# \[Question\] How do I activate the gateway Developer Mode? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition80\ **Created:** [June 16, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854 "2021-06-16T19:18:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![edward.fowler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/edward.fowler/32/24179_2.png) [@edward.fowler](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/edward.fowler)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/1 "2021-06-16T19:18:39Z")
My gateway is 8.1+ running with the trial license. I’m trying to activate Developer Mode so I don’t have to sign the .modl files before installing them. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/2 "2021-06-16T19:22:04Z")
> [@Need a developer gateway](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/need-a-developer-gateway/38796/2): > > There’s no special license, you set a system property in your ignition.conf that allows the gateway to load unsigned modules. -Dignition.allowunsignedmodules=true something like this: [Allowing Unsigned Modules to Run in 7.9](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/allowing-unsigned-modules-to-run-in-7-9/12251/2) ---
**Author:** ![edward.fowler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/edward.fowler/32/24179_2.png) [@edward.fowler](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/edward.fowler)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/3 "2021-06-16T19:58:55Z")
Hello Kevin, I just found what you said in [Ignition Maven Plugin v1.0.11 Fails - #3 by xasga](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-maven-plugin-v1-0-11-fails/12107/3) and yes but I suspect I didn’t do it properly because my gateway isn’t in developer mode. This is what I added to (the 3rd line) .conf, I assumed it must follow the same pattern. ```auto # Application parameters. Add parameters as needed starting from 1 wrapper.app.parameter.1=com.inductiveautomation.catapult.Catapult wrapper.app.parameter.2=Dia.developer.moduleupload=true ``` _[edit] Dang it, I need to read more carefully…I didn’t set the parameter as Kevin said._ ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/4 "2021-06-16T20:01:52Z")
You need to follow the pattern (and use the same parameter name) as in Kevin’s linked post: `wrapper.java.additional.7=-Dignition.allowunsignedmodules=true` `wrapper.app.parameter` is the wrong section of the configuration file, `D` is the wrong prefix (should be `-D`), and `ia.developer.moduleupload` is the wrong flag. ---
**Author:** ![edward.fowler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/edward.fowler/32/24179_2.png) [@edward.fowler](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/edward.fowler)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/5 "2021-06-16T20:12:09Z")
Thank you Mr. Griffith. ---
**Author:** ![jacque\_trahan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jacque_trahan/32/58886_2.png) [@jacque\_trahan](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jacque_trahan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/6 "2026-02-12T13:10:09Z")
I’m having a very difficult time getting this to work properly in a Docker container. The first time I set it up, everything worked flawlessly. The second time, I experienced issues for about an hour before it suddenly began working without any clear changes on my end. However, with the third and fourth containers, the parameter updates are not being applied or recognized at all. Has anyone experienced similar behavior or have any insight into what might cause containers to ignore updated parameters? > Current parameters: > > # Java Additional Parameters > > wrapper.java.additional.1=-Ddata.dir=data > wrapper.java.additional.2=--add-opens=java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED > wrapper.java.additional.3=--add-opens=java.base/java.io=ALL-UNNAMED > wrapper.java.additional.4=--add-opens=java.base/java.security.cert=ALL-UNNAMED > wrapper.java.additional.5=--add-opens=java.base/java.util=ALL-UNNAMED > wrapper.java.additional.6=--add-opens=java.base/jdk.internal.misc=ALL-UNNAMED > wrapper.java.additional.7=-Dignition.allowUnsignedModules=true > wrapper.java.additional.8=-Dignition.developer-mode=true ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/7 "2026-02-12T13:39:52Z")
> [@jacque\_trahan](#): > > -Dignition.allowUnsignedModules=true This is the only relevant parameter, and AFAIK it's case sensitive, so you should define it as `-Dignition.allowunsignedmodules=true`. Restart the Gateway for changes to ignition.conf be picked up. ---
**Author:** ![kcollins](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kcollins/32/19646_2.png) [@kcollins](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kcollins)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/8 "2026-02-13T00:31:30Z")
> [@jacque\_trahan](#): > > I’m having a very difficult time getting this to work properly in a Docker container. If you're using Docker, you don't have to worry about trying to edit the `data/ignition.conf`. Instead, consider supplying those JVM arguments in your container configuration. ref: [Supplemental JVM and Wrapper Args](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.3/platform/docker-image#supplemental-jvm-and-wrapper-arguments) ---
**Author:** ![jacque\_trahan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jacque_trahan/32/58886_2.png) [@jacque\_trahan](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jacque_trahan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/question-how-do-i-activate-the-gateway-developer-mode/47854/9 "2026-02-13T18:13:19Z")
Thank you both! I'm new to JAVA, docker, and these modules so all this information is very helpful.