30 November 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
Encountering the “adbd cannot run as root in production builds” error can be frustrating when working with Android emulators. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step solution to enable root access on your emulator, ensuring you can perform all necessary development tasks.
Understanding the Issue
The error message “adbd cannot run as root in production builds” typically occurs when using an emulator system image that does not support root access. This restriction is common in production builds, which are designed to mimic the environment of a consumer device.
Solution: Choose the Right Emulator System Image
To enable root access, you need to select an emulator system image that supports this feature. Follow these steps:
- Open Android Studio and navigate to Tools > AVD Manager.
- Click on the + Create Virtual Device… button.
- Select the desired virtual hardware and proceed by clicking Next.
- When choosing a system image, avoid any image labelled with “Google Play”.
- If you rely on Google APIs, select an image that includes “(Google APIs)” instead.
- You may need to switch from the “Recommended” group to “x86 Images” or “Other Images” to find a suitable option.
- Download the selected image if necessary and complete the AVD creation process.
- Launch your newly created AVD by clicking the green “play” triangle in the AVD window.
Once launched, you can test root access by running adb root in your terminal. A successful setup will display the message “restarting adbd as root” or “adbd is already running as root”.
Additional Tips
For easier management, consider naming your AVDs with their API level numbers to sort them conveniently. If you need to verify root access, use the command adb shell and check if the prompt changes from $ to # after running su.
Leveraging Repeato for Efficient Testing
While setting up your emulator for root access, consider using Repeato, a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android. Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests seamlessly. It integrates ADB commands within its workflow, ensuring efficient execution of tests and debugging processes on your virtual devices.
