OS X 10.6.6 and “adb devices” fails to list android devices

Question

adb devices was working fine last year, but after upgrades and new software installs, adb devices no longer recognizes USB attached Android devices.

Her

Answer 1

Another alternative: on modern Apple iMac's, the USB port closest to the outside edge of the machine never works with ADB, whereas all others work fine. I've seen this on two different iMacs, possibly those are USB 1.0 ports (or something equally stupid) - or it's a general manufacturing defect.

Plugging USB cables (new, old, high quality or cheap) into all other USB ports works fine, but plugging into that one fails ADB

NB: plugging into that port works for file-transfer, etc - it's only ADB that breaks.

Answer 2

The bug report to Google is http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=15583

If you have encountered this bug (upgrade to MacOS 10.6.6 and adb no longer sees some phones on USB) please add a comment with any useful relevant info (like your exact hardware type).

Answer 3

This thread is old but perhaps my answer will help somebody. Using a Motorola MB865 with OSX, ADB would recognize my phone only after I performed a factory reset.

I got the idea from this thread.

This was after I tried all the other tricks listed in other threads:

1. adb kill-server followed by adb start-server

2. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled

3. Make sure vendor USB ID listed in adb_usb.ini

4. Switching USB cables. For what it's worth, I did have to switch cables in order for the Mac to see the device. But this had no effect on ADB.

In the end, the factory reset did the trick.

Answer 4

I have seen another report of this bug. I have not been able to reproduce it myself yet.

The bug is: MacOS X 10.6.6 [on some hardware] breaks adb [for some phones].

If anyone is able to reproduce the bug, feel free to add details of the exact hardware, build numbers and so on. I've asked the person who can reproduce the bug, to report it to google using the form at http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/entry

When he does that, I will add the bug report URL here, and people can add their hw/sw details to the bug report.

In the meantime, to be safe, I would recommend Apple users should NOT accept the snow leopard upgrade to 10.6.6, which was pushed on Jan 6 2011 (so it may already be too late for most).

Peter

Answer 5

I have the same problem, I solved using an alternate install method.

First I put an sd card in my device. Then I use a File Manager to transfer the .apk to the device, and I install it from the device

You can see a tutorial in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UOAw124y1s

Answer 6

For some devices running Android 4.4.2, you must enable tethering. You can do this in "Tethering and Mobile hotspot" and then check "USB tethering".