Google USB Driver

The Google USB driver is a downloadable component for the Android SDK, available from the SDK Manager. The driver is for Windows only and provides the necessary drivers for the following devices:

  • ADP1 / T-Mobile G1*
  • ADP2 / Google Ion / T-Mobile myTouch 3G*
  • Verizon Droid*
  • Nexus One
  • Nexus S

* Or similar hardware on other carriers

All other devices require Windows drivers provided by the hardware manufacturer, as listed in the OEM USB Drivers document. The Galaxy Nexus driver is also distributed by Samsung (listed as model SCH-I515).

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 and install the Google USB Driver for Windows.

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 4 (December 2010)

Adds support for the Nexus S.

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).

Downloading the Google USB Driver

Figure 1. The SDK and AVD Manager with the Google USB Driver selected.

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:

  1. Launch the SDK and AVD Manager by double-clicking SDK Manager.exe, at the root of your SDK directory.
  2. Expand the Third party Add-ons and Google Inc. add-ons.
  3. Check Google Usb Driver package and click Install selected.
  4. Proceed to install the package. When done, the driver files are downloaded into the <sdk>\extras\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.

  1. Windows 7
  2. Windows XP
  3. 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:

  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 Devices in the left pane.
  4. Locate and expand Other device in the right pane.
  5. Right-click the device name (such as Nexus S) and select Update Driver Software. This will launch the Hardware Update Wizard.
  6. Select Browse my computer for driver software and click Next.
  7. Click Browse and locate the USB driver folder. (The Google USB Driver is located in <sdk>\extras\google\usb_driver\.)
  8. Click Next to install the driver.

Or, to upgrade an existing Android USB driver on Windows 7 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 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 USB driver folder. (The Google USB Driver is located in <sdk>\extras\google\usb_driver\.)
  9. Click Next to upgrade the driver.

Windows XP

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 USB driver folder. (The Google USB Driver is located in <sdk>\extras\google\usb_driver\.)
  5. Click Next to install the driver.

Or, 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.
  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 USB driver folder. (The Google USB Driver is located in <sdk>\extras\google\usb_driver\.)
  9. Click Next to upgrade the driver.

Windows Vista

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 USB driver folder. (The Google USB Driver is located in <sdk>\extras\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.
  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.

Or, 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.
  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 USB driver folder. (The Google USB Driver is located in <sdk>\extras\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.
  8. Click Next. Vista might 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 upgrade the driver.
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