How to access and view an Android SQLite database?
Solved SQL & Databases
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Barry Allen
October 24, 2019
2 replies
5,780 views
Reviewed by moderators

Debugging my Android app and I need to inspect its SQLite database, both on a real device and in the emulator. What is the current sane workflow for pulling and viewing these?

Accepted Answer
Verified by David Taylor, Database Expert ยท Reviewed October 2019

Depends where the app runs:

1
Debuggable app or emulator: Android Studio's Database Inspector (View, Tool Windows, App Inspection) shows live tables with edit support. No file pulling at all.
2
Need the file itself: adb exec-out run-as your.package cat databases/app.db > app.db pulls it from a debuggable app without root.
3
Open the pulled file in DB Browser for SQLite, or in SysTools SQLite Viewer if the file is damaged or you also want deleted-record visibility.

Database Inspector covers 90 percent and the adb pull handles the rest. Workflow sorted. Solved.