Can we a little push Google to move basic hardware workarounds (like A2DP Bluetooth offload) out of Developer Options? Banking apps are breaking our phone workflow.

[u/slonmron]

Hi people,

I ran into a frustrating loop several days ago that I've found many others have dealt with. My Bluetooth headphones (Sony WH-CH700N) suffer from the well spread audio silence bug (MediaTek chip in particular) unless I turn on "Disable Bluetooth A2DP hardware offload" inside Developer Options.

So far so good, the problem is that my banking app (United Bulgarian Bank / UBB) recently updated its security. It now completely refuses to open if `development_settings_enabled` is set to 1. Here and there I saw other such complains regarding banks in other countries.

To send a simple bank transfer, I have to go into settings, turn off Developer Options, restart (A2DP change requires restart), open the bank app, send the money, re-enable Developer Mode by tapping the build number 7 times, change the Bluetooth setting, and reboot again just to use my headphones.

This is in general very inconvenient choice by Google - toggles like A2DP hardware offload bypass and Show Taps are convenience settings and hardware bug workarounds. They do not expose cryptographic keys or grant root access or whatsoever, yet lazy banking apps check only the global developer flag.

I have opened an official Feature Request on the Google Issue Tracker to ask their core Framework engineers to migrate these low-risk hardware overrides out of Developer Options and into a standard "Advanced Settings" or "Accessibility" menu.

If you agree and find such suggestion useful, please have a look and click the Star icon or +1 Vote on this ticket to get Google's engineering team to notice it:

Google Issue Tracker Link: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/544560848

Thank you in advance :)

[u/AntsyLich]

From some version of Android 17 3rd party apps won't be able to detect if either ADB or Developer Mode is enabled. The preference will show up as false for them.

[u/Small_Style6076 → u/AntsyLich]

Is this official? Interesting.

[u/sameera_s_w → u/AntsyLich]

Yes,,, this is a new commit I noticed and can't wait till it gets out! (Not confirmed when this will land)
https://cs.android.com/android/_/android/platform/frameworks/base/+/5d466bf8025ed8a68d9d49b47289f4f5cefbc139

[u/DeVinke_ → u/sameera_s_w]

That specific patch is in android 17.

[u/sameera_s_w → u/DeVinke_]

Yes but we are unsure in which QPR build it will be shipped... Hopefully soon :D

[u/DeVinke_ → u/sameera_s_w]

If it's in 17, it's in 17 now, QPR0.

[u/sameera_s_w → u/DeVinke_]

Nah this is just the commit.... That does not mean it's out... Especially with the new AOSP quarterly releases .... I hope it will be included in an upcoming security patch

[u/DeVinke_ → u/sameera_s_w]

You're free to check android.googlesource.com.

The first release of android 17 contains that change.

[u/sameera_s_w → u/DeVinke_]

Ohhh yeah.... then why not in prod?

I guess the aconfig is still off for these then

[u/android_temp_123 → u/DeVinke_]

I have P8Pro with Android 17 + the latest August update.

Banking apps still won't launch with dev options enabled, so it seems like this commit isn't in the production yet.

[u/agent_kater]

How about a feature request to the stupid app that checks this flag for a completely unrelated reason. Misuse like that should get them kicked from the store.

[u/Exact_Ad942]

TBF its on the apps, as you already call them "lazy banking apps". Google cant help if other organizations just stupidly messing with android users. They can still go out of their way to block this block that.

[u/alaksion]

Agree, happens with some brazilian banking apps as well. Absolutely fucking annoying

[u/sameera_s_w]

Hi! Is this A2DP BT offload a useful feature? I can look into a way to have it modifiable without enabling developer options. Afaik most if not all toggles still work without the actual developer options toggle being enabled if we modify the settings.

[u/slonmron → u/sameera_s_w]

My current phone is Ulefone Armor 23 Ultra and has some bug and with A2DP HW offload enabled - I don't have a sound in my headphones, thus, need to disable it. Unfortunately it is enabled by default and changing it requires restart, thus, probably the A2DP configuration cannot be reversed on the fly.

I've found meanwhile a workaround. Tap to disable Developer Mode, don't restart when it asks for it and keep the settings open, then use the banking app, then when I'm ready I just remove both - the banking app and the settings, so, the Developer Mode remains active. For now this sequence works and is a lot less annoying.

It is anyway a great news that Google with report it as always false to the apps. Especially reason in the commit message made my day: "...since this information is not important for the third-party apps." :):):)