diff --git a/electrum/logging.py b/electrum/logging.py
index 1d3bbb79f..23427b54d 100644
--- a/electrum/logging.py
+++ b/electrum/logging.py
@@ -232,10 +232,13 @@ def configure_logging(config):
     verbosity_shortcuts = config.get('verbosity_shortcuts')
     _configure_verbosity(verbosity=verbosity, verbosity_shortcuts=verbosity_shortcuts)
 
+    log_to_file = config.get('log_to_file', False)
     is_android = 'ANDROID_DATA' in os.environ
-    if is_android or not config.get('log_to_file', False):
-        pass  # disable file logging
-    else:
+    if is_android:
+        from jnius import autoclass
+        build_config = autoclass("org.electrum.electrum.BuildConfig")
+        log_to_file |= bool(build_config.DEBUG)
+    if log_to_file:
         log_directory = pathlib.Path(config.path) / "logs"
         _configure_file_logging(log_directory)
 
diff --git a/run_electrum b/run_electrum
index bb6ff8d43..7102725fb 100755
--- a/run_electrum
+++ b/run_electrum
@@ -307,8 +307,10 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     # config is an object passed to the various constructors (wallet, interface, gui)
     if is_android:
+        from jnius import autoclass
+        build_config = autoclass("org.electrum.electrum.BuildConfig")
         config_options = {
-            'verbosity': '',
+            'verbosity': '*' if build_config.DEBUG else '',
             'cmd': 'gui',
             'gui': 'kivy',
         }