How to enable developer mode on an Android phone or tablet

Gonzalo Cachón
A flower that represents Android with the text "Enable Developer Mode" beneath it.

A step by step guide on enabling developer mode on an Android device.

Step One: Open Settings

A screenshot of the Settings screen on an Android phone.

On the Android device, open the Settings App.

Step Two: Find the Bundle Number

A screenshot of a Samsung Galaxy Android "Software Information" settings screen. We have highlighted the Build Number. Please note that the location of the build number varies with each Android device, and you should consult the guide provided at the link below to learn how to find yours.

The Build Number for your phone varies depending on what Android you use.

At the time of writing this article, the options were:

  • Google Pixel Settings > About phone > Build number
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 and later Settings > About phone > Software information > Build number
  • LG G6 and later Settings > About phone > Software info > Build number
  • HTC U11 and later Settings > About > Software information > More > Build number or Settings > System > About phone > Software information > More > Build number
  • OnePlus 5T and later Settings > About phone > Build number

If none of these work at the time of reading the article, please consult the developer Android guide below.

Step Three: Tap the Build Number 7 times

A screenshot of an Android showing the message that appears as you tap the build number.

Tap the build number 7 times. As you do so, a message similar to the one above will appear.

Once you are done, it should inform you that developer mode is on.

A screenshot of an Android phone showing the "Developer Mode has been turned on" message that appears after you tap the build number 7 times.

Step Four: Enable USB Debugging

A screenshot of an Android on the Developer Options screen showing our recommended settings. The highlighted items are: Developer Mode ON, USB Debugging ON and Stay Awake ON.

Follow the steps below to learn how to enable USB debugging and modify other developer mode settings.

A | Find Developer Options

A screenshot of a Samsung Galaxy Android showing where the developer options are.

The developer options are found in varying locations depending on your Android phone.

If they are not found in Settings > Developer Options or Settings > System > Developer Options, try one of the options below.

  • Android 9 (API level 28) and higher: Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > USB debugging
  • Android 8.0.0 (API level 26) and Android 8.1.0 (API level 27): Settings > System > Developer Options > USB debugging
  • Android 7.1 (API level 25) and lower: Settings > Developer Options > USB debugging

If none of these work, consult Androids developer guide linked below.

B | Enable USB Debugging

A screenshot of an Android on the Developer Options screen showing our recommended settings. The highlighted items are: Developer Mode ON, USB Debugging ON and Stay Awake ON.

Enable USB Debugging.

We also strongly recommend enabling Stay Awake.

Any Questions?

We are actively looking for feedback on how to improve this resource. Please send us a note to inquiries@delasign.com with any thoughts or feedback you may have.
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