# Android Command-line Tools

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

Android SDK manager and package tools

Category: Developer Tools · Free · [Official website](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line)

## Install with Homebrew

`brew install --cask android-commandlinetools`

## Quick take

If you need Google's SDK on a Mac without paying the Android Studio disk tax, build 15859902 Command-Line Tools are the right default in August 2026. Homebrew's android-commandlinetools cask, arm64 zips, and JDK 17 compatibility with Quail 3 / AGP 9.x make headless and hybrid setups straightforward. Skip them only when you exclusively need IDE UI surfaces; even then, keep one shared SDK root.

Best for: CI engineers provisioning macOS Android builders, Flutter and React Native developers who edit outside Studio, Kotlin Multiplatform authors sharing one SDK pin list, Students and indie devs on small SSD MacBooks, Teams automating emulators with avdmanager

## What are Android SDK Command-Line Tools?

Android SDK Command-Line Tools are Google's official headless SDK utilities for Mac developers who build Android software without living inside Android Studio. The package centers on sdkmanager (install and update SDK components), avdmanager (create and manage Android Virtual Devices), and apkanalyzer (inspect APK and AAB composition). In August 2026 the current macOS zips are commandlinetools-mac_x86_64-15859902_latest.zip and commandlinetools-mac_arm64-15859902_latest.zip. Homebrew ships the same line as the android-commandlinetools cask. The older android-sdk cask is discontinued, so new installs should use this package instead of chasing archived formulas.

You still need a JDK. Teams targeting Android Studio Quail 3 (2026.1.3), Android Gradle Plugin 9.x, and Gradle 9.x typically standardize on JDK 17. The tools themselves are free under the Android SDK license. They run natively on Apple Silicon and on macOS Tahoe 26.x. Intel Macs still get an x86_64 zip; Apple Silicon Macs should prefer the arm64 zip so emulator and host tooling stay aligned.

Pick Command-Line Tools when CI runners, Flutter or React Native scaffolding, Kotlin Multiplatform shared builds, or a disk-tight MacBook Air need an SDK root without a multi-gigabyte IDE. Keep Android Studio when you want the visual layout editor, profiler UI, and Gemini agent workflows in one window. Many Mac setups install both: Studio for interactive work, cmdline-tools on PATH for scripts and agents.

Operationally, treat the SDK root like a versioned artifact. Record the cmdline-tools build number (15859902 today), the JDK version, and the sdkmanager package list beside your Gradle wrapper. That trio explains most 'cannot find android.jar' failures on fresh Macs. If Studio and Terminal disagree, it is usually two roots, not a broken install.

## Features

- **sdkmanager.** sdkmanager lists, installs, updates, and uninstalls SDK packages from a terminal. Typical installs include platforms;android-35 or android-36, build-tools, system images, and platform-tools. In CI you pin exact package IDs so every runner resolves the same bits. --licenses walks the license set; yes | sdkmanager --licenses is the usual non-interactive pattern on Mac build agents.
- **avdmanager.** avdmanager creates and deletes Android Virtual Devices without opening Studio's Device Manager. You pick a device profile, a system image, and hardware options from flags or config files. CI jobs often create a disposable AVD, boot it with the emulator binary, run instrumented tests, then wipe the AVD so disk use stays predictable on shared Mac runners.
- **apkanalyzer.** apkanalyzer reports how an APK or AAB spends bytes: dex, resources, assets, and native libraries. Mac release engineers use it before store uploads to catch size regressions after dependency bumps. It complements Android Studio's APK Analyzer when you want the same numbers in a shell pipeline or pull-request check.
- **Native Apple Silicon packages.** Build 15859902 publishes separate x86_64 and arm64 macOS zips. On M-series Macs, the arm64 package avoids Rosetta overhead for host tools. Pair it with ARM system images when you run the emulator so the whole stack stays native on Apple Silicon under macOS Tahoe 26.x.
- **Homebrew cask path.** brew install --cask android-commandlinetools is the common Mac install. On Apple Silicon the cask lands under /opt/homebrew/share/android-commandlinetools. Point ANDROID_HOME (or ANDROID_SDK_ROOT) at that root and put cmdline-tools/latest/bin on PATH. Do not reinstall the discontinued android-sdk cask; it is not the supported distribution in 2026.
- **CI-friendly licenses and offline mirrors.** Headless Macs can accept licenses non-interactively and cache packages for offline or air-gapped jobs. sdkmanager supports channel selection and package filters so a Flutter job pulls NDK pieces while a pure Kotlin library job stays on platforms and build-tools only. That keeps runner images smaller than a full Studio DMG.
- **Works with AGP and Gradle 9.x.** Command-Line Tools stay compatible with Android Gradle Plugin ranges teams still see in the wild (historically 7.1 through current 9.3 docs) and with Gradle 9.x when the JDK matches. Quail 3 (2026.1.3) users who keep Studio for editing can still drive the same SDK root from Gradle on the command line.
- **License and offline workflow.** The tools are free subject to the Android SDK license. You can pre-seed licenses and packages into a shared volume or Docker layer used by Mac CI. Students on a 256GB Air benefit because they install only the platforms they need instead of the full IDE footprint.

