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hdc command guide: connect, install apps and debug OpenHarmony devices

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Short answer: hdc (OpenHarmony Device Connector) is the command-line tool for connecting to and debugging OpenHarmony and HarmonyOS devices or emulators. It does what adb does on Android: list devices, install apps, move files, open a shell and read logs.

What is hdc?

hdc has three parts:

  • Client: runs on your computer and executes the commands you type in a terminal or from an IDE.
  • Server: a background process on your computer that manages communication between the client and the device, including connection multiplexing and data transfer.
  • Daemon: runs on the device and handles requests from the client.

Where do I get hdc?

hdc is packaged in the SDK. DevEco Studio includes it in the SDK’s toolchains directory (for example .../sdk/default/openharmony/toolchains). Add that directory to your PATH to run hdc from any terminal. The source code is in the developtools_hdc repository.

Check that it works:

hdc -v

What are the most useful hdc commands?

Devices

hdc list targets        # list connected devices
hdc list targets -v     # list with details (connection type, state)

Install and remove apps

hdc install path/to/app.hap     # install a package
hdc uninstall com.example.app   # remove an app by bundle name

Transfer files

hdc file send <local-path> <device-path>   # computer -> device
hdc file recv <device-path> <local-path>   # device -> computer

Shell and app management

hdc shell                                  # interactive shell on the device
hdc shell bm dump -a                       # list all installed bundles
hdc shell bm dump -n <bundle-name>         # details of one bundle
hdc shell aa start -a <ability> -b <bundle>   # start an ability
hdc shell aa force-stop <bundle>              # force-stop an app

Logs

hdc hilog               # stream device logs

Port forwarding

hdc fport tcp:<local-port> tcp:<device-port>   # forward a computer port to the device
hdc fport ls                                    # list forward rules
hdc rport tcp:<device-port> tcp:<local-port>    # reverse forwarding (device -> computer)

Server control

hdc kill                # stop the hdc server
hdc start -r            # restart the server

Why does hdc not show my device?

  1. Make sure developer mode and USB debugging are enabled on the device, and use a data-capable USB cable.
  2. Run hdc list targets. An empty result means that no device is connected or authorized.
  3. Restart the server with hdc kill and then hdc start -r.
  4. Check that only one version of hdc is on your PATH, because several SDKs installed on one machine can cause version conflicts.
  5. Reconnect the device and run hdc list targets again.

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

What does hdc stand for?

hdc stands for OpenHarmony Device Connector. It is a command-line tool to connect to, and debug, OpenHarmony devices or emulators from a development computer.

What is the equivalent of adb for OpenHarmony?

hdc plays the same role as Android's adb: it lists devices, installs and uninstalls apps, transfers files, opens a shell and shows logs.

How do I install a HAP file with hdc?

Run hdc install followed by the path to the .hap file. To remove an app, run hdc uninstall followed by the bundle name.

How do I restart the hdc server?

Run hdc kill to stop the server, then hdc start -r to restart it. This often fixes devices that do not show up.