adbutils
Pure Python Adb Library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to automate Android device control from Python. The library is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and offers a clean Python API over the ADB protocol. Medium install friction from its dependencies is acceptable for most use cases. Not necessary if you only need occasional manual ADB commands.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.8 or later and a running ADB server (typically started via `adb start-server` or bundled with Android SDK).
- Medium install friction due to 4 runtime dependencies (requests, deprecation, retry2, Pillow) and platform-specific wheels for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
- Actively maintained with recent commits and no known vulnerabilities.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package with minimal restrictions, provided you include the license notice.
last release 2025-11-12 (275 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-10 · 1,071 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 642,903 downloads/mo, #5,610 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install adbutils
from adbutils import adb
# Connect to ADB server and list devices
for device in adb.device_list():
print(device.serial)
# Execute shell command on a device
d = adb.device()
output = d.shell("getprop ro.serialno")
print(output)- Whether Pillow is required for all use cases or only for screenshot functionality
- Whether the package works with all ADB server versions or has specific compatibility constraints
What it is and what it does
adbutils is a pure Python implementation of the ADB protocol that lets you programmatically control Android devices connected via USB or network. It wraps the low-level ADB protocol in a high-level API, allowing you to list devices, run shell commands, transfer files, take screenshots, and manage port forwarding—all without shelling out to the system `adb` command.
The library is built on top of socket communication with an ADB server and handles the protocol details internally. It depends on requests for HTTP operations, Pillow for image handling in screenshots, retry2 for connection resilience, and deprecation for API lifecycle management. It's actively maintained, supports Python 3.8 through 3.10, and has no known security vulnerabilities.
Use it for
- Automate testing workflows by running shell commands and capturing output from connected Android devices
- Build mobile device farms or CI/CD pipelines that need to control multiple Android devices programmatically
- Transfer test data or APKs to devices and retrieve logs or screenshots for test reporting
- Monitor device properties and state changes in real-time without spawning external processes
- Implement custom device management tools that integrate ADB functionality into larger Python applications
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to automate Android device control from Python.
The library is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and offers a clean Python API over the ADB protocol. Medium install friction from its dependencies is acceptable for most use cases. Not necessary if you only need occasional manual ADB commands.
Install
adbutils on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to 4 runtime dependencies (requests, deprecation, retry2, Pillow) and platform-specific wheels for macOS, Linux, and Windows. Actively maintained with recent commits and no known vulnerabilities.
Requires Python 3.8 or later and a running ADB server (typically started via `adb start-server` or bundled with Android SDK).
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package with minimal restrictions, provided you include the license notice.
Quickstart
pip install adbutils
from adbutils import adb
# Connect to ADB server and list devices
for device in adb.device_list():
print(device.serial)
# Execute shell command on a device
d = adb.device()
output = d.shell("getprop ro.serialno")
print(output)Verify before relying
- Whether Pillow is required for all use cases or only for screenshot functionality
- Whether the package works with all ADB server versions or has specific compatibility constraints
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 4 packagesrequestsdeprecationretry2Pillow |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 275 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 642,903 / month, #5,610 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Software Development :: Testing |
Evidence: adbutils-2.12.0-py3-none-macosx_10_9_intel.macosx_10_9_x86_64.macosx_10_10_intel.macosx_10_10_x86_64.whl; adbutils-2.12.0-py3-none-manylinux1_x86_64.whl; adbutils-2.12.0-py3-none-win32.whl; adbutils-2.12.0-py3-none-win_amd64.whl
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See also adb-shell · pure-python-adb · androidtvremote2 · uiautomator · uiautomator2 · alibabacloud-adb20211201 · pushbullet.py · mobly · brainstem · uart-devices