Android Developer Options menu is a secret place that is hardly known to non-developers. Nevertheless, this journey into the advanced settings is a dive into the ocean, with features variously sprawled out that give a magnificent change in performance, customization, and efficiency for regular users. In this article, we discuss 11 most practical Android developer options that can be the real superheroes of your smartphone, making it more competent, rapid, and secure.
🔧 How to Enable Android Developer Options
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap About phone.
- Locate Build number.
- Tap it 7 times until prompted for your device PIN.
- Developer Options is now enabled and can be found under System or by searching Developer options in Settings.
🚀 1. Reduce Animation Scale to Boost Performance
Turn down or totally get rid of UI animations, and your device will run like a rocket. This is especially true for life support of consigned older or budget Android phone.
Steps:
- Open Developer Options.
- Scroll to Drawing section.
- Set the following:
- Window Animation Scale → 0.5x
- Transition Animation Scale → 0.5x
- Animator Duration Scale → 0.5x or
Tip: Disabling all animations can result in less battery consumption and faster app launches, but the UI may feel less smooth.
🌍 2. Use Mock Location Apps for GPS Spoofing
Turn on mock locations to trick the device into thinking it is in another place—this can be privacy-protective, space for testing of location-based applications, or allowing you to watch content blocked in your area.
Steps:
- Get and install a reliable GPS spoofing app like Fake GPS Location.
- Access Developer Options.
- Tap Mock Location App → Pick your GPS app.
Note: Some applications may find out that the GPS is faked and impose some limits to the functionalities.
🎧 3. Set Bluetooth Audio Codec for High-Quality Sound
You can get the best Bluetooth sound quality by choosing the supported codec with the highest quality manually.
Steps:
- Open Android Developer Options → Networking section.
- Change:
- Bluetooth Audio Codec → LDAC (for high-quality audio)
- Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate → 96kHz or 192kHz
- Bits Per Sample → 24-bit
- Channel Mode → Stereo
Use Case: Ideal for audiophiles using wireless headphones.
🔄 4. Limit Background Processes to Conserve RAM and Battery
Restrict the number of applications that can operate in the background.
Steps:
- Go to Developer Options → Apps section.
- Tap Background Process Limit.
- Pick from:
- Standard Limit
- At Most 1–4 Processes
- No Background Processes
Tip: This is a great way to save power and memory on your phone, especially if you pair it with the Don’t Keep Activities setting which forcefully terminates apps right after you leave them.
🔊 5. Disable/Enable Absolute Volume for Bluetooth Control
Volume control settings of your phone can be adjusted independently from your Bluetooth device to have a more precise audio level.
Steps:
- Open Developer Options.
- Toggle Disable Absolute Volume.
Note: Not all devices support this setting.
🔐 6. Disable Lock Screen for Seamless Access
Turn off the lock screen if you feel that privacy is not a big issue, so that you can quickly access your device.
Steps:
- Open Developer Options.
- Enable Turn Off Lock Screen.
Caution: Use only in trusted environments. This is because it exposes your information if the device is lost or stolen.
📵 7. Sensors Off Toggle: Quick Privacy Control
Turn off all the sensors including camera, microphone, gyroscope, etc., by a quick settings tile.
Steps:
- Open Android Developer Options.
- Enable Sensors Off in Quick Settings Developer Tiles.
- Swipe down from status bar → tap Sensors Off tile.
👆 8. Show Touches While Recording Screen
Show a visual tap on the screen, which is like making tutorials or an app demo.
Steps:
- Go to Android Developer Options → Input section.
- Enable Show Taps.
📶 9. Keep Mobile Data Active While on Wi-Fi
Make internet switching more convenient by keeping mobile data active in addition to Wi-Fi.
Steps:
- Open Android Developer Options → Networking section.
- Enable Mobile Data Always Active.
Tip: Helps to avoid disconnection in case of weak or intermittent Wi-Fi.
🌑 10. Force Dark Mode on Unsupported Apps
Turn off dark mode on apps, by applying a dark theme system-wide.
Steps:
- Open Android Developer Options.
- Enable Override Force-Dark
Use Case: Perfect for nighttime browsing and reducing eye strain.
🔌 11. Set Default USB Configuration
Eliminate the transfer notification when connecting your mobile device to a computer.
Steps:
- Launch Developer Options.
- Choose Default USB Configuration.
- Select a suitable option: File TransferPTP (Photo Transfer)MIDIEthernet via USBCharging Only
- File Transfer
- PTP (Photo Transfer)
- MIDI
- USB Tethering
- Charging Only
💬 FAQs on Useful Android Developer Options
Q1: Will enabling multiple settings affect performance?
A: Absolutely. Battery life and thermal performance may be negatively affected if intensive features (like 4x MSAA + Always-On Mobile Data) are combined.
Q2: Do these settings void the warranty?
A: Nope. Developer options are features that come pre-installed and don’t void the warranty.
Q3: How to reset all Developer Options?
A: Navigate to Settings > System > Reset Options → Reset app preferences.
Q4: Can I disable Developer Options later?
A: Of course. Just switch off or perform a system reset to get rid of Developer Options.
Q5: Best Developer Settings for Gaming?
- A: Force 4x MSAA: Enhances graphics in OpenGL ES 2.0 apps.
- Disable HW overlays: Forces GPU rendering.
- Limit background processes: Frees up memory for games.
- Bluetooth Codec: Use APTX for lower latency.
📈 Final Thoughts
Android Developer Options offer immense power for the average user. From optimizing system performance to enhancing privacy and usability, these 11 features allow you to tailor your phone’s behavior far beyond what standard settings allow. Do Leverage these hidden settings to unlock the full potential of your Android smartphone. Whether you’re a power user, casual gamer, or privacy advocate—there’s something here for everyone.