ADB Keep Awake
March 30, 2026 ยท View on GitHub
Part of the Patches Index.
Simple scripts to prevent Android phones from sleeping while connected via USB, which can cause ADB to stop working.
The Problem
When an Android phone is connected via USB and the display turns off after a few minutes, the device may enter a sleep/doze state that disables USB debugging, breaking ADB connectivity.
Scripts
adb-keep-awake.sh (Recommended)
Sets the Android system setting to keep the screen on while charging via USB. Run once and it persists until changed.
./adb-keep-awake.sh
This sets stay_on_while_plugged_in=2 (USB mode). The phone will keep the screen on while connected via USB.
To revert:
adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 0
adb-keep-awake-monitor.sh (Fallback)
If the settings approach doesn't work on your device, this script runs in the background and periodically sends a wake event to keep the device awake.
./adb-keep-awake-monitor.sh [interval_seconds]
Default interval is 60 seconds. Press Ctrl+C to stop.
Quick One-Liner
If you just want to set it without the script:
# Enable stay awake on USB
adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 2
# Check current value
adb shell settings get global stay_on_while_plugged_in
# Disable (revert)
adb shell settings put global stay_on_while_plugged_in 0
stay_on_while_plugged_in Values
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Never stay awake |
| 1 | AC charger only |
| 2 | USB only |
| 3 | AC + USB |
| 4 | Wireless charging |
| 7 | All charging methods |
Requirements
- ADB installed and in PATH
- USB debugging enabled on your Android device
- Device connected and authorized
License
MIT