How to Send Mock SMS Using ADB on an Android Emulator

In this blog, I will walk you through setting up an Android emulator, turning it on, and sending mock SMS messages using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This guide is designed for developers who need to simulate SMS behavior for app testing. Let’s dive in!

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1. Setting Up the Android Emulator (Optional)

If you already have an emulator set up, feel free to skip this section. Otherwise, follow these steps:

Install Android Studio

• Download and install Android Studio from developer.android.com.

• During installation, ensure the Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager is selected.

Create an Emulator

1. Open Android Studio and go to Tools > Device Manager.

2. Click on Create Device.

3. Select a hardware profile (e.g., Pixel 5) and click Next.

4. Choose a system image (e.g., Android 13.0) and download it if not already available.

5. Configure the emulator settings, such as RAM and storage, and click Finish.

Now, you have an emulator ready to use.

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2. Turning On the Emulator

Before sending a mock SMS, you need to start the emulator.

Using Android Studio

• Open the Device Manager in Android Studio.

• Click the Play button next to your emulator.

Using the Emulator Command (CLI)

1. Ensure the emulator executable is available in your PATH. It is typically located in the \\<Android SDK path>\\emulator\\ directory.

2. Open a terminal or command prompt.

3. List available emulators:

    <Android SDK path>/emulator/emulator -list-avds
   

   Replace <Android SDK path> with the actual location of your Android SDK.

4. Start an emulator:

    <Android SDK path>/emulator/emulator -avd <emulator_name>
   

   Replace <emulator_name> with the name of your emulator (e.g., Pixel_5_API_33).

Checking Emulator Status

Use the following command to confirm that the emulator is running:

adb devices

You should see your emulator listed with the status device.

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3. Sending a Mock SMS

ADB allows you to send mock SMS messages to an emulator, making it easy to test SMS-related features in your app.

Command to Send SMS

Use the following command to send a mock SMS:

adb emu sms send <phone_number> "<message_content>"

Example

adb emu sms send 5551234567 "Hello, this is a test message!"

• 5551234567: The sender’s phone number (use any dummy number for testing).

• Hello, this is a test message!: The content of the SMS.

Verify SMS on the Emulator

1. Open the default Messages app on the emulator.

2. Check the received SMS to verify that it matches the mock data you sent.

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Explanation of ADB Commands

Key Commands

1. adb devices Lists all connected devices and emulators.

    adb devices
   

   Output example:

    List of devices attached
    emulator-5554   device
   

2. adb emu Sends commands to the emulator. For example, the sms send subcommand allows sending mock SMS.

3. adb shell Opens a shell session on the emulator for advanced debugging.

    adb shell
   

Related Commands

• Restart the Emulator:

    adb emu kill
    <Android SDK path>/emulator/emulator -avd <emulator_name>
  

• Clear App Data:

    adb shell pm clear <package_name>
  

• Install an APK:

    adb install <path_to_apk>
  

• Uninstall an App:

    adb uninstall <package_name>
  

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Common Issues and Troubleshooting

• Command Not Found for emulator: Ensure the emulator executable is in your PATH. If not, specify the full path to the executable as shown above.

• Emulator Not Listed in adb devices: Ensure the emulator is running and properly configured. Restart the ADB server:

    adb kill-server
    adb start-server
  

• Mock SMS Not Received: Check the Messages app settings and ensure the emulator supports SMS simulation.

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Conclusion

Using ADB to send mock SMS messages is a powerful tool for testing SMS-related features in Android apps. By setting up an emulator, starting it, and running simple commands, you can simulate real-world scenarios and streamline your development process.