How to Install/Uninstall Applications using Android ADB

Are you looking for a way to install apps to your Android device directly fr0m your PC? Well, if so, you’re on the right spot. Sometimes accessing Google Play store is not possible, and sometimes the apps you want to install are not available in the play store and you got to install those manually using an APK file . Although you can install APK files directly on your phone, but there’s another way to install APK files from your computer straight to your Android device.

In the following post we’re going to have a look on the method that requires you to have installed Android ADB drivers first, and understanding the use of it. Once done, you can head towards the method we explained below.

First of all, let’s have a look on how to install APK files using Android ADB:

1. Download an APK file of your desired application to your computer. Follow the guide here to do so.
2. Connect your phone to your PC having USB debugging mode enabled.
3. Place the APK file in the Fastboot folder that you created using our ADB & Fastboot guide.
4. Right click on an empty area in the Fastboot folder while holding the shift key, and click on “Open Command Window Here”.
5. Now in command window type the following command: “adb install packagename.apk” //without inverted commas. And hit the Enter key. E.g adb install com.android.chrome
6. As soon as you hit the Enter key, it will install the application and show you the “Success” status in the command window.
7. That’s all.

How to Uninstall an App using Android ADB: 

1. Find the package name of the application on your phone that you want to uninstall. The easiest way is to use Package Name Viewer.
2. Connect your phone to your PC having USB debugging mode enabled.
3. Right click on an empty area in the Fastboot folder while holding the shift key, and click on “Open Command Window Here”.
4. Now in command window type the following command: “adb uninstall packagename” //without inverted commas. And hit the Enter key. adb uninstall com.android.chrome
5. If you want to keep the app’s data and cache directory, then use this command: “adb uninstall -K packagename.apk”. E.g. adb uninstall -K com.android.chrome
6. As soon as you hit the Enter key, it will uninstall the App and show you Success in the command window.
7. That’s All.

How to update an existing app:

1. Download the latest version of the app on your PC. Follow the guide here to do so.
2. Connect your phone to your PC having USB debugging mode enabled.
3. Right click on an empty area in the Fastboot folder while holding the shift key, and click on “Open Command Window Here”.
4. Now in command window type the following command: “adb install -r packagename.apk” //without inverted commas. And hit the Enter key. E.g. adb install -r com.android.chrome
5. As soon as you hit the enter key, it will update the application and show you success status in the command window.
6. That’s All!

That’s all. Find more usefull ADB and Fastboot commands here. In case you got any queries/suggestions or face any difficulties regarding this guide, please feel free to stop by the comment box and leave us your message.