You can use a Mac to install the command-line tools for custom Android ROMs, but there is no safe, universal flashing sequence. The exact recovery, firmware, partition and package steps depend on your phone’s model and codename and the ROM you chose. Follow that device’s current installation guide before unlocking or flashing; the LineageOS steps below are an example, not a recipe for other phones.
What fastboot and ADB do
ADB and fastboot communicate with a phone in different states. ADB works while Android or a compatible recovery is running; it can also request a reboot into bootloader mode. Fastboot communicates with the bootloader and can unlock or flash a device when the manufacturer and device support those actions. Google describes fastboot as the tool used to unlock a device bootloader and flash a new system image: Android SDK Platform-Tools release notes.
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ADB sideload is a way to send a package from the computer to a compatible recovery for installation. It does not make an image compatible with your phone, remove an unlock requirement, or satisfy firmware and partition prerequisites. Confirm the ROM file and package order in the installation guide for your exact device.
Install Platform-Tools on macOS
Google’s SDK Platform-Tools package includes ADB and fastboot and provides a Mac download. Its release notes list Platform-Tools 37.0.1, released in July 2026; the page was last updated October 1, 2026. Google says users should normally use the latest version. The direct archive is named platform-tools-latest-darwin.zip. See Google’s Platform-Tools page.
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There are two documented ways to get the tools on a Mac. Choose one; there is no requirement to install both.
| Route | What to do | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Google’s Mac archive | Download and extract platform-tools-latest-darwin.zip from Google’s Platform-Tools page. |
You prefer a direct download and managing the extracted tools yourself. |
| Homebrew | Install Homebrew using its official instructions, add /opt/homebrew/bin to your PATH as directed by the installer, then run brew install --cask android-platform-tools. |
You already use Homebrew to install and update command-line tools. |
The Homebrew route is documented in the LineageOS ADB and fastboot guide. Once the tools are installed, open Terminal and check availability with adb --version and fastboot --version. Google’s flashing documentation also uses these version checks. A successful version response confirms that the command is available; it does not establish that the phone is connected or that a particular flash command is safe.
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Check ADB detection before proceeding
- On the phone, enable Developer options and USB debugging if the device guide requires them. The menu location can vary by Android version and manufacturer, so use the phone’s instructions if these options are not where expected.
- Connect the phone to the Mac and run
adb devicesin Terminal. - When Android displays a USB debugging authorization prompt, review and approve it. Confirm the device appears in ADB’s output before relying on ADB commands.
LineageOS documents this connection and authorization check in its ADB and fastboot guide. ADB detection applies only when the phone is in a state that supports ADB; a phone in bootloader mode should instead be checked with the device guide’s fastboot instructions.
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Many phones ship with a locked bootloader. Unlocking is a device-specific prerequisite, not a universal first command. The Android Open Source Project’s general guidance describes enabling OEM unlocking in Developer options when available, entering bootloader mode and using the supported unlock process, with confirmation on the phone. If OEM unlocking is unavailable, the device may not permit unlocking; manufacturer or carrier rules can also affect availability. Do not try a generic command or attempt to bypass a restriction. Follow the manufacturer’s and ROM’s instructions for your model: AOSP: Locking and unlocking the bootloader.
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Back up before unlocking. AOSP says unlocking erases user data, including private app data and shared files accessible over USB, and requires an on-device confirmation. The supported command varies across devices and generations, so use the exact instructions for your phone rather than copying a command from a different model.
An unlocked bootloader allows modified software to boot, but software integrity cannot be guaranteed with a custom operating system. Data left on a device while it is unlocked may be at risk. Do not relock the bootloader unless the instructions for both your device and ROM explicitly support doing so. See AOSP’s boot-flow documentation.
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Follow the device-specific recovery and sideload sequence
Before flashing, find the current installation page for the phone’s exact model or codename and the ROM release you intend to install. Check its requirements for bootloader unlocking, firmware, partitions, recovery image and add-on packages. Those details can differ between devices, so the general pattern below cannot replace the device guide.
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The LineageOS guide for the device codename cas illustrates one possible sequence: download the recommended Lineage Recovery, enter fastboot mode, check detection with fastboot devices, flash the recovery image using the guide’s specified command, then boot into recovery. The guide next calls for a factory reset and data format; from recovery, select Apply update > Apply from ADB and run adb -d sideload /path/to/zip with the actual package path. It warns not to reboot into Android before completing the remaining instructions. The guide also says a signature-verification failure can indicate a corrupted or unofficial package, and that its optional Google Apps add-on must be installed before the first boot.
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These are details from the LineageOS installation guide for cas, not commands or steps to reuse on another phone. Use the guide’s current commands and package order for your own device. In particular, do not infer a recovery image name, partition target, reset step or add-on sequence from this example.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot connection and transfer failures
adb devicesshows no phone: Check that the phone is running Android or a compatible recovery, USB debugging is enabled when required, and you accepted the on-device authorization prompt.fastboot devicesshows no phone: Confirm the phone is actually in bootloader/fastboot mode, then try another data-capable cable and USB port. A charging-only cable will not provide the required data connection.- A fastboot command stalls or a transfer fails: Some bootloaders have USB-support problems. Try a different cable or port before retrying, and verify the phone’s state and the device guide before issuing any flash command again. Do not repeatedly run destructive commands without checking what happened.
- Considering a browser-based alternative: LineageOS Flash Tools can perform supported sideload or fastboot actions in a WebUSB-compatible browser. It is an alternate interface, not a universal compatibility fix; the device-specific installation instructions still apply. Its guidance also notes that USB adapters or hubs can contribute to transfer errors, so test a direct connection or another cable and port if needed. See Using LineageOS Flash Tools.
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