How do I debug on a real Android device using Xamarin for Visual Studio?

Question

I've found a few links but they don't explain how this is done. I can debug using Xamarin Studio IDE but that IDE (no offense) is lame compared to Visual Studio 2012.
Using Visual Studio 2012, there appears to only be option to select an emulator to debug. So how do I get it to debug on my real device via USB (I already have USB Debugging = true)?

You have installed the USB driver @ the Android SDK? Your device should appear in the 'Target Android Device'-dropdown as soon as you plug-in your device. — bkardol, Aug 08 '14 at 07:09
I can confirm this, with a correct setup you should see your smartphone as a deployment option the moment you plug it in. — Frank, Aug 08 '14 at 07:20
if 'adb devices' shows your device it should be in VS. Try to restart VS after connecting your devices. — xakpc, Aug 08 '14 at 09:46
Im sorry guys but I have installed the usb driver but still, the only option in the drop down in visual studio is for the emulator. If I use Xamarim Studio the phone is recognized though. — jay_t55, Aug 08 '14 at 10:31
Sometimes I have to open xamarin studio, select manage devices from the select device drop down and press refresh before my usb connected device will show in the visual studio list of devices. Also just a thought but the device needs usb debugging option set in developer options. — ClintL, Nov 14 '14 at 15:40
When connecting the device there's a message to select the way you wanna connect the device multimedia and PTP you should select PTP otherwise the device will not show in visual studio — Crazy Alien, Jul 31 '17 at 12:51
@CrazyAlien That solve it for me MTP wasnt allowing to connect — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Nov 15 '17 at 15:24

Shane Dixon · Answer 1 · 2018-03-20T04:47:43.467

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I'm using Visual Studio 2017 with a OnePlus.

In order get debugging working I did the following.

Go to Settings > About phone and tap Build Number repeatedly until developer mode is enabled
Go into Settings > Developer options and turn USB debugging ON
Connect you phone to your PC via USB. I had to plug my phone into my PC's onboard USB port, not my USB hub as this did not work
You should be prompted to trust your PC (trust it)
Fire up Visual Studio
Open your solution and your device should now be available.

Side note: I have noticed that sometimes it also depends on the cable you use. If you still have no luck, perhaps try another cable.

edited Mar 20 '18 at 04:47

answered Aug 02 '16 at 11:33

Shane Dixon

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Thanks, this helped. My Lenovo Tab 3 only shows up in Visual Studio 2015 when I connect it by USB directly to the computer. If I try through a hub it doesn't allow USB debugging. – Jade Ohlhauser Oct 23 '16 at 17:11
Yes you are spot on, VS must be closed and make sure the phone is signed in to accept the prompt (item4). tks – 27k1 Nov 11 '17 at 16:55
If you left your phone connected and visual studio open during this process, make sure to close VS then unplug and plug again the USB. – Nicke Manarin Apr 03 '19 at 16:57
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I did all of this and my mobile device still doesn't show up in my debugger list despite showing in the Android Device Monitor. However, when I run Debug, my phone will still be used as the default device. I encourage everyone to press F5 before troubleshooting. – Victor Stoddard Mar 31 '20 at 22:34
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I hadn't debugged my Xamarin project for over a year and forgot how to do it. Following your steps made it easy!!!!!! – Ron Dec 11 '22 at 18:45
Worked perfectly with VS 2022. – Lukas Feb 15 '23 at 15:21

score 15 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 22 '15 at 18:41

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You will get a confirmation prompt on the android device to ask if the PC is allowed to connect. It's easy to miss this if your device's screen has gone to sleep.

answered Jan 22 '15 at 18:41

Greg M.

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I should try plug in and out multiple times to get that notification. Don't know why. But it helps in my case. – nguyenhoai890 May 25 '16 at 05:27

Mark · Answer 3 · 2016-04-23T15:38:35.517

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I'm using Visual Studio 2015 with Xamarin and the only way I can get it to recognize my Galaxy S4 is to turn USB debugging off and back on again while VS is running. This is required everytime I wish to use this phone with VS. I've never had to do this with Android Studio.

edited Apr 23 '16 at 15:38

answered Apr 20 '16 at 10:27

Mark

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As Greg M. mentioned: __You will get a confirmation prompt on the android device to ask if the PC is allowed to connect always__. I confirmed this and my device is always recognized. – Gabor May 14 '16 at 01:51
Same solution works for me with VS 2015, LG Nexus 4 and Windows 7. – Hassan Rahman Aug 04 '16 at 15:36
YOU ARE AWESOME GUYS !! It works for me after i install my Sony Xperia Z driver on my machine http://developer.sonymobile.com/downloads/drivers/ . I would like to note that the prompt will not show on your device unless you install the driver. – Yasser Sinjab Oct 02 '16 at 09:55

score 8 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 05 '15 at 08:32

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1 - Original drivers (Example: http://androidmtk.com/download-samsung-usb-drivers)

2 - Enable Developer's Options on mobile (for example on android 4.2.2, perform 7 click on "mobile info" - "serial number")

3 - USB debugging on your Mobile Developer's Options too

answered Nov 05 '15 at 08:32

Morcilla de Arroz

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Original drivers was the final solution. – frakon Jan 26 '18 at 19:56

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 09 '17 at 09:09

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I also experienced a similar issue, I solved it by installing the USB drivers specific to my phone model.

answered Mar 09 '17 at 09:09

Sibusiso Mashita

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In my case (Samsung Galaxy S6), drivers were inapplicable (couldn't be installed) and everything works without them. – Dmitri Nesteruk Jan 06 '18 at 12:26

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 20 '15 at 21:36

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tl;dr Install drivers if you haven't already done so.

As mentioned in one of the comments above I installed the device specific USB driver (LG drivers are here) and it solved my problem. It now works perfectly.

I was under the (incorrect!) impression I wouldn't need to install the drivers to enable debugging. I could already connect my device to my laptop to view files etc. and hence thought drivers were unnecessary.

answered Oct 20 '15 at 21:36

kaybee99

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I randomly got prompted on an LG tablet after 20 minutes of struggling with this and it said "Install drivers on PC?" I said sure and it finally worked. – jazzmasterkc Jul 03 '19 at 19:33

score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Nov 29 '17 at 02:04

Once everything else is ready, the device could appear under the "Not compatible devices" list. This could be happening if the "Minimun Android version" set in your project is higher than android version you have in your device. If so, you can set the "Minimun Android version" in the android manifest

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 06 '17 at 06:08

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I set my Mobile connection in USB charging mode and enable USB debugging. It may ask for driver installation, after driver installation disconnect the mobile and reconnect it, now this should show in Visual studio device list for debugging.

answered Apr 06 '17 at 06:08

Prateek Gupta

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score 0 · Answer 9 · answered May 26 '23 at 22:31

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To enable debugging from Visual Studio for Mac 17 to a 2023 Samsung Galaxy A14 I needed to disable Fast Assembly Deployment in the Android project Build settings and switch the device USB from debugging to Transferring files / Android Auto.

answered May 26 '23 at 22:31

David Clarke

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score -2 · Answer 10 · edited Jan 12 '18 at 08:48

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It looks like Xamarin Android Player is not installed. You will need to install this.

edited Jan 12 '18 at 08:48

Bugs

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answered Jan 10 '18 at 19:13

Rethina Mahesh

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How do I debug on a real Android device using Xamarin for Visual Studio?

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