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Setup ADB Over WiFi for Chromebooks

You can build and deploy Android apps to Chromebooks by using ADB over WiFi. Although ADB over USB is supported on some Chromebooks, it requires configuring the Chromebook to use Developer Mode and it can be finicky, so the WiFi method is preferred.

NOTE: Due to Banno device management, it appears to be impossible to enable ADB on Chromebooks when using a Banno account. Because of this, the recommendation is to set up a new non-Banno Google account to use on the Chromebook.

Why a new account and not your personal one (if you have one)? As mentioned in the onboarding documentation, it’s a good idea to minimize use of personal data on company computers that are subject to regulations.

Configure the Chromebook to allow ADB debugging

  1. If you’ve already signed into the Chromebook with a banno account, you’ll need to reset your Chromebook by running Powerwash
  2. Sign in with your non-Banno account
  3. Install Linux: Settings > Advanced > Developers > Linux > Turn on (defaults should be fine)
  4. Enable ADB: Settings > Advanced > Developers > Linux > Develop Android apps > Enable ADB debugging
  5. Restart the Chromebook and continue
  6. Confirm Enabling ADB debugging when prompted and log back in
  7. Find IP address of Chromebook

Connect to ADB over WiFi

  1. On dev computer, run adb connect ip_address:5555 using the IP address of the Chromebook
  2. On the Chromebook, enable the computer on “Allow USB debugging” prompt
  3. On dev computer, run adb devices to confirm device is connected (or check in Android Studio devices list)

Configuring the Chromebook to work with Proxyman

  1. Follow steps 1-3 in Proxyman’s Android Setup Guide (Proxyman > Certificate > Install Certificate on Android > Physical Devices…)
  2. The Proxyman certificate (.pem file) should be saved to the Downloads directory on the Chromebook
  3. Launch Chrome and open chrome://settings/certificates
  4. Select the Authorities tab
  5. Click Import
  6. Browse to the Downloads directory, select the Proxyman cert file, and click Open
  7. On the Certificate Authority prompt, check Trust this certficate for identifying websites and click OK

Tips and Tricks

When you restart either your dev computer or the chromebook, you’ll lose your ADB connection. To simplify reconnecting over wifi, give the Chromebook a static IP address and add a memorable alias to your shell (in ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zprofile) for the connect command:

alias adbcb="adb connect ip_address:5555"

Then you can enter adbcb in either Terminal or the terminal in Android Studio to reconnect.