Logging Crash Information

Using adb logcat to get crash information

To get information about a crash you will need an Android device that reproduces a crash, a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux and a USB cable that connects your device to your computer.

Configuring your phone

• Enable Developer Mode
  • On stock Android open the Android Settings and use the search at the top to find build number
  • Tap the build number 7 times
  • For other devices use your favorite search engine or YouTube to find steps for your device.
• Enable Android USB debugging
  • On stock Android Open the Android Settings and use the search at the top to find USB debugging and enable it
• Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable

Downloading the Android SDK Platform tools

• Download the Android SDK Platform tools for your operating system
• Use your operating system tools to extract the zip file that was downloaded

Checking that adb can see your phone and is authorized

• Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable
• Open a command prompt or terminal and change to the directory to the platform tools directory that was extracted
• On Windows run the command adb devices on macOS and Linux run ./adb devices
• If it returns unauthorized you will need to authorize the phone to connect to the computer by accepting the connection dialog on the phone

Reproducing the crash

• Connect your device to the computer using a USB cable
• Open a command prompt or terminal and change to the directory to the platform tools directory that was extracted
• On Windows run adb logcat -v time on macOS and Linux run ./adb logcat -v time
• Reproduce the crash
• Unplug the device
• copy all the information in the terminal to a plain text document
• Use https://gist.github.com/ to save the logcat information
• Add the Gist URL to the issue for the crash

Optional Cleanup

• It is recommended to disable USB debugging once you are done collecting this information
• You can remove the Android SDK Platform tools by deleting the folders and zip files