“Developer Mode” in Windows 10 is a special operating system configuration designed for software developers. It simplifies the creation, testing, and installation of applications that do not require publication in the Microsoft Store. In this guide, we will tell you how to activate the developer mode in different ways.
What is the purpose of “Developer Mode”?
First of all, the “Developer Mode” will be useful for programmers and software creators. It allows you to install an application bypassing the official Microsoft Store, which simplifies software debugging.
It also opens up access to development tools, such as PowerShell, which combines the capabilities of a command line, a scripting language, and a systems management environment.
In addition, Developer Mode allows you to activate additional features such as the Windows Subsystem for Linux, which allows you to run full-fledged Linux distributions without using a virtual machine.
How to Activate Developer Mode in Windows 10
Via the “Options” menu
The easiest way. To activate the “Developer Mode”, follow these steps:
- Press Win + I to open the Settings window or go to the Start menu;
- Select the Update & Security section.
- At the bottom left, find the “For developers” tab;
- In the window that appears, select “Developer mode”.
- Confirm activation when the pop-up window asks “Use developer features”;
- Now an additional parameter “Developer mode” will appear in the settings. Activate it by checking the box opposite.
Via Local Group Policy Editor
The second way to activate Developer Mode in Windows 10 is through the Local Group Policy Editor.
Procedure:
- Press Win + R to open the Run window;
- Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
- Now you need to select the section “App Pachage Deployment”. To do this, follow the path:
- Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components.
- Activation is performed by clicking on the parameter with the subsequent function “Enable”;
- Click Apply for both options and restart your computer.
- Next you need to activate the parameters:
- “Allow development of Windows Store apps and installing them from an integrated development environment”
- “Allow all trusted apps to install.”
Important: This method is suitable for Windows 10 Corporate and Professional versions.
Via “Registry Editor”
This method is suitable for all versions of Windows 10.
Procedure:
- Press Win + R to open the Run window;
- Type regedit and press Enter;
- Confirm the request to make changes.
In the registry editor, go to the following path:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock
If the AppModelUnlock section is missing, you need to create it manually. To do this:
- Right click on CurrentVersion;
- Select “Create a new key” and name it “AppModelUnlock”.
In the AppModelUnlock section, create three parameters and name them:
- DWORD (32-bit value);
- AllowAllTrustedApps;
- AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense.
- Right-click on the right side of the window and select New → Parameter Name;
- Double click on it and set the value to “1”.
The new settings will take effect after closing the registry and restarting the PC.
How to disable “Developer Mode”
Disabling via “Options”
To disable Developer Mode in Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Open Settings via Start or by pressing Win + I;
- Go to the Update & Security section.
- Select “For developers” on the left side of the window;
- Uncheck the box next to “Developer mode” and select one of the two remaining modes.
Through the Group Policy Editor
To enable Local Group Policy Editor, follow these steps:
- Press Win + R to open the Run window;
- Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Next, go to the “Deploy Application Package” section (p.2.2) and find two parameters:
- “Allow development of Windows Store apps and installing them from an integrated development environment”
- “Allow all trusted apps to install.”
The parameters are deactivated by clicking on the “Disable” parameter;
Via “Registry Editor”
You need to open the Registry Editor and go to the folder:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock
- Now delete the AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense parameter or change its value to “0”;
- Restart your computer.