How to turn on the menu for developers on Xiaomi: secrets MIUI and hidden possibilities

Developer mode on Xiaomi smartphones is a powerful tool that opens access to hidden system settings, debugging. USB, It unlocks the bootloader and a lot of other things, and without it, you can't install custom firmware, get root rights, or test applications in developer mode. MIUI hides this section from ordinary users to prevent accidental changes that could disrupt the stability of the device.

In this article you will find the most relevant ways to activate the developer menu on all modern versions. MIUI (12 to 14), including features for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. We'll also look at what to do if the standard method doesn't work, how to reset the tap counter, and what hidden features become available once the mode is turned on. MIUI 14: Automatically reset the developer menu after the system update – and ways to get around it.

Why the Developer Menu is Hidden and Why You Should Include It

Xiaomi, like other Android device makers, hides the default developer mode, not only for security, but also to protect users from accidental changes that could:

• 🔧 Disrupt system stability – incorrect settings can cause lags, overheating or sudden reboots.
• 🛡️ Reduce security – disabling application signature verification or unlocking the bootloader opens access to potentially dangerous software.
• 📱 Lead to loss of warranty – some actions (for example, unlocking bootloader) cancel warranty obligations.
• 🔋 Increase battery consumption - enable debugging by USB or background processes in developer mode can reduce battery life.

However, activation of this menu is necessary to:

• 🔄 Installation of custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience, etc.).
• 📱 Getting root rights through Magisk or SuperSU.
• 🖥️ Debugging applications through ADB or Android Studio.
• 🎯 Performance settings (e.g., Forced) 4x MSAA play-off).
• 📡 Unlock additional network features (e.g. Band Selection for manual frequency selection) 4G/5G).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable: Some options in the developer menu may be blocked. OEM Unlock is only available after you have attached your Mi Account and wait 7-15 days (depending on the model).

The standard way to include the developer menu on MIUI

The main activation method works on all versions. MIUI (12 to 14) and is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. You'll need it:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to About Phone (usually at the bottom of the list).
3. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
4. After 3-4 clicks, a notification will appear: “You are almost there!”
5. After pressing 7, the system will say, “You’ve become a developer!”

Now the developer menu will appear in the main settings list to find it:

1. Go back to Settings.
2. Scroll down and select Additional (on some firmware, the item is called Advanced Settings).
3. Slip it on the developers.

If the menu doesn’t appear immediately, try:

• 🔍 Reset the device.
• 🔄 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (some older builds had a bug displaying the menu).
• 📱 Check if the item in the search is hidden by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)

Make sure the battery is more than 30% charged

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (to download additional components)

Shut down. VPN (It can block the activation on some firmware)-->

Features of inclusion on different versions MIUI

Although the general principle of activating the developer menu is the same, in different versions MIUI Here's a nuanced table. Here's a comparison table for MIUI 12, 13 and 14:

Nana MIUI 14 (Android-based 13/14) the number of taps increased to 10, The menu itself can disappear after the updates, which is designed to improve security, but it's a inconvenience for developers:

• 🔄 Create a backup of settings through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📝 Write down the options enabled (for example, Do not turn off the screen or background processes).
• 🔧 Use it. ADB-commands to automatically turn on the menu after reset (more on this below).

MIUI 12

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

I don't know my version.

Other firmware (castom)-->

What to do if the developer menu does not appear

Sometimes the standard method doesn't work, and here are the common reasons and ways to fix them:

1. The tap counter dropped.

If you interrupt the process (for example, a call came out) or switched to another application, the counter is reset.

• 🔄 Start again and tap without pause (the interval between presses should not exceed 2 seconds).
• 📱 Use two fingers (in some models, this speeds up the process).

2. firmware modified or customized

On informal firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience), the path to the menu may be different.

• 🔍 Check the Settings section → System system → The phone. → Assembly number (stamp here).
• 🖥️ Connect to ADB Adb shell settings put global settings development_settings_enabled 1

3. Restrictions of regional firmware

On some global firmware (MIUI Global) Developer menu is blocked until the Mi Account is linked:

• 🔑 Register your Mi Account and log in to it on your device.
• 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Security and confirm the device.
• 🕒 Wait 24 hours (some models take time to unlock).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI The China Stable menu of a developer can be completely blocked without a Chinese phone number, in which case only the flashing to the global version will help.

Hardware limitations (on new models)

On Xiaomi's flagships 13/14 series K60 Additional protection is included if the menu does not appear:

• 🔧 Try to activate it through ADB: adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings
• 📋 Check if the item is hidden in the search by settings (enter “developer»).

