Using ADB wirelessly can be frustrating due to connection issues, but a future Android release might solve that. Here’s how.
Android is getting a quality-of-life update that automatically turns on wireless debugging when connected to trusted Wi-Fi networks.
Currently, the feature automatically turns off after a period of inactivity, forcing users to constantly manually re-enable it.
The new behavior is live in the latest Android Canary builds, though a stable release might not happen until Android 16 QPR3 or Android 17.
One of the most powerful tools at an Android developer’s disposal is the Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This command-line tool lets you control your Android device from a PC, allowing you to quickly push new apps, view system logs, and much more. It’s also essential for tinkerers and enthusiasts looking to remove bloatware or access hidden features, explaining why so many non-developers also install it. While developers and enthusiasts may use ADB for different reasons, they agree on one thing: using it wirelessly sucks. Fortunately, Google is rolling out a small update to wireless ADB that should make it much less annoying.
For most of Android’s history, using ADB wirelessly was a cumbersome process.
