adb

Manipulates Android devices via ADB with emphasis on Wear OS. Provides scripts for screenshots, screen recording, tile management, WearableService inspection, package operations, and device configuration. Use when working with adb, Android devices, Wear OS watches, tiles, wearable data layer, dumpsys, or device debugging. Triggers: adb, android device, wear os, wearable, tile, screenshot, screen recording, dumpsys, logcat.

47 stars

Best use case

adb is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Manipulates Android devices via ADB with emphasis on Wear OS. Provides scripts for screenshots, screen recording, tile management, WearableService inspection, package operations, and device configuration. Use when working with adb, Android devices, Wear OS watches, tiles, wearable data layer, dumpsys, or device debugging. Triggers: adb, android device, wear os, wearable, tile, screenshot, screen recording, dumpsys, logcat.

Teams using adb should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/adb/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ithinkihaveacat/dotfiles/main/skills/adb/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/adb/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How adb Compares

Feature / AgentadbStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Manipulates Android devices via ADB with emphasis on Wear OS. Provides scripts for screenshots, screen recording, tile management, WearableService inspection, package operations, and device configuration. Use when working with adb, Android devices, Wear OS watches, tiles, wearable data layer, dumpsys, or device debugging. Triggers: adb, android device, wear os, wearable, tile, screenshot, screen recording, dumpsys, logcat.

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

SKILL.md Source

# Android ADB

## Important: Use Scripts First

**ALWAYS prefer the scripts in `scripts/` over raw `adb` commands.** Scripts are
located in the `scripts/` subdirectory of this skill's folder. They provide
features that raw commands do not, such as:

- Automatic circular masking for Wear OS screenshots
- Device wake-up before capture
- Clipboard integration on macOS
- Sensible default filenames and error handling

**When to read the script source:** If a script doesn't do exactly what you
need, or fails due to missing dependencies, read the script source. The scripts
encode solutions to edge cases and platform quirks that may not be obvious—use
them as reference when building similar functionality.

## Quick Start

Target specific devices using the `ANDROID_SERIAL` environment variable if
multiple devices are connected.

### Highest-Value Commands

- **Screenshot (auto-masks circular Wear OS displays):**
  `scripts/adb-screenshot`

- **Wear OS Tile Debugging Workflow:**
  `scripts/adb-tile-add com.example/.MyTileService` -> output gives INDEX
  `scripts/adb-tile-show INDEX`

- **Inspect Wear OS Data Layer:**
  `adb exec-out dumpsys activity service WearableService`

- **Package Information:** `scripts/packagename tiles PACKAGE_NAME`
  `scripts/packagename services PACKAGE_NAME`

- **Device Info:** `scripts/adb-device-properties`

- **Discover Activities:** `scripts/adb-activities` (find launcher, TV, settings
  activities)

## Script Index

See `references/command-index.md` for detailed usage.

### Device Basics

- `scripts/adb-devices`: List connected devices.
- `scripts/adb-device-properties`: Show key device properties (model,
  manufacturer, etc.).
- `scripts/adb-api-level`: Get the device API level (SDK version).
- `scripts/adb-keyevent-wakeup` / `sleep`: Wake up or put device to sleep.
- `scripts/adb-log`: Write a message to the system log.
- `scripts/adb-logcat-tag`: Stream logcat output filtered by a specific tag.
- `scripts/adb-version-sft`: Extract the Health Tracking GmsModule version.

### Media Capture

- `scripts/adb-screenshot`: Take a screenshot. **Always use this instead of raw
  `adb shell screencap`.** Features: auto-detects square Wear OS displays and
  applies circular mask, wakes device before capture, copies to macOS clipboard,
  generates timestamped filenames by default.
- `scripts/adb-screenrecord`: Record the screen to a file.
- `scripts/adb-screenmirror`: Mirror the device screen using scrcpy.
- `scripts/adb-screenrecord-raw`: Record the screen using raw frames and ffmpeg.

### Tile Management (Wear OS)

- `scripts/adb-tile-add`: Add a tile component for debugging.
- `scripts/adb-tile-show`: Show an added tile.
- `scripts/adb-tile-remove`: Remove a tile.
- `scripts/adb-tiles`: List currently added tiles.
- `scripts/adb-watchface-add`: Set the current watch face.

### Activity Discovery

- `scripts/adb-activities`: List activities tagged by category (Launcher, Home,
  TV/Leanback, Settings). Use `--launcher-only`, `--tv-only`, `--settings-only`
  to filter. Add `--all` to include system apps.
- `scripts/adb-uihierarchy`: Dump the UI hierarchy to an XML file.
- `scripts/adb-currentfocus`: Display the package name that currently has focus.
- `scripts/adb-intent-view`: Start an activity with a VIEW intent.

### Package Operations

- `scripts/packagename`: Comprehensive package tool (uninstall, launch, stop,
  clear-cache).
- `scripts/adb-logcat-package`: Show logcat filtered for a specific package.
- `scripts/apk-tiles`: List tiles declared in an APK file.
- `scripts/adb-packages`: List installed packages.
- `scripts/apk-cat-manifest`: Display the AndroidManifest.xml from an APK.

### System & Dumpsys

- `scripts/adb-battery-stats`: Display battery-related information and settings.
- `scripts/adb-jobscheduler`: Display dumpsys information for the Android
  JobScheduler.

### Display & Demo Mode

- `scripts/adb-demo-on` / `off`: Toggle Android demo mode (clean status bar).
- `scripts/adb-fontscale-default` / `large`: Change font size.
- `scripts/adb-theme`: Get or set system theme customization (e.g., set to
  'lemongrass'). Requires Wear OS 6+ (API 36+).
- `scripts/adb-settings-theme`: Open system theme settings (requires
  root/debuggable build).
- `scripts/adb-touches-on` / `off`: Show/hide taps on screen.

## Safety Notes

- **Debug Broadcasts**: Tile management relies on Wear OS debug broadcasts
  (`com.google.android.wearable.app.DEBUG_SURFACE`) which may not work on
  production builds without developer options or specific system images.
- **USB Debugging**: Requires `adb` authorization.
- **Destructive Actions**: Scripts like `adb-tile-remove` or
  `packagename uninstall` modify device state.

## Reference Material

- **Command Reference**: Detailed usage and arguments for all scripts. See
  [references/command-index.md](references/command-index.md).
- **Troubleshooting**: Solutions for connection issues, missing dependencies,
  and Wear OS quirks. See
  [references/troubleshooting.md](references/troubleshooting.md).

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