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How to enable Developer Mode in Windows 10 to sideload apps

If you are running a recent version of the Windows 10 Insider Preview, build 10122 or greater to be precise, then you may have noticed a new "For developers" option in the operating system's settings.

This configuration option allows you to enable modes intended for development, for instance to test applications that you are developing on a live system to ensure that they work properly.

Development mode options are not entirely new as they have been available in previous builds as well. The core difference is however that they had to be enabled using the Group Policy Editor in builds prior to 10122 while they are now accessible in a comfortable way through the settings menu.

Enabling Developer options

developer features

To enable the new Developer features, do the following on build 10122 or greater:

  • Tap on the Windows-key, type Settings and load Settings - Modern application when the search results are displayed.
  • Switch to Update & Security > For developers to display the new features.
  • There you may either enable "sideload apps" or "developer mode".

The main difference between both options is that "sideload apps" is limited to that, while developer mode goes beyond sideloading applications.

The new method improves the implementation on Windows 8.x significantly and should make life a lot easier for developers, for instance by requiring no registration to get started or registering phones.

Please note that you do get a prompt to enable Developer Mode automatically when you create a Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 app in Visual Studio on a windows 10 device. It more or less tells you where to enable the option but does not do that for you.

developer mode

It does highlight the current status of the device though which may be useful at times.

The options are intended for developers who developer applications for Windows 10 (or Windows 8.1), but they can be used by home users as well to sideload apps.

Sideloading refers to installing and running applications from sources that are not official. So, instead of downloading and installing apps from Windows Store, you can use the sideload feature to install apps from a third-party, for instance in a company network that has no access to Windows Store or from a developer who has not published an app on Windows Store.

Sideloading apps on a device running Windows 10 is not without dangers. Microsoft notes that users should only sideload apps from trusted developers as they have not been certified by the Windows Store and may therefore include code that violates Store policies.

Additional information about the new "for developers" option in Windows 10 is available on MSDN.

This article was first seen on ComTek's "TekBits" Technology News

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