enable developers option and usb debugging

Developer Options are a set of advanced hidden settings in Android phones. These settings are mainly used for debugging and application development purpose. Hence, Developer Options is hidden to avoid beginner users from accidentally enabling some of the options which might cause unexpected results.enable developers mode and usb debugging

While ADB or the Android Debugging Bridge is a nifty facility for debugging Android OS with the help of a PC. It’s an advanced tool that has got a lot of use as a developer but also for a normal user it can com handy, say when you’ve to unlock the bootloader or flash a stock ROM via ADB/Fastboot.

Since Android is heavily fragmented with OEMs having their own custom skins and implementation, the steps to enable USB Debugging differs slightly. However, the fundamental things never change as the USB Debugging can be found only on Developer Options, which itself come concealed at default.

Enable Developer’s Mode USB Debugging 

Here, we’ll go through the steps by which you can enable USB Debugging on some of the Android/custom skins. We’ll try to cover as much as possible so that you can find them all under a roof.

Stock/Vanilla Android or AOSP

Generally, developer option on the stock, untouched Android is enabled by the following steps.

  1. Go to the Settings app of your device via the notification shade or app drawer.
  2. From the settings Main activity screen, scroll down to find the ‘About phone’ and tap on it.
  3. Look for ‘Build number’, once found Keep on tapping until you see a prompt that says ‘You are now a developer!’. You will be prompted to enter your device’s unlock code (PIN/Pattern/Password) at this point.
  4. Once you input the correct PIN/Password, the developer option should have been enabled.

Once the developer option is enabled, you’ve to enable USB Debugging from it. So, the steps to do so on various Android versions are summarised below.

  • Android 9 (API level 28) and higher: Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > USB debugging
  • Android 8.0.0 (API level 26) and Android 8.1.0 (API level 26): Settings > System > Developer Options > USB debugging
  • Android 7.1 (API level 25) and lower: Settings > Developer Options > USB debugging

Enable Developer Option and USB Debugging on Different Phones

Samsung OneUI

Samsung OneUI comes with a custom settings app tailored for Samsung devices. So, follow the below steps if your device runs OneUI 1.0 or later.

  1. Head over to the Settings app
  2. Scroll down till the bottom to find About Phone.
  3. From About Phone tap on the Software Information where you’ll find the Build Number.
  4. Tap the Build Number section 6-7 times concurrently until you see the prompt “You’re Now a Developer”. Input the PIN/Password if asked.
  5. Now, once the Developer Option is enabled, go back to the main settings screen and at the bottom, you could find the newly enabled Developer Options.
  6. From Developer Options settings, enable the USB Debugging.

Summary

Developer Option: Settings > About Phone > Software Information > Build Number

USB Debugging: Settings > Developer Option > USB Debugging

OnePlus OxygenOS

OnePlus has nearly identical steps to that of the stock Android.

  • Android 9 (API level 28) and higher: Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > USB debugging
  • Android 8.0.0 (API level 26) and Android 8.1.0 (API level 26): Settings > System > Developer Options > USB debugging
  • Android 7.1 (API level 25) and lower: Settings > Developer Options > USB debugging

Huawei EMUI/Magic UI

  1. Open Settings, then search for and access Build number.
  2. Or else, Settings > System > About phone > Build number.
  3. Touch Build number seven times in a row, until a “You are now a developer!” message is prompted.

Summary

Developer Option

  • EMUI 10.X and Magic UI 3.X: Go to Settings > System & updates > Developer options.
  • EMUI 9.X and Magic UI 2.X: Go to Settings > System > Developer options.

USB Debugging

  • EMUI 10.X and Magic UI 3.X: Go to Settings > System & updates > Developer options > USB debugging.
  • EMUI 9.X and Magic UI 2.X: Go to Settings > System > Developer options > USB debugging.

Xiaomi MIUI

If you think hitting Build Number on MIUI 10 or later devices would trigger developer options then sorry to burst your bubbles. Unlike all those Android variations are given above the developer options on MIUI are enabled from the MIUI Version from the Settings app. Didn’t get it? Then go through the steps given below.

  1. Head over to the Settings app.
  2. Then, About Phone > MIUI version
  3. Tap on MIUI version 6-8 times until you see a prompt “You’re Now a Developer”
  4. Now go back to the Main Settings > Additional Settings > Developer Options
  5. From the Developer Options menu, toggle on the USB Debugging

Summary

Developer Option: Settings > About phone > MIUI version

USB Debugging: Settings > Additional settings > Developer options > USB  debugging

OPPO ColorOS

OPPO custom Android skin is branded as ColorOS with the latest being ColorOS 7.1. To enter Developer Mode:

  1. Go to [Settings] > [About Phone], and tap [Version] for 7 times.enable usb debugging
  2. To see the enabled Developer Options, go to [Settings] > [Additional Settings] and toggle on [Developer Options]. You will see a number of developer options for Debugging, Network, Input, Drawing, Hardware Accelerated Rendering, Media, Monitoring, and Appsenable usb debugging

Summary

Developer options: Settings > About phone > Version

USB Debugging: Settings >Additional settings > Develor options > USB debugging

We’ve covered all the major Android device groups, still, if we miss something you can comment your device down below, we’d let you know how to enable the developer options on that specific device. We’d like to see you over there.

Must See: Guide to backup Android smartphone data without any root access?

By Ijaz

Decode my name to decode my norm.