Using the wm command to retrieve screen information (with examples)

The wm command is a useful command that allows users to retrieve information about the screen of an Android device. This command can only be executed through adb shell, which means it needs to be run from a computer connected to the Android device via USB.

In this article, we will explore two use cases of the wm command: displaying the physical size and density of an Android device’s screen. We will provide code examples for each use case, along with motivations, explanations, and example outputs.

1: Displaying the physical size of an Android device’s screen

To display the physical size of an Android device’s screen, we can use the wm size command. This command retrieves the display size in pixels, along with the DPI (dots per inch) value.

Code example:

adb shell wm size

Motivation:

Knowing the physical size of a device’s screen can be useful for various purposes. For developers, it provides insight into the available screen real estate, which can aid in designing responsive user interfaces. Users can also benefit from this information when troubleshooting display-related issues or comparing screen sizes across different devices.

Explanation:

The wm size command is used to retrieve the physical size of the Android device’s screen. It returns the display size in pixels, along with the DPI value. The pixel size represents the number of pixels along the width and height of the screen, while DPI represents the number of dots per inch.

Example output:

Physical size: 1080x1920

The example output indicates that the physical size of the Android device’s screen is 1080 pixels wide and 1920 pixels tall.

2: Displaying the physical density of an Android device’s screen

To display the physical density of an Android device’s screen, we can use the wm density command. This command retrieves the DPI (dots per inch) value of the screen.

Code example:

adb shell wm density

Motivation:

The physical density of a screen is an important factor when it comes to designing and developing mobile applications. It determines the size of UI elements and how they are rendered on the screen. By retrieving the physical density, developers and designers can ensure that their applications are optimized for different screen densities.

Explanation:

The wm density command is used to retrieve the physical density of the Android device’s screen. It returns the DPI (dots per inch) value, which represents the number of dots (pixels) per inch on the screen.

Example output:

Physical density: 320

The example output indicates that the physical density of the Android device’s screen is 320 DPI.

Conclusion:

The wm command provides valuable information about the screen of an Android device. By using the wm size command, we can retrieve the physical size of the screen in pixels, along with the DPI value. The wm density command allows us to retrieve the physical density of the screen in DPI. Both of these commands are useful for developers and users alike, providing insights into screen real estate and aiding in the design and optimization of mobile applications.