The Google USB driver is a downloadable component for Windows developers, available
for download from the AVD and SDK Manager.
The Google USB Driver is only for Android Developer Phones (ADP), Nexus One, and Nexus S.
If you're using a different Android-powered device,
then you need to get a USB driver from the device OEM. For help finding the appropriate
driver, see the list of OEM USB Drivers.
The Google USB driver for Windows provides support for the following
Android-powered devices:
- ADP1 / T-Mobile G1*
- ADP2 / Google Ion / T-Mobile myTouch 3G*
- Verizon Droid*
- Nexus One
- Nexus S
* Or similar hardware on other carriers
Any additional devices will require Windows drivers provided by
the hardware manufacturer. See OEM USB Drivers.
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.
The sections below provide instructions on how to download the USB Driver
for Windows and install it on your development computer.
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.
Downloading the Google USB Driver
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 (ADP, Nexus One, or Nexus S) to your
development environment over USB.
To download the driver, use the Android SDK and AVD Manager tool that is
included with the Android SDK:
- Launch the SDK and AVD Manager by double-clicking
SDK Manager.exe
,
at the root of your SDK directory.
- Expand the Third party Add-ons and Google Inc. add-ons.
- Check Google Usb Driver package and click Install selected.
- Proceed to install the package. When done, the driver files are
downloaded into the
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
directory.
Installing the USB Driver
Once you've downloaded your USB driver, follow the instructions below to install or upgrade the
driver, based on your version of Windows and whether you're installing for the first time
or upgrading an existing driver.
Tip: When you finish the USB driver installation,
see Developing on a Device for
other important information about using an Android-powered device for
development.
- Windows 7
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
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 7
To install the Android USB driver on Windows 7 for the first time:
- Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port.
- Right-click on Computer from your desktop or Windows Explorer,
and select Manage.
- Select Devices in the left pane.
- Locate and expand Other device in the right pane.
- Right-click the device name (such as Nexus S) and select Update
Driver Software.
This will launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
- Select Browse my computer for driver software and click
Next.
- Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB
Driver is located in
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
.)
- Click Next to install the driver.
Or, to upgrade an existing Android USB driver on Windows 7 with the new
driver:
- Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port.
- Right-click on Computer from your desktop or Windows Explorer,
and select Manage.
- Select Device Manager in the left pane of the Computer Management
window.
- Locate and expand Android Phone in the right pane.
- Right-click Android Composite ADB Interface and select Update
Driver.
This will launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
- Select Install from a list or specific location and click
Next.
- Select Search for the best driver in these locations; un-check
Search removable media; and check Include this location in the
search.
- Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB
Driver is located in
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
.)
- Click Next to upgrade the driver.
Windows XP
To install the Android USB driver on Windows XP for the first time:
- Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port. Windows
will detect the device and launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
- Select Install from a list or specific location and click
Next.
- Select Search for the best driver in these locations; un-check
Search
removable media; and check Include
this location in the search.
- Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB
Driver is located in
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
.)
- Click Next to install the driver.
Or, to upgrade an existing Android USB driver on Windows XP with the new
driver:
- Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port.
- Right-click on My Computer from your desktop or Windows Explorer,
and select Manage.
- Select Device Manager in the left pane.
- Locate and expand Android Phone in the right pane.
- Right-click Android Composite ADB Interface and select Update
Driver.
This will launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
- Select Install from a list or specific location and click
Next.
- Select Search for the best driver in these locations; un-check Search
removable media; and check Include
this location in the search.
- Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB
Driver is located in
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
.)
- Click Next to upgrade the driver.
Windows Vista
To install the Android USB driver on Windows Vista for the first time:
- Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port. Windows
will detect the device and launch the Found New Hardware wizard.
- Select Locate and install driver software.
- Select Don't search online.
- Select I don't have the disk. Show me other options.
- Select Browse my computer for driver software.
- Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB
Driver is located in
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
.) As long as you specified the exact
location of the
installation package, you may leave Include subfolders checked or
unchecked—it doesn't matter.
- Click Next. Vista may prompt you to confirm the privilege elevation
required for driver installation. Confirm it.
- When Vista asks if you'd like to install the Google ADB Interface device,
click Install to install the driver.
Or, to upgrade an existing Android USB driver on Windows Vista with the new
driver:
- Connect your Android-powered device to your computer's USB port.
- Right-click on Computer from your desktop or Windows Explorer,
and select Manage.
- Select Device Manager in the left pane.
- Locate and expand ADB Interface in the right pane.
- Right-click on HTC Dream Composite ADB Interface, and select Update
Driver Software.
- 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.
- Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB
Driver is located in
<sdk>\google-usb_driver\
.) As long as you specified the
exact location of the
installation package, you may leave Include subfolders checked or
unchecked—it doesn't matter.
- Click Next. Vista might prompt you to confirm the privilege elevation
required for driver installation. Confirm it.
- When Vista asks if you'd like to install the Google ADB Interface device,
click Install to upgrade the driver.