ADB or Android Debug Bridge is a command-line utility that lets us control an android device from the computer itself. Its part of Google Android SDK and can be used to run shell commands or to copy the files to & from the device and also to install or remove the applications from the device. Fastboot is basically a diagnostics mode that is used to modify the Android file system from the computer when the android device is in bootloader mode. It's an alternative to recovery mode and is normally used to perform updates or to perform installations.

Here at Ibmi Media, as part of our Server Management Services, we regularly help our Customers to perform related Android SDK queries.

In this context, we shall look into how to install ADB and Fastboot on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Steps to Install ADB and Fastboot on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa

1. Perform System Update

First, make sure that all your system packages are up-to-date by running the following apt commands in the terminal:

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt upgrade

2. Install ADB and Fastboot on the system

Run the following command to install ADB Fastboot binaries on the Ubuntu system:

$ sudo apt install android-tools-adb
$ sudo apt install android-tools-fastboot

You can check the ADB version with the below command:

$ adb version

Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.46
Revision 1:7.0.0+r35-2

After installation, the ADB server will start on its but if that's not the case then you can start the ADB server using:

$ sudo adb start-server

3. Check ADB connection

We will connect an android device to our system. But before we connect the android device, we need to make sure that the device has 'USB Debugging' enabled. 

It can be enabled by going into device Settings & then into the Developer Options (Some devices require that you tap several times on Android Version in the About Phone section to enable Developer Options). 

Now once that’s enabled, all we have to do is to connect our Android device to the Ubuntu system using the USB cable. 

Once the device has been connected, open the terminal on your system and execute the following command:

$ sudo adb devices

Note: If getting any permissions regarding error after connecting the device then restart the ADB server and try again.

[Need help in installing and configuring Android Linux Software on your Linux system ? We can help you. ]