USB Driver for Windows

The USB driver for Windows is a downloadable component for the Android SDK. If you are developing on Windows and would like to connect an Android-powered device to test your applications, then you will need to install the USB driver.

This document provides information about the latest version of the USB driver and a guide to installing the driver on your development computer.

Note: If you're developing on Mac OS X or Linux, then you do not need to install a USB driver. Refer to Setting up a Device to start development with a device.

Revisions

The sections below provide notes about successive revisions of the USB Driver for Windows, as denoted by revision number. To determine what revision of the USB Driver for Windows you are using, refer to the "Installed Packages" listing in the Android SDK and AVD Manager.

USB Driver for Windows, Revision 3 (January 2010)

Adds support for the Nexus One.

USB Driver for Windows, Revision 2 (November 2009)

Adds support for the Verizon Droid (or similar hardware on other carriers).

USB Driver for Windows, Revision 1 (October 2009)

Initial release of the WinUsb-based driver, with support for the T-Mobile G1 and myTouch 3G (and similar devices).

Installing the USB Driver for Windows

The sections below provide instructions on how to download the USB Driver for Windows and install it on your development computer.

Downloading the USB Driver for Windows

The USB Driver for Windows is available for download as an optional SDK component. You need the driver only if you are developing on Windows and want to connect an Android-powered device to your development environment over USB.

To install the driver or upgrade your existing driver to the latest revision, you must first download the driver to your development computer.

To download the driver, use the Android SDK and AVD Manager tool that is included with the Android SDK. If you haven't yet installed the Android SDK, as described in Installing the Android SDK, please do so before continuing with the driver installation.

When you are ready to download the driver, follow the instructions given in Adding SDK Components to launch the Android SDK and AVD Manager. From the Available Packages panel, select "Usb Driver Package" and download it to your computer. The driver files are downloaded into the <sdk>\usb_driver directory.

After the download, follow the instructions below to install or upgrade the driver, based on your needs and Windows operating system version. If you are connecting an Android-powered device to your computer for the first time, follow the below procedure to "Perform a fresh installation." If you have installed one of the older USB drivers and would like to upgrade to the latest version, follow the procedure to "Upgrade an existing driver."

Once you've completed the USB driver installation, please see Developing on a Device for other important information about using an Android-powered device for development.

1. Windows Vista:
   1. Perform a fresh installation
   2. Upgrade an existing driver
2. Windows XP:
   1. Perform a fresh installation
   2. Upgrade an existing driver

Caution: You may make changes to android_winusb.inf file found inside usb_driver\ (for example, to add support for other devices), however, this will lead to security warnings when you install or upgrade the driver. Making any other changes to the driver files may break the installation process.

Windows Vista: Perform a fresh installation

To install the Android USB driver on Windows Vista for the first time:

1. Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port. Windows will detect the device and launch the Found New Hardware wizard.
2. Select "Locate and install driver software."
3. Select "Don't search online."
4. Select "I don't have the disk. Show me other options."
5. Select "Browse my computer for driver software."
6. Click "Browse..." and locate the folder where you copied the installation package. As long as you specified the exact location of the installation package, you may leave "Include subfolders" checked or unchecked—it doesn't matter.
7. Click "Next." Vista may prompt you to confirm the privilege elevation required for driver installation. Confirm it.
8. When Vista asks if you'd like to install the Google ADB Interface device, click "Install" to install the driver.

Windows Vista: Upgrade an existing driver

To upgrade an existing Android USB driver on Windows Vista with the new driver:

1. Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port.
2. Right-click on "Computer" from your desktop or Windows Explorer, and select "Manage."
3. Select "Device Manager" in the left pane of the Computer Management window.
4. Locate and expand "ADB Interface" in the right pane.
5. Right-click on "HTC Dream Composite ADB Interface", and select "Update Driver Software..."
6. When Vista starts updating the driver, a prompt will ask how you want to search for the driver software. Select "Browse my computer for driver software."
7. Click "Browse..." and locate the folder where you copied the installation package. As long as you specified the exact location of the installation package, you may leave "Include subfolders" checked or unchecked—it doesn't matter.
8. Click "Next." Vista may prompt you to confirm the privilege elevation required for driver installation. Confirm it.
9. When Vista asks if you'd like to install the Google ADB Interface device, click "Install" to install the driver.

Windows XP: Perform a fresh installation

To install the Android USB driver on Windows XP for the first time:

1. Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port. Windows will detect the device and launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
2. Select "Install from a list or specific location" and click "Next."
3. Select "Search for the best driver in these locations"; un-check "Search removable media"; and check "Include this location in the search."
4. Click "Browse..." and locate the folder where you copied the installation package.
5. Click "Next" to install the driver.

Windows XP: Upgrade an existing driver

To upgrade an existing Android USB driver on Windows XP with the new driver:

1. Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port.
2. Right-click on "My Computer" from your desktop or Windows Explorer, and select "Manage."
3. Select "Device Manager" in the left pane of the Computer Management window.
4. Locate and expand "Android Phone" in the right pane.
5. Right-click "Android Composite ADB Interface" and select "Update Driver..." This will launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
6. Select "Install from a list or specific location" and click "Next."
7. Select "Search for the best driver in these locations"; un-check "Search removable media"; and check "Include this location in the search."
8. Click "Browse..." and locate the folder where you copied the installation package.
9. Click "Next" to install the driver.