Android Debug Bridge
Enables interaction with Android devices via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), allowing users to manage apps, files, and system permissions through natural language commands. It supports core functions like package listing, screen captures, and APK ins
What is Android Debug Bridge?
Android Debug Bridge is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to enables interaction with android devices via the android debug bridge (adb), allowing users to manage apps, files, and system permissions through natural language commands. it supports core functions ...
Enables interaction with Android devices via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), allowing users to manage apps, files, and system permissions through natural language commands. It supports core functions like package listing, screen captures, and APK ins
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Enables interaction with Android devices via the Android Deb
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx adb-mcp-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Android Debug Bridge
ADB MCP Server is a TypeScript-based Model Context Protocol server that bridges AI assistants and Android devices through the Android Debug Bridge (ADB). It exposes tools for listing connected devices, executing shell commands, installing APKs, managing packages and activities, transferring files, capturing screenshots, and inspecting the UI hierarchy as XML. Developers and QA engineers use it to drive Android device interactions, automate UI testing, and debug apps through natural language without leaving their AI assistant.
Prerequisites
- Node.js v16 or higher (v18 or v20 recommended)
- ADB (Android Debug Bridge) installed and available in your PATH
- An Android device or emulator with USB debugging enabled
- USB debugging authorized on the device (tap 'Allow' on the device prompt)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Cursor
Install ADB and connect a device
Install Android SDK Platform Tools to get adb, then connect your device via USB and verify the connection. Enable USB debugging in Developer Options on the device.
adb devicesInstall the adb-mcp-server package
Run the server directly via npx — no global install is required. Confirm it outputs the ready message.
npx adb-mcpOptionally set a custom ADB path
If adb is not on PATH or you need a specific version, set the ADB_PATH environment variable before starting the server.
export ADB_PATH=/path/to/platform-tools/adb
npx adb-mcpAdd the server to your MCP client configuration
Add the adb-mcp entry to claude_desktop_config.json so Claude Desktop manages the server process.
{
"mcpServers": {
"adb": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["adb-mcp"]
}
}
}Restart your MCP client and verify
Restart Claude Desktop. The adb server should appear in connected tools. Ask Claude to list connected devices to confirm end-to-end connectivity.
Android Debug Bridge Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop config to launch the ADB MCP server via npx.
{
"mcpServers": {
"adb": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["adb-mcp"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Sample prompts that exercise the ADB tools through the AI assistant.
- "List all Android devices currently connected via ADB."
- "Take a screenshot of the connected device and describe what's on the screen."
- "Install the APK at /Users/me/Downloads/app-debug.apk on the connected device."
- "List all installed packages on the device and find any with 'camera' in the name."
- "Push the file /tmp/test.txt to /sdcard/test.txt on the device."
- "Capture the UI hierarchy of the current screen and tell me what interactive elements are visible."Troubleshooting Android Debug Bridge
adb_devices returns 'unauthorized' for the connected device
On the Android device, look for the 'Allow USB debugging?' dialog and tap Allow. If it doesn't appear, revoke USB debugging authorizations in Developer Options and reconnect the cable.
npx adb-mcp fails with 'adb: command not found'
Ensure Android SDK Platform Tools are installed and the directory containing the adb binary is in your PATH. Alternatively, set the ADB_PATH environment variable to the full path of the adb binary.
Server exits immediately or tools are unresponsive in Claude
Enable debug logging with LOG_LEVEL=3 npx adb-mcp to see detailed output. Kill any lingering server processes (ps aux | grep adb-mcp) before starting a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions about Android Debug Bridge
What is Android Debug Bridge?
Android Debug Bridge is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables interaction with android devices via the android debug bridge (adb), allowing users to manage apps, files, and system permissions through natural language commands. it supports core functions like package listing, screen captures, and apk ins It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Android Debug Bridge?
Follow the installation instructions on the Android Debug Bridge GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Android Debug Bridge?
Android Debug Bridge works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Android Debug Bridge free to use?
Yes, Android Debug Bridge is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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