Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to access advanced system features that are hidden from the ordinary view. The MIUI shell or the new HyperOS have a deep level of nesting settings, and the standard path to them may not exist explicitly, this is done by developers to protect inexperienced users from accidental changes to critical parameters.
However, knowing how to activate an engineering menu or debugging mode allows you to solve complex problems: calibrate the screen, test sensors, reset network errors or install custom firmware. In this article, we will examine all legal methods for accessing hidden partitions, from basic interface settings to advanced methods through ADB.
It is important to understand that tampering with system services requires caution. Changing the parameters in the engineering menu (CIT) can lead to incorrect communication modules or touch screen if you are not sure of your actions. We will look at safe algorithms that will help you unlock the potential of your device without the risk of turning it into a brick.
Basic methods of accessing system settings
The most obvious, but often ignored, way is the standard settings menu, which is specific to Xiaomi devices. Unlike pure Android, it's tab-sized, and the search isn't always intuitive. To get into advanced settings, you need to open the Settings app and use the search bar at the top.
Enter keywords such as "special features", "developer options" or "about the phone". Often users are unaware that some features require multiple clicks to activate, for example, to enable the developer mode, you need to 7 times click on the version of MIUI.
Also worth paying attention to the control panel. Swipe down from the upper right corner (or left, depending on the settings) opens the control center, where the buttons for quick access to the developer mode and debugging over USB are hidden, if they are pre-activated in the system.
- 🔍 Use a global search by settings by entering exact feature names.
- 👆 Activate hidden tabs with multiple taps by build number.
- 📱 Check the sidebar menu for quick access to tools.
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To quickly navigate to any menu, use the Xiao AI or Google Assistant voice assistant by saying “Open Bluetooth settings” or “Show the MIUI version.”
Activation and Entry to the Developer Menu
The developer menu is a gateway to animation management, background limits, and application debugging. Without it, most advanced features remain unavailable. The process of enabling is standard for all firmware versions, but the location of the MIUI version may vary depending on the regional version of the software.
Once activated, a new section appears in the main settings, often called "Advanced" or simply "Developers," and there are critical switches like USB Debugging, which is necessary to connect a smartphone to a computer for deep diagnostics or install apps off-site.
Beware: Turning on options like "Don't Turn Off Screen" or "Tap Demonstration" can significantly speed up battery life, tools designed for testing, not everyday use.
☑️ Activation of the developer mode
You'll find a lot of technical features in this section, and you'll find a lot of customizations to scale and animation speeds that are particularly important, and changing from 1x to 0.5x visually speeds up the interface, making the response more instantaneous.
Engineering Menu (CIT): Diagnostics and Tests
The engineering menu, often called the CIT (Customer Integration Test), is a hidden section designed for factory testing of hardware components, accessed through a special code in the call or through the debugging menu, a powerful tool for checking the health of the sensor, camera, speakers and communication modules.
To log in, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. On some models or in certain regions, the code may differ, such as ##4636## for the test menu. If the code doesn't work, make sure you have a SIM card and access rights.
⚠️ Note: The engineering menu contains calibration reset features and test modes that may temporarily disrupt the normal operation of the device. Do not press the Pass All or Fail buttons unless you are conducting a full diagnosis.
Inside the CIT, you'll find a list of all the components, and if you click on any of them, like "Touchpanel," you'll go into checkout mode. Follow the instructions on the screen: draw lines, press dots, and it helps you identify dead zones or multi-touch problems.
Also available here is information about the serial numbers of the modules, IMEI and the version of the radio module, which is useful when contacting the service center or when flashing the device when you need to verify the identifiers.
Hidden Menu of SIM Testing and Networking
The telephony and mobile network testing menu is particularly noteworthy, allowing you to switch radio modes, check the signal level in dBm, and control your preferred network type, especially in areas of insecure reception or when you have trouble switching between 4G and 3G.
The code ##4636## is used to sign in. If it doesn’t work on your Xiaomi, you can use the MTK Engineering Menu app (for MediaTek processors) or similar utilities from the Play Market that emulate this call.
In the Phone Information window that opens, you'll see a drop-down list of "Configure preferred network type." Here you can force LTE Only mode, which sometimes helps you "catch" the network in places where the phone is constantly losing signal, or, conversely, turn off 4G to save power.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Strength | Signal level in dBm | Normal: -80 to -100 dBm |
| Cell Info | Information on the cell | Useful for finding a tower |
| Ping Test | Checking the delay | Diagnostics of network lags |
| Radio Power | On/off radio | Use with caution |
Using these settings, you can diagnose Internet problems that you can't see in the normal interface, for example, a phone can show 4G, but the Internet doesn't work due to network logging errors, which is only visible in the logs on this menu.
Using ADB to access hidden menus
For advanced users who don’t have enough standard codes, there is an Android debugging bridge (ADB) method that allows you to open hidden system activities that don’t have an icon on the desktop or settings, you’ll need a computer, a USB cable, and an installed set of Platform-tools tools.
First, you need to turn on USB Debugging in the developer menu, then connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging on the device screen, and then you can send commands through the command line to run specific system activities.
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.SettingsHowever, ADB’s main strength lies in running hidden activities, such as opening a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth test menu that is hidden deep in the system using an activity command on its name, which requires knowing the exact packet name and activity class.
Example of a command for a hidden menu
This method is universal and works even when codes in a call are blocked by an operator or manufacturer, and it also allows you to create shortcuts on the desktop to quickly access these hidden features in the future using special launcher applications or widgets.
Frequent problems and solutions when opening the menu
Often, users are faced with a situation where the codes do not work and the menu items have disappeared. USSD-codes, or bugs of the firmware itself MIUI. In such cases, the system may ignore the input of characters * and #.
One common problem is that you don't respond to the code input from the engineering menu. If the ##6484## set doesn't open the CIT, try entering it without the last grille or, conversely, adding it.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have software-cutting codes for the engineering menu, in which case the only solution is to install India or Singapore in the phone settings, where these features are often unlocked.
If the developer menu has disappeared by itself, just turn off and turn on the developer switch.The system will reset the state, and the next time it turns on, it will reappear. Remember that after you reboot the device, USB debugging is often reset for security reasons.
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If the codes don’t work, changing the phone region to India will unlock access to the CIT engineering menu 90% of the time.