Developer mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a hidden settings section that gives access to advanced features of the MIUI operating system. It allows you to fine-tune performance, debug applications through ADB, change the interface animation and even unlock additional features that are not available in the standard menu. However, many users face the problem: where exactly to look for these options and how to activate them correctly?
In this article, we will not only show you how to turn on the developer mode on Redmi, POCO It's called Mi, but you'll also learn which settings are most useful for ordinary users, and you'll learn how to avoid common errors (like accidentally resetting settings), which settings can be changed without risking the system, and which ones are better left unaffected. We will pay special attention to the differences between versions. MIUI 14 and HyperOS – new firmware from Xiaomi, where the location of some menu items has changed.
If you want to speed up your smartphone, connect to your PC for debugging, or just experiment with hidden features, this is the guide for you. Let's start with the most important thing: how to open up the developer's settings at all.
Step-by-step: how to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi
Activation of developer mode on all Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and other models) occurs the same way, but the path to the menu may vary slightly depending on the firmware version.
- Open “Settings” (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
- Scroll down and select About Phone (Device Information may be called on HyperOS).
- Find the MIUI Version line (or HyperOS build number) and tap it 7 times in a row.
- After the seventh press, a notification will appear: “You are now a developer!”
If you can’t activate the mode the first time, check:
- 🔹 You're just tapping the Version. MIUI, not on other lines (e.g., the device model).
- 🔹 Some firmware requires a pattern lock or PIN-code after 7 taps.
- 🔹 If your smartphone is locked with a password, unlock it before activating it.
After successful activation, a new option will appear in the main Settings menu — Additional Settings → Developer Settings (or just for developers in HyperOS).
Where to look for developer options in MIUI and HyperOS
The layout of the developer menu depends on the firmware version, and in the table below we have collected the current paths for different versions of MIUI and the new HyperOS (which replaced MIUI in 2026).
| Firmware version | The Path to Developer Parameters | Features |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12/13/14 | Settings → Additional settings → Developer settings | The menu is hidden by default, activation is required (see previous section). |
| HyperOS 1.0+ | Settings → About the phone → HyperOS version → 7 taps → Settings → For developers | New menu design, some items renamed (for example, debugging by USB → USB-debugging). |
| Global ROM (Western firmware) | Settings → Additional settings → Developer options | The English menu, item names may differ from the Russian version. |
| POCO Launcher | Settings → System → Additional → For Developers | On some POCO models, the menu is duplicated in the System section. |
If you don’t find a developer menu even after activation, try:
- 🔍 Use the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner) and enter the query “developer».
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes the menu appears only after the reboot.
- 📱 Make sure you don’t have a lightweight firmware (e.g, MIUI Lite where some functions are disabled.
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If you accidentally disable the developer settings, re-activating (7 taps according to the firmware version) will return the menu back.
Top.-5 useful functions in the parameters of the Xiaomi developer
The developer mode contains dozens of settings, but most of them are designed for testing and debugging. We selected the 5 most useful features that will be useful for the average user:
- USB debugging (USB debugging) Necessary to connect your smartphone to your PC via ADB (e.g., to unlock the bootloader, install custom firmware or restore data).
- Windows animation scale: Speeds up or disables animation when you open/close applications, setting 0.5x will make the interface noticeably faster.
- Limits the number of applications running in the background, useful for battery saving, but can lead to a reboot of frequently used programs.
- GPU-acceleration (Force) GPU rendering) Forced use of a graphics processor for rendering 2D-It can improve performance in games, but increases battery load.
- Show layout bounds: Displays the boundaries of interface elements (useful for designers or when setting up design themes).
Not all features are equally useful. For example, Stay awake is convenient when debugging, but it drains the battery quickly, and Simulate secondary displays are only needed by multi-window application developers.
Limit background processes (up to 2-3)
Reduce animation to 0.5x
Turn it on. GPU-acceleration (for games)
Disable automatic update of system applications-->
What to Change in Developer Parameters (Risks and Consequences)
Some settings can disrupt the stability of your smartphone, cause malfunctions or even a "brick" of the device, and we've put together a red list of parameters that you should not touch without a clear understanding of their purpose:
- ⚠️ OEM unlock (OEM unlocking – includes the ability to unlock the bootloader. Risk: after activation, the smartphone becomes vulnerable to attacks when theft (an attacker can reset the protection).
