This tool is no longer supported.
Use Android Studio to
create AVDs and
create projects, and
use sdkmanager
to view and install SDK packages.
android is a command-line tool located in the tools/
directory of the Android SDK. android lets you:
- Create, delete, and view Android Virtual Devices (AVDs). (Now done using Android Studio or, from the command line, avdmanager.)
- Create and update Android projects. (Now done using Android Studio.)
- Update your Android SDK with new platforms, add-ons, and documentation. (Now done using the command-line tool sdkmanager.)
If you are using Android Studio, the android tool's features are
integrated into the IDE, so you don't need to use this tool directly. 
Note: The documentation of options below is not exhaustive
and may be out of date. For the most current list of options, execute android
--help.
Syntax
The syntax for android is as follows:
android [global options] action [action options]
Global options
- -s
- Silent mode: only errors are printed.
- -h
- Usage help.
- -v
- Verbose mode: errors, warnings and informational messages are printed.
AVD actions and options
The following table lists actions and options for AVDs:
| Action | Option | Description | Comments | 
|---|---|---|---|
| avd | None | Launch the AVD Manager. | |
| sdk | None | Launch the Android SDK Manager. | |
| create avd | -n <name> | The name for the AVD. | Required | 
| -t <targetID> | Target ID of the system image to use with the new AVD. To obtain a list of available
      targets, use android list targets. | Required | |
| -c <path>|<size>[K|M] | The path to the SD card image to use with this AVD or the size of a new SD card image to
      create for this AVD. For example, -c path/to/sdcardor-c
      1000M. | ||
| -f | Force creation of the AVD. | ||
| -p <path> | Path to the location to create the directory for this AVD's files. | ||
| -s <name>|<width>-<height> | The skin to use for this AVD, identified by name or dimensions. The androidtool scans for a matching skin by name or dimension in theskins/directory of
      the target referenced in the-t <targetID>argument. For example,-s
      HVGA-L. | ||
| delete avd | -n <name> | The name of the AVD to delete. | Required | 
| move avd | -n <name> | The name of the AVD to move. | Required | 
| -p <path> | Path to the location to create the directory for this AVD's files. | ||
| -r <new-name> | New name of the AVD being renamed. | ||
| update avd | -n <name> | The name of the AVD to move. | Required | 
Project actions and options
The following table lists actions and options for projects:
| Action | Option | Description | Comments | 
|---|---|---|---|
| create project | -n <name> | The name for the project. | Required | 
| -t <targetID> | Target ID of the system image to use with the new AVD. To obtain a list of available
      targets, use android list targets. | Required | |
| -k <path>|<size>[K|M] | Package namespace. | Required | |
| -a | Name for the default Activityclass. | Required | |
| -p <path> | Location of the project directory. | Required | |
| update project | -n <name> | The name of the project to update. | |
| -p <path> | Location path of the project. | Required | |
| -l <library path> | Location path of an Android Library to add, relative to the main project. | ||
| -s <subprojects> | Update any projects in subfolders, such as test projects. | ||
| -t <targetID> | Target ID to set for the project. | ||
| create test-project | -n <name> | The name of the project. | |
| -p <path> | Location path of the project. | Required | |
| -m <main> | The name of the project. | Required | |
| update test-project | -p <path> | Location path of the project to test, relative to the new project. | Required | 
| -m <main> | The main class of the project to test. | Required | |
| create lib-project | -k <packageName> | Package name of the library project. | Required | 
| -p <path> | Location path of the project. | Required | |
| -t <targetID> | Target ID of the library project. | Required | |
| -n <name> | The name of the project. | Required | |
| update lib-project | -p <path> | Location path of the project. | Required | 
| -l <libraryPath> | Location path of an Android Library to add, relative to the main project. | ||
| -t <name> | Target ID of the library project. | ||
| create uitest-project | -n <name> | The name of the UI test project. | |
| -t <name> | Target ID of the UI test project. | Required | |
| -p <path> | Location path of the UI test project. | Required | 
Update actions
- update adb
- Updates adb to support the USB devices declared in the SDK add-ons.
- update sdk
- Updates the SDK by suggesting new platforms to install if available.
