Error "No target device found"** in Android Studio is one of the most common problems that developers face when trying to run an application on a physical device. The message appears when the development environment cannot detect the connected smartphone or tablet, despite the fact that the gadget is detected by the system as an external drive. The reasons may lie in incorrect settings USB debugging, lack of drivers, ports blocked by antivirus, or even cable hardware faults.

In this article we will analyze all possible causes of the error and offer proven solutions - from the basic (checking the cable and enabling developer mode) to advanced (manually installing drivers ADB and working with fastboot). We will pay special attention to the nuances for devices of different brands - Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and others, where manufacturers make their own adjustments to the standard settings Android.

If you are just starting to develop under Android or have encountered a problem after an update Android Studio until the latest version, these instructions will help save hours of searching for a solution. Important: some methods require administrator rights on the PC and may affect the device warranty (for example, unlocking OEM Unlock).

1. Check the basic conditions: cable, port and USB mode

Before diving into settings ADB or drivers, make sure that the problem does not lie in basic things. According to statistics, 30% of cases errors No target device found are associated with physical malfunctions or incorrect choice of connection mode.

Start from checking:

  • 🔌 USB cable: use the original cable from the device or a certified one USB Type-C with support for data transfer (not all charging cables are suitable for debugging). Try a different cable - often cheap analogues do not transmit data.
  • 🖥️ USB port: connect the device to the rear port of the system unit. (if you have a PC) - the front ports may not provide stable power. On laptops, try a different connector.
  • 📱 Connection mode: when connecting to a PC, select File transfer (MTP) or Photo transfer (PTP)in the device notification shade. data-i="60">blocks debugging. Charging only blocks debugging.

If after these manipulations Android Studio still does not see the device, proceed to the next step. Please note: some devices (for example, Xiaomi or OnePlus) require additional confirmation of trust in the computer when connecting for the first time - check the notification on the smartphone screen.

📊 What device are you using for development?
Samsung
Xiaomi
Google Pixel
Huawei
Another brand

2. Enabling developer mode and USB debugging

Without activation Developer mode and USB debugging Android Studio physically will not be able to interact with the device. The activation procedure is the same for most devices, but there are nuances for some brands.

General instructions:

  1. Open Settings → About phone.
  2. Find the item Build number and tap on it 7 times until a notification appears You have become a developer!.
  3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section For developers.
  4. Activate the switch USB debugging.
  5. Connect the device to the PC and confirm trust in the computer in the dialog box that appears.

For devices Xiaomi additional may need to:

  • 🔓 Unlock OEM Unlock in the developer settings (necessary for some models).
  • 🔄 Enable Installation by USB (if you plan to install the APK via ADB).

On Samsung after debugging is activated, sometimes the device needs to be rebooted. If the item For developers is not in the menu, check if it is hidden in the additional settings (for example, Additional functions).

☑️ Preparing the device for debugging

Done: 0 / 5

3. Installing and updating ADB drivers

Drivers ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a “bridge” between your PC and the device. If they are missing, outdated or conflict with other drivers, Android Studio the gadget will not be able to detect. Let's consider two solutions:

Method 1: Automatic installation via SDK Manager

The simplest method is to update the drivers via Android Studio:

  1. Open SDK Manager (gear icon in the top panel).
  2. Go to the tab SDK Tools.
  3. Tick the checkbox Google USB Driver and click Apply.
  4. After installation, restart the PC and Android Studio.

Method 2: Manual installation for a specific device

If the automatic method did not work, download the drivers from the manufacturer's official website:

Brand Link to drivers Features
Samsung Samsung USB Driver for Mobile Phones Requires installation Samsung Smart Switch for some models
Xiaomi Mi PC Suite Includes drivers for fastboot and ADB
Google Pixel Google USB Driver (included in SDK) Pixel 6+ may require a separate package
Huawei HiSuite Drivers are installed automatically when connected

After installing the drivers, check their operation through Device Manager Windows:

  1. Connect the device and open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
  2. Find the section Portable devices or Other devices.
  3. If the device is displayed as ADB Interface or with the model name, the driver is installed correctly.
💡

If an exclamation mark is displayed in Device Manager, right-click on the device → "Update driver" → "Browse for driver drivers on this computer" and specify the path to the folder %ANDROID_SDK%\extras\google\usb_driver.

4. Problems with ADB: restarting the server and checking the connection

Sometimes ADB server freezes or does not correctly detect connected devices. This can happen after an update Android Studio, an OS failure or a conflict with other apps (for example, Genymotion or BlueStacks).

To restart ADB:

  1. Open a terminal in Android Studio (View → Tool Windows → Terminal).
  2. Run the commands in order: 
    adb kill-server

    adb start-server
    

    adb devices

  3. If a line with the serial number of your device appears in the response to adb devices the problem is solved.

If the device is still not displayed, check:

  • 🔍 Port conflict: another process may be occupying port 5037 (default for ADB). Use command netstat -ano | findstr 5037 to CMDto find and terminate the conflicting process.
  • 🛡️ Antivirus blocking: temporary disable Windows Defender or third-party antivirus (for example, Kaspersky or Avast often blocked ADB).
What to do if adb devices shows unauthorized?

