How to Enable Device Discovery in Windows 11 Developer Mode

Before You Start: What You Need

Before you change anything, check two things: your account type and the state of Developer Mode. Both apply to Home and Pro editions of Windows 11.

• Administrator Access: You need to be signed in as an administrator to change these settings. To check, open Settings, go to Accounts, then Your info. If your name shows the word Administrator under it, you are fine. If it does not, sign in with an administrator account or ask the person who manages the PC to make the change.
• Developer Mode: Device Discovery is tied to Developer Mode. If Developer Mode is off, the Device Discovery option will be missing or greyed out, and you will not be able to turn it on. Work PCs managed by an organization may also lock this option through policy. If it stays greyed out even with Developer Mode on, that is the likely reason, and your IT department will need to change it.

If you haven’t turned on Developer Mode yet, don’t worry. We cover that briefly in the steps below.

Option 1Turning Device Discovery On or Off Through Settings

The simplest way to turn Device Discovery on or off is the Windows Settings ⚙️ app. This method does not require editing the registry.

Step 1Open Windows Settings

Open Settings ⚙️ in one of two ways:

1. Press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Or click the Start button, then click the Settings gear icon.

The Settings window should now be open, with a list of categories on the left.

Step 2Go to Developer Settings

Next, find the page that holds the developer options.

1. In the menu on the left side of the Settings window, click System.
2. On the right side, scroll down and click Advanced.

On older builds of Windows 11, this page is named For developers instead of Advanced. If you do not see Advanced, look for that name in the same System list.

Step 3Manage Device Discovery

You're in the right spot. This page lists the developer features, including Developer Mode. If Developer Mode is switched off, turn it on first, then confirm any prompt that appears. After that, look for Device discovery.

1. To turn Device Discovery On, click the switch next to Device discovery so it reads On.
2. To turn Device Discovery Off, click the same switch so it reads Off.

The switch label should change right away to show the new state. To undo the change, click the switch again.

Step 4Close Settings

When you finish, close the Settings window. Your choice is saved automatically, so there is no Save or Apply button to look for.

Option 2Turning Device Discovery On or Off Using the Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)

The Registry is a database that stores low-level system and app settings. A wrong edit can cause system instability, so work carefully. Consider exporting the key first (File › Export in Registry Editor) so you have a backup you can double-click to restore.

Why Use the Registry Editor?

Manual editing gives you direct control, and it is useful when instructions call for it. It is also handy when you need to set the same option on several computers. Registry Editor is available in both Home and Pro editions.

Step 1Open the Registry Editor

You must run Registry Editor as an administrator so you have permission to change system settings.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Type regedit into the search bar.
3. Right-click Registry Editor in the search results and choose Run as administrator.
4. If a User Account Control (UAC) window appears, click Yes to allow the app to make changes.

Registry Editor should now open, with a folder tree in the left pane.

Step 2Go to the Correct Registry Location

The setting lives in the debugregsvc service key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. This is the path that holds the developer tools settings you need to adjust.

1. In the Registry Editor window, look at the left pane.
2. Expand the folders one by one to reach this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel

Alternatively, copy the path and paste it into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window, then press Enter. This is faster and avoids clicking through the wrong folder. When you arrive, the right pane should list the values stored in that key, including DebugState.

Step 3Change the 'DebugState' Value

You turn the feature on or off by editing a single registry value, DebugState. A value of 1 turns it on, and a value of 0 turns it off.

To turn Device Discovery ON:

1. Double-click DebugState in the right pane.
2. In the Value data box, type 1.
3. Make sure Base is set to Hexadecimal.
4. Click OK.

To turn Device Discovery OFF:

1. Double-click DebugState in the right pane.
2. In the Value data box, type 0.
3. Make sure Base is set to Hexadecimal.
4. Click OK.

After you click OK, the dialog closes and the new number appears in the Data column next to DebugState. If you cannot find DebugState in the key, use the Settings method above instead of creating values by hand.

Explanation of Values:

To check your work, read the Data column for the value. A value of 1 for AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense indicates that Device Discovery is currently enabled.

A value of 0 for AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense signifies that Device Discovery is disabled.

Step 4Close the Registry Editor

After making your adjustments, close the Registry Editor. There is no save step, because registry changes are written as soon as you click OK.

Step 5Restart Your PC (Recommended)

This makes sure all system components pick up the new setting. Save your open work first. If you ever need to reverse the change, set the value back and restart again.

Summary

Device Discovery in Windows 11 lets other devices on your network find your PC, which is useful for app development. For most users, keeping it off is safer. You can switch it on or off in Windows Settings under System › Advanced, or edit the registry for more control. Either way, you need an administrator account and Developer Mode turned on.