Android SDK Platform-Tools

Android SDK Platform-Tools provides adb and fastboot for Android developers, testers, and device technicians who need direct command-line access. It is a separate toolkit, not Android Studio, an emulator, or a complete Android build environment.

Features

• Use adb to discover connected devices and emulators, install APKs, read logcat output, run a device shell, and transfer files.
• Connect over USB or pair supported devices for wireless debugging.
• Use fastboot with compatible devices in bootloader mode for bootloader and system-image operations. Device-specific unlocking and flashing instructions still apply.
• Use the tools in scripts and automated device-testing workflows.

Installation and first use On macOS, install with brew install --cask android-platform-tools, then check adb version and fastboot --version. For USB access, enable Developer options and USB debugging on the device, connect it, accept its debugging authorization prompt, and check adb devices. Wireless pairing requires supported Android versions and a shared network; follow Google's adb guide. If Android Studio already manages your SDK, Google recommends using its SDK Manager copy so it updates alongside the rest of the SDK. Avoid mixing different adb installations on PATH: clients share the adb server on local TCP port 5037.

System requirements and platforms Google distributes separate Mac, Windows, and Linux packages. The current Homebrew record lists both Intel and Apple Silicon macOS, including Big Sur and later recorded releases; this is packaging metadata, not a guarantee for every host configuration. The upstream history confirms universal adb binaries for Apple Silicon. Google does not state a standalone current macOS minimum, RAM minimum, or disk-space requirement on the Platform-Tools release page. Do not substitute Android Studio's requirements for this smaller toolkit. The Homebrew record lists no additional formula dependency or explicit conflicting cask. Connecting a real device still requires its permissions, a working cable or network, and any host-specific USB setup. New device features may require newer Android versions even though adb and fastboot aim for backward compatibility.

Accounts, costs, and licensing Local adb and fastboot use does not require signing in to a Google account or buying a subscription. The official SDK download is provided under the Android SDK License Agreement; individual open-source components retain their own applicable licenses. Android is a trademark of Google LLC.

Sources

• Product, downloads, and release notes: https://developer.android.com/tools/releases/platform-tools
• adb setup and commands: https://developer.android.com/tools/adb
• adb source: https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/modules/adb/
• fastboot source: https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/heads/main/fastboot/

Image credit: The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).