Download and Install ADB and Fastboot on Windows [7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11]

In this comprehensive guide, you will learn about the ADB and Fastboot, the installation guide, their commands, and associated importance. Android eco-system allows you to carry out a plethora of tweaks to your device. These include the ability to unlock the bootloader, flash custom ROMs, and recoveries like TWRP. Add to it the ability to get administrative rights over your device by rooting it via Magisk, and what else could one ask for.

These are just the tip of the iceberg, and tons of other tweaks exist. However, you might have to connect your device to a PC to effectively carry most of these tweaks. But a simple connection via USB cable wouldn’t do any good either. A few binary files allow for a successful connection between your device and make the above tweaks possible. USB Drivers are just one part of this software toolkit. However, that is not the only one.

The USB drivers could only perform the basic activities of transferring files between PCs and devices. But you need a set of ADB and Fastboot drivers installed for all the other tasks. In this guide, we will help you install just that. But before that, it is paramount to make yourself aware of these ADB and Fastboot drivers and why they are needed in the first place. So, without further ado, jump on the bandwagon and start with the guide.

What is ADB?

ADB or Android Debug bridge is used to establish a successful connection (bridge) between your device and PC. Once this connection is established, you can make plenty of tweaks at the system and application levels. For example, you could remove bloatware from your device, pull or push files, or install OTA via the Sideload feature. The tech enthusiasts take it a step further and execute some of the more advanced commands.

These include booting their device to stock or custom recovery and booting to fastboot or Bootloader mode, among other such tasks. However, to successfully execute any of the ADB commands, you must enable USB Debugging on your device. This will then unlock the ADB path between your device and PC, and the exchange of commands could be easily carried out between these devices. On the PC side, you must install the Android SDK Platform Tool and then launch a Command Prompt or PowerShell window to execute the ADB commands. To learn more about ADB, you can check out this guide.

What is Fastboot?

Fastboot is a more advanced functionality that doesn’t require your device to be booted to the Android OS. Rather they have their own set of Fastboot or Bootloader menus. As a result, you don’t need to enable USB Debugging to execute any Fastboot Commands. Talking about commands, these commands could be used to unlock the bootloader on your Android device.

Other usage includes the ability to boot your device to TWRP Recovery and flash/boot various types of ZIPs and IMG files like Magisk ZIP or TWRP.img files, to name a few. Again, your PC would refuse to recognize your device in a fastboot mode if the necessary drivers aren’t installed. In this regard, the Android SDK Platform Tool will again come in handy. After installing, launch the CMD or PowerShell window and execute the desired Fastboot Commands.

Importance of ADB and Fastboot Mode

If you have just stepped into the Android ecosystem, the ADB and Fastboot binaries are probably among the few things you should be aware of. If you use an Android device to make calls and send messages, you probably wouldn’t need these drivers. But only a limited chunk of users belong to this population. The vast majority wish to explore the full potential of this open-source environment.

The usefulness of ADB Commands

In this regard, right from the first step, you will need ADB and Fastboot. To begin with, the ADB commands are used to boot your device to different modes, including Fastboot Bootloader and Downloader, and Stock Recovery. Similarly, you could even install and uninstall any application on your device from your PC. Likewise, these ADB commands also allow you to transfer files between your device and PC. Then, using the adb shell [command], you could unlock the device’s full potential with many hidden tweaks.

The Need for Fastboot Commands

Talking about tweaks, let’s turn our attention towards Fastboot. To effectively carry out any system-level tweaks on to your device, the first step is to bypass the restriction put in place by the OEM. In simpler words, an unlocked bootloader is a major prerequisite that your device should qualify for. And that could only be done via the required fastboot commands. After that, the plenty of goodies that an unlocked bootloader brings in with itself also require the support of these Fastboot commands in some form.

Flashing a Magisk patched image for root, permanent installation of TWRP ZIP, or just booting its IMG file for one-time use, all ask for appropriate fastboot commands. Likewise, the plethora of mods that you come across requires sending in the fastboot commands. Even keeping everything else aside, just the fact that fastboot is required to unlock the bootloader, root your device, and flash TWRP should be enough to highlight its importance.

