ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge and is a tool that helps you communicate with your mobile device through a command-line interface. When your android SDK is unable to find the adb.exe file inside the platform-tools folder, it throws an ‘Unable to locate ADB’ error.
Through this article, you will find many fixes for your issue of “Unable to locate ADB”.
Also read: How to create an android app?
Check the presence of adb.exe file
To check if the adb.exe file is present or not, open your File Explorer and go inside ‘C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\platform-tools‘ folder and look for the adb.exe file.

Using SDK Manager in Android Studio IDE
After knowing if your adb.exe file is missing or not, you can install or reinstall the android SDK platform-tools using SDK Manager.
Install Android SDK Platform Tools
When there is no adb.exe file inside the Platform tools folder, you need to install the Android SDK Platform tools. To install the platform tools, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Open Android Studio and click on SDK Manager.

Step 2: Click on SDK Tools, checkmark the Android SDK Platform tools, and click on Ok.

Step 3: A dialogue box appears; click on OK.

Reinstall Android-SDK Platform Tools
If the adb.exe file is present in the platform-tools folder, it can be possible that your adb.exe file is corrupted or not installed properly. In such a case, you can try reinstalling the platform tools.
Step 1: Open Android Studio and click on SDK Manager.

Step 2: Click on SDK Tools, uncheck the Android SDK Platform tools, and click on Ok.

Step 3: Open your File Explorer and go inside the ‘C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk‘ folder and delete the platform tools folder.

Step 4: In the android studio, open SDK Manager, go inside SDK Tools, and checkmark the Android SDK Platform tools. Click on Ok.

Using SDK Manager command-line tool
You can use the SDK Manager command-line tool present in the ‘C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\tools\bin\’ folder to install or reinstall the platform tools.

Install Android SDK Platform Tools
When there is no adb.exe file inside the Platform-tools folder, you need to install the Android SDK Platform-tools. Open sdkmanager command-line tool and type the following command to install platform tools:
sdkmanager "platform-tools"
Reinstall Android-SDK Platform Tools
If the adb.exe file is present in the platform-tools folder, then in such a case, you can try reinstalling the platform tools.
Step 1: Open sdkmanager command-line tool and type the following command to uninstall platform tools:
sdkmanager --uninstall "platform-tools"
Step 2: Open your File Explorer and go inside the ‘C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk‘ folder. Delete the platform-tools folder.
Step 3: Open sdkmanager command-line tool and type the following command to install platform tools again:
sdkmanager "platform-tools"
Check your Antivirus
Your antivirus can also be a reason due to which this error might occur. Many times, antivirus applications, due to false-positive results, remove some files. It might be the same case due to which antivirus application in your system removed the adb.exe file and quarantined the file.
You can look into your antivirus chest and restore the adb.exe file and try running the application.
Also read: ADB command cheat sheet.