How to Open Developer Mode on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with Hidden Chips

Developer mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a hidden settings section that allows you to access advanced features of the system. Without it, you can not enable debugging over USB, change animation settings, unlock a bootloader or test new MIUI features before the official release. However, many users face problems: where to look for this mode, how to activate it on different versions of the firmware, and what to do if menu items suddenly disappear after the update.

In this article, we will discuss not only the standard way to enable the developer mode, but also alternative methods for the development of the developer mode. MIUI 14/15, Bypassing possible locks, and also tell you what settings should be changed first to optimize the smartphone. ADB, And if you're planning to customize your Xiaomi or develop apps, this guide is for you.

What is a developer mode and why it is needed

Developer Options is a special section in Android settings designed to test and debug applications. On Xiaomi smartphones, it is hidden by default, since most features can lead to unstable system operation if used improperly. However, for power users and developers, this mode offers a wide range of opportunities:

• 🔧 Debugging by USB — connection ADB run commands from PC.
• 📱 Unlocking OEM — necessary for the firmware of custom recavers (TWRP) rooting.
• ⚡ Accelerating animations – changing the speed of transitions between screens.
• 🔍 Error Logs – Access to system logs to diagnose problems.
• 📡 Hidden network settings – forced choice of connection type (2G/3G/4G/5G).

For example, without developer mode, you can’t install Google Camera on some Xiaomi models, as you need to enable Force 4x MSAA to properly operate the camera. And for gamers, the Do not turn off the screen while charging, which prevents the display from blocking when connecting to the network, will be useful.

⚠️ Note: Some settings in developer mode may result in loss of warranty (e.g. unlocking bootloader) or unstable operation of the device (change of settings) GPU-Rendering. Create a backup of the data before activating.

The standard way to enable the developer mode on Xiaomi

On most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 12-15 firmware, the developer mode is enabled via the About Phone menu.

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 string and tap it 7 times in a row.
4. After the seventh press, a notification will appear: You have become a developer!
5. Return to the main Settings menu – there will be a new section Additional → For developers.

If nothing happens after multiple clicks, check:

• 📱 Firmware version: on MIUI 14+ You may need to enter a password after 7 clicks.
• 🔒 Presence of screen lock (PIN/pattern lock – without it, the mode is not activated.
• 🔄 System Updates: on some beta versions MIUI The section may be temporarily disabled.

Make sure your smartphone is 50% or more charged|

Backup your important data |

Set screen lock (PIN/password)|

Check the version. MIUI customized-->

On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), after activation of the developer mode, you may need to reboot the device to make the partition appear in the menu. If after the reboot it is not, try again to click on the MIUI version.

Alternative Incorporation Methods (if Standard Incorporated Does Not Work)

On some firmware (especially MIUI Global Stable for the European region), the standard method may not work.

Method 1: Through the ADB team

If you already have access to ADB (for example, via another smartphone or PC), follow the command:

adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1

After that, the Developer section should appear in the settings. If not, restart the device.

Method 2: Through the Testing app (for Chinese firmware)

On smartphones with MIUI China, sometimes installing the official Xiaomi Testing application helps:

1. Download APK Xiaomi Testing (Chinese Mi Account required).
2. Install the application and open it.
3. In the menu, find the option to Open Developer Mode and follow the instructions.

Method 3: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods work and the developer mode is critically needed (for example, to unlock the bootloader), you can reset to factory settings. After reset, try tapping again on the MIUI Version. This method works 90% of the time, but deletes all data from the device.

Top.-5 Useful settings in developer mode for Xiaomi

After activating the developer mode, dozens of options will open before you. We have selected the 5 most useful ones that will improve the performance of the smartphone without risk to the system:

Be careful about settings related to a secondary display simulation or changing resolution – these can lead to graphic artifacts. It is also not recommended to turn on Do Not Save Operations, as this will disable saving these applications after they are closed.

💡

If after changing the animation, the interface began to slow down, return the value of 1x for all parameters (Window animation, transition animation, Animator Duration).

How to unlock OEM and enable debugging over USB

Two key options for developers are unlocking OEM (OEM Unlocking) and debugging USB. They are necessary for firmware, root rights and work with ADB. Here's how to turn it on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
2. Find the OEM Unlock option and move the slider to the right.
3. Confirm the action by clicking Enable (password may be required).
4. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the resolution in the window that appears.

Then connect the smartphone to the PC and execute the command:

adb devices

If the device appears on the list, the debugging works correctly. If not, check:

• 🔌 Cable USB (It is better to use the original from Xiaomi).
• 🖥️ Drivers installed ADB PC (you can download from the official Android website).
• 🔄 Try reconnecting the device or restarting the PC.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or X-ray) POCO X5) Option Unlocking OEM It can be hidden even in developer mode, in which case you need to link your Mi Account to the device and wait 7 days before unlocking the bootloader.

Previous articleHidden ADB commands for Xiaomi: what can be done without root

With ADB, you can unlock additional Xiaomi features without even having root rights. Here are some useful commands:

• 📵 Turn off the adverts in MIUI (Reboot required: adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1
• 🔊 Enable stereo speakers (not working on all models): adb shell settings put global force_stereo_speaker true
• 📶 Forced to enable VoLTE (if operator supports): adb shell settings put global volte_vt_enabled 1
• 🔋 Disable battery optimization for selected applications (replace com.example.app with the app package): adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.example.app

To execute commands:

1. Connect your smartphone to a PC with USB debugging enabled.
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command and press Enter.

Some teams may fail on MIUI 15 due to tighter security policies, in which case you might try adding the --user 0 flag to the end of the command, such as:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 --user 0

💡

ADB commands allow you to change system settings without root, but their effect can reset after a firmware update. Always check the health after an update.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with the developer mode on Xiaomi, users encounter typical errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Developer mode disappears after update

Solution: Re-slip the MIUI 7 times. If it doesn't work, follow the command:

adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1

Problem 2: USB debugging does not work

Decision:

• Check the cable and USB port (try another cable).
• Install Mi PC Suite drivers from the official website.
• Turn off and turn on the developer mode again.

Problem 3: Device not authorized error when connecting to ADB

Solution: On the smartphone will be a request for debugging permission - tick Always allow from this computer and click Allow.

Problem 4: You can't turn on "OEM Unlock"

Solution: Link your Mi Account to your device and wait 7 days (Xiaomi's new model requirement) and check if Find My Device is included in your account settings.

Debugging by USB|

Acceleration of animation |

Unlock OEM|

Forced activation of 5G|

Other-->

FAQ: Answers to popular questions