While still extremely awesome, the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch is limited as to what you can download on to it, especially apps. It also doesn't have its own internet access (only Bluetooth), so apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Vine have yet to make their way to the Gear Store.
While that may stifle some, it doesn't prove as an obstacle for us at softModder. With Android Debug Bridge, the command-line utility commonly known as ADB, you can control your Gear via USB from your computer, allowing you to run commands, install applications like Candy Crush Saga, and much more.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/34/71/63518127201796/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Step 1: Download Android SDK
Since you'll need ADB running on your computer, you'll need to download the Android SDK, which provides you with the tools you'll need. Head over to that link and download the appropriate version for your computer—either 32- or 64-bit.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/80/29/63517961440158/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Note: If you don't know what bit version your Windows OS is, head over to Control Panel -> System and Security -> System and you should see the bit under System type.
Step 2: Unzip Your File
Once the file is done downloading, unzip it with any free extraction software. You should get a folder once it's done unzipping, with the same name of the zip file.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/47/30/63517961707808/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
The adt-bundle folder should have three files inside of it—eclipse, sdk, and SDK Manager.
Step 3: Copy Folder to Hard Drive
Once your folder is done unzipping, you'll have to move or copy and paste it onto your hard drive.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/80/14/63517962691873/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
The adt-bundle folder might take a bit to copy, since it's pretty large, so be patient.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/24/64/63517962603593/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Step 4: Copy ADB URL Text
Once it's done copying, double-click on the adb-bundle folder and then double-click on the sdk folder.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/96/93/63517973832726/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Next, double click on the platform-tools folder.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/59/90/63517973963517/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Finally, there should be a file titled adb, which you will single-click on and then go into the search bar above it and copy the entire line of URL text. You will need this for Step 5.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/36/08/63517965629343/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Step 5: Go into System Settings
Now, head over to Control Panel -> System and Security -> System. In System, double-click on Advanced system settings on the left.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/24/13/63517966358348/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Click on Environmental Variables....
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/63/90/63517966584782/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Scroll down and find Path, click on it once and then click Edit....
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/58/78/63517966669537/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Edit System Variable will pop up. Where it says Variable value:, you'll need to click on it and go all the way to the far right of the text, without deleting any of it.
Add a semicolon to the end of it and then paste the ADB URL that you copied at the end of Step 4 after the semicolon.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/40/04/63517966790531/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
Once you've pasted it, press OK on all of your opened windows until you've exited all of them.
Step 6: Testing ADB Out
To make sure that ADB now works on your computer, open CMD (Command Prompt) or Terminal (for Macs) and type in adb and then press enter.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/19/35/63517967242074/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
If ADB is working, you should see something like in the picture below.
![How to Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) Utility on a Windows PC](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/54/61/63517967328997/0/install-android-debug-bridge-adb-utility-windows-pc.w1456.jpg)
You should now be ready to sideload applications onto your Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch! For an example of what you can do, check out our softModder guide to installing Candy Crush Saga on the Galaxy Gear.
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10 Comments
for the install of the Android SDK,
After I put a semicolon copied and pasted the URL
And went to the prompt
And put adb in
It says
C:\Users\George>adb
It says adb is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
any help
thanks
geo5050
Worked for me, thanks!
When I install the androidsdk bundle I get filename length errors while unzipping/extracting it, I hope this isn't effecting my install in any way because I just selected SKIP FILE each time this happened. Anyone else have this issue? Is there a better way to install the sdk bundle? Like via an installer instead of a zip file? Thanks.
I don't want to try rooting my device if it's going to fail because of this....
Hi David,
Yes, it may affect your install. To correct that error, you can cut the length of the first directory, i.e rename the directory to a short directory to meet the total length.
Example : in ur install, the directory is "adt-bundle-windows-x8664-20140702" and in this directory the is another "adt-bundle-windows-x8664-20140702" directory before to access hte directories of eclipse and sdk.
You can cut the first directory and name it "adt-bundle" or just "adt" and your instal will be correct.
ok i have samsung GT-N7100. i want to connect phone to furiousgold but it doesn't pick on the software. i have already installed the adb driver on my pc...can someone ppliz help me out
they ask me too indtall java se devloment kit
hey nelson, could you update your guide for installing adb on windows 8.1 and for android lollipop.
SO THIS ADB IS ONLY FOR THE Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch
on windows use findsrt instead of grep
What do I do, if "Edit System Variable" in step 5 doesn't pop up and is nowhere to be found as a command?
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