Main Menu on Xiaomi: hidden features, settings and how to use it

If you own a Xiaomi Mi TV or a MIUI smartphone, you’ve probably come across the term Main Menu, the main menu of the device, which is the central control node where all the key settings, applications and system functions are collected, but not everyone knows that the simple name hides a powerful tool for fine-tuning the device, and sometimes access to hidden features that the manufacturer does not advertise.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what Main Menu is on Xiaomi devices, where to find it, how to use it, and what useful features are hidden there. We will focus on the differences between the menus on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV A Pro, P1, Q2, etc.) and smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi 13/14), since their interfaces are significantly different, and you will learn how to reset the menus to factory ones if something goes wrong, and what mistakes users often make when working with it.

We warn you beforehand that some Main Menu items can affect the stability of the device, for example, changing the parameters in the Engineer Mode (engineering menu) without understanding the consequences can lead to failures, so before experimenting, we recommend backing up data or remembering current settings.

What is Main Menu on Xiaomi: Definition and Purpose

Main Menu is the central section of Xiaomi’s device interface that provides access to all the basic functions, settings and applications, and its content can vary dramatically depending on the type of device:

• 📺 On Xiaomi TVs (Mi) TV, Redmi Smart TV) — This is an analogue of the “control panel”, which collects the settings of the image, sound, network, applications and system tools.
• 📱 On Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi 12/13/14) — This is an extended settings menu that includes both basic options (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and hidden options (for example, Developer Options or other options). MIUI Optimization).
• 🖥️ On Xiaomi laptops (Mi Notebook) – the menu is closer to the classic BIOS/UEFI, But with the signature chips from Xiaomi.

Main Menu's main feature is its hierarchical structure, such as on TVs you can see sections like Picture, Sound, Network, and inside each, dozens of sub-items. On smartphones, the menu is often hidden under the Settings icon, but includes many more hidden options than you can see at first glance.

It's important to understand that Main Menu is not just a setup list, but a central device management hub where some settings can conflict with each other. For example, if you manually adjust the color temperature in the Picture section of your TV and then turn on Movie mode, your settings may reset.

Main Menu on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV)

On Xiaomi TVs, Main Menu entry depends on the PatchWall firmware model and version. The classic way is to press the Menu button (or Settings) on the remote. However, new models (such as the Mi TV Q2 2023 or Redmi Smart Fire TV) may have different interfaces. Here are the step-by-step instructions for different cases:

1. Standard path: Press Menu → select Settings, which will open the main menu with Picture, Sound, Network, and more.
2. If there is no Menu button: On newer models’ remotes (e.g. Mi TV P1), the Menu button may not be available. Use the Home button instead → scroll up to the settings bar.
3. Voice Assistant: Press the microphone button on the remote and say “Open settings” or “Show the main menu.”
4. Hidden Engineering Menu: To access advanced settings (such as screen calibration), press sequentially: Menu → Support → Service Menu (default password is 3311 or 1234).

On Xiaomi TVs with Google TV (such as Mi TV A2 43), the path to Main Menu is different: you need to press the Home button for 3 seconds → select Settings → Device Preferences. Here you will find Android TV settings that duplicate some of the features of Xiaomi’s proprietary menu.

Press the Menu button on the remote|If there is no Menu, use Home → scroll up|Check the PatchWall version (Settings) → On TV)|For the Engineering Menu: Support → Service Menu (password 3311)-->

⚠️ Attention: In the Service Menu, you can accidentally change critical settings such as Backlight or Panel Type, which can cause the screen to malfunction. If you are not sure what you are doing, you should avoid entering this section.

Main Menu on Xiaomi smartphones: where to look and how to use

On Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO), Main Menu is essentially a Settings app, but it has a lot of extra options hidden inside it that you can't see at first glance.

• 🔧 Basic access: Tape the gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu, and you'll see the standard sections here: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Screen, Sound, etc.
• 🔍 Advanced settings: Scroll down and select About Phone → slap it on the version several times MIUI, to unlock the Developer Mode.
• 🛠️ Hidden menus: Enter the code ##4636## to open Testing Menu with battery, network and usage statistics.
• 🔐 Engineering menu: Use code ##3644633## to access hardware component tests (camera, sensors, display).

One of the most useful features of Main Menu on smartphones is the Additional Settings section, where options such as:

• 📱 Full screen mode – setting up the display of applications on the full screen.
• 🔄 Resetting settings - returning to factory parameters.
• 🔋 Optimization MIUI — Control of background processes to save charge.
• 🛡️ Privacy Protection – Control of App Permissions.

