Why is USB debugging not enabled? What is USB Debugging mode on Android and how does it turn on?

No matter how advanced a smartphone is, it is still a dependent device. In many cases, a personal computer is still required to operate a mobile device. In particular, when it comes to mobile development or restoring the device after unsuccessful firmware. For example, if the gadget fails, to reinstall the system you will need a cable (via USB) connection from the smartphone to the PC. In order for the computer to detect your phone or tablet, the device is put into debugging mode. In this article we will try to tell you how to enable USB debugging on Android and what else it might be needed for.

What is USB debugging - why is it needed?

If you don't hit technical features, then debug mode (this mode is also called debug mode) is a feature of Android gadgets created for testing new software products. Developers use it to evaluate the performance of their applications.

USB debugging allows you to perform the following tasks:

1. Testing and verifying applications before releasing them to the Play Market.
2. Obtaining ROOT rights (hacking) of a mobile device.
3. Copying files from the root directory operating system.
4. Installation software from third party sources.
5. Installation unofficial firmware Android.
6. Creating backup copies of devices (data archiving).

Debugging mode can be used to restore the firmware if, for example, it does not work correctly or the phone stops turning on.

How to enable USB debugging mode on Android

Enabling USB debugging from a phone or tablet is done through the settings menu. This option is usually found in the developer options or accessibility menu.

Often this menu item is hidden so that ordinary users cannot switch to debugging mode and do not disrupt the operation of the system. Usually, famous manufacturers like Samsung or HTC resort to this, while Chinese manufacturers allow you to enable USB debugging mode on your smartphone without any questions asked.

If you own a device from Samsung or any other major brand that hides debugging access, then you will have to do the following:

• Open system settings.
• Go to the “About phone” submenu.
• Click on the system build number until the device switches you to developer status.
• In the new status, you can again try to go to the section with options for developers and enable USB debugging.

Enable USB debugging via computer

This method will be useful to those users whose devices for some reason do not have a touchscreen, the screen is broken, or there is no way to connect a USB mouse.

Often, to switch to debugging mode, you need to connect your smartphone or tablet to your computer. To do this, you will have to use a number of additional tools and be patient.

So, to go to this mode You need to do the following via your computer ( this method Suitable for all versions of Android, including 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and higher):

• First you need to download the Platform-Tools and QtADB-CWM files (this is Recovery files to restore devices).
• We move these files to the root directory of the computer on drive C.
• Download the Sqlite3 archive and move it to the Sqlite3_Windows directory on drive C (you need to create it yourself).
• We put the gadget into recovery mode and connect it to the computer.
• Run the previously downloaded QtADB.exe file.
• After opening the program, find the Advanced sub-item there and make sure that data folder was connected to the computer. The command line in the application will respond with Ready.
• Then open the “Files” submenu. It is divided into two separate file manager. In the left FM we open the Sqlite3_Windows directory, which was created before, and in the right FM we open the /data/data/com.andoid.providers.settings/databases directory in Android.
• Find the settings.db file in the right FM and drag it to the left.
• Then open the Start menu, select Run and enter cmd there.
• Will start command line Windows.
• You need to enter the following commands one by one:

cd C:\Sqlite3_Windows (to activate the command, press “Enter”)

sqlite3 settings.db (to activate the command, press “Enter”)

update secure set value=1 where name=‘adb_enabled’ (to activate the command, press “Enter”)

Quit (to activate the command, press “Enter”)

• Go back to the QtADB application and update the data in the left panel.
• After updating, drag the settings.db file back to right side, where he was before.
• The program will ask if you need to replace the existing file - we agree.
• That's all. The phone can be used in debugging mode.

What should I do if, after enabling USB debugging, the device is still not detected?

Unfortunately, USB debugging does not always work. Often, even after switching to this mode, the device does not function properly in it. Why might this happen and what measures should be taken to solve the problem?

• Make sure you have the correct one installed Android driver Debug Bridge. It can be found on Google's operating room site. Android system. For different devices Different sets of drivers are available. If there is no specific driver for your device, then you can use a universal one.
• Make sure your device is recognized by your computer. If the cable or port is damaged, then the device may not be displayed in the system at all, and, naturally, there can be no talk of any debugging mode in this case.
• USB debugging may not work properly on devices running unofficial firmware.

Conclusion

That's all, actually. Now you know how to enable USB debugging mode on Android. As you can see, if you strictly follow the instructions, then performing this procedure is not so difficult. The main thing is not to get lost and download everything in advance necessary files. In most cases, the methods described above are only needed by developers and testers, but there are situations in which ordinary users you have to work with this mode, so it’s better to familiarize yourself with how to enable it.

On any smartphone or tablet computer running on the Android platform, regardless of its manufacturer and pre-installed OS version, it is possible to enable special function, which is called “Debug Mode”. However, the process for activating this functionality varies. The fact is that it all depends on the version of the installed system.

In this article we will take a closer look at the question of how to enable USB debugging on Android, as on earlier versions OS, and on the latest ones. We will also look at the question of what tasks this mode is intended to solve.

