How to Install ADB and Fastboot Android Drivers on Linux

Android has a 70% market share worldwide and is the most used mobile operating system. It uses a modified Linux kernel to provide its core system services. Android is open-source which means you can modify the software on your phone.

ADB and Fastboot allow you to gain elevated access to the Android operating system by connecting your smartphone to a computer. This article will cover everything you need about ADB and fastboot for Linux machines.

What are ADB and Fastboot?

Many of the inherent features in the Android operating system are not accessible by default and therefore require special access. Android Debug Bridge (or ADB) is a command-line tool that allows you to communicate with your Android phone and execute commands from your computer.

You must enable USB debugging before you can use ADB. You will now have elevated access to your phone's program and can run ADB commands to install packages, reboot your phone, capture phone screenshots via the desktop, and many other things.

Fastboot, a command-line tool included in the Android SDK, can also be used to modify your phone's flash filesystem via a USB connection. This tool is particularly useful when rooting an Android device, flashing a custom Rom, or custom recovery.

Use the fastboot tool with caution. The actions can be irreversible and could even brick your phone. Even though the chance of this happening is very unlikely, it's a good idea to backup your data on the cloud and external storage just in case.

Fastboot and ADB Installation on Linux

You can install these tools on your Linux machine by visiting the Android SDK Platform Tools Release Page and scrolling down to the Downloads Section. To download the latest version ADB and fastboot in a ZIP file, click on the Download SDK Platform Tools for Linux link.

Android SDK Page

Save the ZIP file you downloaded to a location that is convenient for you. Next, create a new instance of the platform-tools directory. The adb file and fastboot files will be found in this folder, along with other tools that are part of the Android SDK.

After connecting your phone and laptop, you can run the following command to use ADB:

./adb devices

If your phone has been successfully detected, it will output an alphanumeric code and device next to it. If your phone is not detected, the output will display an alphanumeric code with device written next to it.

The following ADB command will allow you to boot into fastboot/bootloader mode.

./adb reboot bootloader

This command will allow you to check if your phone has been successfully detected by your computer once it is in fastboot mode.

./fastboot devices

The output from the adb device command will be identical to that of the fastboot devices command. It should display an alphanumeric number to indicate that your phone is detected. You can now perform all fastboot operations, including format, flash, boot, unlock, format and oem unlock.

The following command will allow you to boot into Android from fastboot mode:

./fastboot reboot

Get ADB and Fastboot to Become an Android Power User

Fastboot and ADB are powerful tools that allow you to manage, debug and change the software on your phone. Some applications offer extra features that you won't get if your phone isn't rooted with ADB privileges.

You might not have a USB cable to connect your phone with your computer. You can set up ADB wirelessly!