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How to Access Data/Data Folder in Android Device?

Chloe Bennett • • 10 min read
How to Access Data/Data Folder in Android Device?

I am developing an app and I know my database *.db will appear in data/data/com.****.***

I can access this file from AVD in Eclipse with help of sqlite manager

But I can't access this file in my Android phone.
I googled it and it says I need to root my phone to do it, but I don't want to do that.

How can I access my data/data/..... directory in my Android phone "without rooting it"?

Can I change user permissions for the directory data/data..... without rooting it?

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18 Answers

Accessing the files directly on your phone is difficult, but you may be able to copy them to your computer where you can do anything you want with it. Without rooting you have 2 options:

  1. If the application is debuggable you can use the run-as command in adb shell

    adb shell
run-as com.your.packagename 
cp /data/data/

  2. Alternatively you can use Android's backup function.

    adb backup -noapk com.your.packagename

    You will now be prompted to 'unlock your device and confirm the backup operation'. It's best NOT to provide a password, otherwise it becomes more difficult to read the data. Just click on 'backup my data'. The resulting 'backup.ab' file on your computer contains all application data in android backup format. Basically it's a compressed tar file. This page explains how you can use OpenSSL's zlib command to uncompress it. You can use the adb restore backup.db command to restore the backup.

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If you are using Android Studio 3.0 or later version then follow these steps.

  1. Click View > Tool Windows > Device File Explorer.
  2. Expand /data/data/[package-name] nodes.

You can only expand packages which runs in debug mode on non-rooted device.

9

You could also try fetching the db using root explorer app. And if that does not work then you can try this:

  1. Open cmd
  2. Change your directory and go into 'Platform tools'
  3. Type 'adb shell'
  4. su
  5. Press 'Allow' on device
  6. chmod 777 /data /data/data /data/data/com.application.package /data/data/
  7. Open DDMS view in Eclipse and from there open 'FileExplorer' to get your desired file

After this you should be able to browse the files on the rooted device.

9

To do any of the above (i.e. access protected folders from within your phone itself), you still need root. (That includes changing mount-permissions on the /data folder and accessing it)

Without root, accessing the /data directly to read except from within your application via code isn't possible. So you could try copying that file to sdcard or somewhere accessible, and then, you should be able to access it normally.

Rooting won't void your warranty if you have a developer device. I'm sorry, there isn't any other way AFAIK.

8

The easiest way (just one simple step) to pull a file from your debuggable application folder (let's say /data/data/) on an unrooted Android 5.0+ device is by using this command:

adb exec-out run-as package.name cat databases/file > file
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  1. Open your command prompt
  2. Change directory to E:\Android\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20140702\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20140702\sdk\platform-tools
  3. Enter below commands
  4. adb -d shell
  5. run-as com.your.packagename cat databases/database.db > /sdcard/database.db
  6. Change directory to cd /sdcard to make sure database.db is there.
  7. adb pull /sdcard/database.db or simply you can copy database.db from device .
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Use File Explorer in eclipse. Select Windows => Show View => Other ... => File Explorer.

An another way is pull the file via adb:

adb pull /system/data/data/<yourpackagename>/databases/<databasename> /sdcard
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To backup from Android to Desktop

Open command line cmd and run this: adb backup -f C:\Intel\xxx.ab -noapk your.app.package. Do not enter password and click on Backup my data. Make sure not to save on drive C root. You may be denied. This is why I saved on C:\Intel.

Chloe Bennett
Author

Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.