So go ahead and install the necessary Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. Then launch the Command Prompt or PowerShell window and welcome the endless possibilities on your Android device. Just keep in mind to enable USB Debugging on your device from Developer Options if you are dealing with Android Debug Bridge, and have the necessary drivers installed on your PC.

Advantages of ADB and Fastboot tool

• Compatible for any Android devices
• Runs on both Windows or Mac platforms
• Install Custom ROM
• Flash Custom Recovery
• Can install Root
• Unlock / Relock the device bootloader
• Remove bloatware from your phone

Setup ADB and Fastboot on Windows and Mac OS:

Setting up ADB and Fastboot seems quite easy. As ADB and Fastboot both are a part of the Android SDK package, only you to download the kit (which is over 500 MB) and then set up path variables, or the below-written methods can be used to install ADB and fastboot driver on Windows and Mac OS. But first, you need to remember that you have to put your device into USB debugging mode, but before that, you need to enable the developer option. If you ignore this step, the possibility is your PC won’t recognize your device.

Supported Windows Versions

The ADB and Fastboot tools supported Windows 7 / 8.1 / 8 / 10 / 11 versions for both the 32-bit and 64-bit processor types. Now, follow the installation guide below.

Download ADB and Fastboot tool:

ADB and Fastboot drivers for Windows, Linux, macOS: v34.0.5

For Windows: Download Link

For Linux: Download Link

For macOS: Download Link

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15 seconds ADB Installer

• • v1.5.6: Download Here

We recommend not to use the 15 seconds ADB installer on new devices.

Thanks to XDA Senior member Snoop05, who shared this on XDA.

• • Minimal ADB and Fastboot Tool:
    • Version 1.5.6: Download Here
    • Version 1.5.5: Download Here
    • Version 1.5.4: Download Here
    • Version 1.5.3: Download Here
    • Version 1.4.7: Download Here
    • Version 1.4.6: Download Here
    • Version 1.4.5: Download Here
    • Version 1.4.3: Download Here | Portable Version
    • Version 1.4.2: Download Here
    • Version 1.4.1: Download Here| Portable Version
    • Version 1.4: Download Here
    • Version 1.3.1: Download Here
    • Version 1.3: Download Here
    • Version 1.2: Download Here
    • Version 1.1.3: Download Here

• Download Android SDK Platform tool

Thanks to XDA Recognized Contributor shimp208, who shared this on XDA.

How to Install ADB and Fastboot Tool:

As we were given 3 different ADB and Fastboot tools, you can download and install either 15 seconds ADB Installer, Minimal ADB and Fastboot tool or SDK Platform tool. Well, we recommend using the Minimal ADB and Fastboot tool or the official Android SDK Platform tool.

Install 15 seconds ADB Installer

Old Video:

1) Starting with, let’s download the ADB Installer setup file by XDA member @Snoop05. It does not just install ADB, but it also installs fastboot and USB drivers within a short span of 15 seconds.
2) First of all, run the adb-setup.exe.

3) Now, you need to respond with YES (Y) or NO (N). Type ‘Y’ if you want to install the ADB and fastboot driver.

4) Once again, type ‘Y’ to install the device driver. This may take a few seconds to install the device drivers, and after that, the command window will automatically close.

6) Congratulations!!! You have successfully installed ADB and fastboot on your Windows PC.

Install Minimal ADB and Fastboot:

1. Download the Minimal ADB and Fastboot Tool exe installer package
2. Start the installation by double-clicking it.
3. If a new window pops up to grant the permission, confirm by YES or Run.
4. Click the Next button to confirm one by one.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Now tap on Finish to complete the process.
6. If you have already selected the tick mark to launch minimal ADB and fastboot
7. You will see this screen to start the command.

Here are all basic adb and fastboot commands so that you should learn to become Android Pro.