Developer mode on Xiaomi: how to turn it on and why it is necessary

The hidden capabilities of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones only open when the developer mode is activated, a special menu for power users, which allows you to unlock debugging over USB, change the animations of the system, test performance and even speed up the device, but how to turn it on if there is no such item in the standard settings?

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS), learn about the risks associated with improperly configuring the developer mode, and get answers to frequent questions.

What is a developer mode and why it is needed

Developer Mode is a hidden menu in Android designed to test and debug applications. On Xiaomi smartphones, it gives you access to:

• 🔧 Debugging by USB — connection ADB for installing custom firmware or data recovery.
• ⚡ Acceleration of animation – reducing the transition time between screens (c) 1x before 0.5x).
• 📊 Process monitoring – displaying CPU load, RAM and network activity in real time.
• 🔒 Unlocking the bootloader - necessary for installation TWRP or LineageOS.
• 🎯 Setting up GPU-rendering – forced use of a GPU to speed up games.

Without this regime, it is impossible:

• 📱 Install Google Camera (GCam) on Xiaomi without official support.
• 🔄 Switch the device through Fastboot or EDL.
• 🛠️ Use tools like Magisk for root rights.

⚠️ Note: Some settings in developer mode may disrupt system stability, such as forced activation 4K-Rendering on weak chips (Snapdragon) 4xx) It will cause overheating and applications to fly out.

How to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi: a universal way

The instructions are suitable for all models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO on MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS. The main condition is that the smartphone must be unlocked (not tied to the Mi Account after the reset).

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Device on HyperOS).
3. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row.
4. After 3-4 clicks, a notification will appear: “You are almost a developer!”
5. After pressing 7, the system will show a message: “You became a developer!”

Now in the main menu Settings will appear a new item — Additional → For developers (or Advanced settings → Developer options on HyperOS).

Check the battery charge (minimum 30%)

Disable VPN or proxy (can block access to settings)

Make sure there are no parental controls on the device.

Backup important data (in case of failure)

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⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after activation of the developer mode, the menu item may disappear, in which case, restart the device or check for updates. MIUI.

Where to find the developer menu in different versions of MIUI

The location of the item For developers depends on the firmware version, and in the table below are the current ways for popular models:

If the menu doesn’t show up even after 7 clicks on the MIUI version, try:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📱 Reset the settings of the application Settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Warehouse → Clear the data).
• 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version.

💡

On Chinese firmware (MIUI China), the developer menu may be hidden due to regional restrictions. To see it, change the system language to English: Settings → Additional settings → Language & input Language →

What settings can be changed (and what should not be touched)

There are over 50 options on the Developer Menu, but most of them are for testing, and we've highlighted some useful and dangerous options:

🔧 Useful settings (can include)

• 📱 Debugging by USB (USB debugging – to connect to ADB.
• ⚡ Animation of windows / transitions - reduction to 0.5x speed up.
• 🔒 Unlocking OEM (OEM unlocking – needed to unlock the bootloader.
• 📊 Do not turn off the screen – useful when firmware or streaming.
• 🎮 Forced. GPU-rendering – improves performance in games (but increases heat).

⚠️ Dangerous settings (it is better not to touch)

• 🚫 Turn off the absolute volume level – can break the sound in Bluetooth headphones.
• 🚫 Turn on 4x MSAA — loading GPU on weak chips (Helio Gxx).
• 🚫 Background processes – limiting to 1-2 processes will cause application crashes.
• 🚫 Disable the check MIUI — It can disrupt proprietary functions (e.g. Second Space).

If you accidentally change a dangerous parameter, reset the developer settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Settings app and select Storage → Clear the data.
3. The developer menu will disappear and it will have to be turned on again.

How to Enable Developer Mode on a Blocked Xiaomi

If the smartphone is locked (requires you to enter a password from Mi Account after reset), the standard 7-press method will not work.

🔓 Method 1: Through ADB (if USB-debugging has already been included)

If you have previously activated USB debugging, connect the device to your PC and follow the command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings

This will open the developer menu directly, even if it is hidden.

🔓 Method 2: Through Fastboot (for unlocked bootloader)

If the bootloader is unlocked, you can temporarily flash TWRP and manually edit the build.prop file by adding a line:

ro.debuggable=1

Once you restart, the developer menu will appear, but this method is risky, because if you make a mistake, the device may stop booting.

⚠️ Note: On locked devices (Redmi with Mi Account binding), any way to bypass the lock, except for the official Xiaomi unlocker, can lead to locking. IMEI.

How to turn off the developer mode on Xiaomi

If you no longer need hidden settings, you can deactivate the developer menu.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
2. In the upper right corner, press the switch (it will turn gray).
3. Confirm the action by clicking Disable.

After the shutdown:

• ✅ All changes in the developer settings will reset.
• ✅ The menu item will disappear from the Settings.
• ❌ USB-Debugging and other functions will become unavailable.

If the switch is missing (e.g. on HyperOS), clear the Settings app data as described in the section above.

💡

Turning off developer mode does not reset the settings already used (e.g., accelerated animations), and to get everything back to factory settings, you need to manually reset each item you change.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with the developer mode, users encounter typical errors. Here's how to fix them:

If after changes in the developer menu, the smartphone began to slow down or restart, reset:

1. Press Volume Up + Power to Enter Recovery.
2. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (total reset).
3. After the reboot, the developer menu will be disabled.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions