How To Set Up ADB/USB Drivers for Android Devices

UPDATE: If it says adb not found or something similar, download the ADB files and extract them into the Tools folder of the SDK (they were taken out by Google in the R08 version for some reason and need to be put back).
You should see a serial number pop up, it’s the serial number of your phone. This means you are all set.
If you do NOT see a serial number, then we need to reinstall the drivers.

So most people won’t have to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) ever, but if you want to learn how or want to get a little more technical with your Android phone, here’s how to get it set up.

I. Setting Up The SDK

1. Download the Latest Android SDK from Google
Android SDK
2. Extract the Android SDK .Zip file to C:\AndroidSDK (this should name the new folder created AndroidSDK in the C directory.
3. On your phone, click Settings > Applications > Development and make sure USB Debugging is on.
4. Plug your phone into your computer via USB cable (it needs to be on). It should say installing drivers if using Windows.
!UPDATE 12.01.09 – If using Windows 7 skip steps 4 and 5 and use this procedure instead.
5. After it installs the drivers, goto the Start menu and type cmd into the search bar (Vista or higher) or click Run then type in cmd (XP) to open the command prompt.
6. Type the following into the command prompt window (hitting enter at the end of every line):
cd\
cd AndroidSDK\tools\
adb devices

Video

 

 

II. IF DRIVERS JUST WON’T AUTOMATICALLY INSTALL, DO IT MANUALLY HERE (UPDATED 10/22/10)

1. A program called PDANet (used normally to allow you to wired tether your phone’s internet to your computer) can be used to install the ADB drivers for a lot of phones. Download it and follow it’s instructions to install it then go back to step 6 in Section I above and see if that gets you the serial number (if you do, you are all done). If not, then use one of the device specific programs below in step 2.
PDANet
2. Download your phone’s driver’s below then goto your Device Manager on your computer, look for the phone and click on it. Then click Properties > Update Driver > Browse > Let me pick > Computer > Have Disk > Browse > Then select the driver you downloaded below:
Universal Motorola Drivers (unzip the file once you download it, and run the program inside to install the drivers)(Updated 09.27.10)
Motorola Droid Drivers (unzip the file once you download it).
Motorola Milestone Drivers (follow the instructions on the page).
Motorola CLIQ Drivers (follow the instructions on the page).
Nexus One Drivers (unzip the file once you download it).
Samsung Behold 2 Drivers (unzip the file, run the setup.exe) (If you have Windows 64Bit, you CANNOT install the Behold Drivers. Find someone with a 32Bit system to to any Behold 2 procedures involving ADB).
Samsung Galaxy Drivers (unzip the file, do NOT run setup.exe. Instead follow step 1 in Section II and install manually.)
Samsung Galaxy Fastboot Drivers (unzip the file, then when you plug the phone in via fastboot mode, select to install drivers manually and choose the folder you just unzipped and it should install them from there).

III. (Optional) Reinstall Drivers (If they did not install properly in Section I or II)

1. Download USBDeview
USBDeview
2. While the phone is still plugged in, open USBDeview and sort by manufacturer. Find all the HTC drivers and delete them all.
3. Once all have been deleted, unplug the phone from the USB cable and plug it back in.
4. The correct drivers should reinstall automatically (check the drivers as they are installing, one should say ADB Device driver).
5. To check, goto Devices (or Device Manager for older versions of Windows) in your Start menu then click on the “Android Phone”. Click on the Hardware tab, and check the list of drivers for ADB Interface under Type.

IV. Some Common ADB/Fastboot Commands

ADB Commands

adb devices – lists which devices are currently attached to your computer

adb install <packagename.apk> – lets you install an Android application on your phone

adb remount – Remounts your system in write mode – this lets you alter system files on your phone using ADB

adb push <localfile> <location on your phone> – lets you upload files to your phones filesystem

adb pull <location on your phone> <localfile> – lets you download files off your phones filesystem

adb logcat – starts dumping debugging information from your handset to the console – useful for debugging your apps

adb shell <command> – drops you into a basic linux command shell on your phone with no parameters, or lets you run commands directly

adb devices – lists which devices are currently attached to your computer
adb install <packagename.apk> – lets you install an Android application on your phone
adb remount – Remounts your system in write mode – this lets you alter system files on your phone using ADB
adb push <localfile> <location on your phone> – lets you upload files to your phones filesystem
adb pull <location on your phone> <localfile> – lets you download files off your phones filesystem
adb logcat – starts dumping debugging information from your handset to the console – useful for debugging your apps
adb shell <command> – drops you into a basic linux command shell on your phone with no parameters, or lets you run commands directly
Fastboot Commands
fastboot devices – lists which devices in fastboot mode are currently attached to your computer
fastboot boot <filename> – boots a rom stored on your pc specified by the filename
fastboot flash <partition> <filename> – flashes a rom stored on your pc, partition can be one of {boot, recovery, system, userdata}