How to get developer options on Android

 

There’s a hidden set of developer options on Android devices that you can access if you know how. Whether you want to enable USB debugging, unlock your bootloader so you can root your Android phone, or change the animation draw speed to give your phone a slicker feel, this is where you can do that and a lot more. Whatever your reason for wanting to access the hidden options, you have to unlock them first. Our guide below gives you the basics on how to get to the developer options.

By default, the developer options in Android phones are hidden. This is because they’re designed for use by developers who want to test various functionalities and make changes that may impact the phone’s performance. It’s not smart to go tinkering with the developer options without a specific purpose and an understanding of what each option refers to. But now that you’ve been warned, here’s how you can get developer options on Android.

How to access developer options in Android

You can unlock the developer options on any Android smartphone or tablet by locating the build number in your Settings menu and tapping it multiple times. However, the exact location of the aforementioned build number may differ depending on your phone’s manufacturer. The following example uses an LG V40 ThinQ running Android 10.

• Go to Settings > System > About phone.
• Tap Software info > Build number.
• Tap Build number seven times. After the first few taps, you should see the steps counting down until you unlock the developer options. You may also have to tap in your PIN for verification. Once developer options are activated, you will see a message that reads, You are now a developer.
• Go back to the Settings pane, where you will now find Developer options as an entry.
• Tap it and toggle the switch on if it is not already, and from there, you can proceed to make adjustments to your phone.

Deactivating developer options from your Settings menu is a simple process if you decide you don’t want them accessible anymore. Navigate to Settings > Developer options and hit the off toggle. That’s all you need to do. After you do this, you won’t have access to Developer options from the Settings menu—but you can always get it back if you change your mind by following the above instructions.

You can also obtain other advanced settings with Android’s developer options. Developer mode is primarily for debugging apps or changing system behaviors. Developer options include debugging and functions such as networking, input, hardware-accelerated rendering, media, monitoring, and applications. Each of these categories includes several items that are adjustable to your desires.

Check out the official Android Developer website for more tips and a full menu of developer options. Remember that developer options might differ depending on what device you use. Normally, the range of choices relies on what type and model of device you have.