Where to look for the “For developers” tab on Xiaomi: a detailed guide with pictures

Have you ever tried to connect a Xiaomi smartphone to a computer for debugging, test performance through ADB, or just speed up the animation of the interface? Without the developer mode on, these actions are impossible. The problem is that by default this tab is hidden in MIUI, Xiaomi's proprietary shell based on Android. Even experienced users sometimes get lost when you need to find it, especially after updating the firmware or resetting.

In this article, we will not only show you how to activate the developer menu on Redmi, POCO or Mi, but also analyze the nuances that depend on the version of MIUI (12 to 14) and the device model. You will learn why sometimes the tab disappears after an update, how to return it without reset, and what hidden features become available after unlocking, and what to do if the system gives an error when trying to enable debugging over USB.

Why the developer mode is not in the settings menu Xiaomi

The developer menu is not hidden by chance, and Google and Xiaomi are specifically restricting access to it so that ordinary users do not change critical settings of the system, for example, incorrect settings in this section can:

• 🔧 Break the display interface (if set zero animation duration).
• 🔒 Create security vulnerabilities (for example, when constantly activating debugging) USB social media).
• 📱 Lead to application failures (if you limit background processes).

But for the power users, this is a treasure trove of possibilities.

• ⚡ Accelerate work MIUI by-pass.
• 🖥️ Permission. ADB-deep-tuning.
• 🔄 Turn on OEM Unlock to unlock the bootloader.
• 📡 Testing networks 4G/5G manually.

But how do you turn it on? It depends on the version of MIUI. On new firmware (13-14), the algorithm is different from the old ones (11-12), and then the detailed instructions for each case.

How to Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi with MIUI 14 (2023–2026)

In the latest versions of MIUI (14 and later), the path to hidden settings has changed.

1. Open Settings (cog icon on the main screen).
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 the notification appears, you became a developer! return to the main settings menu.

Now the For Developers tab will appear in the Additional section (on some models, directly in the main menu).

• 🔍 Did you walk the right way in the Version? MIUI (off-model!).
• 📱 Have you reset your settings after the update (sometimes you need to repeat the action).
• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes changes apply after a reboot.

Important! On some POCO models (e.g. POCO X5 Pro), instead of the MIUI version, you need to tap the Assembly Number (located in the same place, in About Phone). If after 7 taps nothing happens, try an alternative method:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → All the characteristics.
2. Find the line Build number and tap it 7 times.

Activation on older versions of MIUI (12 and below)

On the firmware MIUI 11-12 (relevant to Redmi Note 8/9, Mi 9/10, etc.) the algorithm is slightly different:

1. Going into Settings → The phone.
2. We are looking for the kernel version (not to be confused with the MIUI version!).
3. We tap it 5-7 times until the message about unlocking appears.

If this method does not work, try:

• 🔄 Tapping by Assembly Number (located under the kernel version).
• 📱 Restart the phone and try again.
• 🔧 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (in old builds there are bugs).

On some models (for example, Redmi 4X or Mi A1 with pure Android), the path may be different: instead of the kernel version, you need to tap the Build Number in the About Phone → Technical information section.

Where to look for a tab after activation

After successful activation of the developer mode, the tab can be in different places depending on the model:

• 📱 MIUI 14/13: Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• 📱 MIUI 12: Settings → Advanced settings → For developers.
• 📱 Old versions: Settings → System and device → Additionally. → For developers.

If the tab is not in the expected place:

1. Use a search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen) and enter the “developer” query.
2. Check if the tab is hidden because of Child Mode or corporate policies (relevant to work phones).
3. Restart the device – sometimes the menu only appears after the reboot.

💡

If you use developer mode frequently, add a shortcut for quick access: Keep your finger in the free seat of the home screen → Widgets → find Settings and drag the shortcut for developers.

What to do if the developer mode disappears after the update

Frequent problem: After updating MIUI, the For Developers tab disappears, although it was activated before.

• 🔄 Reset security settings (occurs with major updates).
• 📱 Removal of the system cache (sometimes automatically occurs).
• 🔧 Conflict with updated Xiaomi policies (for example, on the POCO F5 post-update MIUI 14).

Decisions:

1. Repeat activation (7 taps according to MIUI version or Assembly number).
2. Check if the mode is turned off in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points (menu) → Special access → Developer Options.
3. If nothing helps, reset your settings (but it will delete all the data!):

⚠️ On some models, the Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro) after a reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account to unlock the bootloader. Do not reset unless you are sure of a backup access code!

Hidden features that become available

Once you activate the developer mode, you can access dozens of hidden settings.

For example, to speed up animation (make the interface faster):

1. Open it to the developers.
2. Find the items: Window animation scale → set 0.5x or Off. Transition animation scale → 0.5x Animator duration → Off.

Reset the device.

Warning: On weak smartphones (Redmi 8A, POCO C31), disabling animations can lead to slowdowns due to lack of resources.

💡

Changing the animation scale does not require root rights, but may conflict with some MIUI themes. If the interface is getting glitzy after the changes, return the default values (1x).

Errors when enabling debugging over USB and their solution

One of the most common problems is that you can't enable USB Debugging, and it can cause errors.

• 🔌 Device unidentified (when connected to PC).
• 🔒 Permission revoked (despite confirmation on phone).
• ⚠️ Debugging disabled by the administrator (on corporate devices).

Decisions:

1. Install Xiaomi drivers on your PC: Download Mi PC Suite or ADB drivers from the official website. Connect your phone in file transfer (MTP) mode.

ADB

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Points → Special Access → Access to Location Data → USB Debugging (Reset)

Mi Security

:

• Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Auto Permissions.
• Disable USB Security.

⚠️ Attention, if you're using POCO Launcher or third-party shells, debugging by USB It may be unstable. Switch to a standard launcher. MIUI before connecting to ADB.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi developer mode