ephemere/bash/adb

ADB File Transfer Scripts

Easy-to-use bash scripts for transferring files between your computer and Android device using ADB.

Prerequisites

• Android Debug Bridge (ADB) installed and in your PATH
• USB debugging enabled on your Android device
• Device connected via USB cable

Installing ADB

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install android-tools-adb

macOS:

brew install android-platform-tools

Windows: Download from Android Developer website

Scripts Overview

🚀 push.sh - Push files to Android

Transfer files from your computer to your Android device.

Usage:

# Interactive mode (recommended)
./push.sh

# Direct mode
./push.sh ~/Documents/file.pdf /sdcard/Download/
./push.sh ~/Pictures/vacation/ /sdcard/Pictures/

Features:

• Interactive mode with common destination suggestions
• Automatic path validation
• Directory creation if needed
• Progress feedback
• Support for both files and directories

📥 pull.sh - Pull files from Android

Transfer files from your Android device to your computer.

Usage:

# Interactive mode (recommended)
./pull.sh

# Direct mode
./pull.sh /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ ~/Pictures/phone-backup/
./pull.sh /sdcard/Download/document.pdf ~/Downloads/

Features:

• Browse Android filesystem interactively
• Quick access to common folders
• File count and size summary
• Creates destination directories automatically
• Support for both files and directories

📱 adb-transfer.sh - All-in-One Menu

Interactive menu system for all file transfer operations.

Usage:

./adb-transfer.sh

Features:

• Device status and information display
• Quick actions (backup photos, screenshots, WhatsApp media)
• Access to push/pull scripts
• Device information viewer
• Beautiful CLI interface

Common Android Paths

• /sdcard/Download/ - Downloads folder
• /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ - Camera photos and videos
• /sdcard/Pictures/ - General pictures folder
• /sdcard/Screenshots/ - Screenshots (varies by device)
• /sdcard/WhatsApp/Media/ - WhatsApp media files
• /sdcard/Documents/ - Documents folder
• /sdcard/Music/ - Music files
• /sdcard/Movies/ - Video files

Making Scripts Executable

First time setup:

chmod +x push.sh pull.sh adb-transfer.sh

Examples

Backup all camera photos

./pull.sh /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ ~/Pictures/android-backup/

Push multiple PDFs to Downloads

./push.sh ~/Documents/*.pdf /sdcard/Download/

Interactive file browser

./pull.sh
# Then select option 1 to browse filesystem

Quick backup using menu

./adb-transfer.sh
# Select option 3 for quick actions
# Select option 1 to backup all camera photos

Troubleshooting

"No device connected" error

1. Check USB cable connection
2. Enable USB debugging: Settings → Developer options → USB debugging
3. Accept the authorization prompt on your phone
4. Try adb devices to verify connection

"Permission denied" errors

• Some system directories require root access
• Stick to /sdcard/ paths for normal usage

Slow transfer speeds

• Use USB 3.0 ports and cables when possible
• Large files/directories take time - the scripts show progress

Tips

1. Use interactive mode - It's easier and prevents typos
2. Backup regularly - Use the quick actions menu for easy backups
3. Check free space - Use device info option to see available storage
4. Organize transfers - The scripts create timestamped folders for backups

Created with 💕 by Naomi & Hikari