--- description: Step-by-step guide to enable or disable developer mode on your iPhone and iOS devices for testing apps with Xcode and Capacitor. title: How to Enable or Disable Developer Mode on iOS - Capawesome image: https://capawesome.io/docs/assets/images/social/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode.png --- [Skip to content ](#how-to-enable-or-disable-developer-mode-on-ios) [🖥️ Introducing the **Capacitor Electron Platform** — build desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux. 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](/docs/cloud/integrations/) * Account * [ Organization ](/docs/cloud/organizations/) * [ Two-Factor Enforcement ](/docs/cloud/organizations/two-factor-authentication/) * [ Audit Logs ](/docs/cloud/organizations/audit-logs/) * [ Billing ](/docs/cloud/organizations/billing/) * [ License Keys ](/docs/cloud/license-keys/) * [ AI ](/docs/ai/) * [ Insiders ](/docs/insiders/) * [ Billing & Plans ](/docs/insiders/billing-and-plans/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/insiders/faq/) * [ License ](https://capawesome.io/legal/eula/) * [ Support ](/docs/support/) * [ Contributing ](/docs/contributing/) * Contributing code * [ Code of Conduct ](/docs/contributing/code-of-conduct/) * [ Questions ](https://docs.github.com/en/discussions/collaborating-with-your-community-using-discussions/participating-in-a-discussion#creating-a-discussion) * [ Blog ](/blog/) * Categories # How to Enable or Disable Developer Mode on iOS[¶](#how-to-enable-or-disable-developer-mode-on-ios "Permanent link") If you're developing or testing apps on your iPhone —for example with Xcode or [Capacitor](https://capacitorjs.com/)— you need **developer mode** on your iOS device. This guide shows you how to enable developer mode on iPhone and how to turn off developer mode when you don't need it. **Developer mode on iPhone** (iOS developer mode) was introduced in **iOS 16** as a security measure. It ensures that only users who explicitly enable it can run apps from Xcode or other development tools, reducing the risk of sideloaded apps being installed without your knowledge. Enabling developer mode on your iPhone is required for running development builds and testing outside the App Store. ## Enabling Developer Mode on iOS[¶](#enabling-developer-mode-on-ios "Permanent link") 1. Open the Settings app, scroll down and navigate to **Privacy & Security > Developer Mode**. ![Enabling Developer Mode on iOS](/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/347281764-2d7a9465-3e6c-45d3-8bc2-48f4a8d2f7e2.png) 2. Enable the Developer Mode options. Tap **Restart** when prompted. ![Developer mode iOS](/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/573812495-8e1c4c63-2b7f-4cbe-94b8-19d9cbb8f473.png) 3. Unlock your phone once the device restart is completed. Then the device shows an alert confirming that you want to enable Developer Mode. This is just to ensure that you are aware of the security risk associated with installing a development-signed software. ![Confirm Developer Mode](/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/914276308-bf6aeb92-7342-4e17-8aa2-2c6b4ef17d9c%20.png) 4. Tap **Turn On** and Developer Mode is now enabled. ## How to Disable Developer Mode on iOS[¶](#how-to-disable-developer-mode-on-ios "Permanent link") To turn off developer mode on your iOS (or any iOS device), open **Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode** and toggle developer mode off. After you disable developer mode on iOS, you won't be able to run apps from Xcode on your device until you enable it again. ## Developer Mode Is Missing from Settings?[¶](#developer-mode-is-missing-from-settings "Permanent link") The most common problem is that the **Developer Mode** menu item doesn't show up at all under **Privacy & Security**. It's almost always one of these: * **The device hasn't been used for development yet.** This is the big one: the Developer Mode toggle stays **hidden** until the device has either been connected to Xcode or had a **development-signed app** installed at least once. Run an app to your device from Xcode — or install a development build — and the option appears. * **You're on iOS 15 or earlier.** Developer Mode only exists on iOS 16 and later. On older versions there's nothing to enable. * **You're looking in the wrong place.** It sits under **Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode**, near the bottom of the Privacy & Security list — not under **General**. ## FAQ[¶](#faq "Permanent link") ### Do I need Developer Mode to install apps from the App Store or TestFlight?[¶](#do-i-need-developer-mode-to-install-apps-from-the-app-store-or-testflight "Permanent link") No. Developer Mode is only required for **development-signed** apps — builds you run from Xcode, development or ad-hoc builds, and other sideloaded apps. Apps installed from the App Store or TestFlight work without it. ### Why doesn't the Developer Mode option appear in Settings?[¶](#why-doesnt-the-developer-mode-option-appear-in-settings "Permanent link") Two common reasons: the device runs iOS 15 or earlier (Developer Mode was introduced in iOS 16), or it hasn't yet been connected to Xcode or had a development build installed. The toggle stays hidden until one of those happens — see [Developer Mode Is Missing from Settings?](#developer-mode-is-missing-from-settings) above. ### Does enabling Developer Mode erase my data?[¶](#does-enabling-developer-mode-erase-my-data "Permanent link") No. Turning Developer Mode on or off requires a restart, but it does not wipe your device or delete any data. ### Is Developer Mode a security risk?[¶](#is-developer-mode-a-security-risk "Permanent link") It relaxes a protection that normally blocks development-signed apps from running, so only enable it on devices you actually use for development or testing — not on a primary personal device. ### How do I enable Developer Mode on an iPad?[¶](#how-do-i-enable-developer-mode-on-an-ipad "Permanent link") The steps are identical: open **Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode**, toggle it on, and restart when prompted. ### Can I install a development build without a Mac?