- ⚠️ Disable absolute volume – can cause Bluetooth devices to work incorrectly.
- ⚠️ Don’t keep activities – closes all applications when they are released, which disrupts multitasking.
- ⚠️ Simulate app crashes – forcefully drops testing applications (no use to the average user).
⚠️ Note: Change the setting Select runtime to Dalvik instead of ART This will cause a critical slowdown of the smartphone. ART default from 2014, and a rollback to Dalvik is not supported.
If you accidentally change a dangerous parameter, try:
- In extreme cases, reset to factory settings (but it will delete all data!).
What if the smartphone stopped turning on after the changes?
How to disable the developer settings on Xiaomi
If you don't need the advanced settings anymore, you can hide them from the menu.
- Open the Developer Settings.
- In the upper right corner, click on the switch (slider) to turn off the mode.
- Confirm the action in the window that appears.
After that, the For Developers item will disappear from the settings. To return it, you will have to re-tap the firmware version (as in the first section of the article).
⚠️ Warning: Turning off Developer Mode does not reset the changed settings! If you have previously activated Debugging by USB Or you change the animation, these settings stay active. To get everything back to factory values, use the Reset button in the developer menu.
On some firmware (e.g. HyperOS for Xiaomi 14), the developer menu can remain visible even after being turned off.
- 🔹 Reboot your smartphone.
- 🔹 Update your firmware to the latest version (interface bugs are often patched in patches).
The difference between MIUI and HyperOS: what has changed in the parameters of the developer
In 2026, Xiaomi began the transition from MIUI to a new firmware HyperOS, which is based on Android 14 and has a different approach to organizing the menu.
| Function | MIUI 14 | HyperOS 1.0 |
|---|---|---|
| The path to the menu | Additional settings → Developer parameters | Settings → For developers (without nested folders) |
| USB debugging | It's called USB debugging. | Renamed as USB-debugging |
| Limitation of background processes | There's a menu. | Moved to Settings → Applications → Application Management |
| Graphic settings | Separate section Hardware acceleration | Combined with Performance in a single menu |
HyperOS also has new features:
- 🔹 Optimizing the gameplay - fine-tuning FPS and heat release in games.
- 🔹 Developer mode for camera – advanced shooting options (available on Xiaomi) 13T/14).
- 🔹 Managing permits for ADB — More flexible control over debugging rights.
If you have updated from MIUI to HyperOS and do not find the usual settings, use a search by settings (lamp at the top of the screen) - this is the fastest way to find the desired item.
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HyperOS has made the developer menu easier, but some features have been moved to other sections. Always check the current instructions for your firmware version!
Frequent mistakes and how to fix them
When working with the developer parameters, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common and ways to solve them:
1. Developer mode is not activated
Problem: After 7 taps, according to the firmware version, nothing happens.
Decision:
- 🔹 Make sure you are using the version. MIUI/HyperOS, not on the other lines.
- 🔹 Some of the firmware requires input. PIN-code after 7 presses.
- 🔹 If the smartphone is blocked (for example, corporate policy), the developer mode can be disabled by the administrator.
2. the item "Developer settings" has disappeared
Problem: The menu was there, but suddenly it disappeared.
Decision:
- 🔹 Check if you have turned off the mode (slider at the top of the menu).
- 🔹 Update the firmware – sometimes the item is hidden after the update.
- 🔹 Do a reset (but it will delete all data!).
3. USB debugging doesn't work
Problem: The PC doesn’t see the smartphone in ADB, although debugging is enabled.
Decision:
- 🔹 Install Xiaomi drivers for your model on PC.
4.The smartphone began to slow down after the changes
Problem: The device slowed down or the animation started to "lay down."
Decision:
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If after changes in the parameters of the developer, the smartphone began to overheat, check the settings Limitation of background processes and GPU-acceleration – their incorrect configuration often leads to increased load.