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Key ADB Command Usage for Debugging

Installing ADB​

Expand installation steps

Mac​

Install adb with Homebrew. If you install manually, you must configure environment variables yourself.

  1. Install Homebrew first.
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
  1. Install adb with Homebrew.
brew install android-platform-tools
  1. Verify the installation.
adb version

If adb is not recognized as a runnable program, check that the adb path is included in the PATH environment variable.

Windows​

  1. Install adb using Chocolatey or Winget.
Using Chocolatey
choco install adb
Using Winget
winget install Google.AndroidSDKPlatformTools
  1. Verify the installation.
adb version

Linux​

Ubuntu / Debian family​

  1. Install adb with the apt package manager.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
  1. Verify the installation.
adb version

ADB connection and device check​

This command lists attached devices. If no serial appears, try reconnecting.

Command
adb devices
Sample output
List of devices attached
emulator-5554	device

CCS connection​

These commands link the device to the service. Use them to connect to Bluelink, Genesis Connected Services, and similar offerings.

adb shell settings put secure hmg_is_ccs_account_linked 1
adb shell settings put global hmg_provisioning_status 4

Screen capture​

Captures a screenshot from the connected device. The file is saved on the desktop as screen_<timestamp>.png.

adb exec-out screencap -p > ~/Desktop/screen_$(date +"%Y%m%d_%H%M%S").png

Screen recording​

Records the device screen while connected.

  1. Install a tool to package video (e.g. ffmpeg).
Example on Mac
brew install ffmpeg
  1. Start recording
adb exec-out screenrecord --output-format=h264 - > ~/Desktop/screen.h264

  1. Stop recording In the same terminal where recording is running, press Ctrl+C to stop.

  2. Convert format Repackage the H.264 stream into an MP4 container. After this step you can play the capture on your PC.

Example on Mac/Linux
ffmpeg -framerate 60 -i ~/Desktop/screen.h264 -c copy ~/Desktop/screen_$(date +"%Y%m%d_%H%M%S").mp4

Install / run / stop / uninstall apps​

Install an app​

Installs the APK.

adb install -d -r [path-to-apk]
# adb install -d -r app-my-signed.apk

Options
-d: Allow version downgrade
-r: Remove local data

If the command above fails, try:

adb push [path-to-apk] /data/local/tmp/
adb shell pm install -d -r /data/local/tmp/[apk-file-name]

# adb push app-my-signed.apk /data/local/tmp/
# adb shell pm install -d -r /data/local/tmp/app-my-signed.apk

Launch an app​

Find the package, then start the app.

Find package
adb shell pm list packages | grep [partial-package-name]
# adb shell pm list packages | grep radioline
Launch app: 1) Via launcher
adb shell monkey -p [package-name] -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1
# adb shell monkey -p ai.umos.appmarket -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1
  • Behaves similarly to choosing the app from the Global Navigation Bar (GNB).
Launch app: 2) Start activity directly
adb shell am start -n [package-name]/[activity-path]
# adb shell am start -n com.radioline.android.radioline/.MainActivity

Uninstall an app​

Removes the app. After uninstalling, clear the package data if needed.

Uninstall app
adb uninstall [package-name]
# adb uninstall ai.umos.appmarket
Clear app data
adb shell pm clear [package-name]
# adb shell pm clear ai.umos.appmarket

Force-stop an app​

Force-stops the app process.

Force-stop app
adb shell am force-stop [package-name]
# adb shell am force-stop ai.umos.appmarket

UI text input​

Sends text into the focused field on the emulator or device.

Text input
adb shell input text "[text]"
# adb shell input text "test"

Change gear state​

Injects gear-related VHAL events.

Gear — P
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11400400 4
Gear — R
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11400400 2
Gear — N
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11400400 3
Gear — D
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11400400 8

The gear indicator in Driving view may not update visually, but the underlying gear state value is affected.

Enable / disable driving restrictions​

Step-by-step commands to turn driving restrictions on and off. Commands differ by device—use the section that matches your hardware.

Connect-W​

  • Enable driving restrictions

Run the following two steps.

  1. Set vehicle speed above 5 km/h (hold 30 m/s for 20 seconds)
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11600207 30 -t 20
  1. Parking brake — Off / Gear — not P
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11200402 "false"
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11400400 8
  • Disable driving restrictions

Run these two steps to clear the state you enabled.

  1. Set vehicle speed to 0 km/h
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11600207 0
  1. Parking brake — On / Gear — P
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11200402 "true"
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11400400 4

Connect-S/L​

ICE (internal combustion)​

  • Enable driving restrictions
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x21408A93 1
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11600207 30 -t 60
  • Disable driving restrictions
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x21408A93 0

HEV (hybrid)​

  • Enable driving restrictions
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x21408209 1
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11600207 30 -t 60
  • Disable driving restrictions
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x21408209 0

EV (electric vehicle)​

  • Enable driving restrictions
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x214081A4 1
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x11600207 30 -t 60
  • Disable driving restrictions
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.car inject-vhal-event 0x214081A4 0

Change mode​

Switches to utility mode.

Run utility-mode commands only after establishing vehicle speed 0, parking brake on, and gear P.

adb shell echo -e -n "\x83\x50\x10\x00\x00\x02\xAA\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x02\x00\x00\x00" > /dev/vcs_simulator_rx