Where is the developer mode on the Xiaomi phone: hidden settings for experienced users

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi line and POCO) They hide from the general public the advanced developer tools, the developer mode, which is the menu section that gives you access to debugging. USB, customize animations, manage background processes, and other features that the manufacturer considers too complex for the average owner, but for application testing, performance overclocking, or fine-tuning MIUI You can't do without these options.

The problem is that the default developer mode is disabled and doesn’t appear in the standard settings menu, so you need to activate it through a hidden combination of actions, and then search for one of the submenu — the location of which depends on the version of MIUI and the phone model. In this article, we will analyze exactly where this partition is on different Xiaomi devices, how to enable it without errors and what to do if it suddenly disappeared after the update.

Why the developer mode is hidden on Xiaomi

The manufacturer deliberately hides these settings for three key reasons:

• 🔧 Inexperienced users can turn off critical system processes (e.g. MiuiOptimization), which will lead to lags or overheating.
• 🛡️ Data security. Included Debugging USB Allows the connected computer to access files and logs without confirmation.
• 📱 Compliance with Google Policies: Some options (e.g., Google Policy, OEM Unlock) requires additional warnings due to the risk of hacking bootloader.

However, for developers, testers or advanced users, these limitations become a barrier, for example, without activating the developer mode, you can not:

• 🔌 Connect your phone to Android Studio to debug apps.
• ⚡ Speed up the animation of the interface (Window animation scale).
• 📡 Manually switch networks 4G/5G on models with MediaTek.
• 🔓 Unlock the loader for installing custom firmware.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) When you turn on the developer mode, you get a warning about the possible deletion of data when you reset your settings. MIUI — before resetting the system requires debugging USB.

How to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi: a universal way

The activation algorithm is the same for all modern Xiaomi smartphones (starting with MIUI 12 and later), but may have nuances on older versions.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the About Phone section (usually at the bottom of the list).
3. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
4. After 3-4 taps, a pop-up window will appear with the message: “You are almost there!”.
5. Continue to click until you see a notification saying, “You’ve become a developer!”

If nothing happens after 7 clicks:

• 🔄 Try tapping faster - sometimes the system resets the meter with long pauses.
• 📱 Make sure you are clicking on the Version. MIUI, Not the Android version or the device model.
• 🔧 On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global POCO F5) You may need to enter a password or PIN-post-activation.

Stashed on "Version." MIUI" 7 times|You have been told that you have become a developer!"|In the menu "Settings" there is a new section "For developers"|There are no errors when opening the section.-->

On older versions of MIUI (before the 11th), instead of the MIUI version, you had to tap on the Build number. If you have a device older than 2019 (for example, the Redmi Note 7), try this option.

Where to look for developer mode after activation

Once successfully enabled, the Developer options section appears primarily in the settings menu, but its location depends on the MIUI version and regional firmware.

If the partition is not displayed even after activation:

1. Restart your phone – sometimes MIUI doesn’t update the settings menu right away.
2. Check if the section is hidden through the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).
3. Some firmware (e.g. MIUI China) may have a section called - use a translator if you don't know Chinese.

MIUI 14|MIUI 13|MIUI 12.5|Old version (MIUI 11 or lower) |I don't know-->

What to do if the developer mode disappears after the update

After the MIUI update (especially in beta), the Developer section may disappear, because the system resets the activation flag.

1. Reactivate: Tap again 7 times on the MIUI version in the About Phone section.
2. Reset (extreme): Go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset all settings. This will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords and application settings, but will not affect user data.
3. Manual call via ADB (for advanced): adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings This command directly opens the developer section if it is hidden due to an interface bug.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X5 Pro, Redmi K60) After resetting, you may need to reconfirm your Mi Account to unlock additional options (for example, OEM Unlock).

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📥 Is there a beta version on the phone? MIUI — They often cut off access to the developer.
• 🔒 Are there any active parental restrictions (Digital Well-Being).
• 🛠️ Is the system firmware not damaged (check through Settings) → The phone. → Status. MIUI).

The most useful options for developers on Xiaomi

Once you activate the developer mode, you'll have access to dozens of hidden features.-5 Most in-demand for everyday use:

• 🔌 Debugging by USB — It is required to connect to Android Studio or ADB. Turn it on only when needed! Left on debugging makes the device vulnerable to attack through USB.
• ⚡ Animation of windows / transitions - setting the value 0.5x Speeds up the interface on weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A).
• 📶 Network selection – allows you to manually switch between 2G/3G/4G/5G (useful for testing the coating).
• 🔒 Unlocking OEM — necessary to unlock the loader before installation TWRP ornamental.
• 📊 Do not turn off the screen while charging – convenient for long-term testing or viewing logs.

Be careful with the following options – changing them can lead to unstable work:

• 🚫 Turn off the absolute volume level – can break the sound adjustment in Bluetooth headphones.
• 🚫 GPU-Acceleration on some chipsets (Snapdragon) 6xx) evokes artifacts in games.
• 🚫 Background Processes – Limiting to 1-2 Processes Will Kill Multitasking.

💡

Before changing critical settings (e.g., Minimizing background processes), back up through Settings → System → Backup. This will allow you to roll back the changes if the phone starts to brake.

How to turn off the developer mode on Xiaomi

If you no longer need advanced settings, you can deactivate them:

1. Go to Settings. → For developers.
2. In the upper right corner, press the switch (it will turn gray).
3. Confirm the disconnection in the dialog window.

After that, the section will disappear from the settings menu, but it can be activated again through the MIUI version.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 13T, POCO F5) After disabling the developer mode, all user settings in this section are reset (for example, the standard animation speed returns).

If the switch is not present or is inactive:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes the interface MIUI glitch.
• 📱 Check if the administrator has set limits (Settings section) → Annexes → Special access).
• 🔧 Use it. ADB-Adb shell settings put global settings development_settings_enabled 0

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When working with the developer mode on Xiaomi, users face typical problems, and we have collected the most common and ways to eliminate them:

If you encounter an error not described in the table:

1. Check the logs of the system through the Logcat app (available on Google Play).
2. Make sure there are no viruses on your phone – some Trojans block access to the developer’s settings.
3. Update MIUI to the latest stable version – in beta versions, functionality often breaks down.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions