To enable Developer options on Android 4.2 or later, find Build number in Settings and tap it seven times, then return to the previous screen to find Developer options. The Build number location and option name can vary by device maker, and debugging controls should stay off unless you need them.
Open the Android Settings app and identify the phone model and Android version. Device makers place Build number in different locations, so use Settings search if the documented path is not visible.
2
Find Build number
On a Google Pixel, open Settings > About phone > Build number. On many Samsung devices, use Settings > About phone > Software information > Build number.
3
Tap Build number seven times
Tap Build number seven times and enter the device lock when Android asks. Stop when Android confirms that Developer options have been enabled.
4
Open Developer options
Return to the previous Settings screen and open Developer options, usually near the bottom of the system settings. Do not change settings just because the menu is now visible.
5
Enable debugging only when needed
For USB debugging on Android 9 and later, use Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options > USB debugging. Turn it on only for a trusted development task and approve only computers you recognize.
6
Turn controls off afterward
Disable USB or wireless debugging when the task is complete, then revoke any unfamiliar debugging authorizations. Developer controls can expose diagnostic data or permit tools to communicate with the phone.
If Build number is not where the Google Pixel path says, use Settings search or the device maker's support documentation rather than repeatedly tapping unrelated version fields.
If you enabled USB debugging by mistake, turn it off in Developer options and decline any computer authorization prompt you do not recognize.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Android.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.