Let's first figure out for what purposes the average user may need to activate this mode.

As you might guess, it is necessary for debugging applications and the devices themselves. Speaking more in simple language, is intended for checking the functionality of programs, and therefore is very popular, first of all, among software developers. However, for mere mortals it is also valuable, since it allows you to interact with Android via a PC and use programs (primarily ADB) that can remotely carry out various manipulations with the device.

Activation procedure on different versions

Android version 2.0 - 3.0

If you have an old Android device with versions 2.0 and 3.0 installed on board, then to activate debugging you need to take a few simple steps:

Android version 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0

On Android versions four, five and six, you have to tinker a little, since the debugging mode in them is carefully hidden from the user’s eyes.

How to enable USB debugging mode on the latest versions of Android? To do this, you need to take the following steps:

What should I do when the device is not detected when debugging is enabled?

As practice shows, quite often users find themselves in situations where, after turning on the debugging mode, the smartphone or tablet computer for some reason. What should the user do in this case?

• First of all, you need to check whether the latest version of drivers for detecting a device via USB is installed on your computer. Try updating your drivers by downloading them latest version from the device manufacturer's website.
• Check if your device is locked. When connecting to a computer, it is recommended to remove the lock.
• Check the ports where the cord connects. Yes, for more correct operation better use USB ports 2.0, there will be better compatibility with them.

Debugging over Wi-Fi

In a situation where you use debug mode by USB Android There is no way, you can try connecting via Wi-Fi.

Important! Before you begin, make sure that you have ROOT rights on your device. This instruction relevant only for the operating room Windows systems 7, which is on given time the most common on PC.

1. First you need to find out the IP address and port of your device. For this purpose, you can use the program. It is available in the store Google applications Play.
2. Download the program and run it.
3. Information about the current IP address should appear at the bottom.
4. On your PC, go to “Start” - “All Programs” - “Accessories”. In the list of applications, find and select Command Prompt.
5. In the console that opens, enter the following command: adb connect 192.168.0.1:8555. That's all. Android connection is complete. Now all manipulations with ADB can be performed through wireless technology Wi-Fi.

Disabling debugging

To deactivate debugging, use the following instructions:

Conclusion

Thanks to our material, you now know how to enable USB debugging on Android, as well as why and in what cases the average owner of a smartphone or tablet may need this function.

Let us remind you that USB debugging is a useful system tool, which provides the user with the opportunity to reinstall firmware, download and install third-party software, synchronize their mobile device from PC and so on. Experienced users will be able to obtain “Superuser” rights and even in some cases restore the system if it has stopped working normally.

I doubt that most people know what USB debugging is on Android 7.0 xiaomi phone, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Xperia, Lenovo LG, Google Nexus and so on.

Usually they only find out about it when they find a solution to their problem on the network, where one of the conditions is to enable usb debugging mode, or the system will display something like “device detected, enable usb debugging.”

No one is usually interested in what this means – it has to be done, it has to be done. Turned it on and forgot it.

However, this function is already for developers, although without it you will not be able to see or transfer the contents of your phone to a computer or vice versa using a cable, flash the firmware or gain superuser rights.

Ordinary smartphone owners go no further than these functions. Although the term sounds very technical, it is actually very simple to do. This feature is especially relevant for Samsung users.

Of course, you won’t be programming anything, but you’ll need to quickly reflash and transfer photos - you can find out how to allow your phone to do USB debugging by reading the instructions below.

How to enable USB debugging on Android 7.0

In the title of the section I wrote Android 7.0, but this applies to all Android 7, since there is also 7.1.

There are no special differences in this version and almost everything is the same as the others, with the exception of the names of some parameters.

In the settings, select “Phone information” and go to “Software information”, then click until you drop on the “Build number” line.

Of course, I was joking until I dropped, but the system will tell you when to stop. Next, go back and select the new “Developer Options” section that appears.

Congratulations. You have done everything necessary. Now you can solve your problems or fix problems.

It is more difficult to remove a developer function (section). To do this, you will need to reset the settings to factory defaults. Good luck.

Android is easy to use, but it contains a lot hidden functions for experienced users. Many of them are hidden in the Developer Options menu. As the name suggests, these features are vital for developers developing apps on Android, but they also have benefits for the average user.

One of the most famous features Android developer is USB Debugging. You may have seen this in Settings and wondered if you should enable it. Let's see what this mode is for and whether you need it.

What is USB Debugging?

In short, USB debugging allows an Android device to communicate with a PC under Android control SDK for using advanced operations.

When you develop Android apps, you need to install the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) on your PC. The SDK includes a set of tools that are vital for any developer, such as a debugger for troubleshooting code problems. Libraries are another key component of the SDK.

This allows developers to do general functions without the need to re-encode them. For example, Android has a built-in printing feature, so when writing an application you don't have to come up with new way print. You simply call the built-in method included in the library when you need to do it.

