[GUIDE] Install Windows ADB Drivers for Fire HDs ("newbie friendly")

➜ No big ol’ SDK ➜ Latest Google drivers ➜ No messing with inf files ➜ ADB from any location ➜ Drag and drop files

Figured XDA needed yet another adb driver guide, :D so I'm bringing this down from Google drive where it's been getting a lot of use--with no complaints so far. :fingers-crossed:

---

This tells you how to install Google's Android Composite ADB Interface driver for your Fire HD.
If you want to use sideload mode, you need to install the driver for it separately.

• Install driver for "normal" (OS) mode, below
  


• Install driver for sideload mode, post 2[link]
  


• [maybe later, tips for using CMD (command) window in post 3]
  

---

Install ADB Driver for "Normal" (OS) Mode

1. Make sure adb debugging is enabled on the the Fire. (Settings->My Device->Developer Options: Debugging)
To open Developer Options: In Settings -> My Device, tap on the serial number until Developer Options appears at bottom of screen.

2. If you KNOW there’s no adb driver installed for the Fire, go to next step.
. . . If driver might already be installed, do hidden steps.

Connect to computer, open Device Manager (instructions below) and see if a driver is listed under Android Device.
- If a driver is NOT listed, go to next step.
- If a driver IS listed, open CMD window in folder containing adb.exe and run adb devices command (step 12).

* If adb devices DOES return an ID, this driver is working and you don’t need to install a different one.
* If adb devices does NOT return an ID:
a. In Device Manager, right-click the driver and choose Uninstall.
b. Unplug the Fire and restart Windows.

3. Download 15 seconds ADB Installer and run it as Administrator.
If you are not Administrator, right-click the file and choose “Run as Administrator“

Read all about 15-seconds Installer at the link.

Press Y to install ADB and Fastboot
Press Y to install ADB system-wide or N for current user only
Press Y to install drivers

4. When prompted to install device software, install it!

5. Connect the Fire to the computer and wait until you see it in Windows Explorer.
The first time you plug in, this might take a while.

6. Open Device Manager:
Win8 - Right-click Start Button and choose Device Manager. Win7 - Click Start button and type Device Man [enter]

7. Find Fire under Other Devices, right-click it, and choose Update Driver Software.
If you don't see Fire under Other Devices, disconnect/reconnect or try a different USB port, or try toggling Enable ADB in Developer Options.

8. Press Browse my computer for driver software and then Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

Pics are here!

9. Find Android Device, click it and press Next.

. . . If Android Device is not listed, look here.

If you DID NOT run 15 Seconds ADB Installer, STOP, disconnect from PC and run it now.
If you DID run 15 Seconds ADB Installer:
a. Double-click Show All Devices.
b. Under Manufacturer, scroll to Google, Inc, click it and continue.
↠ If Google, Inc is not listed, the ADB drivers are not installed, they installed incorrectly or were corrupted. STOP now and follow all the steps again.

10. Select Google, Inc in left pane and then Android Composite ADB interface in right, and press Next.

If the screen you see only has the Model pane (on the right above), scroll down to Android Composite ADB and choose it.
↠ If the driver is not listed, drivers have not been installed, they installed incorrectly or were corrupted. STOP now and follow all the steps again.

11. At the warning screen, press Yes.
Driver is updated!

12. Run the adb devices command and confirm it returns a device id:

a. Open CMD window: Hold down the Shift key, right-click the desktop (or an empty space in a folder) and choose Open command window here.
b. Type: adb devices [enter]

• If you see an ID followed by “device,” the driver is installed correctly. DONE!
  
  


• If you see an ID followed by “unauthorized,” look at the tablet for “Allow USB Debugging?” message and tap OK.
  If debugging message disappears before you say “OK,” unplug/replug tablet to see it again.
  Repeat the adb devices command and confirm it now looks like above. DONE!
  
  


• If you do not see an ID, the driver may not be correctly installed or USB debugging might still be disabled on your tablet. Verify all connections and reboot tablet and PC and repeat this step. If adb devices still doesn’t return an ID, follow this guide from the beginning again. :(