How to load my app from Eclipse to my Android phone instead of AVD

I'm quite new to Android and have been using an AVD to debug my app so far. However, I want to start checking the media options and therfore need to start using my Android phone. How do I get Eclipse to load my app to my phone instead of my AVD?


First you need to enable USB debugging on your phone, then connect it to your computer via USB. Then eclipse should automatically start debugging on your phone instead of the AVD.


just for additional info, If your apps is automatically run on emulator, right click on the project, Run As -> Run Configuration, then on the Run Configuration choose on the Manual. after that, if you run your apps you will be prompted to chose where you want to run your apps, there will be listed all the available device and emulator.


I had the same problem, and have not been able to get Eclipse in Windows 7 to recognise the device. The device is correctly configured, Windows 7 recognises it on the USB port, and I edited the Run settings in Eclipse to prompt for a device, and it is just not there.

I ran it with the following steps:

  • Connect the device to the computer with USB.
  • Ensure the device is not locked (ie. timed out in the UI). I have to keep unlocking it while I'm working.
  • Wait for Windows to recognise the USB device, and when the autoplay menu comes up select Open device to view files. It should open up the file system in the device, in Explorer.
  • In Explorer go to the Eclipse workspace and find the apk file from the build (eg. MyFirstApp.apk)
  • Copy the apk file to the Downloads directory on the device
  • On the device, use the My Files app (or similar) to open the Downloads directory.
  • Click the downloaded file (My First App.apk) and Android offers to install it
  • Select install
  • The app is now in the installed Apps. Run it.

A second method is to mail the apk file to the device and then download and install it. (Credits to a post on SO which I can't find now).

A third method is to use DropBox. This requires installation of DropBox on the PC and on the device (from the play store) but once both are set up it runs very smoothly. Just share a DropBox folder between the two devices, and then drop the APK into that folder on the PC, and open it on the device. With this method you don't need a USB connection, and can also install the APK on multiple devices. It also assists the management of multiple development versions (by making a separate sub-folder for each version).


In Eclipse:

  • goto run menu -> run configuration.
  • right click on android application on the right side and click new.
  • fill the corresponding details like project name under the android tab.
  • then under the target tab.
  • select 'launch on all compatible devices and then select active devices from the drop down list'.
  • save the configuration and run it by either clicking run on the 'run' button on the bottom right side of the window or close the window and run again

You don't have to do anything really except prepare your phone to be able to run debug and usb apps :

http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/device.html

then simply launch your app from eclipse and your device will be used if you don't have a simulator running.