###Managing Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) from the Command Line
First, view a list of Android system image targets on your local machine
android list targets
Sample output:
id: 1 or "android-16"
Name: Android 4.1.2
Type: Platform
API level: 16
Revision: 4
Skins: HVGA, QVGA, WQVGA400, WQVGA432, WSVGA, WVGA800 (default), WVGA854, WXGA720, WXGA800
ABIs : armeabi-v7a, mips, x86
To create an emulator, a command following this format is required:
android create avd -n <name> -t <targetID> [-<option> <value>] ...
The arguments are name, system target ID and options. For example if we were to create a virtual device called "myPhone16", targeting the above system image, the following command would work:
android create avd -n myPhone16 -t 1
The options are not required and allow you to customise the "hardware" of the emulator, e.g. modifying screen resolution etc. Check out the docs to see what it can do.
To list the available AVDs installed on your local machine, enter this command:
android list avd
Sample output:
Available Android Virtual Devices:
Name: myPhone16
Path: <path to android sdk>
Target: Android 4.1.2 (API level 16)
ABI: armeabi-v7a
Skin: WVGA800
To launch the emulator:
emulator -avd myPhone16
When the emulator is running, check if it can be seen by the Android Debug Bridge - adb
adb devices -l
Sample output:
List of devices attached
emulator-5554 device
Finally, install your application:
adb install ~/path/to/your/android.apk