How to enable developer options on Android
Developer options is a hidden menu with advanced settings for app developers. Anyone can turn it on, but most of the settings are best left alone. If your phone feels slow, try these fixes first; a factory reset or checking RAM and storage is more useful than any hidden setting.
Turn it on
- Open Settings and look for About phone (on some phones System > About phone).
- Find Build number. On some phones it is under Software information.
- Tap Build number seven times. You may be asked for your PIN or pattern.
- A message says you are now a developer.
Find the menu
Look in Settings > System > Developer options, or search for “developer” in Settings. On some phones it is under Additional settings.
What is inside
- USB debugging, needed to connect some tools to a computer. See how to enable USB debugging.
- Animation scale settings that can make a phone feel faster or slower.
- Show taps and pointer location, useful when recording a screen.
- Stay awake while charging.
Settings to avoid
Do not change things you do not understand. Options such as background process limit, GPU rendering or OEM unlocking can make apps crash, or weaken the phone’s security.
Turn it off
Open Developer options and switch the toggle at the top to Off. This turns the extra settings off. On many phones the menu stays visible but inactive, which is harmless.
If it will not appear
Some work or school phones, and some brands, block the menu. If you are tapping the right item and nothing happens, check whether a device-management app is installed.
