Xiaomi Developer Mode: How to Enable and Why You Need It in 2026

Xiaomi’s developer mode is a hidden toolbar that gives you access to dozens of additional settings that are not available in the standard MIUI. It can speed up the animation system, debug applications through ADB, enable FPS display in games or even unlock the bootloader to install custom firmware. But how to activate it if the settings menu does not have such an option?

In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to enable the developer mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — from the classical method through the "Version" MIUI" The new version of Android 14 and MIUI 15 You will also learn which settings to change first and which to touch is not recommended to avoid system failures.

Why you need a developer mode on Xiaomi

Many users mistakenly believe that the developer mode is only for programmers or those who are engaged in firmware modification, in fact, even the average user can use it for:

• 🔧 Speed up the interface – disabling animations makes navigation on the system instantaneous.
• 🎮 Optimizing Games – Enabling Display FPS, graphics setting through Force 4x MSAA.
• 🔄 Debugging applications - the ability to connect to the PC through ADB software-test.
• 📱 Unlocking the bootloader is the first step to install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
• 🔋 Battery control – limiting the background of applications, disabling unnecessary processes.

For example, if your Redmi Note 12 started to slow down after upgrading to MIUI 15, just turn off the animation of the windows in the developer settings - and the smartphone will work noticeably faster. and gamers on POCO F5 can turn on Force GPU Rendering to improve performance in heavy games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.

⚠️ Attention: Some settings in developer mode can disrupt the stability of the smartphone. For example, turning on Do not turn off the screen when charging leads to overheating, and changing the settings. DPI It can make icons too small or too large.

Classical method: through "Version" MIUI"

This is the most common method that works on 90% Xiaomi devices, including models 2020–2026 years 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13). The instructions are universal for MIUI 12/13/14/15 Android 11/12/13/14.

After you do this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu, For Developers (or Developer options in English firmware). If you don't have one, try:

• 🔍 Scroll down the settings menu – sometimes it hides at the very end.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and repeat the steps.
• 📱 Make sure you don’t have a guest mode or a child mode (these may block the option).

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K60) instead of "Versions" MIUI" You may need to tap the Build number, depending on the firmware version.

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If nothing happens after 7 taps, check if a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) is installed on the smartphone. It can block system notifications. Return the standard MIUI launcher and try again.

Alternative Incorporation Methods (if Standard Incorporated Does Not Work)

On some firmware (especially global or European versions of MIUI), the classic method may not work, in which case try one of the alternatives:

Method 1: Through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to a computer, you can turn on the developer mode via the ADB command line.

1. Download Platform Tools from the official Android website.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and allow debugging over USB (if it is already on).
3. Open the command line in the folder with ADB Enter: adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1
4. Reset the device.

Method 2: Engineering menu (for older models)

On devices up to Xiaomi Mi 9 (2019), sometimes logging into the engineering menu helps.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information and tap the Assembly Number several times.

⚠️ Warning: The engineering menu contains parameters that affect the modem and network. Changing the settings without understanding the consequences can lead to loss of communication or overheating of the processor.

Method 3: Through the Developer Settings app (for MIUI 15)

In the latest versions of MIUI 15 (based on Android 14), Xiaomi began to hide access to the developer mode even more. If taps on the MIUI version do not work, try:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special Opportunities.
2. Activate Quick Access to Developer Settings (if any).
3. Reboot your smartphone.

Top.-5 Useful settings in the developer mode

Once you activate the developer mode, you'll see more than 50 additional settings, and we've selected the most useful ones that will be useful to the average user:

One of the most popular applications is to speed up the interface.

1. Go to Settings. → For developers.
2. Find the items: Window animation scale → Off. or 0.5x Transition animation scale → Off. or 0.5x Duration of animation → Off.

Reboot your smartphone.

These changes will make MIUI navigation almost instantaneous, especially on budget models like the Redmi 10A or the POCO M4 Pro.

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Disabling animations does not affect performance in games, but makes the system interface noticeably more responsive. This is especially useful on devices with a weak processor (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO C31).

What You Should Not Do in Developer Mode

Despite its usefulness, some settings can harm your smartphone, and this is something you should not touch unnecessarily:

• 🚫 Turn off the absolute volume level – can damage the speakers when connecting headphones.
• 🚫 Imitation of secondary displays - causes malfunctions in the screen.
• 🚫 Limiting the speed of background processes – leads to applications hanging.
• 🚫 Strict mode - flashing screen annoying and not practical.
• 🚫 Change the scale DPI — Can make text unreadable or break the layout of applications.

It is also dangerous to turn off the screen for a long time - this leads to overheating and degradation of the matrix (especially on the screen). AMOLED-The same screen as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K50 If you need to keep your screen on (for example, for navigation), use apps like Keep Screen On, which are more secure.

Another risky parameter is to allow bogus locations, which is used to trick applications (e.g., geolocation games), but this can lead to:

• 📍 Blocking of the account in banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff).
• 🚗 Incorrect operation of navigators (Yandex.Maps, Google Maps).
• 🔒 Prohibition of the use of certain services (for example, Pokémon GO).

How to turn off the developer mode on Xiaomi

If you no longer need additional settings or want to hide them from outsiders, you can deactivate the developer mode.

1. Go to Settings. → For developers.
2. In the upper right corner, click on ⋮ → Resetting settings.
3. Confirm the action.

After that, the section will disappear from the settings menu. However, some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 12T) may require a complete reset (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset) to remove it permanently.

If you just want to hide the section but save the settings, you can:

• Disable USB Debugging (this will make the partition less visible).
• Use apps like QuickShortcutMaker to remove the shortcut from the menu.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (POCO F4 GT, Redmi K40 Gaming) Reset developer mode can disable root rights if they were obtained through Magisk. Before reset, back up the data!

Developer Mode and Security: What You Need to Know

Enabling the developer mode does not violate Xiaomi’s warranty, as it is a standard Android feature, but some actions inside it can lead to problems:

• 🔓 Debugging by USB — It opens up access to your smartphone data when you connect to your PC. Always turn it off after you use it.
• 📡 Unlocking the bootloader – cancels the warranty and erases all data on the device.
• 🛠️ Changing system applications – can cause malfunctions MIUI.

If you plan to sell or transfer your smartphone to another person, be sure to:

1. Turn off USB debugging.
2. Reset the developer settings (as described above).
3. Remove all security certificates (Settings → Passwords & Security → Other security settings).

On devices with HyperOS (new firmware for Xiaomi 14 and later), some developer settings may be blocked by default, such as the ability to change DPI or enable Root access without unlocking the bootloader.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi developer mode