You need the emulator process to access the raw USB device.
sudo chmod 666 /dev/bus/usb/001/005
(Note: This is temporary. For permanent rules, create a udev rule.)
Verdict: This is the best method for Linux developers. For Windows and macOS, continue reading.
sudo modprobe usbip-core
sudo usbipd -D
sudo usbip bind -b $(lsusb | grep "MyDevice" | cut -d' ' -f2,4 | tr -d ':')
adb root
adb shell modprobe usbip-core
adb shell modprobe vhci-hcd
adb shell usbip attach -r 10.0.2.2 -b <busid>
Most people try to simply "pass through" the USB device. This is supported natively in modern Android Studio versions, but it’s hidden. connect usb device to android emulator better
The Steps:
The Catch: This feature is heavily dependent on the host OS.
emulator -avd Pixel_4_API_30 -qemu -usb -device usb-host,vendorid=0x046d,productid=0xc077
Now, when you open an app on the emulator that uses USB Host APIs (UsbManager), the device will appear as physically connected. You need the emulator process to access the raw USB device
Why this is better:
Solution:
sudo chmod 666 /sys/bus/usb/drivers/usb/unbind
Or better, run your emulator script with sudo. (Note: This is temporary
adb shell dmesg | grep -i usb
adb shell lsusb # if busybox is installed
adb shell cat /sys/kernel/debug/usb/devices
If you don't see your device in the emulator’s dmesg, USB passthrough failed at the hypervisor level.
The keyword “better” implies measurable improvement. Here’s what to benchmark:
| Method | Latency | Supported USB Classes | Setup Difficulty | Stability | |--------|---------|----------------------|------------------|------------| | ADB TCP Forward | High (5-20ms) | Serial, HID | Easy | Medium | | UsbDk (Windows) | Medium (2-5ms) | Most except isoch | Medium | Medium | | QEMU Passthrough (Linux) | Native (<1ms) | All (including webcam) | Hard (needs root) | High | | VirtualHere (Paid) | Low (1-2ms) | All | Medium | High |
"Better" for you depends on your use case. For a USB barcode scanner in a warehouse app, QEMU passthrough is overkill – ADB forward works. For a USB oscilloscope or audio interface, you must use QEMU passthrough.