Setup: Developer options & mock location
How to enable Developer options on Android (every brand)
To enable Developer options on Android, open Settings › About phone and tap Build number seven times, entering your PIN if asked. On Samsung it's under Software information; on Xiaomi HyperOS tap OS version; on vivo tap Software version. Developer options then appears in Settings › System or Additional settings.
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Step by step: Enable Developer options on Android
- Open SettingsOpen the Settings app on your phone.
- Open About phoneTap About phone (About device on OPPO, realme and OnePlus). On Samsung, then tap Software information.
- Tap Build number 7 timesTap Build number seven times. On Xiaomi HyperOS tap OS version; on vivo tap Software version. A countdown appears after a few taps.
- Enter your PINEnter your lock screen PIN, pattern or password when asked. You'll see a message that you are now a developer.
- Open Developer optionsGo back to Settings. Developer options is under System (Pixel, Motorola), Additional settings (Xiaomi, OPPO, realme, OnePlus), System management (vivo) or at the bottom of Settings (Samsung).
Where to tap on each brand
The recipe is the same on every phone: find the build or version number, tap it seven times, confirm your PIN. Only the names and places change.
| Brand | Tap 7 times | Where Developer options appears |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy (One UI) | Settings › About phone › Software information › Build number | Settings › Developer options (last item) |
| Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO (HyperOS) | Settings › About phone › OS version (older MIUI: MIUI version) | Settings › Additional settings › Developer options |
| Google Pixel, stock Android | Settings › About phone › Build number | Settings › System › Developer options |
| OPPO, realme, OnePlus | Settings › About device › Version › Build number | Settings › Additional settings (or System settings) › Developer options |
| vivo | Settings › About phone › Software version | Settings › System management (newer: System) › Developer options |
| Motorola | Settings › About phone › Build number | Settings › System (some models: System › Advanced) › Developer options |
Can't find it? Use Settings search
If your phone uses different wording, use the search bar at the top of Settings. Search for build number; if that finds nothing, try version. After the seven taps, search developer and Settings takes you straight to Developer options.
If you're asked for a password you don't remember, it's your lock screen PIN, not your Google account password.
What Developer options is (and isn't)
Developer options is a settings menu Android keeps hidden by default. It's meant for app developers and testers and includes tools like USB debugging, animation scale and Select mock location app. Turning it on doesn't root the phone and doesn't change any setting by itself — what matters is what you change inside it, so change only what you understand.
Next step: choose a mock location app
Most people turn on Developer options to pick a mock location app, which is how Android lets one app set the location the phone reports — for testing your own apps, preparing demos or exploring a place before a trip. See Select mock location app.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to turn on Developer options?
Yes. Turning it on only reveals a settings menu; it doesn't root your phone or change anything by itself. Leave toggles you don't understand alone. Some banking apps may warn while it's on, and you can turn it off afterwards.
How do I turn Developer options off?
Open Developer options and switch off the toggle at the top. On most phones the menu disappears or turns grey. On a few phones you need Settings › Apps › Settings › Storage › Clear storage.
I tapped 7 times and nothing happened. Why?
You probably tapped the wrong line: tap Build number (or OS version / Software version), not Android version. Some phones only count the taps after you enter your PIN, so tap again once it's accepted.
Does enabling Developer options void the warranty?
No. Developer options is a standard Android feature built into every phone. Enabling it doesn't void the warranty.
Where is Developer options on Xiaomi?
On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones with HyperOS it's in Settings › Additional settings › Developer options, not on the main Settings list.
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