Enable Wireless Debugging on Xiaomi, vivo, OPPO, Samsung & More

On every Android brand, enabling Wireless debugging takes two steps: unlock Developer options by tapping the build or version number seven times, then open Developer options › Wireless debugging and switch it on while the phone is on Wi-Fi. What differs is where each brand hides those two entries. The table below has the path for each brand (English menus), followed by notes per brand. You need Android 11 or newer.

Quick tip for any phone: type wireless debugging into the search box at the top of Settings. Once Developer options is unlocked, search usually finds it.

All brands at a glance

Inside Developer options, Wireless debugging sits in the Debugging section, a little below USB debugging. Labels move between versions, so if yours differ, search Settings or look under the nearest "System" or "Additional settings" entry.

Turning it on (same on every brand)

1. Connect the phone to Wi-Fi. Mobile data alone is not enough, but another phone's hotspot works.
2. Open Developer options.
3. Tap the Wireless debugging switch (tap the text, not only the switch, to open its page).
4. Allow debugging on this network. Tick Always allow on this network for your home Wi-Fi.

You now see IP address & Port, Pair device with QR code and Pair device with pairing code. Wireless debugging usually turns off after a restart or when you change networks, see Wireless debugging keeps turning off.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

• On HyperOS, tap OS version. On MIUI, tap MIUI version. Some models show these under My device or All specs first. Tapping Build number does nothing on Xiaomi.
• Developer options lives in Additional settings.
• For anything beyond basic shell (sending taps and key presses, changing app permissions), also switch on USB debugging (Security settings). It asks for a Mi account and often a SIM card. Details: Xiaomi USB debugging security settings.
• Aggressive battery saving can cut the Wi-Fi connection while the screen is off. Turn off battery restrictions for the app you use.

Samsung Galaxy

• Build number is one level deeper than on most phones, inside Software information.
• Developer options appears at the very end of the main Settings list.
• Samsung may ask for your PIN or pattern before enabling it.
• Galaxy phones have no fastboot mode. They use Download mode instead.

vivo and iQOO

• Tap Software version seven times, not "Kernel version" or the security patch date. The exact place depends on the version: on many phones it is About phone, on others System management › About phone › Version info.
• Developer options then shows up under System management. On older Funtouch OS versions it is under More settings.
• vivo's battery management is strict, so set the app you use for adb to unrestricted background use.

OPPO, realme and OnePlus

These three share much of the same base, so the paths are close:

• About device › Version › Build number, seven taps. You may need to enter the lock screen PIN.
• Developer options is under Additional settings, renamed System settings on newer versions.
• On older OnePlus phones (OxygenOS 11 and 12), it is Settings › System › Developer options.

Huawei and Honor

• EMUI and HarmonyOS 2, 3 and 4 are Android-based: About phone › Build number, then System & updates › Developer options. Huawei's own support pages note that Wireless debugging is not available on some Huawei phones and tablets. On those, only USB debugging works.
• HarmonyOS NEXT (HarmonyOS 5 and later on the newest Huawei phones) is not Android. It has no adb and no Android Wireless debugging. Its developer tool is a different one (hdc). ADB apps and ADB Kit cannot connect to it.
• Honor MagicOS is Android: About phone › Build number, then System & updates › Developer options, with Wireless debugging inside.

Tecno and Infinix

• On recent models (Android 11 and newer), the version info is under My phone in Settings. Tap Build number seven times until "Developer mode activated" or similar appears.
• Developer options is then under Settings › System.
• Both brands' power saving can stop background apps quickly, so allow the app you use to run in the background.

Google Pixel and near-stock phones

• Settings › About phone › Build number, then Settings › System › Developer options.
• Pixel phones get Android updates first, so the menus here are what other brands are based on.

Use it with ADB Kit (no PC)

Once Wireless debugging is on, ADB Kit connects the phone to itself. The Home tab shows five steps (Join Wi-Fi, Turn on Developer options, Turn on Wireless debugging, Pair with a code, Connect ADB Kit) and checks off the first three by itself, whatever the brand. For pairing, tap Start pairing, open Pair device with pairing code, and type the six digits into the notification that pops up. After that you get a terminal, app tools, restart into bootloader or recovery and more. The full walk-through: use ADB on Android without a PC.

Common problems

• Seven taps do nothing. You are tapping the wrong line. Xiaomi needs OS version or MIUI version, vivo needs Software version. Some phones ask for the lock screen PIN at the end.
• Wireless debugging is missing. The phone runs Android 10 or older, or it is one of the Huawei models without it. Check About phone › Android version.
• The switch is greyed out. Join a Wi-Fi network first. A work profile or a company-managed phone can also block it.
• Developer options disappeared after an update. Tap the version number seven times again.
• USB debugging instead? That is a different switch for cable use, see how to enable USB debugging.