.genymotion.com/

Download the Apk file from net and copy it to platform-tools of your SDK folder, then in command prompt go to that directory an type:
adb install filename.apk
press enter it will install in few seconds

Download apk file from browser and then just click on it (notification area). Installation will start automatically.

Goto Shell/Terminal/, reach at android-sdk/tools directory then
adb install fileName.apk // (u can run this command on windows)
or
./adb install fileName.apk //( u can run this command on linux)

Let's suppose you have to install Facebook APK on your emulator.
You can use adb to install the APK to the running emulator in OS X like this:
./adb install ~/FBAndroid-2.1.apk
And on Windows, like this:
adb install %HOMEPATH%\FBAndroid-2.1.apk
Once complete, check the apps screen of the emulator to check that the app has been installed correctly. If you need to force the upgrade of this app from a previous version, add the -r flag, like this on OS X:
./adb install -r ~/FBAndroid-2.1.apk

keep your emulator up and running.
In the command line, go inside the platform-tools folder, in your sdk folder which come with adt bundle and execute following command :
>adb install <yourFilename.apk>
This command detect your running emulator/emulators and show you the list of devices where you can install this app(show if any physical device/devices connected to your computer.). Then you can select any one, if only one emulator is running then app will directly installed on it by default.
Note: For above command your .apk file needs to be in same directory.
for more detailed tutorial follo : This link

From Windows 7 Onwards ,
Shift + Right click in your apk file folder.
Select Open Command Window Here
Type & Hit "adb install AppName.apk"

Drag and drop ".apk" file into the emulator window.

Just drag and drop your apk to emulator

(TESTED ON MACOS)
The first step is to run the emulator
emulator -avd < avd_name>
then use adb to install the .apk
adb install < path to .apk file>
If adb throws error like APK already exists or something alike. Run the adb shell while emulator is running
adb shell
cd data/app
adb uninstall < apk file without using .apk>
If adb and emulator are commands not found do following
export PATH=$PATH://android-sdk-macosx/platform-tools://android-sdk-macosx/android-sdk-macosx/tools:
For future use put the above line at the end of .bash_profile
vi ~/.bash_profile

if use more than one emulator at firs use this command
adb devices
and then chose amulatur and install application
adb -s "EMULATOR NAME" install "FILE PATH"
adb -s emulator-5556 install C:\Users\criss\youwave\WhatsApp.apk

I might be wrong, but on Windows I simply drag and drop the .apk into Android Emulator. I mean, doing all mentioned above seems to be a lot of work.

go to ADT/Android-sdk/tools directory in command prompt
1. adb install fileName.apk (Windows)
./adb install fileName.apk (Ubuntu/Linux or Mac)

06-11-2020
Drag and Drop didn't work for me on Windows 10 Pro.
Put the APK on Google Drive
Access that Google drive using Chrome browser on the Android Emulator
Then install it from there.
Note: You need to enable unknown sources within the Emulator.

Best way is to create a app, which opens the apk file on the emulator. You have to copy the .apk file to the download folder of your emulator. Then replace yourAppName.apk with your .apk name.
here is the code
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/download/" + "yourAppName.apk")), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);
}
}

(1) You can also use gradle commands to install your APK while choosing the product and flavor (Debug or Release).
See this Guide.
./gradlew assembleDebug (Incase you don't have the APK generated)
./gradlew installDebug
Incase you want a fresh install, you can remove any earlier installed builds on the device with below commands
./gradlew uninstallDebug
./gradlew installDebug
(2) You can also use the adb commands directly:
Setup adb for command line
export PATH=/Users/mayurik/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/adb:/Users/mayurik/Library/Android/sdk/tool
Command line ADB install
adb -d install pathto/sample.apk (on device)
adb -e install pathto/sample.apk (on emulator)
Also check the documentation here
$ adb devices
List of devices attached
emulator-5554 device
emulator-5555 device
$ adb -s emulator-5555 install helloWorld.apk

you write the command on terminal/cmd
adb install FileName.apk.

Now you can just drag and drop the apk in emulator and it will install!

On Linux I do this:
first see which devices I currently have: emulator -list-avds
build the release cd android && ./gradlew assembleRelease
install it at the emulated device "Nexus5" (you are inside the android directory, else use the full path to apk): adb -s '8e138a9c' install app/build/outputs/apk/app-release.apk
Thats it. You can also use ./gradlew installRelease

Follow the steps :
make sure you have allowed installation from unknown sources in
settings.
Use the Android Device Monitor to copy the APK to the sdcard.
Use the builtin browser in Android to navigate to
file:///sdcard/apk-name.apk
When the notification "Download complete" appears, click it.

1) paste the myapp.apk in platform-tools folder , in my case C:\Users\mazbizxam\AppData\Local\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools, this is the link in my case it may change to you people
2)open the directory in CMD CD C:\Users\mazbizxam\AppData\Local\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools
3)Now you are in platform-tools folder , just type adb install myapp.apk
please ensure that your emulator is turn on , if every thing is ok apk will install

Start the console (Windows XP), Run -> type cmd, and move to the
platform-tools folder of SDK directory.
In case anyone wondering how to run cmd in platform-tools folder of SDK directory, if you are running a new enough version of Windows, follow the steps:
Go to platform-tools through Windows Explorer.
While holding shift right click and you will find the option "Open Command window here".
Click on it and cmd will start in that folder.
Hope it helps

How to install .apk file to emulator?

How to install the application in *.apk file into the Android emulator?

launch the emulator
install with :
$> adb install fileexplorer.apk
then click on the icon on the emulator

adb devices
--> It will give list of devices running by your SDK
--> If there is only one device...use this command
adb install ".apk"
--> If there are multiple devices running then you need to select the emulator
adb -s emulator-5556 install ".apk"

Windows:
Execute the emulator.
Start the console (Windows XP), Run -> type cmd, and move to the platform-tools folder of SDK directory.
Paste the APK file in the 'platform-tools' folder.
Then type the following command.
adb install [apk file name]
Example:
adb install gaurav.apk

Go to ADT Bundle->SDK -> Platform Tools -> paste the .apk file.
Command Prompt:
adb install filename.apk
Eg:

Well you can have a look at these tutorials if you are not able to do it the way Stephane said it.
Install Tutorial
Uninstall Tutorial
Hope it will help you as a beginner..tc

Run emulator -> drag and drop yourApp.apk into emulator screen. Works in android studio.Credit goes to this answer.