Our Android mobile is a complex engineering work in which the hardware and software elements go hand in hand. Since the beginning of Android and thanks to that strong open source character based on the Linux Kernel, users of this operating system have had great freedom to access internal functions of their devices. Part of the blame for this freedom falls on the ADB and Fastboot controllers .
The bulk of users is limited to managing their smartphone at a basic level, leaving those problems that arise for the Technical Service and personalizing their device with the available tools within reach. However, the history of Android has shown us how useful the ADB and Fastboot controllers are , essential for carrying out certain tasks, which are so important at times, such as getting our mobile to work properly after a problem.
What is ADB?
As it sounds, it is short for Android Debug Bridge. If we wanted to translate it, we could try saying that it is an Android debugging bridge, that is, a necessary tool to fix messes among other things. Thanks to ADB we can create a connection link between our smartphone and the PC . In this way we can execute commands that will activate various functions such as copying files or restarting the device in bootloader mode (bootloader)
What is Fastboot?
This other tool allows us to access our mobile to make changes at the system level. With this software we can, through a USB cable and our PC, unlock the bootloader, flash the firmware or restart in the famous recovery mode. This Android protocol is disabled on some smartphones, which require root permissions in order to activate it. In addition, each smartphone has its own combination to enter this mode.
How to work with them?
ADB is part of the Android Studio SDK, the software necessary to develop Android applications. In the case of a user who needs to make changes to their equipment, all they need to do is go to the Android Studio website to download it, in a toolkit together with Fasboot . For this we go to that link and go down to the bottom where it says “Command line tools only” Then we unzip the file and run SDKManager.exe, where we will find everything you need: Android SDK Tools
- Android SDK Plartform-tools
- Android Support Repository
- Google USB Driver
We will have to mark them all and click on install. When the process finishes we have ADB and Fastboot ready . Now it only remains to start the command line, opening “android-sdk-windows / platform-tools” and selecting with the mouse “Open command window”
Most used ADB commands
- adb devices : allows to have a list of all the devices connected to the computer.
- adb reboot : it serves to restart our phone.
- adb reboot-recovery: it is used to restart in recovery mode, in case we need to install any zip file from here.
- adb reboot-bootloader : it serves to restart our bootloader mode and to be able to use the fastboot.
- adb logcat> logcat.txt : allows you to save the “logcat”, a log of all the operations carried out by the device.
- adb push c: /folder/Midocumento.pdf / sdcard / downloads: This command copies the specified file from our computer to the smartphone.
- adb pull /sdcard/downloads/dokument.pdf c: / user / desktop / folder: allows you to upload a file from your smartphone / tablet to your computer
- adb shell rm /sdcard/screenshot.png : used to create a screenshot of our phone that will be stored in the path we choose.
- adb sideload update.zip: used to officially update our smartphone manually.
- adb install “C: / Program files / WhatsApp.apk”: it is used to install an APK, an application, on our smartphone from the computer that can be WhatsApp or any other. Just indicate the full path of where the application is located.
- adb backup -f FullBackup.ab -apk –all : It is used to make a backup of all applications with their data included.
- adb help – an on-screen help that shows all the commands that can be run in the ADB and an explanation of each.
Most used Fastoboot commands
- fastboot oem unlock: used to unlock the device bootloader.
- fastboot reboot: To restart the device in the normal way.
- fastboot reboot-bootloader: Used to reboot into bootloader mode and continue using Fastboot.
- fastboot flash “partition” “file.img”: Essential to flash a partition of the device such as: recovery, boot, radio or system. With this instruction we can install a custom recovery or flash a new firmware in full.
