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A List of Useful ADB and Fastboot

Commands and their Usage
Sadique Hassan • Updated Mar 19, 2024

In this guide, we will be listing all the useful and most frequently used ADB and
Fastboot Commands. When it comes to the custom development, then ADB and
Fastboot Commands are literally the first steps in this long journey. Not just by the
tech enthusiast but these commands are also being used by general users as
well.
 ADB Sideload in Progress

In this regard, if we talk about the basic everyday tasks where these commands
are being used, then this could include the likes of opening the ADB shell
environment [for carrying out tasks like uninstalling bloatware], rebooting the
device to stock recovery for resetting the device or flashing firmware via ADB
sideload.

Flashing Magisk Patched for Root

Then if we turn our attention toward the technical aspects, then you could use
these commands for booting the device to Fastboot/FastbootD Mode, unlocking
the bootloader, flashing custom recovery like TWRP, flashing Magisk patched
boot.img for rooting, and a slew of other tasks. So owing to their such a higher
position in the pecking order, this guide will make you aware of some of the most
important ADB and Fastboot Commands. Follow along.
Table of Contents

The Prerequisites to Executing ADB and Fastboot Commands

STEP 1: Download Android SDK Platform Tools
STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging
STEP 3: Open CMD inside Platform Tools

Most Commonly Used ADB Commands

Check ADB Connection
ADB Shell Command
Reboot to Bootloader/Fastboot Mode
Reboot to TWRP or Stock Recovery
Pull Any File via ADB Pull
Push files via ADB Push
ADB Sideload
Start ADB Server
Kill ADB Server
Install APK via ADB Command
Update APK via ADB Command
Move App to SD Card via ADB
Uninstall App via ADB Command
Check Installed Apps via ADB
Check System Apps via ADB
Uninstall System Apps via ADB
List All Third Party Apps via ADB
Take a Screenshot via ADB
Delete File via ADB
Deleter Folder via ADB
Create New Folder via ADB
Copy Files via ADB
Move Files via ADB

Most Commonly Used Fastboot Commands

Reboot to Fastboot Mode
Verify the ADB Connection
Unlock Bootloader via Fastboot
 Relock Bootloader via Fastboot
Boot to TWRP via Fastboot
Install File to Boot Partition
Install TWRP To Recovery Partition
Install TWRP to Boot partition
Erase Userdata
Erase Everything via Fastboot
Check Current Active Slot
Change Active Partition
Reboot to OS from Fastboot
Reboot from Fastboot to Recovery Mode
Boot to FastbootD Mode

How to Fix All Possible ADB and Fastboot Errors

The Prerequisites to Executing ADB and

Fastboot Commands

Before you could execute any of the ADB and Fastboot Commands, you will first
have to checkmark a few prerequisites listed below.

STEP 1: Download Android SDK Platform Tools

First and foremost, you will have to download the Android SDK Platform Tools on
your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the
only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient
location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be
used throughout this guide.

How to Install Android SDK Platform Tools

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging

Next up, you will have to enable USB Debugging on your device so as to make it
recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. So head over to Settings > About Phone >
Tap on Build Number 7 times [MIUI number for Xiaomi devices] > Go back to
Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging.
STEP 3: Open CMD inside Platform Tools

1. Head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit
Enter.
 2. This will launch the CMD window with the platform-tools folder directory.
3. You should execute all the ADB and Fastboot commands only in this CMD
window.

Most Commonly Used ADB Commands

Here are some of the important as well as the most widely used ADB Commands
and their functions.

Check ADB Connection

To check whether the device is properly connected and is in ADB, enter the below
code. Until you get an alphanumeric code with the word ‘device’ next to it (see
screenshot below), you cannot carry out any further operations. Also, make that
device is not recognized as ‘unauthorized’. Don’t Miss: Fix Waiting for Device Error
in ADB Devices

adb devices
ADB Shell Command

This opens the Shell environment and allows you to carry out tasks that are
slightly technical in nature. Well, you could even carry out some root-released
tweaks on your non-rooted device using the ADB shell commands.

adb shell

To make sure that the command has been usefully executed, you should see your
device name or ID right after entering this command.