⚠️ Attention: The Developer Options menu has options that can disrupt system stability, such as turning on Stay awake when connected to a charge reduces battery life. It is also not recommended to change the settings of the Windows animation scale to the values below. 0.5x — This can lead to interface lags.

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If the smartphone starts to slow down after changing the settings in Main Menu, try resetting to factory settings via Settings → About Phone → Reset. Pre-reverse the data to Mi Cloud or to your computer.

Main Menu features on Xiaomi: what you can configure

Many users are unaware that the Main Menu of Xiaomi devices has features that can be used to improve the performance of the equipment.

Xiaomi TVs also have a hidden Local Dimming option that improves contrast on the TV. LED-To turn it on, go to Settings. → Picture → Advanced → Local Dimming, however, is only available on fully illuminated models (e.g. Mi). TV Q1E or Mi TV Master).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones, enable option USB-Debugging (Developer Options) → USB debugging) opens access to system files via a computer. This is useful for power users, but can be dangerous if you connect the device to an untrusted PC!

How to Reset Main Menu Settings to Factory

If you've experimented with settings in Main Menu and something goes wrong (e.g., lost sound, distorted colors, or the device started to brake), you can go back to factory settings. The reset procedure is different for TVs and smartphones.

For Xiaomi TVs:

1. Open Settings → Device Preferences → Reset & Admin.
2. Select Factory Data Reset (Reset to factory settings).
3. Enter. PIN-code (default 0000 or 1234).
4. Confirm reset. The TV will reboot and return to its original settings.

For Xiaomi smartphones:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data (or Factory Reset).
3. Enter the password from your Mi Account if it is tied.
4. Confirm the action. The device will reboot and be as new as it is.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi) TV 4S) The reset over the menu may not work because of a firmware error, and then you'll have to use a hardware reset:

1. Turn the TV off the socket.
2. Press the Menu button on the remote and the Power button on the TV body.
3. Connect the power by holding the buttons for 10-15 seconds.
4. Release the buttons when the Xiaomi logo appears on the screen.

After the hardware reset, all settings, including those associated with the account (Google, Mi Account), will be deleted. If the TV was linked to the Xiaomi account, you may need to re-authorize.

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Before resetting, be sure to record or photograph current network settings (Wi-Fi passwords), sound (equalizer) and images (brightness, contrast) and save time for reconfiguration.

Common mistakes when working with Main Menu

Many users make the same mistakes when configuring Xiaomi devices through Main Menu, and here are the most common ones and how to avoid them:

• 🔄 Reset without backup: Before any changes to settings (especially in Developer Options or Service Menu), save important data. On smartphones, this can be done through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 🔊 Changes to audio profiles: On Xiaomi TVs in the Sound section → Equalizer can accidentally reset the equalizer settings, which causes a distortion of the sound. To return the standard settings, select the Default preset.
• 📶 Incorrect network configuration: In the Network menu, some users include static IP It can lead to loss of access to the Internet. If you're not sure, leave it. DHCP.
• 🔋 Disabling battery optimization: On smartphones in the Settings section → Battery → Optimization MIUI Some people turn off all the restrictions, hoping for better performance, and that leads to a quick battery drain.
• 🎮 Enabling Game Mode on non-gaming devices: On Xiaomi TVs, Game mode reduces input latency but impairs color rendering.Do not use it to watch movies.

Another common mistake is ignoring firmware updates. Main Menu has a System Update section to check for new versions, and skipping updates can lead to application compatibility issues or security vulnerabilities.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi smartphones in the Settings menu → Annexes → Application management is an option to Clear the cache. Many users clear the cache of all applications in a row, hoping to free up space. However, this can lead to program crashes, since some data (such as logins) are stored in the cache!

Main Menu comparison on different Xiaomi devices

The Main Menu interface is very different not only between TVs and smartphones, but also between different models within the same line. For example, the menus on the Mi TV Q2 and Redmi Smart TV X have different structure, although both work on PatchWall. The same goes for smartphones: Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Redmi 12C use different versions of MIUI, which affects the location of options.

On Xiaomi laptops (such as the Mi Notebook Pro), Main Menu is closer to the classic BIOS/UEFI, but with branded options such as:

• 🔋 Battery Health Mode – Limiting battery life to 60.
• 🔊 Fan Curve – manually adjusting the speed of fans.
• 🖥️ Display Color Profile – Selecting a Color Profile (sRGB, DCI-P3).

If you’re switching from one Xiaomi device to another, don’t rely on the usual menu paths. For example, setting Always-on Display on Xiaomi 13T is in Settings → Screen, and on POCO F4, in Settings → Additional → Lock screen.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Main Menu on Xiaomi