Browse Android emulator files directly inside Visual Studio via ADB. No Android Studio required. Find the window under View -> Android Emulator File Browser.
Browse the filesystem of a running Android emulator (or connected device) directly inside Visual Studio - no need to launch Android Studio just to look at files, no annoying command line "pull" to get files, just do it right inside Visual Studio in a standard VS window pane which you can place anywhere in your layout.
Features
📱 Live device browsing - Connect to any running emulator or USB-connected device via ADB
📂 Full filesystem access - Browse the complete directory tree of your device
⬇️ Download files & folders - Copy individual files or recursively download entire folders to your drive
📝 Open in VS - Double-click a file on your device to extract it and open it via Windows' default file extension handler
🔌 Multiple device support - Switch between connected emulators and devices from the toolbar dropdown
🛡️ Root support - Optionally use adb root for full filesystem access
Getting Started
Install the extension via the Visual Studio Marketplace
Connect a device - start an Android emulator or connect a physical device with USB debugging enabled
Open the tool window - Views → Android Emulator File Browser or Views → Other Windows → Android Emulator File Browser
Select your device from the phone icon dropdown in the toolbar
Browse - double-click folders to explore, double-click files to open them
Problems Installing?
This is typically because you may have multiple instances of Visual Studio installed, including the Experimental version, and/or you have downloaded the extension from the Marketplace website.
Change the version number and path to Visual Studio to match your environment.
No issues if you install directly from the Extensions manager in the IDE.
Visual Studio 2022 or 2026 (Community, Professional, or Enterprise)
Android SDK platform-tools (adb.exe) available on your PATH or in the standard SDK location
A running Android emulator or connected device with USB debugging enabled
[v1.0.9] — 2026-07-11
Added
Full dark and light theme support for all VS Extension tool window elements using VsBrush dynamic resources
Custom FlatButton ControlTemplate with VS theme-aware hover and pressed states
Custom ThemedComboBox ControlTemplate replacing WPF's default ComboBox chrome (fixes white backgrounds in dark mode)
Custom ThemedComboBoxItem style with VS highlight colours for hover and selected states
Custom TreeViewItem ControlTemplate that prevents grey/white unfocused selection fallback
ToolbarButton style with explicit VsBrush.ToolWindowText foreground for all buttons
Shortcuts dropdown now on its own row below the toolbar, full-width and dynamically resisable
Changed
Replaced WPF ToolBar with themed Border + StackPanel to eliminate chrome that overrode theme colours
Moved Open/Copy action buttons into a DockPanel within the file tree pane (fixed height, not affected by splitter)
Action buttons are now always visible (buttons enable/disable based on selection instead of hiding)
Increased padding around Open/Copy buttons for better touch targets
Shortcuts ComboBox changed from fixed Width="270" to HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" for full-width behaviour
Fixed
Black button text on dark backgrounds in the toolbar
White ComboBox backgrounds in dark mode (WPF default template used SystemColors.WindowBrush)
File tree selection turning grey/white when focus was removed (WPF default template used SystemColors.ControlBrush)
Action buttons being stretched or squashed vertically by the grid splitter
FAQ / Troubleshooting
Issue
Solution
Extension doesn't install
This is typically because you may have multiple instances of Visual Studio installed, including the Experimental version, and/or you have downloaded the extension from the Marketplace website. Uninstall our extension with & "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Professional\Common7\IDE\VSIXInstaller.exe" /uninstall:AndroidFileBrowser.VSExtension.ce7a3b21-4f8d-4a2e-8c1d-9b3e5f7a2c4d then reinstall with & "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Professional\Common7\IDE\VSIXInstaller.exe" "D:\path_to_vsix\AndroidEmuFileBrowser-x.x.x.vsix". Obviously change the version number and path to Visual Studio to match. No issues if you install directly from the Extensions manager in the IDE.
Device not detected
Ensure ADB is in your PATH, or click the Scan button. Run adb devices from a terminal to verify connectivity.
"ADB not found"
Install Android SDK platform-tools, or add the path to adb.exe to your system PATH.
"Device offline"
Check USB debugging is enabled on your device and accept the RSA key authorisation prompt.
"Permission denied"
The app will attempt adb root automatically. If your device does not support root, files in protected directories will not be accessible.
Extension not appearing
Open View → Other Windows → Android Emulator File Browser. If missing, reinstall the extension.
Privacy
This extension communicates only with your locally attached Android devices via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB). No data is sent to any external server. Settings are stored locally in %AppData%\AndroidFileBrowser\config.json.
