Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, but even years after its release, its capabilities remain relevant for enthusiasts. The hidden developer menu allows you to unlock dozens of additional features from speeding up animations to debugging on USB. However, many users face the problem of how to find and turn it on if there is no explicit option in the settings?
This article will not only explain how to activate the developer mode on the Redmi Note 5, but also explain why the average user needs it. We will analyze all the ways to enable it (including alternatives for non-standard firmware), warn against typical errors and show how to return it all back if something goes wrong. And also reveal 5 little-known features of the developer menu that will be useful even for those who do not code.
What is a developer menu and why you need it on the Redmi Note 5
The Developer Options menu is a hidden Android settings section designed to test and debug apps. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, it is hidden by default so that random changes don't disrupt the stability of the system.
- 🔧 Speeding up the interface: reducing the time of animation windows and transitions (makes the smartphone “faster” visually).
- 📱 Debugging by USB: It is necessary to connect to the PC through ADB (For example, to unlock the loader).
- 🔄 Background Processes: Limiting the number of running applications to save battery.
- 📡 Network: forced inclusion 4G instead 3G, network-type.
- 🖥️ Display Simulation: Checking how the interface will look on screens with different resolution.
On the Redmi Note 5 with the MIUI shell, the developer menu also contains unique options that are not available in “pure” Android, for example, you can turn on the extended vibration when you press or turn off automatic memory optimization, which sometimes closes the desired applications.
⚠️ Attention: Some settings in the developer menu can disrupt the smartphone if you change them without understanding them. For example, turning on Do not turn off the screen will lead to a quick battery discharge, and changing the settings will lead to a change in the settings. GPU-rendering can cause graphic artifacts.
Official way: how to enable the developer menu through settings
The easiest and safest method is activation via the standard MIUI menu. It works on all versions of firmware, including global (MIUI Global) and Chinese (MIUI China).
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Scroll down and select the About Phone section.
- Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row.
- After 3-4 taps, a notification will appear: You are almost at the target!
- After pressing 7, the system will show a message: You became a developer!
Now the developer menu will appear in the main settings list to find it:
- Return to the main settings menu.
- Scroll down and a new Additional Settings will appear.
- There will be a developer options section inside.
☑️ Verification of successful activation
If nothing happens after 7 taps, check:
- 🔹 You're clicking on Version. MIUI, Not the Android version or the device model.
- 🔹 You do not have custom firmware installed (e.g. LineageOS) where the path may differ.
- 🔹 The system is not locked with a password or pattern lock (sometimes you need to unlock before activation).
Alternative ways of inclusion (if the standard does not work)
In rare cases, the developer menu may not be activated via the MIUI Version.
- 📱 Installed custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or AOSP).
- 🔧 Errors in system files after a failed update.
- 🛡️ Restrictions imposed by the device administrator (e.g. on work phones).
If the standard method doesn’t work, try these options:
Method 1: Through ADB (for advanced users)
If you have access to your computer and have ADB drivers installed, you can turn on the developer menu with the command:
adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.settings.APPLICATION_DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGSAfter these commands are executed, the menu should appear in the settings. If not, restart the smartphone.
Method 2: Engineering menu (for experienced)
On some firmware, the developer menu can be enabled via the engineering menu (#4636##).However, this method is risky - incorrect actions can disrupt the network or sensors.
⚠️ Note: The engineering menu (#36446337## or #4636###) contains options critical to the Redmi Note 5. Changing the BandMode or Network Lock settings may result in loss of communication!
How to return the developer menu if it is lost after resetting?
Top.-5 Hidden features of the developer menu for Redmi Note 5
Many people include the developer menu only for debugging over USB, but there's a lot more to it than that.
| Function | Wherever | Why do you need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerating animation | Debugging → Windows animation / Transitions / Duration of the animator | Reduces delays when opening applications (visually speeds up work). |
| Background processes | Applications → Limit of background processes | Limits the number of applications running, saving battery life. |
| GPU-acceleration | Hardware acceleration → Forced acceleration GPU | It can improve performance in games, but increases heat. |
| Simulation of the display | Gestures → Simulate the neck-out display | It allows you to check how the interface will look on screens with “bangs”. |
| Log of errors | Debugging → Recording errors | Helps diagnose malfunctions in applications. |
One of the most useful options is unlocking. OEM (OEM Unlocking. It's necessary if you're planning to:
- 🔓 Unlock the bootloader for installing custom firmware.
- 📱 Establish root rights through Magisk.
- 🔄 Restore your smartphone via Fastboot if it stops turning on.
⚠️ Attention: Inclusion OEM Unlocking resets all data to Redmi Note 5 the first time you unlock the bootloader.
💡
If after activating the animation acceleration, the interface began to “twitch”, return the default values: Windows animation = 1x, Transitions = 1x, Animator Duration = 1x.
What to do if the developer menu is not turned on
Sometimes users have a problem: they click on the MIUI Version 7 times, but the menu never appears.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No notification after 7 clicks | Custom firmware installed | Use ADB or check the path in the settings (may be called Build number). |
| Menu is missing after update | Resetting system settings | Repeat activation (click on MIUI Version 7 more times). |
| The MIUI version is inactive. | Device in Demo mode (showcase sample) | Reset your smartphone to factory settings. |
| There is a No Command error | Damaged system files | Switch your smartphone through the Mi Flash Tool. |
If none of the methods worked, check:
- Are there any work profiles installed on the smartphone (for example, through Android Enterprise), which block access to the developer menu?
- Is the kiosk mode (limited functionality for demonstration) activated?
- Is the file system damaged (check through fsck in recovery)
💡
If the developer menu doesn't turn on after all the attempts, it's likely the problem is the firmware. Try updating MIUI to the latest version or installing the official firmware through Fastboot.
How to turn off the developer menu on Redmi Note 5
If you no longer need a developer mode or want to hide it from outsiders, there are two ways to do it:
Method 1: Resetting through settings
The easiest method is to reset the developer menu settings:
- Open the settings → Additional → for developers.
- In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Resetting Settings.
- Confirm the action – the menu will remain in the settings, but all changes will reset.
Method 2: Complete removal (hidden)
To remove the item from the menu:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Settings app and select Storage.
- Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
- Reboot your smartphone – the developer menu will disappear.
⚠️ Attention: Settings will reset all personal settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness, etc.) It is recommended to take screenshots of the current parameters before resetting.
Security: what settings in the developer menu is better not to touch
The developer menu is a great option, but some options can permanently damage the Redmi Note 5.
- 🚫 Turn off the absolute volume level – can cause loss of sound in the speakers.
- 🚫 Inactivity when connecting to USB — The smartphone will not come out of sleep when charging.
- 🚫 Enforcement of use GPU — It will cause overheating and quick battery discharge.
- 🚫 Disable access control – will make the system vulnerable to viruses.
- 🚫 Change the scale of the minimum width – can break the display of the interface.
It is especially dangerous to turn on Strict Mode, which gives the screen red for long I/O operations, but on the Redmi Note 5 with a Snapdragon 636 processor can cause freezes due to conflict with MIUI optimizations.
If you accidentally changed the critical setting and the smartphone began to work unstable:
- Try resetting the developer menu settings (as described above).
- If this does not help, perform a soft reset through Settings → Additional → Resetting.
- In extreme cases, resort to a hard reset via Recovery (keep Power + Volume up when turned on).
💡
Before changing any settings in the developer menu, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will allow you to quickly restore your functionality if something goes wrong.