Set ADB in TCP/IP mode: device not found?

Ensure your device is set for Debugging under Developer Tools, then on your host computer's command-line, type:

$ adb tcpip 5555                  - restarts the adbd daemon listening on TCP on the specified port (typically 5555)

restarting in TCP mode port: 5555

If you get "error: device not found", you need to temporarily connect an Android by USB cable. (This doesn't even need to be the same device, and doesn't need to remain connected)

Then, connect to the Android device by IP address. (Ensure your Android is connected to your local network then to find the IP address, click on the wifi network connection to see connection details.)

$ adb connect 192.168.0.10        - connects over network to remote device IP (replace 192.168.0.10 with your Android device's IP address)

connected to 192.168.0.10:5555

Depending on your connection, this could take a minute or so to establish the first time.

To switch back to your USB connection, type:

$ adb usb                         - restarts the adbd daemon listening on USB

Additional Notes:

• You do not need root access for this to work.
• You may need to open port (5555) in your firewall.
• You can use "ping " to ensure your host can find the device on the network

The issue was that I had to have an Android device connected (same device or another device) by USB to be able to execute

$ adb tcpip 5555
restarting in TCP mode port: 5555

Then I can just unplug this USB device and connect to the other devices on the LAN over TCP.

Just makes no sense at all.

What you probably want is:

 connect <host>[:<port>]       - connect to a device via TCP/IP
                                 Port 5555 is used by default if no port number is specified.

so:

$ adb connect 192.168.1.38