22 April 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
Introduction
When working with Android devices, particularly during development, you might find yourself needing to push files to the /system directory. This is common for developers who need to modify system applications or permissions. However, a frequent hurdle is encountering a “permission denied” error when attempting to remount the system partition as read-write. This article will guide you through the process of resolving this issue.
Understanding the Problem
The permission denied error during an adb remount operation typically occurs on production builds of Android, where enhanced security measures prevent modifications to the system partition. While you may have root access and can execute commands with superuser privileges within an ADB shell, the remount command might still fail. The reason for this is that production builds set the ro.secure property to 1, which restricts certain operations even for root users.
Steps to Remount /system as Read-Write
Using the Shell
To overcome this restriction, you can manually remount the system partition by following these steps:
- Open an ADB shell by running
adb shellfrom your command line or terminal. - Once inside the shell, gain superuser access by typing
su. - Remount the system partition as read-write with the command:
mount -o rw,remount /system
This method bypasses the limitations imposed on the adb remount command in production builds, allowing you to modify the system files as needed.
For Emulator Users
If you are using an Android Emulator, ensure that you start it with the -writable-system flag to allow system partition modifications. For more details on launching Android applications via ADB, refer to our blog article Launching Android Applications via ADB.
Automating the Process with Repeato
For developers and testers looking to automate their testing processes, Repeato can be an invaluable tool. Repeato is a No-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for your apps. It is particularly useful for editing and running tests quickly and supports various app frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, Unity, and more.
With ADB on board, Repeato simplifies the process of executing ADB commands via script steps, making it a seamless addition to your development and testing workflow. By incorporating Repeato into your testing strategy, you can ensure that your app’s interaction with the system partition is thoroughly tested and functions as expected on all devices, without the need for manual intervention.
Conclusion
Resolving the ADB remount permission denied error is crucial for Android developers needing to work with the system partition. By following the outlined steps, you can gain the necessary access to perform your tasks. Additionally, embracing tools like Repeato can streamline your testing process, resulting in a more efficient and effective development cycle.