Reboot to Bootloader/Fastboot Mode

Use the below command to boot the device to Fastboot or Bootloader Mode.
[Read More: How to Boot Android Device to Fastboot Mode]

adb reboot bootloader

Reboot to TWRP or Stock Recovery

To boot your device to TWRP or stock recovery from the OS, use the below
command. [Read More: How to Boot into Recovery (TWRP/Stock)]

adb reboot recovery

Pull Any File via ADB Pull

To ‘pull’ any file from your device and send it over to your PC, enter:

adb pull /file-location-on-device/filename

Push files via ADB Push

Similarly to ‘push’ any file to the device from a PC, type:

adb push filename /location-where-file-is-to-be-sent-on-device

ADB Sideload

Using this command, you could flash (install) ZIP files directly from the
command shell. Moroever, you could use it across both the stock and custom
recovery like TWRP. [Read More: How to Use ADB Sideload in Android [Stock and
TWRP Recovery].

adb sideload filename.zip

Start ADB Server

When you need to start the ADB server, in case it does not automatically “kills the
daemon” and “start on a specific port”, type the below command:

adb start-server

Kill ADB Server

If the command tool gets hanged or is not performing as expected, you may kill
the server by entering the below code:

adb kill-server
Install APK via ADB Command

To install an APK file on your device, enter the below command:

adb install filename.apk

Update APK via ADB Command

To reinstall or update an APK, type:

adb install -r filename.apk

Move App to SD Card via ADB

To move the app to sdcard (if supported by your device):

adb install -s filename.apk

Uninstall App via ADB Command

To uninstall an APK file on your device, type:

adb uninstall filename.apk

Check Installed Apps via ADB

To list all the app packages’ name [Read: How to Get App Package Name on
Android [3 Methods]

adb shell pm list packages

Check System Apps via ADB

To list all the system apps:

adb shell pm list packages -s

Uninstall System Apps via ADB

To uninstall system apps or any bloatware: [Read: Remove/Uninstall Bloatware

Apps from Android via ADB]

adb shell pm uninstall -k –user 0 app-package-name

List All Third Party Apps via ADB

To list third-party apps installed:

adb shell pm list packages -3

Take a Screenshot via ADB

To capture screenshots from your device: [Detailed Guide: How to Take

Screenshots in Android via ADB Commands]

adb shell screencap /sdcard/screenshot.png

Then to download the captured screenshot to your PC:

adb pull /sdcard/screenshot.png

Delete File via ADB

To delete a file, type :

adb shell
rm -f /file_location_name

Deleter Folder via ADB

To delete a folder, enter the below code:

adb shell
rm -rR /folder_location_name

Create New Folder via ADB

To create a new folder on your device, type:

 adb shell
mkdir /sdcard/NewFolder

Copy Files via ADB

To copy a file from one location and paste it to another location (on your device),
type:

adb shell
cp /file_location_name_1 /file_location_name_2

Move Files via ADB

To move a file from one location to another (on your device), enter the below
code:

adb shell
mv /file_location_name_1 /file_location_name_2

Most Commonly Used Fastboot Commands

Here are some of the most commonly used as well as the most important
Fastboot Commands and their functions.

Install Fastboot Drivers in Windows 11

Reboot to Fastboot Mode

To reboot your device to fastboot or bootloader mode, enter the below code:

adb reboot bootloader

Verify the ADB Connection

Once your device is booted to fastboot mode, enter the below command to check
whether the connection is successful or not. If you see an alphanumeric code
and the word fastboot written next to it (see screenshot below), it means your
device is successfully connected to fastboot mode. Now you may try out other
fastboot commands.

