How to enable adbd to listen to a port at boot time in Android?

Question

I have a rooted HTC Hero, and what I want to do is to enable the adbd to listen to a port at boot time.

I tried some code found here:

setprop service.adb.tcp.port 5555
stop adbd
start adbd

in an Android shell and it works great.

I tried to change the init.rc file. I added the above code in init.rc and I replaced it with the original file, through these commands:

adb push init.rc sdcard

adb shell
adb su
mount -o rw,remount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /
adb cp sdcard/init.rc /

The file is replaced successfully, but when I reboot my phone and try to connect through:

adb connect <IP>:5555

the connection is not being established.

Any ideas?

(PS. I don't want to use the remoteADB application and a shell command like am start -n ... )

Traylor

This will surely help: #9768603 – Scoundrelly

This is for enabling ADB connection without USB at all - android - Adb over network without previous USB pairing - Stack Overflow – Trimetric

Answer 1

This will make it persistent:

setprop persist.adb.tcp.port 5555

ADB over USB might not be available after reboot. To undo this setting, do:

setprop persist.adb.tcp.port ""

Squarerigger

You have no idea how much this find has saved our bacon - so simple & works - why has this not gotten more up-votes? Cheers. – Prate

Where are these properties stored? Compared to build.prop? – Iranian

On my Sony Xperia Z1 compact with stock ROM Android 5.0.2 the USB keeps working even after reboot. – Iolenta

If you are using adb, the command is adb shell setprop persist.adb.tcp.port 5555. – Kiethkiev

You sir are awesome sauce :) I know this is old but still very useful! – Ostmark

I needed a nuance - First adb shell then su then setprop persist.adb.tcp.port 5555 – Howarth

useless for me :setprop persist.adb.tcp.port 5555; setprop persist.sys.start.adb 1 \n\n – Jarman

@Iranian persistent properties are stored in /data/property/persistent_properties – Tubing

Great! Will it work without root? – Lintwhite

@Lintwhite no, to run setprop root is required – Trimetric

Answer 2

You need to unpack, modify, and repack the initrd inside the boot.img. You can find more on this at:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/android-platform/w37x_WCrhMM

Beuthen

Answer 3

Root is required.

To set this property by Termux terminal:

su -c "setprop persist.adb.tcp.port 5555"

To restart adb (for making changed port updated in it) by Termux:

su -c "stop adbd && start adbd"

To check property (root is not needed):

getprop persist.adb.tcp.port
getprop service.adb.tcp.port

To unset property:

su -c "setprop persist.adb.tcp.port ''"

USB ADB is also working even if property persist.adb.tcp.port is set to 5555. Checked on Android 9, MIUI 11 64 bit.

(query for search engines: how to change android system property in termux)

Trimetric

Answer 4

Why don't you try using a BroadcastReceiver of the action BOOT_COMPLETED?

You can register one in you Manifest:

        <receiver
        android:name="com.myapp.BootCompleted"
        android:enabled="true"
        android:exported="false" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>

and in the class you can do whatever you want when boot is completed:

import java.util.*;
import android.content.*;

public class BootCompleted extends BroadcastReceiver
{
    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) 
    {
        // Do the actions you want
    }
}

Chelonian