Android Developer Options: How to Enable Them and Which Are Useful

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Android hides a menu called Developer options meant for app developers. Most of it isn't useful for regular users, but a few settings can make your phone feel faster or help troubleshoot problems.

How to enable Developer options

Go to Settings → About phone. On some phones, open Software information as well.
Find Build number (on Xiaomi phones, MIUI/HyperOS version).
Tap it seven times. Enter your PIN if asked.
You'll see "You are now a developer!"

The new menu appears in Settings → System → Developer options, or at the bottom of the main Settings list.

Useful: speed up animations

Scroll to the Drawing section and set these to 0.5x:

Window animation scale
Transition animation scale
Animator duration scale

Apps and menus open faster visually. Setting them to "Off" removes animations completely, though some people find that jarring.

Useful: Stay awake while charging

Stay awake keeps the screen on while charging, which helps when using the phone as a dashboard or following a recipe.

Useful: Running services

Running services shows which apps are using memory right now, helpful for spotting apps that run constantly.

USB debugging (for specific tasks only)

USB debugging lets a computer send commands to your phone. It's needed for some advanced tasks, but leave it off normally, since it can be a security risk if someone connects your phone to an untrusted computer.

Settings to leave alone

Background process limit: can break notifications and multitasking.
Don't keep activities: closes apps as soon as you leave them.
Force GPU / 4x MSAA: can drain battery.
Anything you don't understand.

How to turn Developer options off

At the top of the Developer options menu, switch the main toggle off. Your settings return to normal.

Safe to try: 0.5x animation scales. It's the one tweak most people notice. For more speed tips, see making a slow Android phone fast.

A few more settings worth knowing

Show taps and pointer location

Show taps displays a small circle wherever you touch the screen. It's useful when recording tutorials for family members, or when testing whether a touch screen registers taps correctly. Pointer location shows detailed touch data and can help identify dead zones on a damaged screen.

Default USB configuration

If you often connect your phone to a computer to transfer files, set Default USB configuration to File transfer, so you don't have to choose it every time.

Mobile data always active

This keeps mobile data ready when on Wi-Fi so switching is faster, but it uses a little extra battery. Most people should leave it on its default.

Bluetooth audio codec

Audio enthusiasts can view or change the Bluetooth codec (such as AAC or LDAC) used with headphones. Results depend on your headphones; if audio becomes unstable, return to the default.

Staying safe with Developer options

Change one setting at a time and note what you changed, so you can undo it.
Never enable OEM unlocking unless you intentionally plan to modify your phone's software; it weakens theft protection.
Be cautious of online guides promising "double battery" or "gaming boost" with dozens of Developer option changes; most have little effect and some cause problems.
If something goes wrong, turning Developer options off at the top of the menu resets most settings.

For genuine speed improvements, combine the animation tweak with the steps in our slow Android phone guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will enabling Developer options void my warranty?

No. It's a built-in Android feature and doesn't affect your warranty.

Do banking apps work with Developer options on?

Some banking apps refuse to run when Developer options or USB debugging are on. Turn them off if that happens.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.