Android error: Failed to install *.apk on device *: timeout

I'm getting this error from time to time and don't know what causing this:
When trying to run/debug an Android app on a real device (Galaxy Samsung S in my case) I'm getting the following error in the Console:

Failed to install *.apk on device *:

timeout Launch canceled!

This is all the Console is telling me. LogCat doesn't provide any information. Eclipse Problems view is not showing any issues.

I tried the following steps with no success:
1. Cleaning the project (Project->Clean)
2. Restarting device, Eclipse, laptop, all of the above...
3. Moving the project to a location without spaces, according to Failed to install apk on device 'emulator-5554': timeout

The app has been debugged in the past on that device many times (app is live on Market), but this problem happens every so often, and is VERY FRUSTRATING...

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.


Try changing the ADB connection timeout. I think it defaults that to 5000ms and I changed mine to 10000ms to get rid of that problem.

If you are in Eclipse, you can do this by going through

Window -> Preferences -> Android -> DDMS -> ADB Connection Timeout (ms)


What I usually do when I get this error is restarting the adb server by typing in the cmd:

adb kill-server

adb start-server

EDIT: With some never versions of the Platform Tools you can do this from the DDMS Perspective in the Devices Tab menu (near the Capture Button), click on Reset adb.

EDIT2: Also I found out that it is preferable to use the USB port in the back of your PC, since most of the front USB ports are low powered, and really seem to be slower when uploading apks on your devices.


I used to have this problem sometimes, the solution was to change the USB cable to a new one


don't use USB 3.0 ports for connection beetwen PC and Android phone!

USB 3.0 - Port with blue tongue

USB 2.0 - Port with black tongue


Reboot the phone.

Seriously! Completely power down and power up. That fixed it for me.