Guide: Setting up Android devices

Last updated: October 6, 2025

Jump to: Real Android Devices | Android Emulators

Android Emulator

Automating an Android emulator using AskUI is straightforward once the emulator is configured and started.

1. Install Android Studio

Download Android Studio from the official page: Android Studio Download

2. Set up an Emulator using Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager

  1. Open Android Studio.

  2. Navigate to More Actions → Virtual Device Manager.

  3. Click Create Virtual Device….

  4. Select a hardware profile (e.g., Pixel 5) and click Next.

  5. Choose a system image (preferably one with the Play Store). Note that the download may take several minutes. Then click Next.

  6. Configure device options if needed and click Finish.

For more information, check Create and manage virtual devices

3. Start the Emulator

  • In AVD Manager, click the Play button next to your virtual device.

  • Wait for the emulator to boot completely.

Real Android Devices

Automating a real Android device with AskUI is straightforward once you have ADB installed.

1. Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging

  1. On your Android device, open Settings → About phone.

  2. Tap Build number seven times to enable Developer Options.

  3. Go back to Settings → Developer Options.

  4. Enable USB Debugging.

For more information, check Enable adb debugging on your device

2. Install ADB (Platform-Tools)

  1. Download the ADB standalone Platform-Tools from the official source: Android Platform-Tools.

  2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a folder on your computer.

    • Example: C:\platform-tools (Windows) or ~/platform-tools (macOS/Linux)

For more information, check Android Debug Bridge

3. Add ADB to your system PATH

Windows:

  1. Press Win + S, search for Environment Variables, and open Edit the system environment variables.

  2. Click Environment Variables….

  3. Under User variables, select Path, then Edit….

  4. Click New and add the path to your platform-tools folder e.g. C:\platform-tools

  5. Click OK to save.

macOS/Linux

  1. Add the following line to your shell config file (~/.bash_profile, ~/.zshrc, or ~/.bashrc):

    export PATH="$PATH:/path/to/platform-tools"

  2. Save the file

4. Verify Device Connection

Before running automation, make sure your device is connected and visible to ADB.

  1. Connect your device via USB

    🚧 When you connect your device for the first time, a prompt will appear on the device asking you to allow USB debugging. Tap Allow.

  2. Open Terminal

  3. Run :

adb devices

Expected output:

List of devices attached
1234567890abcdef    device