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IT4nextgen > Key Concepts > What are Android SDK Platform Tools & How to Use ADB and Fastboot

What are Android SDK Platform Tools & How to Use ADB and Fastboot

Last Updated August 16, 2018 By Subhash D Leave a Comment

Google provides various tools to customize and control your Android phone. You can download SDK Platform and SDK Platform-tools to develop a new app and create an interface between your computer system and Android device. SDK tools are compatible to use with multiple operating systems, including Windows, Macintosh or Linux. And moreover, there is no need to root the phone to do so. Google updates the release notes on Android Platform-tools on a regular basis. To use these tools you must have at least one SDK platform installed.

If you do not have access to SDK manager, you can download an SDK platform tool directly for Windows, Mac or Linux operating systems.  The frequently used Android platform tools include ADB( Android Debug Bridge ) and Fastboot. Both these tools are in fact command line tools and are helpful in unlocking the bootloader and also lets you change it with a new system image.

ADB

ADB commands can be used for different functions that include complete backup of Android system, uploading of files and ROMs directly from your PC, enables shell mode on Android phone, rebooting, turning on the bootloader mode and many other tweaking settings.

Some Examples of Common ADB commands

Adb reboot-bootloaderReboots Android device in bootloader mode
Adb pushTo move a file from your local system to an Android phone’s location.
Adb pullMoves the file from Android to your System
Adb devicesShows all the connected adb compatible devices
Adb backupBacks up the Android device
Adb installInstalls application from your system’s apk file location on to Android device.
Adb rebootReboots Android phone in normal mode
Adb connectUse adb commands over Wi-Fi Network
Adb shell screencapTakes the screenshot of the device

How to Install Adb on Windows

To install adb, there is no need to install complete Android Studio or SDK manager. Google has provided direct links to install adb on your computer system. Ok! Now open this download link and select the download file as per the operating system of your computer.

The file will be downloaded in a zip format. Extract the file and the type the target location as c:\adb for the extraction of files.

So, now if you navigate to C Drive, you will see a folder named adb, open it and there is a subfolder named platform-tools. In this folder, you will see the adb.exe and other supporting files.

Now, to use the adb command, open command prompt. Press “windows” + “R” keys on the keyboard and you will get run-command window on the screen, now type cmd to open the command prompt.

cmd

Next, to run the adb.exe command, you need to first move to its containing folder. So type C\.

This will move you to the Root drive i.e C drive.

Now type cd adb

It will take you inside adb folder like c:\adb

Now  type cd platform-tools in front of c:\adb

So your effective command line will show c:\adb\platform-tools

Here you are. Now you can use adb commands by typing adb and use other suffixes as per your requirements.

adb-sdk-command

OR alternatively, on your system navigate to the folder where the zip file is extracted. Now pressing shift key on the keyboard and right click on the blank space on the screen and select open command windows here.

sdk-platform-tools

Fastboot

How can you control or give commands to an Android device when it is in bootloader mode? Yes, the debugging commands only work when the Android phone is on. So here is a very useful tool called Fastboot that works with an Android device even if it is in bootloader mode.

With Fastboot, you can unlock the Android bootloader and install your own customized operating system.

“Note: Both Adb and Fastboot are installed simultaneously when you extract SDK platform tools.”

Fastboot Commands

Fastboot devicesShows the serial number of the connected Android device
Fastboot OEM unlockThis fastboot command is used to unlock the bootloader
Fastboot OEM lockIt re-locks the bootloader
Fastboot flash recovery (filename)It is used to flash the file from bootloader mode

Using ADB and Fastboot commands

In order to start using these SDK platform tools, you must turn-on the USB debugging mode in developer options on your Android phone. This will let yo communicate with your phone by connecting it through USB cable to your computer system.

screenshot showing usb-debugging mode

Android SDK Platform Tools

I hope this write-up is surely going to introduce you to the installation and use of Android platform tools like ADB and Fastboot. If you are an owner of an Android phone, you can use these commands to control and customize it, but at the same time, you have to be very careful while using them. Have you ever used these tools? Do let us know your experiences.

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Filed Under: Key Concepts

About Subhash D

A tech-enthusiast, Subhash is a Graduate Engineer and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Founder of it4nextgen, he has spent more than 20 years in the IT industry.

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