If you are an android user you must have come across the word “USB Debugging” when searching forums and search engines for solutions. Every time you connect your Smartphone with your PC, you will get a prompt notification to enable USB Debugging Mode.
As a nerd you might have seen it even while looking at your phone’s settings. It may sound like a high-tech option but it really isn’t; it is quite simple and useful.
As we know, Android is an open-source operating system which has a lot of built-in features. Most of this features are advanced. If you want to supercharge your phone with mods and whatnot, you can; if you want to use it just as it was out of the box, you can ignore the advanced stuff. Since USB debugging is a useful feature; why shouldn’t we talk about its functionality and how to enable it?
What Is USB Debugging Mode?
According to kingoapp – USB Debugging Mode is one thing that you cannot skip to know if you are an Android user. The primary function of this mode is to facilitate a connection between an Android device and a computer with Android SDK (Software Development Kit). So it can be enabled in Android after connecting the device directly to a computer via USB.
USB Debugging Mode, in some versions of Android, is also called Developer Mode. Then it is relatively easy for you to understand that this USB Debugging Mode establishes a direct connection between an Android Device and a computer and readies it for deeper-level actions.
USB Debugging Mode is definitely important, as you can see. But why? What capabilities does it carry that makes this mode so important? What is USB Debugging for?
You’ve probably got the idea that USB Debugging Mode grants you a level of access to your device. What kind of access, you may ask. This level of access that USB Debugging Mode grants is important when you need system-level clearance, such as when coding a new app. This mode, also called Developer Mode, allows newly programmed apps to be copied via USB to the device for testing. Depending on the OS version and installed utilities, the mode must be turned on to let developers read internal logs.
But it does more than that. There are a few non-development-related benefits from this new level of access that can give you much more freedom of control over you device. For example, with Android SDK, you gain direct access to your phone through your computer and that allows you to do things or run terminal commands with ADB. These terminal commands can help you restore a bricked phone. So this mode is a useful tool for any adventurous Android owner.
Of course, the background knowledge is always complicated for those non-experts. This is exactly what Android Update exists for. Android Update incorporated all these complicated features and tools to make it easy for you.
How To Enable USB Debugging Mode
Android Phone has different versions; different versions with different USB Debugging settings. Below are settings to enable USB Debugging on different Android Versions.
How to enable USB debugging on Android KitKat, Jelly Bean(4.2 +)
1. Navigate to Settings > About Phone > scroll to the bottom > tap Build number seven (7) times. You’ll get a short pop-up in the lower area of your display saying that you’re now a developer.
2. Go back and now access the Developer options menu, check ‘USB debugging’ and click OK on the prompt.
That’s it, you’re done!
You can now enable and disable it whenever you want by going into Settings > Developer Options > Debugging > USB debugging.
How to enable USB debugging on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and earlier
Navigate to Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging
Enable it – as simple as that!
Final Words
Think of USB debugging as another tool to have control over your device – rooting, flashing, installing custom ROMs, or any hackery.
Do not abuse its power. It is best for you to keep USB Debugging Mode disabled and only enable it when you really need it.
