How to find and enable developer options on Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with pictures and tips

Developer mode on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a hidden section of settings that opens access to advanced operating system functions MIUI. With its help, you can accelerate interface animation, debug applications, change parameters. USB-You can debug it or you can unlock it, but how do you get there if you don't have a menu item?

Many users mistakenly think that it requires root rights or special programs to activate this mode. In fact, it is much easier: just click a few clicks on a hidden menu. However, there are nuances - for example, on new versions of MIUI 14/15, the algorithm has changed slightly, and on some models (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi K60) additional authorization is required through the Mi Account. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to enable the developer settings, tell what settings are hidden there, and warn about possible risks.

If you've never used a developer mode, don't be afraid of the name. It's useful not only for programmers but also for regular users. For example, you can turn off automatic brightness, which often works incorrectly, or remove delays when you switch between applications. The main thing is to know what parameters can be changed without risk to the system.

Why are the developer’s settings hidden by default?

Xiaomi, like other Android smartphone makers, has been hiding this section for a reason.

• 🔧 The risk of disrupting the stability of the system: improper settings can lead to slowdown, overheating or even a "brick" of the device.
• 🛡️ Data security: certain parameters, e.g, USB-debugging) open access to the device through a computer, which can be used by an attacker.
• 📱 Difficulty for beginners. Most users don't need these settings, and if they change them accidentally, they can cause panic.

However, Xiaomi leaves the option to enable developer mode through “secret code” – a combination of taps in the About Phone menu.It’s a standard Android mechanism that works on all devices, including Redmi, POCO and Mi.

Interesting fact: some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global) will be alerted to the fact that the warranty may be cancelled after activation of the developer mode, but in practice it is not – the warranty is preserved if you do not make changes to the system files (e.g., do not get root).

Method 1: Standard About Phone Activation (for MIUI 12-15)

This is the most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi Redmi models, including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/11, Redmi K40/K50/K60 and others. The instructions are suitable for official MIUI firmware (Global, China, EEU) and custom builds based on Android 10-14.

You'll need:

• 📱 Xiaomi Redmi smartphone with a battery charge of at least 20%.
• ⚙️ Access to the basic settings (password or fingerprint if set).
• 🕒 1-2 minutes of free time.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Device).
3. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row.
4. After the third or fourth press, a pop-up will appear, saying, "You're almost there! 3 taps left."
5. After the seventh press, you will see a message: “You became a developer!”

Now, the Settings menu will have a new option — Additional → Developer Settings (or just Developer Settings in new versions of MIUI).

Method 2: Alternative method for older versions of MIUI (up to MIUI 11)

If you have a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone on firmware older than MIUI 12 (like a Redmi 5/6/7 or a Redmi Note 7/8 with original firmware), the algorithm may be slightly different. In some cases, instead of the MIUI version, you need to click on the Build number.

How to do this:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the Android version and click on it 5 times – this will open access to the Assembly Number.
3. Now, click on the build number 7 times until a message appears to unlock the developer mode.

Some devices (such as Redmi 4X or Redmi 5A) may require a password from your Mi Account after activation, due to Xiaomi’s security policy for older models.

⚠️ Attention: On firmware MIUI older than 2019 (for example, MIUI 10) after activation of the developer mode, the menu item may disappear. In this case, restart the device - it will appear in the Additional section.

Where to look for developer options after activation?

Once the developer mode is successfully enabled, the new partition may be in different locations depending on the MIUI version.

If you do not find the section on the specified paths, try to search by settings:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Slip the icon of the magnifier (search) in the upper right corner.
3. Enter the request: for developers or developers.

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If the developer mode is activated, try resetting the Settings app through Settings → Apps → App Management → Settings → Storage → Clear the data, and this will return all menu items to their original state.

What developer mode settings can be safely changed?

Not all of the options in this section are equally useful, some of which can cause performance problems or overheating if you don't configure them correctly, and we've compiled a list of the safest and most useful options:

• ⚡ Accelerating animation: The scale of window animation → set up 0.5x Or shut it down. The scale of transition animation. → 0.5x. Duration of the animator → 0.5x. Effect: the interface will become faster, but less smooth.
• 🔋 Battery Optimization: Don't turn off the screen while charging - convenient to read or watch videos. Limit background processes → Set the Standard Limit (do not put without background processes!).
• 📱 For experienced users: USB-Debugging – needed to connect to ADB (For example, to unlock the bootloader. OEM — Simulation of secondary displays is useful for testing applications.

Here is what you should not touch without understanding:

• 🚫 GPU-Acceleration – can cause artifacts in games.
• 🚫 Turn off the absolute volume level - the risk of damaging the dynamics.
• 🚫 Turn on 4x MSAA — Increases the load of the processor.

⚠️ Note: Change of the Minimum Width setting (in the Scaling section) may cause some applications to display incorrectly. If the interface is "gotten" after the changes, return the value to the 480dp (standard).

What to do if the developer’s settings are not included?

Sometimes users have problems activating the mode, and here are the most common cases and their solutions:

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 📌 Version MIUI — It is possible that your firmware has been modified (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience).
• 📌 Updates – sometimes bugs are fixed in new versions.
• 📌 Access Rights – if the device is corporate, the administrator could block this partition.

How to disable the developer settings on Xiaomi Redmi?

If you don't need to access these settings anymore, you can deactivate them. There are two ways to do this.

Method 1: Through resetting settings

1. Open the settings → Additional → for developers.
2. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Resetting Settings.
3. Confirm the action – the section will disappear from the menu.

Method 2: Reset all settings (if the first method didn’t work)

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose Resetting (not to be confused with Resetting to Factory!).
3. Confirm – this will remove all user settings, including the developer mode.

Important: Resetting to factory settings (Wipe Data) will remove all data from the device, so use it only as a last resort.

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The developer mode doesn't disappear completely after the reset, it just disappears from the menu, and to activate it again, just repeat the procedure with a click on the MIUI version.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the developer’s options on Xiaomi Redmi