Enable Developer Mode in Windows 11

There is a developer mode feature in Windows 11. This feature allows you to sideload apps, access additional settings and tools that may be useful for development purposes, such as Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), the Device Portal, and more.

Developer mode therefore allows you to use features that are normally limited or disabled for standard users to simplify software development and testing.

Enable Developer Mode in Windows 11

This article will show you how to enable developer mode in three different ways. The first way is through settings, the second is through the Windows registry and lastly you can enable developer mode through powershell.

Via settings

Open the settings. Click on “System” and then on “For Developers”.

Then enable “Developer Mode”.

Enabling developer mode, including installing and running apps from outside the Microsoft Store, may expose your device and your personal information to security risks or damage your device.

If you are sure you want to enable developer mode, confirm by clicking “Yes”.

Via Windows registry

You can also enable developer mode through the Windows registry. This is useful if you do not have access to the GUI.

Open the Windows registry. Go to key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock

Find the value:

AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense

If this value does not exist, right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense.
Double click AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense and set the value to 1.

Restart your computer.

Through PowerShell

You can also enable developer mode via Powershell. This works in the same way as the Windows registry. We are going to add a value to the registry via PowerShell.

Open a PowerShell window. Type the following command to enable developer mode.

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock" /v "AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f