How To Use ADB Over Wi-Fi on an Android Device

Do you have an Android device and want to set up the ADB command line utility? Using a USB cable is the traditional way of establishing a connection between your Android device and a PC.

However, it’s not the only option.

You can set up and use ADB via a wireless connection, too, thus making the entire process easier. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know, if you’d rather use ADB over Wi-Fi to root or remove pre-installed apps on your Android. We’ll also touch on potential errors and discuss their fixes.

Using ADB Over Wi-Fi with Android

ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge and is essentially a tool that helps you communicate with your Android device.

If you need to use ADB to root an Android phone or tablet, remove built-in apps or even mirror your Android to a PC, it’s easy to do it over Wi-Fi. However, you first need to set up the ADB on both PC and Android devices.

Setting Up ADB

It’s important to point out that while you can use ADB wirelessly, you still need a USB connection to set it up the first time.

You can skip this part if your devices already have ADB, as you only need to do it once. But if you didn’t go through this process before, here’s what you should do:

1. Download and unzip the Android SDK Platform Tools from the official Android developer website.
   
2. Go to developer settings on your device, usually located in the “About phone” section.
   
3. Locate “Build number” and tap it several times.
   
4. Go to developer settings again and turn on the “USB debugging” option.
   
5. A window will pop up, asking you to confirm your choice.
   
6. Tap “OK.”
   
7. Connect your PC and Android device with a USB cable.
   
8. Open the SDK Platform Tools folder.
   
9. Open PowerShell by pressing Shift and right-click anywhere in the folder.
   
10. Type “ADB devices” in the command prompt and press Enter.
    

If the setup works, you’ll see the serial number of your Android device on the screen.

How to Use ADB Over Wi-Fi

Once you’ve set up the ADB, you can take steps to establish a wireless connection with the Android device. To complete this process, you’ll need to have your Android device’s IP address on hand. Here’s how to find it:

1. Go to “Settings” followed by “About Phone.”
   
2. Tap “Status” followed by “IP Address.”
   
3. Copy the IP address.
   

Once you’ve got that covered, follow the steps below:

1. In the command line, type “ADB tcpip 5555”.
   
2. Type “ADB connect [IP address]”.
   
3. Press Enter.
   

That’s all you need to do to connect and use ADB wirelessly.

But what do you do if there’s an error in the command line? You can install Fastboot or Minimal ADB from XDA-Developers. This package provides all the necessary drivers that should eliminate any command line errors.

ADB Over Wi-Fi Android Studio

There’s another, even easier way to use ADB utility over Wi-Fi. You can use the Android Studio called Bumblebee, which had its latest update in early 2022. There’s one caveat, though. It only works with Android devices that run on API 11 or higher.

Other prerequisites include enabling the developer settings on the Android device and using the same Wi-Fi connection on PC and Android. Before we relay all the steps, make sure you download and install Android Studio on your computer.

Here’s how you use ADB over Wi-Fi with Android Studio:

1. Open Android Studio and navigate to your Android device’s dropdown menu.
   
2. Select “Pair Devices Using Wi-Fi.”
   
3. When a new window pops up, scan the QR code on the screen or use the pairing code.
   
4. On your Android device, select “Settings” followed by “Developer options.”
   
5. Select “Wireless debugging” and move the toggle switch to “ON.”
   
6. Another window will appear, asking you whether to “Always allow on this network.” Tap this option.
   
7. Tap “Allow.”
   
8. Choose whether to pair with a QR code or a six-digit pairing code.

Both Android Studio and your Android device should report successful pairing.

An Easier Way to Use ADB

By connecting your Android and PC wirelessly using the ADB utility, you can fix many problems that otherwise would not have a solution. Think of all the apps Android devices come with that you never use.

Connecting ADB over Wi-Fi can help you get rid of them. Also, you can use this method to sideload apps on your Android TV and so much more. But remember, tinkering with developer options comes with certain risks and a wrong command can mess with your phone.

But if you know what you’re doing, these solutions can help a lot when dealing with debugging, rooting, and other processes.

What do you use the ADB command line utility for mainly? Let us know in the comments section below.