This means that the device has not verified trust in the computer. Disconnect the cable, restart the device, connect again and check the debugging permission notification on the smartphone screen. If the notification does not appear, try another USB port or cable.

5. Problems with specific brands: Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei data-i="171">Manufacturers often modify

Manufacturers often modify Androidby adding their own security layers or changing the operating logic ADBLet's consider typical problems for popular brands.

Samsung: conflict with KNOX and Smart Switch

Devices Samsung s KNOX can block debugging if:

  • 🔒 The function is enabled KNOX protection (disable it in the security settings).
  • 📱 Installed Samsung Smart Switch —it may conflict with ADB. Try uninstalling the app or updating to the latest version.

Xiaomi: additional security settings

On Xiaomi (especially on MIUI 12+) you need:

  • 🔓 Enable OEM Unlock in the developer settings.
  • 🔄 Activate Installation via USB (to install APK via ADB).
  • 📡 Disable MIUI optimization for Android Studio (in the battery settings).

Huawei: problems with HiSuite and EMUI

On devices Huawei s EMUI:

  • 🔄 Update HiSuite to the latest version - it automatically installs the necessary drivers.
  • 🔒 In the developer settings, enable Disable USB authentication (if available).
💡

For devices with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), you may need to manually install drivers via Zadig or similar tools.

6. Alternative connection methods: Wi-Fi ADB and emulators

If the problem is with the USB connection. is not resolved, consider alternative debugging methods. They are less stable, but can help out in a critical situation.

Debugging via Wi-Fi (Wireless ADB)

To do this:

  1. Connect the device via USB and do: 
    adb tcpip 5555
  2. Disconnect cable and connect using the command: 
    adb connect IP_devices:5555

    (you can find out the IP in the Wi-Fi settings on the device).

⚠️ Attention: this method only works on one local network. After rebooting the device, you will need to repeat the command tcpip.

Using emulators

If the physical device is not available, configure the emulator:

  • 🖥️ V Android Studio open AVD Manager (Tools → Device Manager).
  • 📱 Create a new virtual device with the desired version Android.
  • ⚡ Launch the emulator - it will automatically be detected as the target device.

Emulators Google Play (with support services Google) are suitable for testing most applications, but may be slower than real devices.

7. Checking for hardware faults and extreme measures

If none of the methods worked, the problem may be hardware or system. Let's consider extreme cases:

  • 🔌 Faulty USB port on the device or PC: try connecting another device to this port or the gadget under test to another computer.
  • 🔄 Firmware failure: if the device is not detected even as an external drive, the bootloader may be damaged. In this case, flashing through fastboot or a service center will help.
  • 🛡️ OS-level lock: some corporate devices (for example, with Android Enterprise) may block debugging due to security policy.

⚠️ Attention: If you suspect a hardware failure (for example, a USB-C port), do not attempt to disassemble the device yourself - this may void your warranty. Contact an authorized service center.

In rare cases, resetting the device to factory settings helps (Settings → System → Reset), but this will delete all data. Before resetting, make a backup copy!

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the "No target device found" error

My device is detected as "unauthorized" in ADB. What to do?

This means that the device has not confirmed its trust in your computer. Disconnect the cable, restart the device, connect again and check the notification on the smartphone screen asking for debugging permission. If the notification does not appear:

  1. Remove the device from Device Manager (Windows).
  2. Run adb kill-server and adb start-server.
  3. Reconnect the device.

For Xiaomi Additionally, check whether the option Installation via USB is enabled in the developer settings.

Android Studio does not see the device after the update. What's wrong?

Update Android Studio or Android SDK may reset settings ADB or conflict with current drivers. Try:

  • Update Google USB Driver via SDK Manager.
  • Reinstall the drivers for your device manually (see section 3).
  • Roll back the version Android Studio to the previous one (if the problem appeared immediately after update).
Is it possible to use Bluetooth for debugging?

Technically yes, but this is an unstable and slow method. To do this:

  1. Pair the device with the PC via Bluetooth.
  2. Enable Debugging via Bluetooth in the developer settings.
  3. Connect via adb connect BT-address.

⚠️ Attention: this method is only suitable for logs and simple commands. Installing an APK or working with Android Profiler will be extremely slow.

The device is detected in Windows, but not in Android Studio. Why?

This is a typical situation when drivers for MTP (file transfer) are installed, but there are no drivers for ADB. Solutions:

  • Install Google USB Driver via SDK Manager.
  • Update the driver manually via Device Manager, specifying the folder %ANDROID_SDK%\extras\google\usb_driver.
  • Check if your antivirus is blocking adb.exe (add it to the exceptions).
How to check if ADB is running on my computer?

Run the command in the terminal:

adb version

If you see the version ADB (for example, 1.0.41), the server is running. To check connected devices, enter:

adb devices

If the list is empty, but the device is connected, the problem is in the drivers or debugging settings.