Developer Options: Make The Most Out Of Your Android Smartphone

The developer options may have been designed for the pros but that doesn't mean the average user can not take advantage of it. This article contains device tips usually hidden in that section, which can help improve both the look and feel of your smartphone. These are our developer options tips and tricks. Enjoy!

How To Enable Developer Options

The first step toward developer options heaven is to actually enable them. To do this, go to Settings > About phone, then scroll to build number and tap it seven times in a row.

By doing so, you will be notified that you have become a developer (woo hoo). Now, return to the regular settings menu and scroll to the bottom. Just above About phone you will see Developer options.

1. Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

As many have often wondered about this Option since the days of first android, the answer is that the USB Debugging is just a mere gate opener for the ADB utility to access your phone. ADB is the most powerful tool when it comes to fixing your device or customizing it with Custom ROMs and Kernels and Scripts. If you are taking the experimental road of rooting and customization, never forget to leave USB debugging enabled, and OEM Unlocked will make it easier to unlock your boot loader.

2. Stay awake (so your display stays on while charging)

By enabling this option, your display will remain active whenever your device is charging. This, naturally, means your battery life is not threatened and if the display requires your frequent attention, it can be very useful. 

3. Limit background applications (for faster performance)

This setting lets you select the number of applications which remain running in the background. The limit caps at four apps, but you can choose to have no background apps running at all, if you wish.

With zero background processes, all of your applications will be terminated after use, which means whatever you're doing currently will receive Android's full attention and resources. This does mean, however, that switching apps will be slower.

4. Force MSAA 4x (for better gaming graphics)

Enabling 4x MSAA improves the quality of graphics in games and OpenGL ES 2.0 applications. This requires more processing power and consumes battery more quickly but if you're okay with that, say hello to smoother, less-jaggy graphics. Nice.

 5. Set the speed of the system animations (for a speed increase, kinda)

Okay, this trick doesn't actually speed up your device, but it's a great way to trick your brain into thinking your device became faster.

Disable all of the device animations so that there is no transition effect when doing certain tasks (such as swiping between homescreens). The outcome is a device which feels quicker and smoother. Try it.