How to Fix “ADB Returned Null Value” When Connecting to a Device Over Wi-Fi in Visual Studio Code

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How to Fix “ADB Returned Null Value” When Connecting to a Device Over Wi-Fi in Visual Studio Code

Debugging an Android device over Wi-Fi is a convenient way to streamline your development workflow. However, you might encounter an error such as “ADB returned null value” when trying to connect to your device using the ADB Interface for VS Code extension. This error can be frustrating, especially if everything was working fine until recently. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix this issue.

Table of Contents Hide
1) Step-by-Step Guide to Fix the Error
2) Additional Tips

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix the Error

1. Connect to Your Device Manually via USB

  • Start by connecting your Android device to your computer using a USB cable.
  • Ensure that USB Debugging is enabled on your device (found in Developer Options).
  • Verify the connection by running the following command in your terminal:
    bash adb devices
  • You should see your device listed as connected.

2. Disconnect the USB Cable

  • Once your device is recognized, disconnect the USB cable. This step is crucial as it establishes a trusted connection between your computer and the device before attempting a wireless connection.

3. Connect Over Wi-Fi

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + P (or Cmd + Shift + P on Mac) in Visual Studio Code to open the command palette.
  • Type and select:
    ADB: Connect to device ip
  • Enter your device’s IP address in the format:
    bash adb connect <device-ip>:5555
  • Replace <device-ip> with the actual IP address of your Android device.

4. Confirm Connection

  • Run adb devices in the terminal again to confirm that your device is connected over Wi-Fi. You should see your device listed with the IP address instead of the USB connection.

Additional Tips

  • Ensure ADB Server is Running: If the problem persists, try restarting the ADB server by running:
  adb kill-server
  adb start-server
  • Check for Network Issues: Ensure that your computer and Android device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and that no firewall settings are blocking the connection.

This method should resolve the “ADB returned null value” error, allowing you to continue debugging over Wi-Fi without issues.