copy db file with adb pull results in 'permission denied' error

I just rooted my Nexus 5 using this method: http://www.phonearena.com/news/How-to-root-Google-Nexus-5_id49014

I also enabled USB debugging in the developer options.

Then I tried to pull a database file from my device using this command:

adb pull /data/data/path.to.package/databases/data /sdcard/test

I get permission denied error.

I don't have the debugged flag set in that app I tried to access. Is that the reason I can't access that file? If yes, are there any workarounds to access an apps files?

Solution 1:

You can use run-as shell command to access private application data.

If you only want to copy database you can use this snippet, provided in https://stackoverflow.com/a/31504263/998157

adb -d shell "run-as com.example.test cat /data/data/com.example.test/databases/data.db" > data.db

Solution 2:

I had the same problem. My work around is to use adb shell and su. Next, copy the file to /sdcard/Download

Then, I can use adb pull to get the file.

Solution 3:

Did you try adb remount after giving adb root?

Solution 4:

This generic solution should work on all rooted devices:

 adb shell "su -c cat /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db" > contacts2.d

The command connects as shell, then executes cat as root and collects the output into a local file.

In opposite to @guest-418 s solution, one does not have to dig for the user in question.

Plus If you get greedy and want all the db's at once (eg. for backup)

for i in `adb shell "su -c find /data -name '*.db'"`; do
    mkdir -p ".`dirname $i`"
    adb shell "su -c cat $i" > ".$i" 
done

This adds a mysteryous question mark to the end of the filename, but it is still readable.

Solution 5:

If you get could not copy and permissions are right disable selinux.

Check if selinux is enabled.

$ adb shell
$su
# getenforce
Enforcing

Selinux is enabled and blocking/enforcing. Disable selinux

# setenforce 0

do your stuff and set selinux to enforcing.

# setenforce 1