Connect an Android phone

Tether Studio drives an Android phone through USB debugging, the same switch Android developers use. Nothing is installed on the phone.

1. Turn on Developer options

Open Settings → About phone and tap Build number seven times. Enter your PIN if asked. You'll see "You are now a developer".

Where Build number lives depends on the brand:

• Samsung: Settings → About phone → Software information → Build number.
• Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO: Settings → About phone → tap OS version (MIUI or HyperOS) seven times.
• Google Pixel: Settings → About phone → Build number.
• Other brands: search Settings for "Build number".

2. Turn on USB debugging

Open Settings → Developer options (on Samsung it's at the bottom of Settings; on Xiaomi it's under Additional settings) and turn on USB debugging.

Also turn on Disable adb authorization timeout if your phone has it. Without it, Android forgets the computer after about a week and the phone goes Offline until you allow it again.

On Xiaomi phones, also turn on USB debugging (Security settings). Without it, Tether Studio can watch the screen but taps and typing are blocked.

3. Plug in and tap Allow

Connect the phone to the computer running the agent with a cable that carries data (some charging cables don't). On the phone, tap Allow and tick Always allow from this computer.

The phone appears under Phones. While it waits for you it shows Tap Allow on the phone; once it's ready it shows Ready.

Wi-Fi

Tether Studio works best over USB. Wi-Fi works for advanced setups (the agent only connects to network phones you allow with TETHER_ADB_CONNECT_ALLOW); guided Wi-Fi pairing isn't available yet.

Tips

• On Windows, if the phone doesn't show up at all, it may need its maker's USB driver. In PowerShell, run & "$HOME\.tether\bin\tether-agent.exe" doctor to see where to get it.
• Keep the phone unlocked, or set a long screen timeout, while flows run. Tether Studio can't read a locked screen.
• Use phones and accounts that are yours. See Privacy and guardrails.