Keep Android debugger alive even after device restart

Question

I am having trouble debugging some code in my DeviceBootReceiver (handles android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED intent). I want to debug this bit, but how does one keep the debugger alive, when the device reboots? Is there any hack that anyone has come across for this?

What I want to do :

1. Start debugging app via Android Studio
2. Power down the device
3. Power up the device
4. Still be able to get the debugger attached to my app when it starts to handle android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED intent

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

1. Open your device "developer options" settings;
2. Scroll down to "select debug app" and make sure your app is selected there;
3. Check the option "wait for debugger".

This will make sure that when your app is executed, for example when it receives a BOOT_COMPLETED broadcast, the debugger gets attached first.

Hope it helps.

Answer 2

You can re-broadcast the intent by yourself via adb shell:

$ adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED