If you've ever needed to connect a phone to Android Studio, run adb, or just make your phone feel faster, you've run into Developer Options. It's a hidden settings menu that Android ships on every phone but keeps out of sight so casual users don't break things by accident.
Unlocking it takes about ten seconds. Knowing which switches are worth touching takes a little longer, so this guide covers both.
The universal method: tap Build number seven times
On almost every Android phone the trick is the same:
- Open Settings.
- Go to About phone.
- Find Build number and tap it seven times in a row.
- Enter your PIN, pattern or password when asked.
- You'll see a toast message: "You are now a developer!"
The menu then appears in Settings, usually under System or at the bottom of the main list.
The only thing that changes between brands is where Build number lives.
Where to find Build number on popular brands
| Brand / skin | Path to tap |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel (stock Android) | Settings → About phone → Build number |
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings → About phone → Software information → Build number |
| Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO (HyperOS, MIUI) | Settings → About phone → OS version (tap this instead of Build number) |
| OnePlus (OxygenOS) | Settings → About device → Version → Build number |
| OPPO / Realme (ColorOS, Realme UI) | Settings → About device → Version → Build number |
| Motorola | Settings → About phone → Build number |
| vivo (Funtouch OS / OriginOS) | Settings → About phone → Software version |
If you can't find it, type "build number" into the search bar at the top of Settings. That works on nearly every modern skin.
Where the menu ends up
- Pixel: Settings → System → Developer options
- Samsung: Settings → Developer options (at the very bottom)
- Xiaomi: Settings → Additional settings → Developer options
- OnePlus / OPPO: Settings → System settings (or Additional settings) → Developer options
Settings actually worth changing
There are dozens of toggles in here. Most are for app developers debugging very specific problems. These are the ones that matter to most people:
USB debugging
Lets your computer talk to the phone over adb. You need it to install test builds from Android Studio, sideload apps from the command line, or use tools like scrcpy to mirror your screen.
# after enabling USB debugging and plugging in the phone
adb devices
# accept the RSA fingerprint prompt on the phone, then:
adb install my-app-debug.apk
Turn it off again when you're done: a phone with USB debugging on is easier to tamper with if someone gets physical access to it.
Wireless debugging (Android 11 and later)
The same as USB debugging, but over Wi-Fi. Pair using the QR code or pairing code shown in the menu, then run adb connect <ip>:<port>. It's very handy when your cable is flaky.
Animation scales
Set Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale to 0.5x. Menus and apps open noticeably faster, without making the phone any quicker in reality. It's the most popular tweak in the whole menu and completely harmless.
Stay awake
Keeps the screen on while charging. Useful when you're testing an app on a plugged-in device and don't want it locking every 30 seconds.
Don't keep activities
Destroys each activity as soon as you leave it. Developers use it to check that their app restores its state correctly. Don't leave it on for daily use; apps will constantly reload.
Show taps / Pointer location
Draws a dot wherever you touch the screen. Great for recording tutorials or screen captures.
Settings to leave alone
- OEM unlocking. Only needed if you plan to unlock the bootloader. Turning it on weakens anti-theft protection on some phones.
- Background process limit. Aggressive limits break notifications and multitasking.
- Force GPU rendering / Force 4x MSAA. Can make some games look nicer, but usually just drains battery.
- Anything you don't understand. If an option has a scary-sounding name, it probably deserves the respect.
How to hide Developer Options again
At the top of the Developer options screen there's a main toggle. Switch it off and most of the settings reset. To remove the menu from Settings entirely, go to Settings → Apps → Settings → Storage → Clear storage. Your personal settings are safe; it just forgets that you unlocked the developer menu. (The exact path varies a little by brand.)
A quick visual guide
9to5Google goes through the developer settings they recommend turning on:
Testing on real devices
If you build Android apps, it helps to test on phones with very different screen sizes, refresh rates and amounts of RAM, not just the emulator. I keep a spec comparison handy on infozme when I'm picking test devices, because it's quick to check which phones cover low-end, mid-range and flagship hardware.
FAQ
Will enabling Developer Options void my warranty?
No. It's an official Android feature. Unlocking the bootloader is a different story on some brands.
Does it slow down the phone or drain the battery?
Not by itself. Only specific toggles, like forcing GPU rendering, affect performance.
Can I break my phone in here?
It's hard to do permanent damage, but some settings can make the phone behave strangely. If something goes wrong, turning the main Developer options toggle off resets most of it.
Cover photo by Andrey Matveev on Pexels. This article was written with the help of AI.
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