Nexus 7 toolkit for bootloader unlock, rooting, custom recovery, etc.

Sometimes, we just have to think back and reminisce about the days when we were new to Android and methods for rooting, unlocking bootloaders, and just about everything was complicated and scary. Thanks to the Android development community, however, months of hard work have paid off and newbies nowadays can enjoy easily rooting their devices and enjoying the wonderful world of customization. Whether you're an Android veteran or a newbie, if you own a Google Nexus 7, you'll no doubt want to get right down to customizing it.

XDA Developers member mskip doesn't want you to waste any time either, so he's put together the Nexus 7 toolkit for bootloader unlock, rooting, flashing custom recovery, and more. This handy tool does everything for you! From installing the correct ADB/Fastboot drivers on your computer to rebooting your phone to Fastboot Mode, Recovery, Android or Download Mode from ADB. And, of course, it even roots your phone running on stock Jelly Bean builds all the way to JRO03D.

In this guide, learn how to set up the Nexus 7 toolkit for bootloader unlock, rooting, custom recovery, etc.

Warning

The instructions in this guide are intended for use with the
Google Nexus 7. Applying these instructions on another device or model may produce undesired outcomes.
The information in this guide is provided for instructional and educational purposes only. There is no guarantee that these instructions will work under your specific and unique circumstances.
Use these instructions at your own risk. We shall not hold any responsibility or liability for whatever happens to you or your device arising from your use of the info in this guide.
Read and understand the whole guide first before actually performing the instructions.

Requirements

Google Nexus 7
A Windows PC
Download the Google Nexus 7 Toolkit V2.0.0 (Google Nexus 7 Toolkit v2.0.0.exe, md5sum: f7192dd2840d28f649e510add1e4c3a7) to your computer.
- Direct Link
- Mirror Link
Disable your computer's anti-virus because it may pick up parts of the toolkit as potentially harmful. If it is picked by your anti-virus program and deleted, just restore the file and exclude it from future scans.
Enable USB debugging on your Nexus 7.
Backup all personal data on your phone to make sure you have a copy of your personal data (e.g., contacts, SMS, MMS, Internet settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and the like) in case the procedure in this guide erases such data.
- For backup tips, check our guides on how to sync your data to the cloud and how to create local backups of your mobile data.

Instructions

Connect your Nexus 7 to your computer via the USB cable.
Double click on the Nexus 7 toolkit to launch it.
Keep clicking the Next button until installation starts. Don't change anything in the set up program, including the installation path.
When installation is complete, click on the Close button to launch the toolkit.
If you don't have ADB/Fastboot drivers installed yet, select 1 from the toolkit's menu to install ADB/Fastboot drivers on your computer.
After the drivers have been installed, disconnect the USB cable and shut down your tablet.
Boot into Fastboot mode. You can do this by pressing and holding down the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power buttons.
On your computer, go to the Control Panel and select the Device Manager.
Connect your Nexus 7 to your computer using the USB cable. In the Device Manager, “Android 1.0″ should appear and the driver should start installing automatically.
Once the drivers are installed, you will see a new section in the Device Manager called “Android Phone.” If it does not have a “!” then the drivers have been installed correctly.
On the toolkit, type no then press the Enter key to enter the main toolkit menu. You will see “Fastboot Mode” or “ADB Mode” at the top. If you've installed the drivers correctly, you will also see your Nexus 7′s serial number under the mode you are in.
Simply enter the number that corresponds to the function that you want to perform. Each option has full and detailed information on what it is and how you can use it.
Select the function you want and follow the instructions on the screen.
When you exit the toolkit, make sure to use the X option from the main menu. This will terminate the ADB process and not leave it running in the background.