fastboot devices

Unlock Bootloader via Fastboot

To unlock the bootloader of your device, type in any of the two codes (make sure
‘OEM Unlocking’ is enabled from the ‘Developer Options). For most devices, the first
code works well and fine. However, if that is not the case with you, then go for the
second one. Also, note that both of these codes will wipe all your data. Make sure
to create a backup before proceeding. Do Read: How to Unlock Bootloader of Any
Android Device

fastboot oem unlock

OR
fastboot flashing unlock
Relock Bootloader via Fastboot

To relock the bootloader of your device, enter:

fastboot oem lock

OR

fastboot flashing lock

Boot to TWRP via Fastboot

To boot a recovery file on your device, enter the below code: [Read More How to
Boot into TWRP Recovery]

fastboot boot recovery twrp.img

Install File to Boot Partition

To flash (install) a boot file from the command shell, such as flashing magisk
patched boot.img, type in the below code:

fastboot flash boot boot-file-name.img

Install TWRP To Recovery Partition

if your device has recovery partition, then use the below command to flash TRP to
the recovery partition: [Read More How to Install TWRP Recovery on Android]
 fastboot flash recovery recovery-name.img

Install TWRP to Boot partition

If your device does not have a recovery partition, then you will have to flash TWRP
in the boot partition, using the below command [Read More TWRP: fastboot flash
vs fastboot boot: Which command to use]

fastboot flash boot recovery-name.img

Erase Userdata

To erase all the userdata on your device (i.e.formatting the userdata partition),
enter the following code:

fastboot erase userdata

Erase Everything via Fastboot

This will erase everything from your device. Your device will be just as it came out
of the box

fastboot -w

Check Current Active Slot

If you have a dual A/B Partition device, then you could check the current active
partition via the following command:

fastboot getvar all

After executing this command, refer to the (bootloader) current-slot: section.

[Read More: How to Check and Change Current Active Slot on Android]
Change Active Partition

If your device is A/B Partition, and you want to switch slots, say from A to B, type
the below command: [Read More: How to Check and Change Current Active Slot
on Android.]

fastboot set_active b

Reboot to OS from Fastboot

To reboot your device to Android OS, enter the below code:

fastboot reboot
Reboot from Fastboot to Recovery Mode

To Reboot from Fastboot to Recovery Mode, either TWRP or stock, use the below
command:

fastboot reboot recovery

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

Boot to FastbootD Mode

To boot the device to the newer FastbootD Mode, use the below command. [Read
More: What is FastbootD? How to Boot to FastbootD Mode]

From ADB: adb reboot fastboot

From Fastboot Mode: fastboot reboot fastboot

How to Fix All Possible ADB and Fastboot Errors
While on one hand these commands offer a plethora of goodies, on the other
hand, they have their fair share of issues as well. Fortunately, each of them could
be fixed without much hassle. I have compiled various guides pertaining to all the
major ADB and Fastboot Errors as well as the steps to fix them. Likewise, I have also
documented a comprehensive guide that acts as a universal guide for all
ADB/Fastboot Fixes. So without further ado, let’s check them out:
 A Universal Guide to Fix All Possible ADB and Fastboot Errors [Recommeded]
Fix Waiting for Device Error in ADB or Fastboot Commands
Fix adb server version doesn’t match this client; killing.
How to fix ADB Device not found [List of Devices Attached is blank]
Detailed Steps to Fix adb is not recognized Error
How to Fix Unauthorized Device with ADB Commands [3 methods]
How to Fix Nokia Device Stuck in No Command Screen
Fix Failed (remote: ‘flashing is not allowed for critical partitions)
Fix FAILED (remote: Partition should be flashed in fastbootd)
How to Fix FAILED (remote: Command not allowed)
Fix fastboot: error: Couldn’t parse partition size ‘0x’
How to Fix Android Device stuck in Fastboot Mode

That’s it. These were all the important and frequently used ADB and Fastboot
Commands. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let
us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

TAGS:

ADB and Fastboot Tools ADB Commands Fastboot Commands

Minimal ADB and Fastboot USB Debugging

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Ganapathy REPLY

1 year ago

My pixel 4a was working fine until last week and stuck into a fastboot mode loop
in the middle of the day for no reason (applied the usual monthly security
update one or two days before)! The screen shows:

FastBoot mode
Product revs: sunfish MP1.0 (ROW)