How to enable ADB debugging on an Android TV
· 3 min read
Debugging ships switched off and the menu holding it is hidden. This is not deliberate obstruction: Android hides it on every device so nobody turns it on by accident.
Step 1: make developer options appear#
The path varies slightly by version, but it is always a variation on this:
- Open Settings on your television.
- Go to Device preferences (or About, depending on the model).
- Find Build or Build number.
- Press OK on that line seven times in a row.
From the third tap you usually get a "you are 4 steps away from being a developer" notice. On the seventh you will see "You are now a developer".
Step 2: switch on network debugging#
Go back and look for Developer options, which now appears, normally at the bottom of Device preferences.
Inside, enable:
- Network debugging, if your model has it. This is the one you want: it lets you connect over Wi-Fi with no cable at all.
- USB debugging, if that is the only one on offer.
Many models show the IP address and port on screen the moment you enable it,
something like 192.168.1.45:5555. Write it down; you will need it shortly.
If developer options are nowhere to be found#
Common causes, in order of likelihood:
| Situation | What is going on |
|---|---|
| The menu is named differently | Try Settings → System → About |
| No "Build" line | Look for Android version and tap that seven times |
| No "network debugging" | Your model only does USB; that works too |
| Nothing at all | It may not be an Android TV |
That last point is more common than you would think. A Samsung runs Tizen and an LG runs webOS: neither is Android, neither exposes ADB, and there is nothing this site can document for either. If that is your case, we cover it in why Samsung and LG are out of scope.
An honest word about warranty#
Enabling debugging is an option in the official menu and modifies nothing. That said, some manufacturers mention developer options in their support terms. It is not a clear-cut area, and we would rather tell you than have you find out: we go into it in does using ADB void my warranty?.
Step 3: ready#
With debugging on and the IP written down, you can connect the computer. That is next.