Developer Mode (debug mode)

The developer mode (or debug mode) unlocks access to extra and advanced tools in Odoo. There are several ways to activate the developer mode: through the settings, the browser extension, through the command palette or the URL.

Activate through the Settings

The debug mode can be activated in the Odoo database settings. Go to Settings ‣ General Settings ‣ Developer Tools and click on Activate the developer mode. At least one application needs to be installed for the Developer Tools section to appear in the Settings module.

Overview of the debug options under settings in Odoo.

Note

Activate the developer mode (with assets) is used by developers; Activate the developer mode (with tests assets) is used by developers and testers.

Once activated, the Deactivate the developer mode option becomes available.

Activate through the browser extension

Within a web browser, navigate to the browser settings and extensions and search for the Odoo Debug extension. Once the extension is installed, a new icon will be shown on the browser’s toolbar.

For the Odoo Debug extension, a single click enables a normal version of the mode, while a double click enables it with assets. To deactivate it, use a single click.

View of Odoo's debug icon in a Google Chrome toolbar.

Activate through the command palette

In Odoo, the command palette tool has a command to activate the debug mode. First, open the command palette tool with the keyboard shortcut ctrl+k and then type debug. A command will show up to activate the debug mode.

Command palette with debug command.

Activate through the URL

The debug mode can also be activated by adding an extra query string to the database’s URL. In the URL, add ?debug=1 or ?debug=true after /web. To deactivate the debug mode, change the value to ?debug=0 instead.

Overview of a URL with the debug mode command added.

Tip

Additional modes are available for developers: ?debug=assets enables the assets mode, and ?debug=tests enables the tests mode.

Locate the developer mode tools

Once developer mode is activated, the developer mode tools can be accessed from the Open Developer Tools button, the bug icon located in the header of the Odoo database.

Overview of a console page and the debug icon being shown in Odoo.

This menu contains additional tools that are useful to understand or edit technical data, such as the views or actions of a page. On a page that has filters, actions, and view options, the developer mode tools contain some useful menu items such as:

  • Edit Action

  • Manage Filters

  • Edit the current view (e.g. Kanban, List, Graph, etc.)

  • See the Fields View Get