Let me walk you through how I personally found this feature, what it can do, and how you can explore it without messing anything up.
So, What is Developer Options?
Think of it this way—Android is like a machine, and Developer Options is where the engineer tools are kept. It's not meant for everyday use, which is why it’s hidden. But once you enable it, you can speed up animations, monitor performance, connect with a computer using USB debugging, and tweak how your phone behaves.
I first stumbled on it when I was trying to make my phone feel faster. Turns out, with a few tweaks inside Developer Options, it felt like I was using a brand-new phone.
Why Is It Hidden?
There’s a reason it doesn’t show up by default. Some of the options inside can affect how your phone runs. It's not dangerous—but if you start switching things randomly without knowing what they do, your phone might act a little strange. That’s why it’s hidden: to protect users from unintentional changes.
But don’t worry, I’ll show you exactly how to turn it on safely.
How to Unlock Developer Options
The steps are super simple. I’ve done this on several phones over the years, and it’s always more or less the same:
Step 1: Open Your Settings
Swipe down your notification bar, tap the gear icon—or find Settings in your app drawer.
Step 2: Scroll to ‘About Phone’
This is usually at the very bottom of your settings list. On some phones, you might have to go into System > About phone.
Step 3: Tap on ‘Build Number’ (Not Just Once…)
Now this is the magic trick. In the “About Phone” section, look for Build Number. Tap it seven times. Yep, seven.
After a few taps, your phone will start counting: “You’re 4 steps away from being a developer…”
Once you reach the seventh tap, boom—you’ll see: “You are now a developer!”
Step 4: Go Back and Look for Developer Options
Now go back one level in Settings, and scroll again. You should see a new section: Developer Options—usually right above or below the “About Phone” or “System” settings.
What Can You Actually Do With It?
Here’s the part that really got me excited. Once you’re inside, there are tons of switches and options. It can look a little overwhelming at first, but here are a few useful ones that I personally use:
● USB Debugging
This is helpful when connecting your phone to your computer. If you're into using ADB commands or transferring files beyond the usual drag-and-drop, this is the setting you need.
● Turn Down Animations for a Snappier
Feel
This is one of my favorite tricks. You can lower or completely turn off animation speeds to make your phone feel lightning fast.
Window animation scale
Transition animation scale
Animator duration scale
Set each to 0.5x or Off and notice the difference immediately.
● Keep Screen On While Charging
Ever tried reading something while charging, only for the screen to keep turning off? This solves that.
● Limit Background Apps
If your phone slows down when too many apps are open, this setting can restrict how many apps run in the background. I set mine to 3 sometimes when I want extra battery life.
● Show Taps or Pointer Location
I used this once while making a screen recording—it shows where you’re touching the screen. Pretty neat if you're creating tutorials or demos.
● Force Dark Mode (Optional)
Some apps don’t support dark mode, but this setting tries to force it on all apps. It’s not perfect, but it works in most cases.
A Few Things to Be Careful About
Look—this menu gives you power, but like any tool, you have to know what to touch and what not to. There are a few options like OEM unlocking or Running services that you should avoid unless you know what they do.
A good rule of thumb? If you don’t understand it—don’t change it. Or at least, take a screenshot first so you can undo it later.
Can You Turn It Off Again?
Yep. If you ever want to hide the Developer Options again:
Go into the Developer Options menu
Use the toggle at the top to turn it off
That’s it. While the menu might still show up, the settings inside will stay inactive until you turn it back on.
Why I Still Use It (And You Might Too)
Even though I’m not an app developer, I keep Developer Options on because:
My phone feels faster with animations off
USB debugging helps me when connecting to PC tools
I like having more control over what's running in the background
It’s not just for “techy” people. If you’re someone who likes to understand what your phone can really do, you’ll enjoy having this feature available.
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