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Installing Android apps from a computer with ADB

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) installs an APK straight from your computer over USB or Wi-Fi -- useful for devices with an awkward on-device file browser (TVs, some tablets) or installing several APKs at once via script.

Target: Android (any version) + a computer with ADB installedAndroidSideloadingDevelopmentOfficial homepage ↗Official docs ↗
This guide is synthesized from Installing Android apps from a computer with ADB's own official documentation, linked above — always cross-check exact package/version names there before running these commands on a production server, since distro and project versions move over time.

  1. 1Install ADB on your computer

    # Windows winget install --id Google.PlatformTools -e
    # MacOS brew install android-platform-tools
    # Ubuntu/Debian sudo apt install adb

  2. 2Enable USB debugging on the Android device

    Tapping Build number repeatedly unlocks the hidden Developer Options menu, where USB debugging then needs to be switched on.

    Settings > About phone > tap Build number 7 times
    Settings > System > Developer options > USB debugging

  3. 3Connect the device and authorize the computer

    The first time, the device shows an "Allow USB debugging?" prompt with the computer's fingerprint -- accept it there. Running the command again should then list the device as "device", not "unauthorized".

    adb devices

  4. 4Install an APK

    adb install path/to/app.apk

    For split-APK/XAPK-style installs, use `adb install-multiple file1.apk file2.apk ...` with all the split files listed together, rather than plain `install` (which only accepts one file).