Many Android users and developers deal with situations where the Android device needs to be restarted repeatedly for testing, debugging, or recovery purposes. Manually pressing the power button can be tedious and time-consuming. Fortunately, the ADB offers a simple and powerful way to automate device reboots using command-line workflows. With just a minimal script, you can define automated reboot triggers, initiate restarts upon condition matches, or even integrate reboots into larger automation workflows.

To get started, you must activate Developer Mode and USB Debugging on your Android device. This setting is located under Developer Options in the Settings menu. If you can’t locate Developer Options, you can unhide it by pressing the build number repeatedly in the About Device section. Once USB debugging is activated, connect your device to your computer via USB and HackMD launch Command Prompt. Run the command adb shell devices to confirm connection. If your device shows up with a serial number, you’re set up and good to go.

The basic command to reboot a device is adb shell reboot. Typing this into your terminal will instantly restart your connected device. To streamline operations, you can build a reusable script. On Windows, create a .bat script named adb-reboot.bat with the content call adb reboot. On macOS or Linux, create a .sh file named restart.sh with the same line and make it executable with sudo chmod +x.. Now you can initiate a reboot via GUI instead of typing the command each time.

For sophisticated scripting, you can strategically sequence operations. For example, you might want to uninstall an app, reboot the device, and then reinstall it. A script could look like this: adb uninstall com.example.app; adb reboot; sleep 10; adb install app.apk. The delay function gives the device enough time to power on completely before attempting to deploy the package again. You can fine-tune the wait time based on your device’s reboot latency.

You can even set recurring restarts using your system’s task scheduler. On Windows, use Windows Task Manager to trigger the.bat every day at 03:00. On macOS or Linux, use cron to set up a recurring reboot. For example, adding bin to your cron configuration will force a daily cycle at 03:00. This is especially useful devices operating continuously like IoT devices.

When working with multiple devices, you can specify which device to reboot by using its ADB identifier. First, list all connected devices with adb shell devices. Then use adb --serial SERIAL reboot to isolate control. This is essential in testing environments where multiple units are active.

Keep in mind that some devices may require a specific USB driver or may lose connection post-restart if USB debugging is disabled during boot. Most recent OS builds handle this reliably, but validating your configuration is recommended. Also, limit the number of restarts as it may accelerate flash wear.

Automating reboots with ADB significantly reduces effort but also ensures uniformity in development workflows. Whether you are a mobile tester validating updates after a restart or an system operator overseeing multiple units, these scripts convert a repetitive burden into a automated component. With minimal setup and no complex configuration, you can achieve precise oversight of your Android devices through your workstation.