Developer Mode · Settings guide
How to turn Developer Mode on or off on an iPhone
Sources checked · how we check
Developer Mode shows up on an iPhone only once the device has been paired to a Mac, which is why it appears unprompted for some people and cannot be found by others. Apple warns that turning it on reduces the security of the device.
01 · Before you start
Check these first
- Apple says Developer Mode only appears in Settings if you initiate pairing or if you previously paired the device to a Mac.
- Apple says Developer Mode protects people from inadvertently installing potentially harmful software, and reduces attack vectors exposed by developer-only functionality.
- Turning it on needs a restart and your device passcode. Apple's own alert warns that Developer Mode reduces the security of your device.
02 · Change the setting
Step by step, by device
Turn Developer Mode off
Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode off → restart
- Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
- Turn off the Developer Mode switch.
- Restart the device.
Apple says that after you turn off Developer Mode, you can't run apps from Xcode on the device until you turn on Developer Mode again.
Turn Developer Mode on
Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode → Restart → Enable
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Turn on the Developer Mode switch, under Security.
- An alert appears warning that Developer Mode reduces the security of your device. Tap Restart.
- After the restart, another alert asks you to confirm. Swipe up, tap Enable, and enter your device passcode.
Apple Watch and Apple TV
watchOS: Turn On → Trust · tvOS: no Developer Mode
- In watchOS, tap Turn On. Tap Trust in the next dialog, if it appears, and enter your device passcode to confirm.
- In tvOS there is no Developer Mode. Apple says to pair the Apple TV using Device Hub, and Developer Settings appear on the device.
If the setting doesn't change
If Developer Mode isn't under Settings → Privacy & Security at all, the device has not been paired. Apple says Developer Mode only appears in Settings if you initiate pairing or if you previously paired the device to a Mac, so there is nothing to switch off on an iPhone that has never been connected to one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn off Developer Mode on my iPhone?
Open Settings → Privacy & Security, turn off the Developer Mode switch, and restart the device. Apple says you then can't run apps from Xcode on it until you turn Developer Mode on again.
Why is there no Developer Mode on my iPhone?
Apple says Developer Mode only appears in Settings if you initiate pairing or if you previously paired the device to a Mac. On an iPhone that has never been paired, the switch isn't there.
Is it safe to leave Developer Mode on?
Apple's own alert warns that Developer Mode reduces the security of your device, and Apple says the feature exists to protect people from inadvertently installing potentially harmful software. If you aren't building apps on the device, there is no reason to leave it on.
Does an Apple TV have Developer Mode?
No. Apple says that in tvOS there's no Developer Mode: you pair the Apple TV using Device Hub, and Developer Settings appear on the device.