You can do a lot with Android from the device itself. But developers need more options, especially when collecting detailed error logs. It would be a huge pain to find and move these files manually from the device, so they use the tools built into Android Studio and Android SDK to make them painless.

Enabling USB debugging allows your phone to communicate with your PC so you can take advantage of these tools.

What is USB debugging used for?

Without USB debugging, you can't send any advanced commands to your phone using a USB cable. The most common reason for enabling USB debugging is because developers are running applications on their devices for testing.

Whenever you create new version of your app in Android Studio and want to test it, you can copy it to your connected device in just a few clicks. After assembly, it will launch and immediately appear on your device. It's faster than downloading APK file and installing it manually.

Non-developers usually enable USB debugging to get root rights (super user access or root access) on their phones. Root access varies by device, but most methods involve the program you run from your desktop. Once you enable USB debugging and connect your phone, you can use the root tool to send root instructions to your mobile device without even touching it. Installing a custom ROM involves a similar process.

You will also need to enable USB debugging to use Android commands Debug Bridge (ADB). They allow you to install APKs located on your PC onto your phone, move files back and forth, and view device logs for debugging errors. ADB Commands And fast loading can also be saved to your device even if you can't turn it on normally.

In older versions of Android, USB debugging was used for some other functions. The most notable of these was taking a screenshot via USB. This was before Android had a standard command for taking a screenshot. Now you just need to hold down your device's button combination (usually: Power and Volume Down) to capture a screenshot - this has eliminated this method.

How to enable USB debugging?

On modern devices On Android, you'll find USB debugging in the Developer Options menu, which is hidden by default. To unlock it, open Settings and scroll down to About Phone. Scroll down the page and you will see an entry with the build number. Tap it a few times and you'll see a notification telling you that you're now a developer.

Go back to Settings and scroll down to the bottom of About Phone. You will see new entry, developer options. Tap it and look for USB Debugging under the Debugging heading. Tap the slider to enable it and acknowledge Android's warning that you understand what the feature does.

That's it - now you just need to connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable. When you do this, you will see a prompt on your phone asking if you want to enable USB debugging for that particular computer. This is a security feature designed to keep your device safe from attacks.

Is USB Debugging Safe?

In theory, with USB debugging enabled, connecting your phone to a public charging port could cause problems. If someone has access to the port, they can steal information from your device or install malicious applications. This is why Android displays a confirmation prompt, so you shouldn't connect to a computer you don't trust. However, an unsuspecting user may accept the invitation without understanding what it is.

Additionally, enabling USB debugging will allow you to manage your device if you lose it. Anyone who finds it can connect your device to their computer and issue commands to it through ADB without knowing your PIN code.

If you don't use ADB regularly and don't connect your Android device to your computer all the time, you shouldn't leave USB debugging enabled all the time. It's okay to turn it on for a few days while you're working on something, but there's no need to turn it on when you're not using it regularly.

How to use USB debugging?

We took a look at what USB debugging does and what you can use it for. So this feature allows you to access advanced Android functions when connected to a PC. USB debugging is vital for developers, but still contains some useful tricks for experienced users. While you should be prepared to turn it on when necessary, I recommend turning it off when you're not using it to increase the security of your device.

Do you have USB debugging enabled or disabled on your phone? What do you use it for? Tell us about it in the comments!

Typically, the average user will not need to enable USB debugging. But, for deeper work with the Android device, this function may come in handy. Most often it is used by application developers and advanced users who cannot go a day without connecting their smartphone to their PC. And read our article about how to enable USB debugging.

More experienced users may skip this point, but for beginners we will explain that for getting root-rights, changing the firmware or just checking the system, requires connection to personal computer with USB debugging enabled. Also, some users use this opportunity for importing/exporting photos and videos, creating backup devices.

How to enable USB debugging on Android device

Most often, in order to enable USB debugging, you need to go into the settings, from there go to the “developer options” section and check the box next to “USB debugging”.

Why debugging is placed in the developer menu is not clear, most likely to protect the user from unnecessary actions. For example, a file transferred crookedly or to the wrong folder can lead to a system error. Do not forget that all firmware is different, so there are several other possible, similar methods (depending on the name of a particular item):

• Settings -> Development -> USB Debugging
• Settings -> For Developers -> USB Debugging
• Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging
• Settings -> More -> Developer Options -> USB Debugging

If you have Android versions 4.2 and higher (you can read about that here), then for you this operation got a little more complicated. The fact is that starting from this version, there may not be a section for developers in the menu. Then we follow the path:

• Settings -> System -> About phone -> Build number

There may also be a shorter path:

• Settings -> About phone -> Build number

Next, you should tap on the item with the build number 5 to 10 times until a notification appears on the screen of your device: “Developer mode is enabled.” After this, you need to repeat one of the methods (from 1 to 5), finding the developer menu in the settings.

Please note that starting from Android version 4.2 and higher, when you first connect to a computer, a request for permission to debug will appear on the device screen. All you have to do is agree by clicking “Yes”. The same request will appear when you try to connect the device to another computer.