[¶](#can-i-install-a-development-build-without-a-mac "Permanent link") You don't need a Mac to _install_ the build — with over-the-air distribution, testers install a development, ad-hoc, or enterprise build straight from a link or QR code. Development and ad-hoc builds still require Developer Mode enabled on the device (enterprise-signed builds don't). See [how to distribute iOS and Android apps to testers](/blog/how-to-distribute-ios-and-android-apps-to-testers/). If you're also building for Android, see our guide on [how to enable Developer Options on Android](/blog/how-to-enable-android-developer-mode/) for the equivalent setup on that platform. For other iOS build issues, check the [iOS troubleshooting guide for Capacitor](/blog/troubleshooting-capacitor-ios-issues/). If you want to understand how iOS code signing works under the hood, read [iOS Certificates and Provisioning Profiles Explained](/blog/ios-certificates-and-provisioning-profiles-explained/). If you have questions, join the [Capawesome Discord server](https://discord.gg/VCXxSVjefW) or [subscribe to the Capawesome newsletter](/newsletter/) to stay updated. July 15, 2026 Back to top ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "How to Enable or Disable Developer Mode on iOS", "description": "Step-by-step guide to enable or disable developer mode on your iPhone and iOS devices for testing apps with Xcode and Capacitor.", "image": "https://capawesome.io/assets/banners/cloud-build-and-deploy-capacitor-apps.png", "datePublished": "2025-07-03T00:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-14T00:00:00+00:00", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ehsan Barooni", "url": "https://github.com/ebarooni" } ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Capawesome", "url": "https://capawesome.io", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://capawesome.io/assets/images/logo.svg" } }, "articleSection": "Guides", "keywords": ["Guides"], "isPartOf": { "@type": "Blog", "@id": "https://capawesome.io/blog/#blog" }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://capawesome.io/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/", "url": "https://capawesome.io/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://capawesome.io/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://capawesome.io/blog/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "How to Enable or Disable Developer Mode on iOS", "item": "https://capawesome.io/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/" } ] } {"@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question", "name": "Developer Mode Is Missing from Settings?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "The most common problem is that the Developer Mode menu item doesn't show up at all under Privacy & Security. It's almost always one of these: The device hasn't been used for development yet. This is the big one: the Developer Mode toggle stays hidden until the device has either been connected to Xcode or had a development-signed app installed at least once. Run an app to your device from Xcode — or install a development build — and the option appears. You're on iOS 15 or earlier. Developer Mode only exists on iOS 16 and later. On older versions there's nothing to enable. You're looking in the wrong place. It sits under Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode, near the bottom of the Privacy & Security list — not under General."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need Developer Mode to install apps from the App Store or TestFlight?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Developer Mode is only required for development-signed apps — builds you run from Xcode, development or ad-hoc builds, and other sideloaded apps. Apps installed from the App Store or TestFlight work without it."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Why doesn't the Developer Mode option appear in Settings?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Two common reasons: the device runs iOS 15 or earlier (Developer Mode was introduced in iOS 16), or it hasn't yet been connected to Xcode or had a development build installed. The toggle stays hidden until one of those happens — see Developer Mode Is Missing from Settings? above."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Does enabling Developer Mode erase my data?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Turning Developer Mode on or off requires a restart, but it does not wipe your device or delete any data."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Is Developer Mode a security risk?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "It relaxes a protection that normally blocks development-signed apps from running, so only enable it on devices you actually use for development or testing — not on a primary personal device."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "How do I enable Developer Mode on an iPad?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "The steps are identical: open Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode, toggle it on, and restart when prompted."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Can I install a development build without a Mac?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "You don't need a Mac to install the build — with over-the-air distribution, testers install a development, ad-hoc, or enterprise build straight from a link or QR code. Development and ad-hoc builds still require Developer Mode enabled on the device (enterprise-signed builds don't). See how to distribute iOS and Android apps to testers. If you're also building for Android, see our guide on how to enable Developer Options on Android for the equivalent setup on that platform. For other iOS build issues, check the iOS troubleshooting guide for Capacitor. If you want to understand how iOS code signing works under the hood, read iOS Certificates and Provisioning Profiles Explained. If you have questions, join the Capawesome Discord server or subscribe to the Capawesome newsletter to stay updated. July 15, 2026"}}], "url": "https://capawesome.io/blog/how-to-enable-ios-developer-mode/"} ```