Resolving "Unable to Locate ADB" Error in Android Studio

Introduction

When developing Android applications using Android Studio, it’s essential to test your app on real devices. However, you might encounter an error message stating "unable to locate adb." This tutorial will guide you through resolving this issue by ensuring that the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is correctly installed and configured.

Understanding ADB

ADB is a versatile command-line tool used for communicating with an emulator instance or connected Android device. It’s crucial for deploying, debugging, and interacting with your app on real devices. If ADB is missing or corrupted, you’ll face issues like the one mentioned above.

Steps to Resolve "Unable to Locate ADB"

1. Verify SDK Location

First, ensure that your Android SDK path is correctly set:

• Open Android Studio.
• Click on the SDK Manager icon in the toolbar (next to the search bar).
• Note the SDK location displayed.

For Windows, it might look like C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk. On Mac, it would be /Users/YourUsername/Library/Android/sdk.

2. Check Platform Tools

Navigate to your SDK path and open the platform-tools folder:

• Windows: Look for adb.exe.
• Mac/Linux: Look for adb.

If adb.exe is missing or corrupted, proceed with the following steps.

3. Reinstall Platform Tools

To reinstall the platform tools:

1. Close Android Studio.
2. Open your system’s file explorer and navigate to the SDK path.
3. Delete the existing platform-tools folder.
4. In Android Studio, go to File > Settings (or Android Studio > Preferences on Mac).
5. Navigate to Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Android SDK.
6. Under the SDK Tools tab, uncheck Android SDK Platform-Tools, apply changes, and wait for it to uninstall.
7. Re-check Android SDK Platform-Tools and install it again.

4. Restart ADB

After reinstalling:

1. Open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac).
2. Terminate any running adb.exe processes.
3. Return to Android Studio and sync your project.

5. Verify ADB Path in System Environment Variables

Ensure that the ADB path is included in your system’s environment variables:

• Windows: Add C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools to the PATH variable.
• Mac/Linux: Update the .bash_profile or .zshrc file with export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/platform-tools.

6. Antivirus Interference

If your antivirus software has quarantined ADB, restore it:

• For Avast users: Go to Virus Chest, find adb, and restore it.

Additionally, consider adding the ADB path to your antivirus exception list.

7. Download Platform Tools Manually (Optional)

If issues persist, download the latest platform tools manually from the official Android developer site and place adb.exe in the correct directory.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the "unable to locate adb" error in Android Studio. Ensuring that ADB is correctly installed and configured will allow you to test your applications on real devices seamlessly. If problems persist, double-check your SDK settings or consult additional resources for further troubleshooting.