## How to Install Android SDK Command-Line Tools on Mac

Four steps cover a typical Apple Silicon Mac: install JDK 17, install the tools (Homebrew or zip), set environment variables, then install packages and accept licenses. macOS Tahoe 26.x is supported for native arm64 hosts.

1. **Install JDK 17.** Install a JDK 17 distribution such as Temurin or Homebrew openjdk@17. Confirm with java -version. AGP 9.x and Gradle 9.x workflows used with Quail 3 expect 17 as the default toolchain unless your project documents otherwise.
2. **Install Command-Line Tools.** Preferred: brew install --cask android-commandlinetools. Manual: download commandlinetools-mac_arm64-15859902_latest.zip (Apple Silicon) or the x86_64 zip (Intel) from Google's Android Studio download page, then unpack into a versioned cmdline-tools directory as documented by Google so sdkmanager resolves cmdline-tools/latest.
3. **Set environment variables.** Export ANDROID_HOME or ANDROID_SDK_ROOT to your SDK root (Homebrew Apple Silicon default: /opt/homebrew/share/android-commandlinetools). Add $ANDROID_HOME/cmdline-tools/latest/bin and $ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools to PATH in ~/.zshrc. Open a new terminal and verify sdkmanager --version.
4. **Install packages and accept licenses.** Run yes | sdkmanager --licenses. Then install what your project needs, for example: sdkmanager "platform-tools" "platforms;android-35" "build-tools;35.0.0". Add system images only if you will use the emulator. Keep a text pin list in your repo for CI parity.

## Pros

- Official Google SDK utilities without requiring the full Android Studio IDE
- Native arm64 and x86_64 macOS packages at build 15859902
- Homebrew cask android-commandlinetools for straightforward Mac installs
- Works with Quail 3, AGP 9.x, Gradle 9.x, and JDK 17 toolchains
- CI-friendly license acceptance and package pinning
- Smaller disk footprint than a full Studio install on 256GB machines
- apkanalyzer supports scriptable size budgets in release pipelines
- Same SDK root can be shared with Android Studio when you need a GUI later

## Cons

- No visual layout editor, profiler UI, or Gemini agent features
- Initial SDK package downloads still consume substantial disk once platforms and images are added
- License prompts must be automated correctly or CI fails on first run
- Directory layout mistakes (missing cmdline-tools/latest) confuse newcomers
- Emulator performance still depends on choosing appropriate system images on Apple Silicon

## Closer look: Headless Android SDKs on Apple Silicon Macs

Why build 15859902 matters for Mac paths, how Homebrew's cask maps to Google's zip layout, and when cmdline-tools should replace a full Studio install.

## FAQ

### Are Android SDK Command-Line Tools free on Mac?

Yes. They are free under the Android SDK license. Homebrew does not charge for the android-commandlinetools cask.

### What is the current Mac build in August 2026?

The current zips use build 15859902: commandlinetools-mac_x86_64-15859902_latest.zip and commandlinetools-mac_arm64-15859902_latest.zip.

### How do I install them with Homebrew?

Run brew install --cask android-commandlinetools. Then export ANDROID_HOME to the cask share path and add cmdline-tools/latest/bin to PATH.

### Is the old android-sdk Homebrew cask still OK?

No. The android-sdk cask is discontinued. Use android-commandlinetools instead.

### Do I still need Android Studio?

Not for builds, package installs, or headless emulators. You need Studio (or another IDE) for visual layout tools, integrated debuggers with full UI, and Gemini agent features inside the IDE.

### Which JDK should I use?

JDK 17 is the practical default for Quail 3, AGP 9.x, and Gradle 9.x projects on Mac in August 2026. Follow your project's toolchain block if it pins another version.

### Do the tools run on Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe?

Yes. Use the arm64 zip or Homebrew cask on Apple Silicon. They are used on macOS Tahoe 26.x natively.

### How do I accept licenses in CI?

Run yes | sdkmanager --licenses after configuring ANDROID_SDK_ROOT. Bake licenses into the runner image when possible so jobs skip the prompt.

### What is avdmanager for?

Creating and managing Android Virtual Devices from the terminal so emulator-based tests can run without Studio's Device Manager UI.

### What is apkanalyzer for?

Inspecting APK/AAB size composition from the command line, useful for release size budgets and regression checks.

### Can Flutter and React Native use this SDK root?

Yes. Point ANDROID_HOME at the same SDK root those toolchains expect, install platform-tools and required platforms, then re-run their doctor/env checks.

## Sources

- [Android Studio command-line tools](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line)
- [sdkmanager documentation](https://developer.android.com/tools/sdkmanager)
- [Homebrew android-commandlinetools cask](https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/android-commandlinetools)
- [Android Studio download / intro](https://developer.android.com/studio/intro)
- [Platform-Tools releases](https://developer.android.com/tools/releases/platform-tools)
- [adb tool documentation](https://developer.android.com/tools/adb)
- [Android Studio landing](https://developer.android.com/studio)
- [IntelliJ Community (Studio lineage)](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community)

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```