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How to Activate Shizuku (3 Methods)

MFWritten by Marcus Feld, Android Systems WriterIndependent editorialUpdated July 2026Tested on real devices

To activate Shizuku, install the app, then start its service with one of three methods: wireless debugging on Android 11+, an ADB command from a computer, or root. Wireless debugging needs no PC. Whichever you pick, Shizuku runs until the phone reboots (or indefinitely with root), and supported apps can then borrow its ADB-level permissions.

Already have the app? Jump straight to a method below. If you still need it, grab the latest v13.6.0 APK from the download page first — the outdated Play Store build often fails to activate on modern Android.

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Method 1 — Wireless debugging (Android 11+, no computer)

Wireless debugging is the easiest way to activate Shizuku with no PC. It uses the on-device ADB feature Google added in Android 11. You pair Shizuku with the debugging service once per session, then start it.

  1. Enable Developer options — open Settings → About phone and tap Build number seven times until it says “You are now a developer.”
  2. Turn on Wireless debugging — Settings → System → Developer options → Wireless debugging → ON. Your phone must be on Wi-Fi (mobile data alone will not work).
  3. Open Shizuku and tap “Pairing” — under “Start via wireless debugging,” Shizuku posts a notification asking for a pairing code.
  4. Get the pairing code — in Wireless debugging tap Pair device with pairing code. Note the six-digit code, then type it into Shizuku’s pairing notification.
  5. Tap “Start” in Shizuku. It connects to the debugging port and the status turns to “Shizuku is running.”
Make it faster next time

On Android 13+ Shizuku can remember a trusted Wi-Fi network and skip most of the pairing dance on that network. Enable it in Shizuku’s settings after your first successful start.

Method 2 — ADB from a computer (any Android version)

The computer method works on every supported Android version, including Android 10 and older where wireless debugging is not available. You need the ADB tool once; after that the phone remembers nothing, so you re-run it after each reboot.

  1. Install ADB on your PC — download Google’s SDK Platform Tools and unzip them. This gives you the adb command for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
  2. Enable USB debugging — turn on Developer options (tap Build number seven times), then enable USB debugging in Developer options.
  3. Connect and authorise — plug the phone into the PC with a data cable. Tap Allow on the “Allow USB debugging?” prompt (tick “Always allow from this computer”).
  4. Run the Shizuku start command:
adb shell sh /sdcard/Android/data/moe.shizuku.privileged.api/start.sh

When it finishes you will see a line like info: shizuku_starter exit with 0, and Shizuku shows “running.” If adb is not recognised, run it from inside the unzipped platform-tools folder, or add that folder to your system PATH.

Method 3 — Root

If your device is already rooted with Magisk, KernelSU, or APatch, Shizuku can start itself — and, uniquely, it can start automatically every boot.

  1. Open Shizuku and tap Start under “Start via root.”
  2. Grant the superuser prompt from Magisk/KernelSU when it appears.
  3. Enable start on boot in Shizuku’s settings so you never have to re-activate.
Root is optional

You do not need root to use Shizuku. Root only adds convenience (auto-start on boot). The wireless and ADB methods give apps the exact same permissions.

After activation

Once Shizuku is running, open any app that supports it and select Shizuku as its permission source, then approve the request. The app keeps its elevated access until the service stops. You can revoke an app any time from Shizuku’s “Authorised apps” list, and stop the service entirely with the Stop button.

Good next steps: set up the rish shell to run ADB commands on-device, add Dhizuku for device-owner features, or browse the best Shizuku apps to put it to use.

If activation fails

The most common problems are the outdated Play Store build, an unauthorised USB connection, or an aggressive battery manager on Samsung and Xiaomi phones that kills the service. Each has a specific fix in our troubleshooting guide, and there are device-specific quirks in the per-device guides.

Activation FAQ

Use wireless debugging, which is built into Android 11 and newer. Enable Developer options, turn on Wireless debugging, pair it with Shizuku using the pairing code, then tap Start inside the app. No computer or cable is required. On Android 10 and older you still need a one-time ADB connection from a PC.
The command is adb shell sh /sdcard/Android/data/moe.shizuku.privileged.api/start.sh. Run it from a computer with your phone connected over USB and USB debugging enabled. It launches the Shizuku service; the app then shows a “running” status.
On non-rooted phones, yes — the ADB-started service ends at reboot because Android does not keep ADB sessions alive across restarts. Re-run wireless debugging or the ADB command. Rooted devices can auto-start Shizuku on boot, so they never need re-activation.
Open Settings → System → Developer options → Wireless debugging → “Pair device with pairing code.” Android shows a six-digit code and a port. Type that code into Shizuku’s pairing prompt. The pairing port is different from the connection port, which is normal.
Your phone has not authorised the computer. Reconnect the USB cable, watch the phone screen for the “Allow USB debugging?” dialog, and tap Allow (tick “always allow”). If no prompt appears, revoke USB debugging authorisations in Developer options and try again, or switch the USB mode to File transfer.
If you are on Android 11 or newer, use wireless debugging — it needs no PC and is the fastest to repeat after a reboot. Use the PC/ADB method on Android 10 and older, or when wireless debugging refuses to connect. Use root only if your device is already rooted, since it adds automatic start-on-boot.