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How to Enable USB Debugging on Android With a Broken Screen

USB debugging must be enabled on the phone. See what to try when touch fails, the display is unreadable, or ADB was not already configured.
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USB debugging must be enabled on the Android phone itself. If the screen is visible but touch does not work, a compatible mouse may let you reach Settings. If the display is unreadable, a supported external display may help on some models. A computer cannot normally switch on USB debugging or approve ADB access for a phone that you cannot unlock and operate.

First, identify what still works

Phone condition What to try Important limit
Display and touch both work Enable USB debugging in Developer options. You must unlock the phone and approve the computer’s authorization prompt when it appears.
Display works, touch does not Try a compatible USB OTG adapter and mouse to operate the on-screen menus. This depends on the phone supporting USB host/input; the screen must remain readable, and you still need to unlock the phone and approve prompts. Samsung documents mouse input by OTG for some Galaxy phones (Samsung support).
Display is broken or unreadable If you have a supported Samsung Galaxy, check whether it can show its interface on an external display using a USB-C/HDMI hub, mouse, and keyboard. Samsung’s documented workflow applies to compatible Galaxy devices running Android 12 or later that support DeX/external display; it is not a universal Android feature (Samsung support).
Phone is locked and neither display nor input is usable Seek model-specific repair or qualified recovery help. You cannot provide the required unlock and authorization from the computer through Android’s documented ADB flow (Android Developers: Android Debug Bridge).

Enable USB debugging on the phone

  1. Find Build number. On Pixel phones, Android documents the path as Settings > About phone > Build number. Other manufacturers may place it elsewhere.
  2. Unlock Developer options. Tap Build number seven times. Enter your PIN or password if asked.
  3. Open Developer options. Return to Settings and find Developer options. On Android 9 and later, it is commonly under Settings > System > Advanced > Developer options; menu names and locations vary by device.
  4. Turn on USB debugging. In Developer options, enable USB debugging. Android’s guide describes the steps and notes that manufacturers can arrange settings differently: Configure on-device developer options.
  5. Connect and authorize the computer. Use a data-capable USB cable, unlock the phone, and accept the RSA key prompt for that computer. Android 4.2.2 (API 17) and later uses this authorization step; without it, ADB commands cannot run.
  6. Check ADB recognition. After authorization, check the computer’s ADB device list. If the phone does not appear, confirm that the cable supports data and that the phone remains unlocked and authorized.

Android explains the purpose of the prompt: “This security mechanism protects user devices because it ensures that USB debugging and other adb commands cannot be executed unless you’re able to unlock the device and acknowledge the dialog.” (Android Debug Bridge (adb))

Can you enable USB debugging from a PC?

Not through Android’s documented setup. USB debugging is a setting in the phone’s Developer options, and ADB access on Android 4.2.2/API 17 and later also requires the phone to be unlocked and the computer’s RSA key to be approved on the device. If debugging was off and you cannot operate the phone, plugging it into a computer does not provide a supported way to turn it on or bypass that authorization.

When a mouse or external display can help

Visible screen, failed touch

A USB OTG adapter and wired mouse may provide pointer input on some phones. If supported, use the pointer to unlock the device, navigate to Developer options, enable USB debugging, and approve the computer prompt. Check model compatibility before buying: an adapter supplies a way to control the interface, not a way to enable debugging by itself.

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Unreadable screen, supported Galaxy

Samsung documents a recovery path for certain Galaxy models: connect a USB-C/HDMI hub and use an external display, mouse, and keyboard. The instructions are limited to supported devices running Android 12 or later with DeX/external-display capability. Verify the exact model before relying on this route or purchasing a hub; USB-C alone does not establish that a phone supports video output.

No usable display or input

If you cannot see the interface, unlock the phone, and confirm prompts, an accessory will not satisfy Android’s ADB authorization requirement. A repair or qualified data-recovery professional may be the practical next step. Do not assume that connecting the phone to a PC will make its data accessible.

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Does wireless debugging get around a broken screen?

No—not for initial setup. On Android 11 and later, wireless debugging requires enabling the feature on the phone and approving workstation pairing there, with both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Android 10 and lower requires an initial USB connection before switching ADB to Wi-Fi in the documented workflow. Wireless ADB can help if it was already configured and paired while the phone was usable; it is not a general workaround for a phone you cannot operate. See Android’s wireless debugging instructions.

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Choose the next step by the phone’s capabilities

  • Touch is the only failure: check whether the exact model supports USB OTG/host input, then try a mouse while watching the screen.
  • The display is unusable: verify external video-output support for the exact model. Samsung’s Android 12-or-later Galaxy workflow is one model-specific option, not a general Android guarantee.
  • The phone cannot be unlocked or prompts cannot be acknowledged: ADB authorization is unavailable through the documented process; consider repair or qualified recovery help rather than security-bypass claims.
  • Wireless debugging was already set up: use the existing paired configuration if it remains available; otherwise, the phone must be operated to enable and pair it.

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