Developer options in Android 10: how to enable and configure the hidden menu

Developer mode in Android 10 is a hidden toolbar that provides access to dozens of additional system settings. It is intended for testing applications, debugging code and finely optimizing the operation of a smartphone, but is also useful for ordinary users. For example, here you can speed up interface animation, enable USB debugging for working with ADB, or force activation GPU acceleration for games. However, Google hides this section by default - you need to unlock it first.

In this article you will find step-by-step guide for enabling developer options on Android 10 (including shells MIUI, One UI, ColorOS and others), we’ll look at the basic settings that will be useful to the average user, and warn about potential risks. We’ll also answer frequently asked questions: what to do if the menu doesn’t appear, how to reset settings to factory settings, and why some options may be missing on your device.

Why Developer Options are hidden by default

Google intentionally hides this section from regular users—and for good reason. Most of the options here are intended for professional developerstesters and engineers. Incorrectly changing some parameters can:

• 🔄 Improve system stability —for example, disabling application signature verification will make the device vulnerable to malware.
• 🐢 Degrade performance —forced activation 4x MSAA in games will drain the battery within hour.
• 🔌 Break compatibility - changing settings USB configurations can lead to problems connecting to the PC.
• 📵 Disable the sensors — disabling the proximity sensor will make calls impossible.

However, some settings are useful for the average user. For example, accelerating animation makes the interface more responsive, and enabling the "Keep the screen on" mode convenient when reading long articles. The main thing is to know what exactly you are changing.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (especially with custom firmware), activating developer options can lead to Warranty reset. Before changing critical settings (for example, OEM Unlock), check the conditions with your brand's service center.

Step-by-step guide: how to enable developer options on Android 10

The activation process is the same for all smartphones on Android 10, regardless of the manufacturer. However, the path to the menu About phone may vary slightly depending on the shell. We will consider a universal method and separately indicate the features for Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and other brands.

Act according to the algorithm:

1. Open the application Settings (gear icon in the menu or on the desktop).

2. Scroll down and select item About phone (on some devices it may be called About device or Phone information).

3. Find the line Build number (sometimes it is hidden in the submenu Software information or MIUI version for Xiaomi).

4. Tap on Build number 7 times in a row. After the first 3-4 clicks, a pop-up notification will appear with a countdown: "4 taps left to become developer".

5. On the 7th press, the system will ask for PIN codea pattern or password (if installed). Enter it.

6. Done! Now in the main menu Settings a new section will appear - Developer options (usually at the very bottom of the list).

If the section does not appear, check:

• 🔍 Did you click correctly on Build number, and not on Android version.
• 📱 Are you using launcher from a third party manufacturer (for example Nova Launcher), which can hide system settings.
• 🔄 Reboot the device - sometimes the section appears only after a reboot.

Features of inclusion on different shells (MIUI, One UI, EMUI, etc.)

Manufacturers often modify the standard Android, and the path to Build number may differ. instructions for popular brands.

If your brand is not in the table, try use search by settings (magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen) and enter the query "build number". The system will tell you the exact path.

Top 5 useful settings for the average user

Not all options in the developer options are needed by the average smartphone owner. We have selected 5 of the most useful functionsthat do not require technical knowledge, but can significantly improve the experience of using the device.

1. Accelerating interface animation

By default Android uses smooth animations when opening applications, moving between screens and minimizing windows. This looks nice, but slows down the work. To make the interface instant:

1. Open Developer Options.
2. Find options:
   • Window animation scale → set 0.5x or Off
   • Transition animation scale → 0.5x
   • Animator duration scale → 0.5x

Forced disabling of animations (the "Off" value) can lead to bugs in some applications (for example, in Instagram or TikTok). The optimal option is 0.5x.

2. Enabling the "Keep the screen on" mode

Useful for reading long texts or viewing recipes in the kitchen. It is activated like this:

1. In Developer options find Turn off screen when charging.
2. Select Never (or Only when connected to USB).

3. Forced inclusion of GPU acceleration

Improves performance in games and heavy applications (for example, Genshin Impact or Lightroom), but drains the battery faster. To enable:

1. Activate Force GPU use.
2. Enable Debugging GPU overflow (shows green bars when graphics are overloaded).

4. Unlocking OEM

Necessary if you plan to install custom firmware or receive root access. Enabled with one checkmark:

Unlock OEM → switch to position On

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (Samsung, LG), this option may reset Knox (safety flag), which will prevent you from using Samsung Pay or Secure Folder.

5. USB debugging

Needed to connect to a PC via ADB, flashing or restoring data To enable:

1. Activate USB debugging.
2. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm trust in the device.

What to do if the developer options are not enabled

Sometimes the section does not appear even after 7 clicks on Build number. Here are possible reasons and solutions:

• 🔒 Access blocked — on some corporate devices, the administrator can disable this feature via MDM (for example, Android Enterprise).
• 📱 Outdated firmware — update Android to the latest version in Settings → System → Software update.
• 🛠️ Custom firmware —some unofficial assemblies (for example, LineageOS) may hide this section. Check the forums for your firmware.
• 🔄 System failure —reboot the device and try again.

If all else fails, try an alternative method via ADB:

1. Connect the phone to a PC with the drivers installed ADB.
2. Open the command line and enter:

   adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1

3. Reboot the device.

After this, the section should appear. If not, the problem may be in damaged system files, and The only way out is to reset to factory settings.

Dangerous settings: what you should not touch unless necessary

Some parameters can disturb the operation of the smartphone or even disable it. red flags - do not change them if you do not understand the consequences.

If you accidentally changed one of these settings and encountered problems, try:

1. Return the default value (usually there is a button Reset in the upper right corner).
2. Reboot the device.
3. As a last resort, reset the settings to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset).

How to disable developer options

If you no longer need this section, you can hide it:

1. Open Options. developer.
2. In the upper right corner, click on the switch (it should turn gray).
3. Confirm disabling.

The section will disappear from the menu Settings, but all the parameters you changed savedTo. reset them to factory settings, before disabling, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset settings.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (Xiaomi, Realme) disabling developer options may require re-activation after 7 taps on Build number the next time you turn on.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about developer options in Android 10

adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings