How to Configure Developer Mode Options in Windows 11 System Settings

How to Open Developer Settings

The developer settings live on the For developers page of the Settings app. It holds the sideloading permission, File Explorer options, and remote access tools. The path below matches current Windows 11 builds.

On some older builds, such as early 22H2 releases, For developers sits directly under System and there is no Advanced entry. If you do not see Advanced, look for For developers in the System list instead.

1. Press the Win and the I key together to open Settings. The Settings⚙️ window opens.

   

2. Select System from the left menu, then select Advanced on the right.

   

   The page now lists further system options.
3. Click For developers in the list. The page opens with the Developer Mode toggle near the top, followed by the other developer sections.

Current Windows 11 builds also add newer options to this page. Depending on your version and installed updates, you may see settings for Terminal, Dev Drive (a storage volume tuned for developer workloads), Enable sudo (run a command as administrator from a normal terminal), and an End Task option that adds an end-task command to the taskbar right-click menu. If one is missing, check Windows Update first, because these options arrive with feature and cumulative updates.

Turning on Developer Mode

Developer Mode is the main switch on the For developers page. It lets you run unpackaged apps and install apps from outside the Microsoft Store. It also lets you create symbolic links without elevating, and it gives access to the other developer features. Windows may download a small developer package from Windows Update the first time you turn it on, so keep the PC online.

1. Open the For developers page in Settings.
2. Find the Developer Mode toggle at the top of the window.
3. Click the toggle to switch it from Off to On.

   

   A warning prompt appears.
4. Read the warning. It says Developer Mode lets you install apps from outside the Store, which can put your device and data at risk. Click Yes to confirm. The toggle now shows On.

To undo this, return to the same page and switch the toggle back to Off. A restart is not normally needed, but if an app still behaves as if the mode is on, sign out and back in.

Configuring File Explorer for Development

The File Explorer options on the For developers page expose hidden system files, full directory paths in the title bar, and file extensions. These views matter most when debugging code, since build tools and config files often live in hidden folders.

The exact wording of the labels varies slightly between Windows 11 builds. Some builds show toggles, others show check boxes. Use the matching option either way.

1. Open the For developers page in Settings.
2. Scroll down to the File Explorer📁 section. The file view options appear.

   

3. Turn on Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
4. Turn on Show file name extensions.
5. Turn on Show full path in title bar.

Open a File Explorer window to check. Hidden items now appear slightly faded, file names end with their extensions, and the title bar shows the full folder path. To return to the default view, come back to this section and turn the same options off.

Setting Up Remote Desktop and SSH

Remote Desktop and SSH (Secure Shell, a command-line remote login) let you connect to your Windows 11 machine from another device on your local network. This helps when you test applications without sitting at the physical keyboard.

Check two requirements before you start. First, the Remote Desktop toggle needs Windows 11 Pro or higher (Pro, Enterprise, or Education). Home can connect out to other PCs but cannot accept incoming Remote Desktop connections, so on a Home PC the toggle is missing or greyed out. Second, SSH needs the OpenSSH Server optional feature, which you must install before remote shell connections will work.

1. Open the For developers page in Settings.
2. Scroll to the Remote Desktop section. The toggle appears here.

   

3. Click the toggle to turn on Remote Desktop connections for this PC. If Windows asks you to confirm, click Confirm.
4. Find the Terminal or SSH section if you plan to use command-line tools. Make sure the OpenSSH Server feature is installed and its server is running. If no SSH server is installed, add one first.

Enable these only on a trusted network, and turn them off when you finish testing. Remote access that you do not use is an open door for no reason. To undo step 3, switch the toggle back to Off.

Unlocking Advanced PowerShell Execution Policies

PowerShell blocks scripts by default as a protection. If you build projects or manage packages with local scripts, you may need to loosen the execution policy, which is the rule that decides which scripts may run. This changes a system-level setting, so you must use an administrator terminal.

Choose the least permissive policy that lets your scripts run. A looser policy lets more untrusted scripts execute. This step requires administrator privileges.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. An elevated terminal window opens.
2. Type the command Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned and press Enter. Write down any value it prints before you change anything, so you can restore it later.
3. Type Y and press Enter. Confirm the change when prompted.

After the change, you can run your local scripts in a new PowerShell window. If a script is still blocked, close and reopen the terminal. To undo the change, repeat step 3 with the original value you noted in step 2.

If a group policy controls the setting on your PC, Windows reports that the change was overridden. In that case, see the last section of this guide.

Troubleshooting Common Developer Mode Errors

If Developer Mode will not turn on, start with the basics. Check your internet connection first, because Windows fetches specific components from Windows Update. Missing updates or corrupted system files can stop that download. Restarting the computer often clears temporary installation blocks.

1. Confirm that the PC is online and can reach Windows Update🔃. A metered or restricted connection can delay the download.
2. Restart the🔄 PC, then try the Developer Mode toggle again.
3. If the toggle still reverts to Off, open Settings, go to Windows Update🔃, and click Check for updates🔃. Let all pending system patches finish installing💿, restart if asked, and try again.

If this didn’t work

If the basics do not help, check your account rights. Developer settings change system-level policies, so your user account must hold administrator rights. A standard account can open the page but cannot apply the change.

Domain-joined work or school computers often block these settings through group policy. In that case the toggle may be greyed out, or it may switch back to Off after you set it. You may also see a message that some settings are managed by your organization.

You cannot override this from Settings. Check with your IT department, or test the configuration on a personal PC or a local administrator account that no policy manages.