react-native-developer-mode

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A simple, lightweight React Native library that detects whether Developer Mode (Android Developer Options / iOS Developer Mode) is active on the device — including real-time detection while the app is running or backgrounded.

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Features

• ✅ Android: Detects Developer Options and USB debugging (ADB)
• ✅ iOS 16+: Detects Developer Mode via Apple's DeviceCheck framework
• ✅ Real-time listener — catches users who enable dev mode while the app is open or backgrounded
• ✅ Zero dependencies
• ✅ Fully typed (TypeScript)
• ✅ Promise-based async API

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Requirements

Peer dependency	Version
react	≥ 18
react-native	≥ 0.71

Platform	Minimum version
Android	API 16 (Android 4.1)
iOS	12.0 (Developer Mode detection requires iOS 16+)

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Installation

npm install @rick427/react-native-developer-mode
# or
yarn add @rick427/react-native-developer-mode

iOS

cd ios && pod install

The podspec declares the DeviceCheck system framework, which is used on iOS 16+ to read DCDevice.developerModeEnabled. No manual Xcode configuration is needed.

Android

No extra steps required — the module is auto-linked.

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Usage

One-shot read

Call isDeveloperModeEnabled() once to get the current state — e.g. on app launch.

import { isDeveloperModeEnabled, checkDeveloperMode } from '@rick427/react-native-developer-mode';

// Full result
const result = await isDeveloperModeEnabled();
console.log(result.isDeveloperModeEnabled); // true | false
console.log(result.isAdbEnabled);           // true | false (Android only)

// Boolean shorthand
const isDevMode = await checkDeveloperMode();
console.log(isDevMode); // true | false

Real-time listener

Use addDeveloperModeListener to react the moment a user enables dev mode — even if they do it while the app is backgrounded.

import { useEffect } from 'react';
import { addDeveloperModeListener } from '@rick427/react-native-developer-mode';

function useDevModeGuard() {
  useEffect(() => {
    const subscription = addDeveloperModeListener(({ isDeveloperModeEnabled, isAdbEnabled }) => {
      if (isDeveloperModeEnabled) {
        console.warn('Developer mode was enabled!');
        // e.g. show a warning dialog, log a security event, etc.
      }
      if (isAdbEnabled) {
        console.warn('USB debugging (ADB) was enabled!');
      }
    });

    // Always remove the listener on unmount to avoid memory leaks
    return () => subscription.remove();
  }, []);
}

Complete hook (read + listen)

This pattern gives you the current state on mount and keeps it updated in real time.

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import {
  isDeveloperModeEnabled,
  addDeveloperModeListener,
  type DeveloperModeResult,
} from '@rick427/react-native-developer-mode';

function useDeveloperMode(): DeveloperModeResult {
  const [state, setState] = useState<DeveloperModeResult>({
    isDeveloperModeEnabled: false,
    isAdbEnabled: false,
  });

  useEffect(() => {
    // Read current state on mount
    isDeveloperModeEnabled().then(setState);

    // Subscribe to future changes
    const subscription = addDeveloperModeListener(setState);
    return () => subscription.remove();
  }, []);

  return state;
}

// Usage in a component
function App() {
  const { isDeveloperModeEnabled, isAdbEnabled } = useDeveloperMode();

  if (isDeveloperModeEnabled) {
    return <DeveloperModeWarning />;
  }

  return <MainApp />;
}

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API

isDeveloperModeEnabled(): Promise<DeveloperModeResult>

Reads the current developer-mode state once. Returns { isDeveloperModeEnabled: false, isAdbEnabled: false } on unsupported platforms.

checkDeveloperMode(): Promise<boolean>

Convenience helper. Resolves to true if developer mode is active. Equivalent to reading only the isDeveloperModeEnabled field from isDeveloperModeEnabled().

addDeveloperModeListener(callback): EmitterSubscription

Subscribes to real-time developer-mode state changes.

Parameter	Type	Description
callback	(result: DeveloperModeResult) => void	Called whenever the state changes

Returns an EmitterSubscription. Call .remove() when done.

DeveloperModeResult

Field	Type	Description
isDeveloperModeEnabled	boolean	Whether Developer Options (Android) or Developer Mode (iOS 16+) is enabled
isAdbEnabled	boolean	Whether USB debugging (ADB) is enabled. Android only — always false on iOS

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Platform behaviour

Scenario	Android	iOS
Dev mode toggled while app is open	✅ Fires instantly	⚠️ Fires on next foreground
Dev mode toggled while app is backgrounded	✅ Fires instantly on toggle	✅ Fires when app foregrounds
App cold-started after dev mode was already on	✅ One-shot read returns true	✅ One-shot read returns true

Android uses a ContentObserver on the system settings database URI. It fires the instant DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGS_ENABLED or ADB_ENABLED changes, regardless of app state. No permissions are required.

iOS has no system-level callback for this setting. The module registers for UIApplicationWillEnterForegroundNotification and re-reads DCDevice.currentDevice.developerModeEnabled each time the app comes to the foreground, emitting only when the value has changed since the last check. On iOS < 16 the value is always false.

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Changelog

1.1.0

• New: addDeveloperModeListener — real-time state changes via ContentObserver (Android) and foreground notification (iOS)

1.0.1

• Fixed module resolution: main now points to compiled lib/index.js
• Added CI/CD via GitHub Actions (lint + publish on version tags)

1.0.0

• Initial release: isDeveloperModeEnabled and checkDeveloperMode

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Authors

Richard Njoku

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License

MIT © Richard Njoku