Need to install the same APK on several test phones or demo devices? ADB (Android Debug Bridge) lets you do this from a Windows PC.
This adb install multiple devices guide starts with a short command-line workflow. It then shows how Total Control makes batch installation easier: select your phones, add the APK once, and start installing through a visual interface.
Download and extract Android SDK Platform-Tools. Enable USB Debugging on each phone, connect it by USB, and accept the authorization prompt. Have a standalone APK ready, such as C:\APK\my-app.apk.
Open the platform-tools folder, type cmd in its address bar, and press Enter. Run the following commands in Command Prompt (CMD).
adb devicesNote the Serial Numbers of phones listed as device. Replace the example IDs PHONE_A, PHONE_B, and PHONE_C below with your own. A phone marked unauthorized needs you to accept its debugging prompt first.
adb -s PHONE_A install -r "C:\APK\my-app.apk"The -s option selects the phone. The -r option reinstalls or updates the app while keeping its data, subject to signing and version requirements. After Success appears, open the app to check it works. See the Android Developers installation reference.
for %D in (PHONE_B PHONE_C) do adb -s %D install -r "C:\APK\my-app.apk"Replace the device IDs and APK path. This command installs the app on each listed phone in turn. Check each result; if a device reports Failure, resolve the issue and retry that device. This syntax is for typing directly into CMD.
If you want to push APK to multiple devices, remember that adb push only copies files. The install command above handles installation, so a separate push is unnecessary. Also, install-multiple installs split APKs on one device; it does not select multiple phones.
ADB is useful if you are comfortable with commands. If you prefer selecting phones on screen, or frequently change the devices and APKs you use, Total Control offers a more visual workflow.
For example, to update a group of test phones, select their screens, add the APK once, and start the batch installation. To target a different group, change your selection instead of editing device IDs in a command.
| What you need to do | The ADB method above | With Total Control |
|---|---|---|
| Choose target phones | Enter device IDs in the command | Select phones directly in the device overview |
| Choose another APK | Edit the file path in the command | Click Add File and select the APK |
| Check the app afterward | Read command results, then open the app on the phones | View the phones and open the app directly in MDCC |
You do not need to remember installation commands or add the same APK separately for every phone. Installation and follow-up checks stay in one interface. This makes routine updates easier to handle for users who prefer a graphical interface. See the Total Control official guide.
Once your phones are displayed in MDCC (Multi-Device Control Center), the workflow is: select devices → add the APK → start installation.
Check the box at the bottom right of each target device screen. You can also use Select to select all devices or choose a Device Group.
Figure 1: Select phones directly, without typing device IDs. Source: Official guide.
Click File Sync, then Add File, and choose the APK on your PC. Add it once for the batch, even when you are installing on several phones.
Figure 2: Open File Sync. Source: Official guide.
Figure 3: Click Add File and choose your APK. Source: Official guide.
Check Install APK, then click Start Sync. Total Control sends the APK to the selected phones and starts installation automatically.
Figure 4: Install app on multiple Android devices: enable Install APK, then click Start Sync. Source: Official guide.
Install APK tells Total Control to install the file after transferring it. If a phone shows an installation confirmation prompt, follow it. Afterward, use MDCC to view each phone and open the app for testing or demonstration.
No. Device selection, Add File, Install APK, and Start Sync are all available through the interface.
Yes. Select the target phones in MDCC, or choose an existing Device Group.
No. Add it once per batch task to start installation on the selected devices.
Yes. View the phones in MDCC and use your mouse to open the app and check that it runs.
Visit Total Control Getting Started. MDCC is a Professional feature, and the number of available devices depends on your license. See the Total Control features and edition details.
ADB provides a command-line route for batch installation. If you prefer to select phones visually, install the APK, and check the app in the same interface, explore Total Control.
Select your phones and add the APK once to start a batch installation. For more ways to work with multiple devices, read How to Control Multiple Android Devices from One PC.