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To use adb or fastboot from a Mac, install Google’s Android SDK Platform-Tools, make its platform-tools folder available in your Terminal PATH, then verify the command and connect a device. You do not need to unlock a bootloader or flash anything just to install the tools.
Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your Mac
Platform-Tools is an Android SDK component that includes adb and fastboot. Google recommends installing and managing it with Android Studio’s SDK Manager or the sdkmanager command-line tool. You can also download the standalone Mac package from Google’s Platform-Tools release page. The standalone download points to the latest tools, so check that page for the current version rather than relying on a saved copy.
Use Android Studio’s SDK Manager
If Android Studio is already installed, open its SDK Manager and install or update Android SDK Platform-Tools. This keeps the tools with the rest of the SDK. To find the SDK directory in Android Studio, open the SDK Location setting; you will need that path when configuring Terminal.
Use the standalone Mac download
Download Google’s Mac archive, named platform-tools-latest-darwin.zip, from the release page and extract it. The extracted platform-tools directory contains the command-line tools. Keep the folder somewhere you can locate it; the next step makes its location available to your shell.
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Current release note
Google’s release page listed Platform-Tools version 37.0.1 in July 2026 and was updated October 1, 2026. That release’s macOS adb build disables libusb by default and uses the legacy USB backend; Google documents ADB_LIBUSB=1 to enable libusb. This is release-specific troubleshooting information, not a setting most users need for setup.
Add Platform-Tools to Terminal’s PATH
Adding the SDK’s platform-tools directory to PATH lets you run adb and fastboot without first changing into that directory. Google recommends setting ANDROID_HOME for command-line SDK use and adding SDK tool directories to the shell path. The SDK location varies by installation, so use Android Studio’s SDK Location setting or the folder where you extracted the standalone package; do not assume every Mac uses the same path.
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For a typical zsh account using Android Studio’s common SDK location, add this to the appropriate zsh startup file, such as ~/.zshrc:
export ANDROID_HOME="$HOME/Library/Android/sdk"
export PATH="$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools"If your shell or SDK location differs, adjust the file and path accordingly. After saving the change, open a new Terminal window. Check that the tools can be called:
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adb version
fastboot --versionThese commands confirm that Terminal can find the executables; they do not confirm that a phone is connected. To check a device connection, use adb devices.
Connect an Android device over USB and authorize it
- Enable USB debugging. On the Android device, enable Developer options and then USB debugging in the system settings. Menu names and locations can vary by device and Android version.
- Connect a data-capable cable. Check the ports on both your Mac and the device, and use a cable that fits both and supports data transfer. A cable that only charges the device will not provide the wired ADB connection.
- List connected devices. In Terminal, run
adb devicesoradb devices -l. The latter shows additional identifying information. - Approve the computer. Unlock the device and accept the RSA debugging authorization prompt. On Android 4.2.2/API 17 and later, this authorization is required before ADB commands can run.
A device shown with the state device is connected to ADB, though that state alone does not guarantee Android has finished booting. If no device appears, check USB debugging, the cable’s data capability, and whether the device is unlocked and awaiting authorization.
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Run common ADB commands
Once a device is authorized, these command forms cover common tasks:
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| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
adb devices -l |
Lists attached devices or emulators with additional identifying information. |
adb install path/to/app.apk |
Installs the APK at the specified path. Replace the example path with the actual APK location. |
adb shell |
Opens a shell on the connected Android device. |
adb pull /sdcard/Download/example.txt . |
Copies the named file from the device to the current Mac directory. |
adb push ./example.txt /sdcard/Download/example.txt |
Copies the named file from the current Mac directory to the device’s Download folder. |
adb kill-server |
Stops the host-side ADB server; use it when restarting the server to troubleshoot an unresponsive ADB process. |
If multiple devices or emulators are connected, select a target with -s serial_number, -d for a USB device, or -e for an emulator.
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Understand when to use fastboot
adb is for communicating with Android while its ADB service is available: it supports tasks such as installing apps, opening a device shell, and transferring files. fastboot is associated with bootloader-level operations such as unlocking a bootloader and flashing a system image.
Having fastboot installed does not mean you should unlock or flash your phone. Those operations have device-specific prerequisites and can erase data or make a device unusable if performed incorrectly. Follow instructions for the exact device and image; basic Platform-Tools setup does not require running a fastboot command.
Optional: connect with wireless debugging
Google’s documented wireless-debugging workflow supports Android 11/API 30 and later phones, with the Mac and device on the same Wi-Fi network and the latest Platform-Tools installed. Enable Developer options and Wireless debugging on the device, pair using its QR code or pairing code, then run the displayed pairing command in Terminal, in the form adb pair ipaddr:port. Google’s documented wireless workflow for TV and Wear OS devices requires Android 13/API 33 or later. You can remove a pairing from Wireless debugging settings or revoke debugging authorizations.
Quick Recap
Official references
- Android SDK Platform-Tools downloads and release notes
- Android command-line tools and SDK environment variables
- Android Debug Bridge documentation
- ADB wireless debugging documentation
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