Troubleshooting ADB Device Recognition Issues on MacOS

Troubleshooting ADB Device Recognition Issues on MacOS

22 April 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

Users who develop Android applications often need to connect their Android devices to their computers using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB). However, sometimes the computer fails to recognize the device. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re trying to install and test your Android apps via USB. In this guide, we will walk through some common troubleshooting steps to help resolve issues where ADB is unable to find your device on MacOS.

Initial Checks

  • Ensure that USB debugging is enabled on your Android device.
  • Try connecting your device in both storage mode and media mode to see if either connection type is recognized.
  • Use the USB cable that came with your device, as some cables can charge but do not transmit data.

Restarting ADB

One of the first steps in troubleshooting ADB recognition issues is to restart the ADB server. Follow these steps:

  1. Unplug your device from your Mac.
  2. Open Terminal and execute the following commands to restart ADB:
    3. adb kill-server
adb start-server
  3. Reconnect your device and check if it’s now recognized by running:
    4. adb devices

Editing the ADB Configuration File

If the above steps don’t work, you may need to manually add your device’s USB vendor ID to the ADB configuration file:

  1. Open Terminal and navigate to the .android directory in your home folder:
    2. cd ~/.android
  2. Use a text editor to open or create the adb_usb.ini file and add your device’s USB vendor ID (for Samsung devices, it’s 04e8) on a new line.
  3. Save the file and restart ADB:
    4. adb kill-server
adb start-server

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

  • For certain devices, such as the ZTE Crescent, you may need to eject any associated storage before running adb devices again.
  • On some occasions, you might have to switch the phone’s USB communication mode from MODEM to PDA. This can usually be done through a specific dialer code unique to the device.

How Repeato Can Help

Once your device is successfully connected and recognized by ADB, you’ll be able to install your Android apps for testing. For an efficient and effective testing process, consider using Repeato, a No-code test automation tool that can help you create, run, and maintain automated tests for your apps. Repeato’s user-friendly interface allows for rapid test editing and execution, utilizing computer vision and AI to work with various app frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, and Unity. It also comes with ADB onboard, enabling you to execute ADB commands directly within your test scripts.

For more information on managing ADB connections and troubleshooting related issues, you can explore our comprehensive guides:

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve most ADB device recognition issues on MacOS. Happy coding!

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