While running Android Studio, you can instantly connect an Android device via USB on Mac or Linux, and run a developing app on that device. What about Windows? For Windows, you’ll need to install the Google USB Driver before running your developing app on your Android device, phone, or tablet.
Official docs: http://developer.android.com/tools/extras/oem-usb.html
List of steps for Windows 7, 8, and 10
- Connect your Android device to the PC.
- Open Android Studio, open the SDK Manager, and install the Google USB Driver.
- Search and open Device Manager.
- Find and expand Other devices section.
- Right click the device name (i.e. Nexus 5) and select Update Driver Software.
- Browse my computer for driver software and click Next.
- Browse for the Google USB driver folder and click next to install the driver.
Connect your Android device to the PC. Easy enough. Plug your Android device via USB to your PC.
Open Android Studio, open the SDK Manager, and install the Google USB Driver. The SDK Manager can be opened by the following Android Studio icon:
Click on Android SDK. Check off the Google USB Driver and hit OK to install.
Search and open Device Manager. You can use Windows search to find the Device Manager.
Find and expand Other devices section. Right click the device name (i.e. Nexus 5) and select Update Driver Software.
Browse my computer for driver software and click Next. Browse for the Google USB driver folder and click next to install the driver. The Google USB driver folder should be inside your C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\Android\sdk\extras\google\usb_driver\.
After installing, when running Android studio, you should be able to run any developing app project on your Android device. When you hit the play button on Android Studio, a prompt should pop up and ask what connected or virtual device you want the app to be run on. Select the connected Android device, phone, or tablet and voila! You will need to unlock your Android device to see the app immediately be run.