Developer options gamers ask about, and which to leave alone

Most developer options do not make games run better, and a few can make them worse. The useful ones for gaming are mainly diagnostic: showing the refresh rate, showing touches, and choosing a Bluetooth audio codec. Settings like Force 4x MSAA, Disable HW overlays and Background process limit are best left at their defaults, because they usually add load or break how apps behave.

What are developer options?

Developer options is a hidden menu in Android meant for app developers to test and debug their apps. It contains dozens of switches that change how the system draws the screen, handles apps and talks to other devices. Because it is hidden, many people assume it holds secret performance settings. In practice, it holds testing tools.

How to turn developer options on

On almost every Android phone, it works the same way:

1. Open Settings and search for "Build number". It is usually inside "About phone", sometimes under "Software information".
2. Tap Build number seven times. You may need to enter your screen lock.
3. You will see a message that developer options are on. The menu usually appears under System, or you can search Settings for "Developer options".

You can switch the whole menu off again with the toggle at the top of the Developer options screen.

Developer options for gaming that are worth knowing

These settings are mostly about seeing what your phone is doing, rather than changing how fast it runs.

Show refresh rate

Some phones have an option to show the current screen refresh rate in a corner. It is a quick way to check whether a game is really running your screen at 90 Hz or 120 Hz. It shows the screen's rate, not the game's frame rate. Our guide on checking your phone's real refresh rate explains the difference.

Force peak refresh rate

On some phones, this keeps the screen at its highest refresh rate instead of letting it switch down to save power. It can make scrolling and menus feel smoother, but it uses more battery. It does not raise a game's frame rate; the game still decides how many frames it draws.

Show taps and Pointer location

These draw dots or lines where you touch the screen. They are handy for checking whether a part of your screen is not responding, or whether a screen protector is causing missed touches. Turn them off before you play, as they clutter the screen. Our post on touch response settings covers other touch checks.

Bluetooth audio codec

This lets you see, and sometimes choose, which codec your Bluetooth headphones use. Codecs are the formats used to compress audio over Bluetooth. Some are tuned for low delay, others for quality. Your headphones must support a codec for it to work. Our guide to Bluetooth headphones and audio delay explains which matters for games.

Mobile data always active

On many phones, this keeps mobile data ready even while you are on Wi-Fi, so the phone can switch faster if Wi-Fi drops. It is usually on by default. It uses a little more battery, but it can make the switch smoother when your Wi-Fi is weak.

Developer options to leave alone

These come up often in gaming tips, but they tend to add load, waste battery or make apps behave badly.

Animation scales

Window, transition and animator duration scales control how long system animations take. Setting them to 0.5x makes menus feel snappier. That is harmless, but it does not change how fast a game draws its frames. Turning animations off entirely can make some apps behave strangely.

Force 4x MSAA

This forces a type of anti-aliasing, which smooths jagged edges, in some apps that use older graphics methods. It adds work for the graphics chip, produces more heat and drains the battery. Many modern games handle anti-aliasing themselves or are not affected at all. Leave it off.

Disable HW overlays

This makes the graphics chip do all the screen drawing work instead of sharing it with dedicated display hardware. It usually increases load and power use. It is a debugging tool, not a gaming setting.

Background process limit

This limits how many apps can stay in the background. Lowering it can cause apps to restart constantly, delay notifications and make the game reload when you switch back to it. Leave it at the standard setting. Our post on closing background apps before gaming explains why Android's own memory management works better.

Don't keep activities

This closes every app screen as soon as you leave it. It is designed for testing, and it makes returning to a game unreliable. Leave it off.

Graphics driver settings

Some phones include options to choose a graphics driver for each app. These are for testing. Changing them can cause crashes or visual glitches.

A safe way to experiment

1. Change only one setting at a time.
2. Write down what you changed.
3. Test in the same game and mode.
4. If anything gets worse, change it back straight away.
5. If you are unsure what changed, switching Developer options off with the main toggle is a sensible reset point.

How CyberBoost helps

CyberBoost is a gaming HUD and game-mode app, and it does not change developer options. Its live HUD shows the display refresh rate alongside ping, CPU clock, RAM headroom and battery temperature, so you can check your screen's Hz without digging through developer settings. Its eight pre-game checks link straight to the everyday settings that matter more, such as battery saver and data saving.

Frequently asked questions

Do developer options increase FPS?

No. They are testing tools. A game's frame rate depends on its own settings, your phone's hardware and its temperature.

Is it safe to turn on developer options?

Turning the menu on is safe. Changing settings you do not understand can cause problems, so change one at a time and note it down.

Will developer options void my warranty?

Simply turning them on does not usually affect a warranty. They are a standard part of Android.

Should I turn on Force 4x MSAA for better graphics?

It is better to leave it off. It adds load and heat, and many modern games are not affected by it anyway.