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In such a case, you will simply have to reinstall platform tools to resolve the issue. If this scenario is applicable, Windows Defender or any third-party software likely quarantines it, and as a result, you no longer have the adb.exe file in the platform-tools folder.
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However, keep in mind that it may not only be limited to Avast if you are using a different third-party antivirus, but it could also likely be causing the issue and thus you should look at the files that have been quarantined by the application. If this is applicable, you will have to restore the file from there and everything should be good. Avast antivirus has been known to cause this a lot with ADB where it locks the file in the virus chest.
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Issues like these are pretty common with antivirus software and thus, while using one, you need to make sure that it isn’t triggering a false positive on the files that you are working with. This can happen due to several reasons including when your antivirus software removes the adb.exe file due to a false alarm. As it turns out, the error message appears when Android Studio is not able to locate the ADB.exe file that is located in the platform-tools folder. While trying to run your app via the Android Studio, you might face the “ Unable to Locate ADB” error message that stops the simulation. It can be used for various purposes as it facilitates a bunch of actions including installing and debugging apps on your device. Android Debug Bridge or ADB allows you to communicate with your devices via a command-line interface.
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