Android: Fastboot setup

Overview

Fastboot is a protocol and associated utility, used primarily to modify flash file system while the device is in a bootloader. Fastboot operates via USB OTG. In addition to the bootloader implementing the fastboot protocol, fastboot client utility must be installed on user's workstation.

Getting Fastboot

In general fastboot utility is provided within the Android SDK. Also some Linux disributions provide fastboot within their package repositories. For example, on Ubuntu platform, fastboot may be obtained via android-tools-fastboot package.

Useful commands

• List connected devices

$ fastboot devices

• Reboot device

$ fastboot reboot

• Flash image file onto partition identified by its name, e.g. boot

$ fastboot flash boot boot.img

• Boot device, loading boot.img from the PC workstation, instead of boot partition

$ fastboot boot boot.img

See Also

• Fastboot introduction