ADB Settings Commands

Introduction

ADB settings commands are used to query or modify variables within the SettingsProvider database.

There are three types of system variables:

  • global: global system settings, containing preferences that always apply identically to all defined users
  • system: system settings, containing miscellaneous system preferences
  • secure: secure system settings, containing system preferences that applications can read but are not allowed to write

Settings Commands Usage

  1. settings list command is used to query system variables. The command line format is as follows:
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settings list [global/system/secure]

  • List global variables:

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    console:/ $ settings list global                                           
    Phenotype_boot_count=10
    Phenotype_flags=
    _boot_Phenotype_flags=
    adb_enabled=1
    add_users_when_locked=0
    airplane_mode_on=0
    airplane_mode_radios=cell,bluetooth,wifi,nfc,wimax
    airplane_mode_toggleable_radios=bluetooth,wifi,nfc
    assisted_gps_enabled=1
    audio_mixing=1
    audio_safe_volume_state=3
    auto_time=0
    auto_time_zone=1
    bluetooth_disabled_profiles=0
    bluetooth_on=1
    boot_count=11

  • List system variables:

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    console:/ $ settings list system
    accelerometer_rotation=0
    alarm_alert=content://media/internal/audio/media/13
    alarm_alert_set=1
    dim_screen=1
    dtmf_tone=1
    dtmf_tone_type=0
    haptic_feedback_enabled=1
    hearing_aid=0
    hide_rotation_lock_toggle_for_accessibility=0
    lockscreen_sounds_enabled=1
    mode_ringer_streams_affected=166
    mute_streams_affected=47
    notification_light_pulse=1
    notification_sound=content://media/internal/audio/media/180

  • List secure variables:

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    console:/ $ settings list secure                                               
    accessibility_display_inversion_enabled=null
    accessibility_display_magnification_enabled=0
    accessibility_display_magnification_scale=2.0
    accessibility_enabled=0
    android_id=265be16cb9e0f636
    autofill_service=
    backup_enabled=null
    backup_transport=android/com.android.internal.backup.LocalTransport
    bluetooth_address=22:22:21:87:13:81
    bluetooth_name=VIM3L
    clock_seconds=null
    default_input_method=com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME
    double_tap_to_wake=1
    enabled_input_methods=com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME

  1. settings get is used to query specific system variables. The command line format is as follows:

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    settings get [global/system/secure] [key]

    Example: To query the value of airplane_mode_on, we need to add the global attribute, as follows:

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    console:/ $ settings get global airplane_mode_on
    0

  2. settings put is used to modify specific system variables. The command line format is as follows:

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    settings put [global/system/secure] [key] [value]

    Example: To modify the value of airplane_mode_on, we need to add the global attribute, as follows:

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    console:/ $ settings put global airplane_mode_on 1
    console:/ $ settings get global airplane_mode_on
    1

The settings command can query and modify many system variables.

For example, obtaining or modifying the Wi-Fi status (wifi_on), Bluetooth status (bluetooth_on), and system sounds (notification_sound), etc.

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