Unlock powerful hidden tools in Android 12 developer options

One of the first things you should do when you get your new Google Pixel 6 or 6 Pro is open the hidden “Developer options” menu. Don’t be put off by the word “developer” because this hidden Android 12 menu contains functionality that any Android user can use.

If you don’t have a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, you can still access the “Developer options” menu on any other Pixel model, as well as devices from other OEMs such as Samsung. If you haven’t updated your system or purchased a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, I’ll teach you how to accomplish it on Android 12. If you haven’t updated your system or purchased a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, the process is basically the same on older Android versions.

Enable developer options in Android 12

Open up your Settings app and tap “About phone” from the list. To get to this menu even faster, use the new search tool in Android 12 from your app library (swipe up on the home screen), search for “about,” and select “About phone” from the results.

After that, scroll down to “Build number.” This is the backdoor to revealing the “Developer options” menu. Simply tap “Build number” at least seven times in a row, then confirm you want to unlock the menu by entering your PIN. (The PIN interface is concealed in screenshots, as shown below.)

For a few moment, you should see “You are now a developer!” appear to let you know it worked. You’ve already unlocked the menu if it reads, “No need, you’re already a developer.”

Newly unlocked developer options

Return to your Settings app’s main menu, hit “System,” and then select “Developer options” from the bottom of the list. Unlike “About phone,” you can’t search for “developer” in your app library’s search bar to get there right away, but you can locate it in Settings’ search bar.

In “Developer options,” there are plenty of things to explore. While there are plenty of reasons to unlock “Developer options” on your Pixel in Android 12, some quick ones to note include keeping your screen awake while charging, starting the process for unlocking your bootloader, making software updates install themselves when your device restarts, and showing a dot on the screen for each tap you make.

USB debugging is another popular setting that lets you use ADB to talk to and issue commands to your Android device from your computer.

Reset the developer options

Let’s say you suspect that something you enabled in “Developer settings” is causing your Pixel to malfunction or produce unexpected results, but you have no idea what the issue is. In that situation, you may quickly restore the developer menu to its previous state.

To do so, open the menu and untick the “Developer options” checkbox at the top. Then, on the “Allow development settings” prompt, toggle it back on and tap “OK.” Everything you changed in the menu earlier will be reset to their settings on Android.

Hide the developer options

You can hide the “Developer options” menu if you no longer want to utilize it. Toggle off the “Developer options” switch at the top of the menu by opening it. You won’t be able to get back into the menu unless you repeat Step 1 above.
If you later re-enable “Developer options,” it will revert to its default settings, so any tools and preferences you specified before will have to be redone.