Step 5 of 6, any Android version

Start Shizuku with a computer

Works on every Android version. You run one command, copied from Shizuku, after every restart.

On this page

What you need

A computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
A USB cable that carries data. Cables that only charge won't work.
Developer options on, with USB debugging on.
Your brand's extra switches: Samsung Auto Blocker off, Xiaomi USB debugging (Security settings) on, Huawei Allow ADB debugging in charge only mode on. Details on your phone's page.

This way works on any Android version. It is the only way on Huawei and on Android 10 or older, and the easiest on TVs.

Sources: Shizuku setup guide, Samsung support: Auto Blocker, Huawei support: Developer options

Download Google's SDK Platform Tools

On the computer, open Google's SDK Platform Tools page.
Download the zip for your system: Windows, Mac or Linux.
Unzip it somewhere easy to find, for example on your Desktop. You get a folder called platform-tools.

On Linux you can install your distribution's android-tools or adb package instead.

Sources: SDK Platform Tools

Open a terminal in that folder

A terminal is a window where you type commands. Open it inside the platform-tools folder:

How to open a terminal
Computer	How
Windows 11	Open the folder. Right click on empty space and choose Open in Terminal.
Windows 10	Open the folder. Hold Shift, right click on empty space, and choose Open PowerShell window here.
macOS	In Finder, right click the folder and choose Services, then New Terminal at Folder. Or open Terminal and type `cd` followed by the folder.
Linux	Open a terminal in the folder. Most file managers have it in the right click menu.

Type adb and press Enter. In PowerShell, on macOS and on Linux, type ./adb instead.
A long help text means it works.

In this guide we write adb. If you needed ./adb just now, keep typing ./adb in front of every command below.

Sources: SDK Platform Tools, Shizuku setup guide

Connect the phone

Plug the phone into the computer with the data cable.
If the phone shows a pop up about USB, leave it. Changing the USB mode can stop Shizuku later.
Type this and press Enter:
```
adb devices
```
On the phone, the box Allow USB debugging? appears. Tick Always allow from this computer.
Tap Allow.
Run the same command again:
```
adb devices
```

What the answer means:

What adb devices shows
You see	What to do
A code, then `device`	Ready. Go to the next part.
A code, then `unauthorized`	The phone hasn't allowed this computer yet. Look for the box on the phone. No box? Unplug and plug in again. Still nothing? Tap Revoke USB debugging authorizations in Developer options and try again.
Nothing under the first line	The computer doesn't see the phone. Try another cable or port. On the phone, pick File transfer in the USB notification. On Windows, install a driver (below).
`no permissions` (Linux)	One user fixed it with another computer, or another USB mode just for the start.

Sources: Android adb docs, Shizuku setup guide, Issue 267

Copy the start command from Shizuku

On the phone, open Shizuku.
Under Start by connecting to a computer, tap View command.
Copy the command, or send it to yourself (email or a notes app you also have on the computer).
Paste the whole command into the terminal and press Enter.
Shizuku shows Shizuku is running.

Don't use a command from a website. Since Shizuku 13.6.0 the start command changed. It now points to a file inside Shizuku's install folder, and that path is different on every phone and changes after updates. The old start.sh command from older guides no longer works. Always copy it from View command, again after every Shizuku update.

Sources: Shizuku setup guide, Release 13.6.0, Issue 1206, Issue 547, Issue 2076

Before you unplug

Unplugging or changing the USB mode can restart adb, and that stops Shizuku. To keep it running:

Leave USB debugging on.
In Developer options, set Default USB configuration, then No data transfer. Set it there, not in the pop up that appears when you plug in.
If you had to pick File transfer to be seen, set the default to No data transfer, plug in again and run the start command again.

Sources: Shizuku setup guide, Issue 267, Issue 379, Issue 304, Issue 311

Windows: the phone doesn't show up

macOS and Linux need no driver. On Windows, if adb devices lists nothing:

Download a driver. Pixel: the Google USB Driver. Every other brand: its own driver from Google's list of phone maker drivers. Unzip it.
Open Device Manager on the computer.
Expand Portable Devices or Other devices.
Right click your phone and choose Update driver.
Choose Browse my computer and pick the unzipped driver folder.
Run this again:
```
adb devices
```

Sources: Google USB Driver, OEM USB drivers

After every restart

A restart stops Shizuku. Each time:

Plug the phone in.
Open a terminal in the platform-tools folder.
Check the phone is there:
```
adb devices
```
Paste the start command from Shizuku's View command again.

Sources: Shizuku setup guide, Issue 641

No computer?

On Android 11 or newer, use Wireless debugging instead. On Android 10 or older, people have started Shizuku from a second Android phone over an OTG cable with a terminal app running adb. That is for advanced users.

Sources: Discussion 431