USB debugging is a term you might have come across several times while using Android smartphones. But what is USB debugging really? And what is it used for? Well, that is precisely what this article attempts to explore and demystify.
While the term USB debugging does sound intimidating, it is really not as complex as it sounds. Activating USB debugging essentially allows you to control various facets of the connected smartphone using a PC. It also lets you run advanced commands for system customization, rooting your phone, or even troubleshooting software issues.
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Let's start off by addressing the basic question in somewhat more detail.
What is USB debugging?
As the name suggests, USB debugging relates to the act of tracking bugs via USB. Android app developers use this process to test in-development apps or to find and fix problems. This is typically done with the Android Studio Development Kit (SDK) using a computer. Nowadays, the USB debugging feature is also used by developers and Android users to perform tasks like installing custom recovery, rooting a device, or installing a new ROM.
Editors Note: USB debugging is an advanced tool and can possibly enable a lot of advanced features on your smartphone. While these features can be useful, keeping the USB debugging option on can also pose a security risk. Therefore, for the safety of the average smartphone user, the option is usually hidden in the Android System Settings app. Make sure that you never leave the USB Debugging option on unless you are a developer or a geek who knows what it is used for.
USB Debugging: What is it used for?
As outlined earlier, USB debugging allows your computer to easily communicate with your smartphone using just a USB connection. You may have frequently heard of the term ADB in conjunction with USB debugging. ADB is short for Android Debug Tool. This is the tool Android developers typically use when a smartphone is connected via USB to their computer.
For ADB to communicate with the phone, it is necessary that the user turns the USB debugging feature on their phones before trying to establish a connection. With the feature turned on, a number of possibilities open up on the device, such as being able to activate root access, installing custom ROMs, resetting the device to factory settings, and much more.
And as already mentioned, USB debugging makes life easier for app creators, who can test their developing apps on a real phone, instead of using the official Google emulator.
How do I enable USB debugging?
To enable USB debugging you need to confirm that your smartphone is recognized by your Windows computer. To check this, simply connect your phone to the PC using a compatible USB cable and check if the phone is detected. If Windows does not identify the device, follow the steps on this page to install the drivers on the computer so that it can "communicate" to the phone.
In recent versions of Android, you need to do a sequence of steps to access the menu to turn on/off USB debugging.
To enable USB debugging, you first must enable the 'Developer options' menu in Android (if you haven't already). Here are the complete steps:
- Open your device's Settings menu.
- Scroll down to About phone.
- Tap on Build number/Build version/ Software version about 7 times until you see a confirmation message.
- Tap the back button and you will see the Developer options menu appear at the bottom of the settings page. On some phones, this option can be hidden under 'more settings'.
- Tap on it and scroll down until you see USB debugging; press it and hit Ok to enable it.
If you have a device that is running Android 2.3 or earlier, here are the steps to follow:
- Open the Settings
- Tap on Applications (sometimes called Apps or App Manager)
- Scroll down until you find the Developer options
- Tap on this and enable USB debugging
Now you're all set, USB debugging has been activated. You will now be able to install custom ROMs to your Android device, or even operate your smartphone remotely if you have broken the screen.
Note that USB debugging can be undone by disabling the USB Debugging on your phone. You can also cancel any USB debug authorization on previously connected computers. To do this, just click 'Revoke USB debug permissions' in the developer options.
Do you have any other questions about USB debugging? Let us know in the comments.
This article was last updated in April 2021. Older comments have been retained.
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