What Is Developer Option In Android Phone? How To Enable & Use It

Developer Options is a hidden settings menu inside every Android phone. It gives you access to special features that are normally invisible. Google hides this menu because it was made for app developers, as noted in the official Android documentation. But anyone can use it.

I’ve been using Android phones for over 10 years. And I’ve used Developer Options on every phone I’ve owned. In this guide, I’ll explain what it is, what it does, and how to use it safely. Everything is in simple words that anyone can understand.

Table of Contents

What Does Developer Options Do?

Developer Options lets you change how your Android phone works behind the scenes. You can speed up animations, connect your phone to a computer for testing, limit background apps, and much more.

Here are the main things you can do with Developer Options:

Make your phone feel faster by changing animation speeds
Connect your phone to a computer using USB Debugging
Control how many apps run in the background
Set what happens when you plug in a USB cable
Keep your screen on while charging
Fake your GPS location for testing apps

Most people never need these features. But if you want more control over your phone, Developer Options is worth knowing about.

How Do I Enable Developer Options on Android?

To enable Developer Options, go to Settings, tap About Phone, and tap Build Number 7 times. That’s it. The secret menu will appear in your Settings.

Here are the full steps:

Open the Settings app on your Android phone
Scroll down and tap About Phone (on some phones, look under System first)
Find Build Number (on Samsung, tap Software Information first)
Tap Build Number 7 times quickly
Enter your PIN or password if asked
You’ll see a message: “You are now a developer!”

After this, go back to Settings. You’ll find Developer Options in the menu. On most phones, it’s under Settings then System then Developer Options. On Samsung phones, it’s at the bottom of the main Settings list.

Is Developer Options Safe to Use?

Yes, enabling Developer Options is completely safe. Just turning it on doesn’t harm your phone. The menu itself is harmless.

But here’s what matters: changing settings without understanding them can cause problems. Some settings can make apps crash, drain your battery, or make your phone act strange.

Which Developer Options Settings Are Safe?

These settings are safe for anyone to change:

Animation scales (Window, Transition, Animator) – Makes phone feel faster
Stay Awake – Keeps screen on while charging
Default USB Configuration – Stops annoying pop-ups when connecting USB
Show Refresh Rate – Shows your screen’s Hz on display

Which Developer Options Settings Are Risky?

Be careful with these settings:

USB Debugging – Only use with computers you trust. A stranger’s computer could access your data.
OEM Unlocking – This can void your warranty. Only for rooting or custom ROMs.
Mock Locations – Some apps (banking, games) might ban you or stop working.
Force GPU Rendering – Can crash some older apps.

My advice? If you don’t know what a setting does, leave it alone. That’s what I do, and I’ve never had problems.

Can Developer Options Speed Up My Phone?

Yes. Changing the animation scale settings can make your phone feel much faster. This is one of the most popular tricks among Android users.

Your phone plays small animations every time you open an app, close an app, or switch screens. These animations look smooth, but they add delay. By reducing or turning off these animations, your phone responds quicker.

How to Speed Up Your Android Phone Using Developer Options

Open Developer Options
Find these three settings:
- Window animation scale
- Transition animation scale
- Animator duration scale
Change each one from 1x to 0.5x (or turn them off completely)

I tested this on my Samsung Galaxy and my older Pixel phone. Both felt noticeably snappier after the change. This trick works on any Android phone running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher.

What is USB Debugging in Developer Options?

USB Debugging is a setting that lets your phone communicate with a computer using a USB cable. It’s used by app developers to test and debug apps. But regular users find it helpful too.

When Would I Need USB Debugging?

USB Debugging is useful when:

Your phone screen is broken and you need to get your photos and files
You want to install apps that aren’t on the Google Play Store
You’re testing an app you’re building
You want to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands

Is USB Debugging Safe?

USB Debugging is safe only if you connect to computers you trust. When USB Debugging is on, any computer you connect to can access your phone’s data. So never enable it when using public charging stations or strangers’ computers.

How Do I Turn Off Developer Options?

To turn off Developer Options, open Developer Options and toggle the switch at the top to Off. The menu will become inactive.

Go to Settings
Tap System (if available)
Tap Developer Options
Toggle the switch at the top to Off

The Developer Options menu will stay visible in your Settings, but all the settings inside will be disabled. If you want to use them again, just toggle it back on.

Will Developer Options Void My Warranty?

No. Simply enabling Developer Options does not void your warranty. Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and other Android manufacturers confirm this.

However, if you use the OEM Unlocking option to root your phone or install a custom operating system, that can void your warranty. So as long as you stay away from OEM Unlocking, your warranty is safe.

Which Developer Options Settings Should I Try?

If you’re a regular user (not a developer), here are the best Developer Options settings to try:

Setting Name	What It Does	Why It Helps
Animation Scale (all three)	Controls speed of screen animations	Set to 0.5x for a faster feel
Stay Awake	Keeps screen on while charging	Helpful for recipes, reading, or using phone as clock
Default USB Configuration	Sets default action when USB is plugged in	No more pop-ups asking what to do
Show Refresh Rate	Displays screen refresh rate	See if your phone runs at 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz

What Happens If I Mess Up a Setting?

If a Developer Options setting causes problems, you can reset everything to default. Your phone won’t be permanently broken.

Open Developer Options
Scroll to the bottom
Look for “Reset to default” or similar option
Tap it to restore all settings to their original values

If you can’t find that option, you can also turn off Developer Options entirely. All settings will go back to default when you turn it off.

Do I Need Developer Options as a Normal User?

No, you don’t need Developer Options for normal phone use. Your Android phone works perfectly without it. But knowing about it gives you options.

I recommend trying it if:

You want your phone to feel faster
You connect your phone to a computer often
You like customizing how your phone behaves
You’re curious about what’s possible

If none of that interests you, it’s totally fine to ignore Developer Options. It will stay hidden, and your phone will work exactly the same.

Summary: Developer Options Key Points

What it is: A hidden settings menu in Android for advanced controls
How to enable: Settings > About Phone > Tap Build Number 7 times
Is it safe: Yes, enabling it is safe. Changing unknown settings is risky.
Best use: Speed up animations (set all three to 0.5x)
Avoid: OEM Unlocking unless you know exactly what you’re doing

Developer Options is like a backstage pass to your Android phone. Most people don’t need it. But for those who like to customize and tinker, it’s a helpful tool to know about.

Have fun with it!

Harris K.

Harris loves digging into software to find what others miss. He has a real passion for sharing Tricks and Hidden Features that simplify your digital life. He writes these guides to help you get more done with less effort.