Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a handy command-line tool that allows developers and enthusiasts to modify various aspects of their Android device from a computer. Although you can install ADB on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS, it there is a new website called WebADB which lets you use ADB right from the comfort of your web browser. Today we are going to see how you can use WebADB from your browser.
Run ADB from your browser
WebADB History
WebADB is a website created by XDA member Steeltoe. According to Steeltoe post on XDA Forums, the website is based on a open source project ‘ya-webadb’ by web developer Simon Chan. In other words, the WebADB website is essentially a prettier version of the original ‘ya-webadb’ project.
Simon Chan’s The WebADB project uses WebUSB API which allows browsers to communicate with devices via USB. As Chromium-based web browsers support WebUSB by default, it is recommended to use one such as Google Chrome, the new Chromium-based Edge, or Opera.
Since Simon Chan also launched an online implementation of the project on GitHub, I’ll use it for the demonstration in this article. You can also use AfDB website, but I would recommend using Chan’s version as new features will appear there first.
WebADB features
- Installing the APK
- Interactive shell
- Screen recording
- Scrcpy Screen Mirroring
- Device Information
- File manager
- Enable ADB over Wi-Fi
Prepare your Android device for ADB
1. The first step to using ADB is to prepare your device for use. Therefore, you must first enable developer options on your phone. To do this, go to the “About phone” section of your phone in Settings and tap “build number” seven times.
2. You will now see a new “Developer options” section in your phone settings. Although the option usually lies in Settings -> Developer Options, it may vary depending on the OEM of your device. On OnePlus phones, you will find the new developer options in Ssettings -> system -> developer options. From Developer Options you will need to Enable USB debugging. Your phone is now ready to interact with WebADB from your web browser.
Prepare your PC for ADB
If you plan to use WebADB from a Windows PC, you need to enable a feature flag. The flag in question is “Enable new USB backend”. At first glance, this flag is likely to make it into our list of the best Chrome flags.
1. Open Google Chrome (or any other Chromium browser of your choice) and visit chrome://flags. This may vary depending on the browser you are using. For example, the URL to access the flags page on Microsoft Edge is “edge://flags”.
2. From this page, search for “Enable new USB backend” and choose “Enabled” from the drop-down list. Alternatively, you can paste the URL below into your browser’s address bar to access it directly.
chrome://flags/#new-usb-backend
3. After activating the flag, do not forget to restart the browser. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to use WebADB from your web browser. As mentioned earlier, make sure you’re using a Chromium-based web browser.
Connect your phone to WebADB
Now that your phone and PC are ready to use ADB, let’s get to the running part. This section will walk you through the configuration process on the browser side and how you can use the tool from the browser.
1. Connect your smartphone to your computer using a USB cable. When the prompt appears, set the USB preference to “File Transfer” mode.
2. Open AfDB website and click the “Add device” button. If you have connected multiple Android devices to your computer, choose the correct one from the list of available devices.
3. After choosing the right device, click “Connect” to start using WebADB from your browser. On this page, your device may appear with the full name or just the model number.
4. Shortly after clicking the Connect button, a prompt will appear on your Android phone asking you to allow USB debugging access. If you plan to use WebADB quite often, don’t forget to check the “Always allow from this computer” box. You can start using WebADB after granting access.
Run ADB from your browser
As you can see below, I can now access my phone’s file manager, install apps, run ADB shell commands, capture screenshots, etc. without having to install full ADB on my computer. You can switch between different features from the left menu on the website.
Another aspect to highlight is that you can enable ADB over Wi-Fi from this tool. However, the tool does not yet work with wireless ADB. As a result, your device will disconnect from the tool after enabling ADB over Wi-Fi.
Access ADB from Chrome, Edge and Opera
You can do many cool things on your Android device using ADB. Having access to tools like WebADB will help you perform quick actions on the go. In my opinion, this will come in handy when you don’t have access to your main productivity machine. So, would you consider using WebADB over a traditional ADB setup? Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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