How to Enable USB Debugging on Android Device

By Jeff McLean on December 30, 2023

USB Debugging is one of the many features for Android developers that allows you to establish a connection between your Android device and a computer for advanced debugging, installing custom ROMs, and testing applications.

In this tutorial, I will show you step-by-step how to enable USB debugging on your Android device. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to get started.

How to Enable USB Debugging on Android Device

Here are the steps on how to enable USB debugging on an Android device:

Step 1: Enable Developer Options

To enable the Developer Option:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
  1. Locate and click on “About phone” or “About device.”
  1. Locate and click on “Build number” or “Build version” multiple times (usually 7 times) until you see a message confirming that Developer Options have been enabled.

Step 2: Access Developer Options

To do this:

  1. Go back to the main Settings menu.
  1. You should now see a new option called “Developer options” or “System” > “Developer options.” Click on it to enter the Developer Options menu.

Step 3: Enable USB Debugging

  1. In the Developer Options menu, find and toggle the switch for “USB debugging.” You may be prompted to enter your device’s PIN or unlock pattern.
  1. A pop-up message will appear, asking you to confirm USB debugging. Click on the “OK” button to proceed.

Step 4: Connect your Android device to the computer

To do so:

  1. Use a USB cable to connect your Android device to your computer.
  1. If it’s your first time connecting the device to the computer, you might see a prompt on your Android device asking you to allow USB debugging for the connected computer. Check the box for “Always allow from this computer” and click on “OK.”

Step 5: Verify USB Debugging Connection

After following all the four steps outlined, you may check to verify the USB debugging connection. To do this:

  1. Open a command prompt or terminal window on your computer.
  1. Type the command: adb devices and press Enter

You should see your connected device listed. If it’s listed and shows “device,” you have successfully enabled USB debugging.

Now, you have successfully enabled USB debugging on your Android device. This opens up a world of possibilities for developers and advanced users to interact with their devices on a deeper level.

If you ever want to disable it, you can simply go back to the Developer Options menu and toggle off the USB debugging switch.

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