Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging on Android 2023

If you want to use ADB and Fastboot, load an APK or Zip file, flash a custom recovery or factory images, access your Android device and control it using a computer, you will need to enable the options for them developers and enable USB debugging. Without activating them, Android devices simply cannot communicate with the computer. Here’s how to enable development options on Android devices from different manufacturers.

One of the things that sets Android apart as an operating system for smartphones and tablets is that it is an open source platform. It encourages developers to engage in different types of development activities. And the only feature without which custom development would not have been so simple is the availability of “Developer options” which is under Settings for all Android devices. Let’s see how we can enable developer options and enable USB debugging on Android devices running Android KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo and Pie.

These development options contain advanced features that help anyone with a developer spirit to create, test, debug and package Android applications and mods. Simply put, development options allow quick access to an Android device from a computer via ADB and Fastboot commands.

Features of development options

The “Developer Options” functionality is essential for Android developers, hackers and enthusiasts to quickly access and control their device via the desktop. Even if you are an average user and want to root, install a ROM or mod on your Android device, you need to enable the USB debugging mode on your phone or tablet. And you won’t be able to do that unless you first turn on developer options on your device.

Among the most useful features found under Developer Options are:

Enable debugging via USB.
Quickly capture bug reports on the device.
Displays processor usage on the screen.
Draw debugging information on the screen such as layout limits, GPU view and hardware layer updates, and other information.
Many other options to simulate application constraints or activate debugging options.

The ‘Developer options“Has always been visible by default in all previous versions of Android.

Enable developer options on Gingerbread (Android 2.3)

Settings> Applications> Development> USB debugging

Enable development options on ICS (Android 4.0)

Settings> Developer Options> USB Debugging

Enable developer options on JB (Android 4.1)

Settings> Developer Options> USB Debugging

However, Google has hidden Developer options after the Android 4.2 JellyBean update. You can still activate it on your device, but you have to make a little effort for that.

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Enable developer options on Android

In fact, Developer options are at the heart of Android development and therefore cannot be removed as long as Android is an open source environment. Follow the simple steps below to activate

Open Settings> About device or phone> Software information on your Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet. On some devices, you will find “Build number“After typing”About the phone“Option.
Scroll to Build number and press it seven time.
After entering the build number seven times you will see a message “You are now a developer!” or “Developer mode has been activated”, or “Developer mode has been activated“.

That’s it! You have successfully activated Developer options on your Android device.

Enable USB debugging on Android

Once you’ve enabled developer options, go back to the settings menu page.

Back to main settings menu and now you can see Developer options.
Open it and you will find OEM unlock and USB debugging options there. You can now activate or deactivate the options. Please note that enabling “OEM unlock“Will reset your Android device.
Open Developer options and tab the toggle icon in front of the ‘USB debugging‘Option to activate it. Press “OK” when prompted to allow USB debugging on your device.
AT disable USB debugging later you can uncheck the box before the option
To allow Developer options, go to Settings> Developer options and press the ON OFF cursor at the top of the page.

For more information on developer options, you can refer to official Android developer site.

Hide development options on Android devices

Once activated, the development options on devices with Android 4.2 / 4.3 / 4.4 remain visible. Learn how to hide developer options on your Android device.

Read next: A detailed introduction to developer options on Android