What is Fastboot mode?

Today’s topic of the ABCs of moddingwill focus on the modality Fastbooton how it is used and what it is used for in the Andorid world. Fastboot it is a way to turn on your device that will allow you to flash (install) some parts of the system, such as an image file, via USB. Fastboot it is also the name of the command line window that you will use to make certain changes to your system. Accessing the mode Fastboot is closely connected to Bootloader of the device, as it allows access to very delicate parts of the OS such as a kernel, and it is for this reason that to be activated, it often requires the unlocking the Bootloader same.

Read also => ​​What is the Bootloader? The ABC of modding

Fastboot it is a tool contained in the folderAndroid SDK, which is software released by Google for development on Android. It is contained in a folder with the same name, which will essentially allow you to both install a modified kernel (as on Sony devices) and install a factory image (Nexus devices), as long as your device is started in this mode !

To install the Fastboot tool on your computer, follow these steps. Fastboot is a tool mainly used for flashing firmware on Android devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Make sure you have installed the correct USB drivers for your Android device before starting.

1. Download and Install ADB and Fastboot:

   • Windows:

     • Download Minimal ADB and Fastboot.
     • Run the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions.

   • Linux:

     • Most Linux distributions have native support for ADB and Fastboot. You can install them via your package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, run the following commands: sqlCopy code sudo apt update

       sudo apt install adb fastboot

   • Mac:

     • You can install ADB and Fastboot via Homebrew. If you don’t have Homebrew installed, follow the instructions on their website. Once Homebrew is installed, run the following commands: bashCopy code brew tap caskroom/cask
       brew cask install android-platform-tools

2. Check your installation: After installation, open terminal or command prompt and type fastboot. If the installation was successful, you should see output listing the available options for Fastboot.

3. Connect your device: Make sure you have your Android device connected to your computer via a USB cable and enable “USB Debugging” mode on your device (you’ll find this option in your device settings, usually in developer options).

Once Fastboot is installed and your Android device is connected, you are ready to use Fastboot for various operations such as flashing custom firmware, factory reset, and more. Be sure to carefully follow the specific instructions for your device or the firmware you are working on, as procedures may vary.

Here are some of the features contained in Fastboot tools to enter in the dialog box:

• fastboot devices is used to see the serial number of your device (basically it is a confirmation that the PC has recognized your device);
• fastboot boot kernel.img allows you to flash a kernel without installing it on the terminal (so at the next reboot the device will return exactly as before);
• fastboot flash file.img allows you to flash a single partition contained in the OS, as long as it is an image file (without going through recovery);
• fastboot reboot|reboot-bootloader to reboot the system or restart it in bootloader mode

The Android SDK folder also contains a driver packageas the connection between your device in mode Fastboot and the PC will install specific drivers that often will not be recognized. As you can imagine, it is a very powerful tool that allows you to modify your device individually or entirely use it with caution and be careful not to make mistakes. To boot the device into mode Fastboot there is a precise key combination that varies from one device to another. I remind you that not all Android terminals are supported but around 90% are compatible with this mode.