Xiaomi Developer Mode: How to Enable and What the Hidden Engineer Menu Gives

You bought a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but some features remain unavailable?Maybe you need to activate developer mode - a hidden menu that gives you access to advanced Android settings. Without it, you can not unlock the bootloader, enable debugging over USB, change the system animation or test new MIUI features before the official release.

In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step instruction to turn on the developer mode on any Xiaomi device (including the 2026 model), see what it offers, and warn about the potential risks. And if you’ve tried to activate the menu but it didn’t work out, there’s a problem solving section at the end of the article.

Why do I need a developer mode on Xiaomi?

Xiaomi's default is to hide the engineering menu so that ordinary users don't accidentally change critical settings, but for enthusiasts and developers, this mode is a storehouse of possibilities:

• 🔧 Debugging by USB — mandatory condition for connection to ADB, Firmware through Fastboot or using tools like Scrcpy.
• ⚡ Speed up animation: You can reduce or disable transitions between screens (useful for performance testing).
• 📱 Emulation of other devices: changing screen resolution, pixel density (DPI) or simulating a second display.
• 🔒 Unlocking the bootloader is the first step to install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
• 📡 Hidden network settings: forced inclusion 5G, displaying the signal level in dBm, modem speed testing.

But beware: improper changes can cause system instability, overheating, or even a device to “brick” – for example, if you manually limit background processes or turn off critical MIUI services.

⚠️ Attention! Activating Developer Mode resets some security settings, including restrictions on installing applications from unknown sources. Once the menu is turned on, it is recommended to manually check settings in Settings. → Annexes → Special access.

Step-by-step: how to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi

The activation process is the same for all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (starting with MIUI 12 and later).

• 📱 Smartphone with a battery charge of more than 20% (in case of resetting settings).
• 🔐 Unlocked screen (PIN, graphical).
• ⏱ 2-3 minute-time.

Follow the algorithm:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (on some models – About Device).
3. Find the line MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row, after 3-4 clicks will pop up the notification: "You're almost there!".
4. Keep pressing until you see the message: “You’ve become a developer!”
5. Return to the main Settings menu, and a new section will appear — Additional → Developers (or just Developers in newer versions of MIUI).

If the partition doesn't appear right away, restart the device. Sometimes the system takes time to apply the changes.

Where to find the developer menu after switching on?

Depending on the MIUI version and the smartphone model, the location of the item may vary.

If the menu doesn’t show up even after the reboot, check:

• 🔍 Is hidden mode activated in settings (sometimes Xiaomi hides the item for security).
• 📱 Is there a custom firmware installed - some builds remove the developer menu.
• 🔄 Have you reset to factory after activation (this will reset the developer status).

💡

If the developer menu is missing after the MIUI update, repeat the activation procedure (7 clicks on the firmware version), sometimes the system requires re-confirmation after major updates.

Top.-5 useful features in the menu of the developer Xiaomi

Now that the menu is available, let’s figure out which settings should be changed first (and which ones are better not to touch).

1. USB debugging (USB debugging)

Without this paragraph, it is not possible:

• 🖥 Connect to the PC via ADB (firmware, backup or debugging).
• 📱 Use Scrcpy to control your phone from your computer.
• 🔧 Install TWRP or unlock the loader.

To include:

1. Go to For Developers.
2. Find Debugging over USB and activate the switch.
3. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

Permission OEM-unlock (OEM unlocking)

This option is required to unlock the bootloader, and without it, even the official Mi Unlock Tool utility won't work. It's activated in the same way as USB debugging, but:

⚠️ Attention! On some models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) This option can be blocked until the account is linked to the device for 7 days.

3. Accelerating animation

If you think MIUI is slow, you can speed up the transitions between screens:

• 🎯 Windows animation scale - install 0.5x or disconnect.
• 🔄 The transition animation scale is the same.
• ⚡ Animator Duration Scale – Reduces Delays When Opening Applications.

Background processes

Limiting background processes can increase battery life, but will lead to frequent reboots of applications, the optimal value is the Standard Limit (or 4 processes for weak devices).

5. Hidden network settings

The Network section can:

• 📶 Forced to turn on 5G (if the operator supports, but the smartphone stubbornly switches to 4G).
• 📡 Display the exact signal level in dBm (useful for coverage area testing).
• 🔄 Disable automatic network selection (if the phone constantly loses connection).

💡

Do not change your settings Do not use 2G or only 4G/5G if you are not sure about the stability of your carrier's network.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after activating the developer mode correctly, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1.The developer menu is missing after the update

This is due to the reset of hidden settings when updating MIUI.

1. Again, tap 7 times on the MIUI version.
2. If it doesn’t help, reset your settings. → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙) → Resetting settings.

2. the "OEM-unlock" option is inactive

On the new models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13), Xiaomi blocks the bootloader unlock to:

• 🔗 Linking your Mi Account to your device (you need to log in to the same account as when you first activate it).
• ⏳ 7-day waiting period (even if the account is tied).

Solution: Wait a week or use workarounds (but they may violate the warranty).

3. USB debugging doesn't work

If you have an error "Not authorized" when connecting to the PC:

1. Turn off and reconnect the cable.
2. On the phone in the "Allow debugging?" window, check the "Always allow from this computer."
3. Install the latest Mi PC Suite or Google USB Driver drivers.

4.The smartphone overheats after changes

If you manually increase the limit FPS, Disabled battery optimization for all applications or changed GPU-rendering, the system could start to overheat:

• 🔄 Return the settings to standard (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting all settings).
• 📉 Limit background processes to Standard.
• 🔋 Check the Settings. → Battery. → Performance mode (select Balanced mode).

How to turn off the developer mode on Xiaomi

If you no longer need advanced settings, you can deactivate the menu, which will hide the settings and reset some settings to standard settings.

Method 1 (soft reset):

1. Go to Settings. → For developers.
2. At the top of the screen, move the switch to the off position.
3. Confirm the action.

Method 2 (full reset):

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Resetting settings.
3. Choose Reset settings (not to be confused with Reset before factory!).

⚠️ A full reset will remove all your personal data from the developer menu, including permissions to ADB And the network settings. You'll have to reset the debugging. USB.

Security: What not to do in the developer menu

Some settings can permanently disable a smartphone or create vulnerabilities for hackers.

• 🚫 Inactivity of the screen when charging → Always (will cause overheating and battery degradation).
• 🚫 Disable the authentication of the bootloader (risk of installing malware).
• 🚫 Background process without restrictions for all applications (accelerates battery discharge in the 2-3 once).
• 🚫 Change. IMEI or MAC-Address (may block the network).
• 🚫 Include the journal HCI Bluetooth (will fill memory logs in a few hours).

Also avoid:

• 🔧 Demonstration Mode (hidden notifications and real charge level).
• 📡 Compulsory inclusion VoLTE/VoWiFi, If the operator does not support the technology.
• 🔒 Shutdowns MIUI Optimization – This Can Break Themes and Animations.

If you accidentally changed the critical setting, and the smartphone began to work unstable, reset to factory settings through Settings → About phone → Reset settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions