The Android Debug Bridge, popularly known as ADB, was first added to AOSP recovery with Android 4.x (Jelly Bean). By installing the mods of your choice, ADB allows users to use their device hardware to its full potential. Users who have done or know about rooting their devices have probably heard of ADB sideloading. With the cherry on top, it makes it easier for ROM developers to perform and save time.
How to use the ADB sideload feature and Flash
It is usable for both stock and custom recovery (TWRP) flashing, and ADB commands are essential parts of using the handy functionalities. You use this to share a set of instructions between your Android device and PC.
For this, you first need to enable Developer Mode, through which you can enable USB debugging. It’s important to know that it could brick your Android device. We prefer it if you are a beginner. Perform on a secondary device and keep a backup of your device because it will format all the data.
What is ADB, and why should I use ADB sideloading?
As previously stated, it is a feature that allows you to easily install or flash the ZIP package onto your device using the direct ADB command. That doesn’t mean it’s straightforward; instead, you have to use the command based on the use-case scenario.
Whereas, users who perform using TWRP don’t transfer the file from the PC; instead, it installs from local storage itself. It’s quite similar to an OTA update, where it first downloads and is locally stored on your device before being installed without the need to transfer files.
Also, this is not for regular smartphone users; it is for more techy-geeks who want to use their device hardware to its potential and for engineers and developers who want to dig into the device. They do this to check the device’s vulnerability and resolve it by debugging. They can also optimise the device’s OS, or they can root the device and unlock the bootloader without the company’s consent. More things can be done with ADB sideloading, such as logging in, mod installation, sharing files, and more.
To update the stock ROM, use this utility.
You can either simply flash the stock ROM on your device itself or also use a PC to flash. So, if you want to flash your device on your device itself, you just have to download the zip package of your ROM and store it locally on an SD card. Now head over to your device settings and then click on them to initiate ROM flashing. After tapping on the package, the device will verify and begin flashing the stock ROM on your device.
On the other hand, when you use the ADB command to upgrade your device or downgrade the ROM, it can be used with the ADB command as well. For this, we have made a quick guide mentioned below.
How to Install OTA or Sideload ROMs on an Android Device
Before we start, there are a few things you need to perform; these are the prerequisites.
Pre-Requirements
- Back up your Android device.
- The device should have power of more than 60%.
- Enable USB debugging
- Open Device Settings and head over to About Device.
- Tap x7 times on the build number of the device, and it will enable developer mode.
- Get back to the previous menu, and from there, go to advanced settings.
- From there, open the developer option.
- There you will find USB Debugging; simply toggle to enable USB Debugging.
- That’s it!
- Download the ADB Tool Kit and SDK Platform Tools.
- If you want to use TWRP, do install TWRP Recover.
How to Install an OTA Update from the ADB Sideload
- Start by installing the ADB tool on your computer and enabling USB debugging.
- Download the firmware zip package, and then rename the file to UP8.zip so during the excitation of the command it is easier to remember.
- Now let’s boot your device into recovery. For this, you have to open the SDK Platform tool folder, type CMD into the address bar, and press enter to launch CMD (Command Prompt).
- After opening the CMD, enter adb reboot recovery to boot your device into recovery.
Troubleshooting: If your device freezes during Fastboot,
- Long-press your device’s power button to power off your device.
- Use the Volume up and down buttons to navigate and the Power button to select Fastboot mode.
- Go to the Recovery Mode menu and press the Power button to confirm your action.
- After that, your device will now boot, and your device is likely to show a No Command screen. Simply press and release the Volume and Power buttons together.
- That’s it!
Install the OTA to update, downgrade, or upgrade manually on your Android device.
With this method, you can also sideload the zip file using ADB Sideload, since this is the way to transfer files from a computer to a mobile.
- First things first, boot your device into stock recovery mode, then use the navigation key to navigate to “Apply update from ADB” (if you are using TWRP, then navigate from advance to ADB Sideload), and then press the power button to enter the menu.
- Otherwise, you can use the Reboot Manager app (downloaded from the Google Play Store), which will directly boot your device into recovery mode.
- After that, it will start asking you to send a package that you want to flash on your device.
- Come to the computer, where you left it, or open it through the SDK Platform tool, and open the CMD from the address bar, hit enter.
- *// Else, in the ADB and Fastboot Tools folders, you can press Shift + Right-Click to open the context menu, and from there, choose Open PowerShell Window here.
- Execute the adb devices command to create a bridge between your computer and device.
- After that, execute the adb sideload up8.zip to begin flashing the device.
- *// For the TWRP recovery method, use this adb sideload, up8.zip.
- It takes some time; keep up with it, and once it finishes, simply reboot your system from recovery mode by navigating.
This is how you can use and install any zip file on your device with the help of ADB Sideload. Hopefully, this guide remains helpful for you, and we were able to help you understand the concept of the ADB sideloading method. In case we missed something or you have a doubt, feel free to comment on it in the comment section down below.