Hidden Features of the Developer Menu on Xiaomi

Once you activate the developer mode, you get access to dozens of hidden settings, and here are the most useful ones for Xiaomi users:

1. Accelerating interface animation

MIUI It's known for its smooth, but sometimes slow animations:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → For developers.
• 📱 Find the points: Windows animation scale (install) 0.5x). Transition animation scale (install) 0.5x). The length of the animator (set) 0.5x or turn it off).

This will make the interface noticeably faster, especially on older models (Redmi Note 7, Mi 9).

2. Unlocking OEM Unlock for firmware

Without this item, you can't unlock the bootloader.

• 🔓 Find the Unlock option OEM developer-menu.
• 📱 Activate the switch and confirm the action.
• ⏳ On some models (Xiaomi 12, POCO F4) You will need to wait 7-15 days after you have attached your Mi Account.

⚠️ Attention: Incorporation OEM Unlock resets all data on the device (full wipe)! backup in advance.

3. Network setup (4G/5G)

In the developer menu, there are options for manually configuring the mobile network:

• 📡 Network Selection – Forced Standard Selection (2G/3G/4G/5G).
• 📶 Band Selection – Manual frequency selection (useful in roaming or signal enhancement).
• 🔄 Switching SIM-The card is a priority for two SIM on models with Dual SIM.

For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G You can manually select ranges n78 (3.5 GHz for better coverage 5G.

Debugging and diagnosis

For developers and enthusiasts, it is useful:

• 🖥️ Debugging by USB — work-in ADB Android Studio.
• 📊 Process statistics – monitoring of use CPU/RAM.
• 🔍 Don’t turn off the screen – convenient for testing or watching videos.
• 📱 Background processes – limiting the number of running applications (saving battery).

💡

If you use it often ADB, Enable the option to allow debugging by USB It's charging only, and it allows you to connect to the device even when the screen is locked.

5. Hidden Options for Games

On smartphones. POCO Black Shark (and game models) are on the developer menu:

• 🎮 Force 4x MSAA — Improves graphics in games (but increases the load on the game) GPU).
• 🔋 Background Limitation – Disables background processes to save battery while playing.
• 📊 GPU-Acceleration – forced use of the graphics processor.

Nana POCO F5 This setup allows you to achieve a stable 120. FPS into PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact.

How to Reset the Press Counter for the Developer Menu

If you accidentally interrupt the activation process or want to start over, you can reset the tap counter.

Method 1: Through settings

On some firmware (MIUI 12/13) counter-reset:

• 🔄 Resetting the device.
• 📱 Data cleansing of the application "Settings" (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the data).

Method 2: Through ADB

Universal method (works on all versions) MIUI):

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (If it has already been activated).
2. Open the command line and type: adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 0
3. Reset the device.

Method 3: Through the Settings Editor (requires root)

If you have root rights, use the BuildProp Editor app:

1. Open the app and find the ro.debuggable option.
2. Set the value 0.
3. Save the changes and restart the device.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting the meter to MIUI 14 can result in a 24-hour lockdown of a developer menu.This is done to protect against hacking.

💡

Nana MIUI 14 the tap counter is reset automatically after each major system update. To avoid loss of access, capture the options enabled with screenshots or export the settings through ADB.

Security: What You Can and Can't Do in the Developer's Menu

Developer mode is a great opportunity, but the wrong settings can disrupt the device, and this is what you can change without risk:

• ✅ Interface animation – speeding up or disabling animations.
• ✅ Debugging by USB — Only if you know what it is for.
• ✅ Don’t turn off the screen – convenient for presentations or testing.
• ✅ Background processes – a limitation to save battery.

Here is what you should not touch without experience:

• ❌ Unlocking OEM — This results in a data reset and can block the device.
• ❌ Fake Locations – Could Disrupt Google Services.
• ❌ Disabling Application Signature Verification – Risk of Installing Malware.
• ❌ Change of settings GPU-rendering – can cause graphic artifacts.

Be especially careful with the options associated with:

• 🔧 Factory reset via the developer menu (different from the standard reset).
• 📡 Modem settings (may cause network loss).
• 🔋 Background restrictions (some applications will stop working).

If you accidentally changed the critical setting and the device started to work unstable, try:

• 🔄 Return the parameter to its original state.
• 📱 Reset settings through Settings → System system → Resetting settings (does not affect user data).
• 🖥️ Restore firmware through the Mi Flash Tool (extreme case).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the developer menu on Xiaomi