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Windows developer mode

A Windows 10 installation can be changed into developer mode. Developer mode replaces the Windows 8.1 requirement for a developer license.

Features of developer mode:

Allows to debug UWP apps.
Allows to change power settings so that the computer never automatically starts to hibernate or sleep while it is plugged in.
Windows 10 automatically installs Windows Device Portal
Allows to create symlinks without administrator privileges
Allows sideloading

Apparently, developer mode was (but is not anymore) required to to enable Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Enabling developer mode in the console

As per this stackoverflow answer, developer mode can be enabled in cmd.exe with

C:\> reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock /t REG_DWORD /f /v AllowDevelopmentWithoutDevLicense /d 1
C:\> DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

Opening the for developer settings in the console

In a cmd.exe console, the developer settings can be opened with

C:\> start ms-settings:developer

In PowerShell, this dialog can be opened with

PS C:\> show-windowsDeveloperLicenseRegistration

Windows developer mode

Enabling developer mode in the console

Opening the for developer settings in the console

See also