Description:
The one thing that makes Android distinct as an operating system for mobile smartphones and tablets is its being an Open Source platform that encourages developers to engage in various types of development activities. And the one feature without which the custom development would not have been so easier is the availability of the “Developer Options” that is found under Settings of all Android devices by default.
These developer options contain advanced
features that help any person with a developer’s bent of mind build, test,
debug, and package Android apps and mods. In simple terms, developer options
allow quick access to and Android device from a computer via ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
commands.
Features
of Developer Options
The
“Developer Options” feature is indispensable to Android developers, hackers and
enthusiasts as a means to quickly access and control their device from the PC.
Even if you are an average user and wish to root, install a ROM or mod on your
Android device, you must turn on USB Debugging mode on your phone or tablet.
And you’ll not be able to do it unless you enable Developer Options on your
device first.
Among
the most useful features that are found under Developer Options are
as follows:
- Enable debugging over
USB.
- Quickly capture bug
reports onto the device.
- Show CPU usage on
screen.
- Draw debugging
information on screen such as layout bounds, updates on GPU views and
hardware layers, and other information.
- Many other options to
simulate app stresses or enable debugging options.
The
“Developer Options” has always been visible by default in all previous
versions of Android. On
How to
Enable Developers Options on Android 4.2
In
fact, the developer options lie at the core of Android development and so they
cannot be removed as long as Android is an open source environment. The only
change Android 4.2 brings in connection to these useful options is that now
they are hidden by default and you will have to make it
available by doing some finger exercise.
- Open Settings>
About on your Android phone or tablet.
- If you have a Samsung Galaxy
S4, Note 8.0, Tab 3 or any other Galaxy device with Android
4.2, open Settings> More tab> About and tap
it.
- If you have Galaxy
Note 3 or any Galaxy device with Android 4.3, go to Galaxy Note 3 from Settings>
General> About and tap the Build version 7 times.
- Now scroll to Build
number and tap it 7 times.
- After tapping the
Build Number 7 times, you will see a message “You
are now a developer!” If you have a Galaxy S4 or any other
Samsung Galaxy device with Android 4.2, the message reads as
follows- “Developer mode has been enabled”.
- Return to the main
Settings menu and now you’ll be able to see Developer Options. Some times Developer option is in
- Tap on Developer
options and mark the box in front of USB Debugging to
enable it.
- To disable USB
Debugging mode later, you can uncheck the box before the option
- To enable Developer
Options, go to Settings>
Developer options and tap on the ON/OFF slider
on the top of the page.
Enable
USB Debugging on HTC One:
If you
own a HTC One or any other HTC phone with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, here is how
you can turn on the Developer Options on your device:
- Open Settings>
About> Software Information> More.
- Then tap “Build
number” seven times to enable Developer options. Finally you will
see “You are now a developer!” message on the screen.
- Go back to Settings
menu and now you’ll be able to see “Developer options” there.
- Tap it and turn
on USB Debugging from the menu on the next screen.
It is
not obvious why Google decided to hide the “Developer options” on the latest
version of Android. I guess they might have done it as a warning for noobs but
whatever the reason might be, you can easily turn on the Developer Options
and enable USB Debugging mode in a fun way using the above method.
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