Tag Archives: android platform tools

android platform tools covers Installing and flashing ROM’s Setting up adb and fastboot an important tool if you plan to debug your android smartphone

How To – Install adb and fastboot

1 Comment

This post only covers the installation of adb or fastboot on windows , mac or linux systems. To set up adb or fastboot scroll to the end to find links or click here

Tip: Disable any security keys, patterns or passwords you have set on your device before trying out any installations. Having a password or lock can cause issues in some installations.You can always set them up later.

On Windows PCs

  • Download the Windows zip from Google.
  • Extract it to a folder on your system – for example, %USERPROFILE%\adb-fastboot
  • On Windows 7/8:
    • From the desktop, right-click My Computer and select Properties
    • In the System Properties window, click on the Advanced tab
    • In the Advanced section, click the Environment Variables button
    • In the Environment Variables window, highlight the Path variable in the Systems Variable section and click the Edit button
    • Append ;%USERPROFILE%\adb-fastboot\platform-tools to the end of the existing Path definition (the semi-colon separates each path entry)
  • On Windows 10:
    • Open the Start menu, and type “advanced system settings”
    • Select “View advanced system settings”
    • Click on the Advanced tab
    • Open the “Environment Variables” window
    • Select the Path variable under “System Variables” and click the “Edit” button
    • Click the “Edit Text” button
    • Append ;%USERPROFILE%\adb-fastboot\platform-tools to the end of the existing Path definition (the semi-colon separates each path entry)
  • Install the universal adb driver, and reboot.

On macOS

  1. Download the macOS zip from Google.
  2. Extract it to a folder on your system – for example, ~/adb-fastboot.
  3. Add the following to ~/.bash_profile:if [ -d "$HOME/adb-fastboot/platform-tools" ] ; then export PATH="$HOME/adb-fastboot/platform-tools:$PATH" fi
  4. Log out and back in.

On Linux

  1. Download the Linux zip from Google.
  2. Extract it to a folder on your system – for example, ~/adb-fastboot.
  3. Add the following to ~/.profile:if [ -d "$HOME/adb-fastboot/platform-tools" ] ; then export PATH="$HOME/adb-fastboot/platform-tools:$PATH" fi
  4. Log out and back in.
  5. You may also need to set up udev rules: see this repository for more info.


    Click here to learn how to set up adb or fastboot

OEM unlocking and enabling developer options

3 Comments

Every wondered what Enabling OEM unlocking Developer options means? This is a simple step by step guide which will help you with enabling OEM unlocking Developer options for android phones.

In case you are wondering why you even need to do all this in the first place let us answer that as simply as is possible. You need to enable OEM unlocking and activate developer options in your android smart phone if and only if you want to install a custom ROM on your phone.
If you do not have any such plans then it is better you move to the short stories section on this website and read the stories there.

For those who dare to mess around with their smart phones read on….

Stage One: Downloading Google Platform tools

Download the latest version of the Google platform tools from the links given below. The link is the official link on the Android site. It has links for different operating systems.
https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools
These tools are required to access the Fastboot features of your phone.

Follow the steps as described on the site to install on your PC. This is important as you would need the tools to be fully functional when running on your PC. To understand this step completely please read this post first.

If you have Google Platform tools on your PC and understand what they do then read on.

Stage Two : Enabling OEM unlocking and Developer options

Settings App

 

 

 

 

Step 1: On the smart phone go to Settings. It would be the gear shaped icon in the screen on the left.

 

Step 2: On Settings page scroll to the end of the screen to find the System link. Check image shot to the right. The system link is right at the bottom . System Link on the Settings App

 

 

 

 

 

System Screen DetailsStep 3: Open System >> Click on About Phone. Again the link is at the end of the screen. Somehow you will feel that they want us to miss these settings!

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Scroll to the end of the screen >> Build numberAbout Phone Screen

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Tap 7 times on Build number… yes, you read that right. Tap seven times on build number. By the third or fourth tap you will start getting a pop up which will mention in reverse the number of taps required out of seven!
Once you complete the mandatory seven taps  you would have enabled Developer options on the phone. If you have enabled a pattern lock it will show up to confirm it is you who want to enable Developer Options

About Phone with Developer OptionsStep 6: Go back to the System screen and now you should see a new option >>Developer options.
In the screenshot to the left see the option just above system update and below Backup.

 

 

 

 

 

Step 7: In Developer options screen select OEM unlocking. By default it would be grayed out. By selected it the option turns green!Developer Options with OEM unlocking enabled

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 8: In Developer options screen select USB DebuggingDeveloper Options with USB Debugging enabled

That is it, you can now come back.

You have enabled USB debugging and OEM unlocking on your android smart phone.

Let the games begin 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Read Articles on

Why install a custom ROM on a Xiaomi MiA1

OEM unlocking and enabling developer options

Unlocking the bootloader of Xiaomi phones

What are Google Platform Tools?

What are Google Platform Tools?

3 Comments

What are the Google Platform Tools? Well to put it simply they are a set of tools which are essential if you plan to mess around with your android smart phone. These set of tools interface with the android platform through tools like adb, fastboot and systrace. These are tools you would definitely need if you plan to install custom ROM’s on your android smart phones.

You can download the latest version of the Google platform tools from the link given below. The link is the official link on the Android site. It has links for different operating systems.

These tools are required to access the phone especially when you have messed up the Custom ROM installation. In case your phone is ‘dead’ or not responding. Please note these tools are common for all android phones.

Follow the steps as described on the site to install on your PC. This is important as you would need the tools to be fully functional when running on your PC.

Download the Google Platform Tools for various operating systems:

Windows

Mac

Linux

Extract the downloaded platform tools package to any folder you like (e.g. your home directory or the standard applications directory). Now you need to add this directory to the PATH of your operating system, enabling you to call the tools from any folder. Depending on your Operating system this can be achieved differently:

Windows

  • Download and install the Universal adb driver.
  • Press [WIN] + [PAUSE] to open the “System” window
  • On the left, click the “Advanced system settings” button
  • Open the “Advanced” tab
  • At the bottom of this tab, click the “Environment Variables” button
  • Edit the “PATH” variable and append a semicolon followed by the path you extracted your tools to (e.g. ;C:UsersAndyadb-fastbootplatform-tools)
  • Reboot your PC

MacOS/Linux

  • Depending on your distribution the “.bash_profile” or the “.profile” file in your home folder and add following lines substituing the path with the path where you extraced your tools
 if [ -d "$HOME/adb-fastboot/platform-tools" ] ; then
    export PATH=$HOME/adb-fastboot/platform-tools:$PATH"
 fi
  • Log out and back in

Read Articles on

Why install a custom ROM on a Xiaomi MiA1

OEM unlocking and enabling developer options

Unlocking the bootloader of Xiaomi phones

What are Google Platform Tools?