Is ADB not working or detecting your device? If Android tin't connect over the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), fixing it only requires three basic procedures.

We'll show yous how to get it working once more.

ADB Can't Find Your Device? Here'south the Fix

Sometimes, Android USB devices won't connect to a Windows system. Failed ADB connections ordinarily take one root cause: bad Android USB drivers that load in place of the right ones. Windows doesn't make it easy to remove the incorrect drivers, unfortunately.

But before attempting to troubleshoot an ADB connection, first enable USB debugging on your telephone if it's non on already.

When turned on, USB debugging gives you direct access to the file system of an Android device from a desktop computer. Without debugging enabled, it'south just possible to interact with your telephone's media storage, such as the SD bill of fare or a specially formatted media directory.

If you've already met the requirements, fixing the problem takes almost five minutes and three bones steps:

  1. Connect your Android device to your PC via USB and remove the ADB drivers. And then disconnect your device.
  2. Run a USB commuter eliminating utility, such as USBDeview, to kill all unnecessary Android drivers.
  3. Install Universal ADB Drivers.

We'll get over each step in turn. Here'south the software you need:

Download: Nirsoft USBDeview (Free)

Download: Universal ADB Drivers (Gratis)

Step one: Connect Your Device and Uninstall the Electric current Driver

First, connect your Android device to your computer via USB. This step allows your device to exist displayed in Windows's Device Manager. Open this by typing Device Manager into the Outset menu to search for information technology.

This image is of the Windows 10 device manager in the Search window

Next, in the Device Manager, remove your currently displayed Android ADB driver. To remove it, right-click on the category that contains your phone. For example, this might be LeMobile Android Device, Portable Devices, or something similar.

Under this, you'll see the Android Blended ADB Interface driver. Right-click this to bring up the context menu, then select Uninstall device.

android device inside of Windows 10 device manager

Make sure to check the box for Delete the driver software for this device.

remove bad usb drivers for adb

You can now disconnect your Android device from your PC. Doing this prevents the same incompatible driver from loading upon reconnecting the Android device. While eliminating drivers is technically non required, it tin can identify the commuter causing connection issues in example it somehow reloads itself.

Stride 2: Remove Bad ADB Drivers

The Nirsoft USBDeview utility comes as a zipped executable. That means you must unzip it, and information technology doesn't require installation. The utility may testify upwards as malware in a virus scan, but residuum assured, it's safe.

Later unzipping the file, open the extracted binder and run the executable utility inside it. USBDeview displays the total number of installed USB drivers on your computer, both connected and asunder.

Look for the colored status indicator on the far-left of the USBDeview window. There are four colors. Each represents a different status:

  • Green indicates that the device is connected and that information technology functions properly.
  • Pink means the device can unplug and works properly (although in reality, information technology may not work).
  • Red indicates a disabled USB device.
  • Grayness means the device is installed but not connected.
USBDeview elimintes drivers for USB devices in Windows

Now, remove all gray items with the words "Google", "Linux", "ADB", or "Android" in the title. If you desire to be extra cautious, remove all non-green items.

Removing the device driver means that yous'll demand to reinstall the drivers for that USB device if you want to use information technology once again. Fortunately, near of the time Windows automatically installs USB devices, then removing entries here is not unsafe.

Step 3: Install Universal ADB Commuter

Universal ADB Drivers works for all Android devices. Installing it automatically selects the right driver for Windows to recognize your phone over an ADB interface.

Manually Install a USB ADB Driver

To practice a manual install, first run the executable package for the Universal ABD Driver executable you downloaded before, which installs the driver to your figurer.

Second, plug your Android device into your PC via USB. The correct USB drivers should load. You can check by going to Device Manager in Windows. If at that place is a dissimilar commuter listed than what y'all saw in the first step, y'all probably accept the correct USB commuter loaded now.

android device located in windows 10 device manager

In the Device Manager, locate the new ADB/USB commuter. This will likely be under your phone's name in the Portable Devices section, but Android devices can announced in different locations in Device Manager. You may demand to check each possible device grade (such equally Android Phone or Samsung) in the Device Managing director before you discover yours.

If you can't discover it, sometimes yous'll need to check the pull down notification shade on your Android device for additional steps. This allows you to qualify a specific computer to connect to your device beyond charging purposes.

In one case you lot discover it, correct-click on your device and cull Update driver. From the resulting menu, choose Browse my computer for driver software, then Permit me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

adb drivers for windows 10 manual install

Here y'all'll run into a list of compatible drivers. Choose i of these (starting at the top if fine). If it fails, repeat the procedure by going down the list to locate another driver that works.

android ADB interface in Windows 10

Install Universal ABD Driver Instead

If yous can't become the right driver installed using the above method, yous will need to perform a manual installation. Thankfully, Windows Device Manager lets you mitt-option a driver from your computer instead of browsing from a list.

Instead of selecting Let me choice from a list of device drivers on my calculator in the previous step, hit the Browse button and manually notice the directory where you installed Universal ADB Driver.

The location in File Explorer should be something like this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\ClockworkMod\Universal Adb Drivers\

You may demand to search for the folder if you don't run across information technology at that place. Once you select the right location, hitting Next and Windows will install the drivers. From now on, whenever y'all connect your Android device with ADB enabled, Universal ADB Drivers will load in place of the ones that failed to work.

Finally, restart your figurer and attempt to connect over ADB again. You should be successful at this point.

Still Not Able to Connect to ADB?

If you withal can't connect to ADB, your device might take a deeper problem, either at the firmware or hardware level. Major hardware issues include the post-obit:

  • A damaged USB port on your estimator or smartphone
  • Defective firmware on your smartphone, usually caused by a custom ROM
  • A damaged or defective charging cablevision

For example, I once owned a tablet that intermittently disconnected from the computer. Even after replacing the Micro-USB port, the tablet connected to malfunction. The crusade of disconnection turned out to exist a buggy custom ROM. While custom ROMs are bang-up for reviving old hardware, they introduce another layer of complexity that ofttimes causes problems.

There are many potential causes for a device that refuses to connect through ADB. Endeavour diverse cables and ports on your figurer to troubleshoot the trouble. Our guide to fixing an Android phone that won't charge has some tips that can too help poor connections.

EasyTether Problems: Unable to Connect past ADB

Some people who use both a Mac and Android try to share their internet connectedness over a USB interface using the EasyTether app. However, we don't recommend this. The app costs money, and free methods exist that are both superior and easier to utilise. Run into our guide on how to USB tether with Android for better ways.

For example, in newer versions of Android, Google offers native Bluetooth and USB tethering. If your telephone has a dual-antenna design, you tin can even create a hotspot using a Wi-Fi connection.

If EasyTether (or any USB tethering app) fails, the best set up is to try to find the correct driver every bit outlined above. That means finding the incorrect ADB commuter that Windows installed and swapping it out for something that works.

Since this may require boosted troubleshooting steps, we simply recommend these apps for older Android devices.

Universally Good ADB Drivers

At present yous know what to practice when ADB is not working. This method of purging bad Android USB drivers and installing a universal ADB driver packet works for every Android device we've tried it on. It'due south a fleck ridiculous that Google never released a universal ADB driver for Android devices, despite the issues that many users go along to experience.

Now that you've got it set up, check out the all-time apps that utilize ADB on Android.

6 Android ADB Apps for Powerful Features Without Root

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About The Author

Kannon Yamada (341 Articles Published)

Kannon is a Tech Journalist (BA) with a background in international diplomacy (MA) with an emphasis on economic development and international trade. His passions are in China-sourced gadgets, information technologies (similar RSS), and productivity tips and tricks.

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