In AVD emulator how to see sdcard folder and install an APK to the AVD?

I have created an Android emulator (Android Virtual Device), but I am unable to find out the SD card I have built during creation of this.

How can I find the SD card and its content and also how to install APK files to the AVD?


  1. switch to DDMS perspective
  2. select the emulator in devices list, whose sdcard you want to explore.
  3. open File Explorer tab on right hand side.
  4. expand tree structure. mnt/sdcard/

refer to image belowenter image description here


To install apk manually: copy your apk to to sdk/platform-tools folder and run following command in the same folder

adb install apklocation.apk

I have used the following procedure.

Procedure to install the apk files in Android Emulator(AVD):

Check your installed directory(ex: C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools), whether it has the adb.exe or not). If not present in this folder, then download the attachment here, extract the zip files. You will get adb files, copy and paste those three files inside tools folder

Run AVD manager from C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk and start the Android Emulator.

Copy and paste the apk file inside the C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools

  • Go to Start -> Run -> cmd

  • Type cd “C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools”

  • Type adb install example.apk

  • After getting success command

  • Go to Application icon in Android emulator, we can see the your application