Resolving ADB Start-Server Failure in Android Studio

30 November 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

Encountering the error message: ‘adb.exe, start-server’ failed — run manually if necessary in Android Studio can be a common hurdle for developers. This issue typically arises when the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is unable to bind to the default port (tcp:5037), often due to port conflicts or lingering processes. Below, we outline effective solutions to address this problem.

Step-by-Step Solutions

Follow these steps to resolve the ADB start-server failure:

1. Close Android Studio and Emulators: Begin by closing Android Studio and any emulators you might be running.
2. Terminate ADB Process: Open Task Manager and locate the adb.exe process. End this task to free up the port.
3. Restart Android Studio: After terminating the process, reopen Android Studio and attempt to run your application again.
4. Configure Genymotion: If using Genymotion, ensure it is set to use the ADB SDK to prevent port conflicts:
   • Navigate to Genymotion > Settings > ADB.
   • Select Use custom Android SDK tools and set the path to your SDK location.
5. Check for Conflicting Applications: Use the command netstat -ano | findstr 5037 to identify any processes using the port. Terminate these processes via Task Manager.

Additional Tips

Occasionally, the issue might be due to specific applications using the ADB port. Identifying and disabling these applications from starting at boot may provide a long-term solution.

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