OEM unlocking and enabling developer options

Every wondered what Enabling OEM unlocking Developer options means? This is a simple step by step guide which will help you with enabling OEM unlocking Developer options for android phones.

In case you are wondering why you even need to do all this in the first place let us answer that as simply as is possible. You need to enable OEM unlocking and activate developer options in your android smart phone if and only if you want to install a custom ROM on your phone.
If you do not have any such plans then it is better you move to the short stories section on this website and read the stories there.

For those who dare to mess around with their smart phones read on….

Stage One: Downloading Google Platform tools

Download the latest version of the Google platform tools from the links given below. The link is the official link on the Android site. It has links for different operating systems.
https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools
These tools are required to access the Fastboot features of your phone.

Follow the steps as described on the site to install on your PC. This is important as you would need the tools to be fully functional when running on your PC. To understand this step completely please read this post first.

If you have Google Platform tools on your PC and understand what they do then read on.

Stage Two : Enabling OEM unlocking and Developer options

Step 1: On the smart phone go to Settings. It would be the gear shaped icon in the screen on the left.

Step 2: On Settings page scroll to the end of the screen to find the System link. Check image shot to the right. The system link is right at the bottom .

Step 3: Open System >> Click on About Phone. Again the link is at the end of the screen. Somehow you will feel that they want us to miss these settings!

Step 4: Scroll to the end of the screen >> Build number

Step 5: Tap 7 times on Build number… yes, you read that right. Tap seven times on build number. By the third or fourth tap you will start getting a pop up which will mention in reverse the number of taps required out of seven!
Once you complete the mandatory seven taps you would have enabled Developer options on the phone. If you have enabled a pattern lock it will show up to confirm it is you who want to enable Developer Options

Step 6: Go back to the System screen and now you should see a new option >>Developer options.
In the screenshot to the left see the option just above system update and below Backup.