How to Enable the App Menu on Xiaomi: Hidden Features and ADB

The modern MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS offer users an advanced interface, but many system partitions are hidden by default from the eyes of the average smartphone owner. Often, you need to access a full list of installed packages, including system components that are not displayed in the standard launcher, this is required to fine-tune autonomy, disable advertising in system applications or diagnose Android.

Enabling a so-called “full” app menu is not just a shortcut, but an activation of access to hidden service parts of the operating system. This cannot be done with standard means through phone settings, as the manufacturer intentionally restricts access to these features to avoid accidentally removing critical components. However, there are proven ways to circumvent these limitations using built-in debugging capabilities or third-party utilities.

Before you start any manipulation of system files and settings, you need to be aware of the risks. Incorrectly removing or stopping the system process can lead to a cyclical restart of the device or loss of functionality. In this article, we will look at safe methods for activating hidden menus that will allow you to control the device at a deeper level, while maintaining the stability of Xiaomi’s work.

What is hidden by the standard MIUI shell

MIUI is known for its deep modification of standard Android. Unlike pure Android, where the user sees all the installed applications, in Xiaomi, many system services are hidden. This is done to simplify the interface and protect against inexperienced actions. However, for advanced users, this limitation becomes a barrier. System processes responsible for running the camera, Bluetooth or updating components often do not have an icon on the menu, but consume resources.

Hiding these elements is also part of a device optimization strategy: If a user doesn't see an application, they're less likely to try to close or delete it, which ensures the stability of the background services, but sometimes you have to force a suspended service to stop or see which system application is causing battery drain, which requires access to a full list of packages.

⚠️ Warning: Forced shutdown or removal of system components that you don't know are intended to cause the phone to function unstable. Always check the name of the package before making changes.

There are several levels of access to information about applications. The first level is the standard settings menu, where only user programs are shown; the second level is the engineering menu or debugging mode, which gives access to technical details; it is activation of access to the second level that allows you to see the number of processes and services running.

Preparing the device for advanced setting

Before you activate the hidden functions, you need to prepare your smartphone. First of all, make sure that the device is debugging over USB. This is a key parameter that allows the computer to interact with the phone at the command level. Without this step, most of the tools for controlling the system will not be possible.

To enable debugging, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI seven times. Once the “You’re a developer” notification appears, go back to the “Additional” menu and find the “Developers” option. Here you need to activate the “Debug by USB” switch.

It is also important to check the operating system version. Some methods may work differently on Android 10, Android 11 or newer versions.In the latest HyperOS updates, Xiaomi has strengthened security measures, so old ways may need to be adjusted. Make sure your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, as some system components may require license checks or updates in the process.

Use the ADB command to activate the menu

The most reliable and versatile way to include a full application menu is to use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit, which does not require root rights and works on most Xiaomi models, including Redmi and POCO. The essence of the method is to send a special command that changes the value of the system flag, which opens access to hidden settings.

You'll need a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and a USB cable to start with. Download the Platform-tools package from the official Android developer site. Unpack the archive into a convenient folder. Connect the smartphone to your computer in debugging mode. Open the command line or terminal in the tool folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If you have a window on your phone asking for debugging permission, click "Allow." The command bar should show your device's serial number, and you can now enter a command to activate the hidden menu, and it looks like this:

adb shell pm grant com.android.settings com.android.settings.permission.EXPAND_SETTINGS

In some firmware versions, the command may differ.An alternative that often works to open a full list of applications:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$AllApplicationsActivity

Once you execute a command, you should have a system menu on your smartphone screen that lists all the packages installed. You can see not only shortcuts, but also technical process names. This allows you to accurately identify applications even if they don't have an interface. Using ADB gives you complete control over installing and uninstalling programs, but requires careful input.

Alternative methods through hidden settings

There are ways to activate advanced features without using a computer, although they don’t work on all versions. MIUI. One of these methods involves using a standard phone application. USSD-code or combination of characters, you can get into the engineering menu, but the codes change often and depend on the regional version of the firmware.

Another method is to use activity shortcuts, where you can find tools like Activity Launcher in the Play Market or in third-party app stores like APKPure, which scans the system and lists all the activities available, including hidden settings, and if you look up "All applications" or "Manage applications," you can create a shortcut right on your desktop.

This method is safer because it doesn't make changes to system files, but simply links to an existing but hidden interface. You access the same menu as you do through ADB, but without having to connect to a PC. This is especially useful if you don't have a computer at hand, but you need to check the process list urgently.

When using third-party launchers or activators, it is important to download them from trusted sources. Malware can disguise itself as useful utilities. Always check the permissions the application requests. If a simple menu activator requires access to contacts and a microphone, this is a clear sign of danger.

Management of system packages and services

Once you've been able to turn on the full app menu, you have a wide range of optimization options, you can see which services are running in the background, for example, you can often find a lot of analytics or advertising processes that you can safely disable, which greatly improves the performance of the device.

In the application management menu, you'll see two types of packages: custom and system packets, and system packs are labeled with a corresponding icon, and when you use them, you can use the Stop or Disable function, and what's different from deleting is that the application stays in memory, but it doesn't start or consume resources, and it's a reversible action, which makes it safe for experimentation.

⚠️ Note: Do not disable components called “System Framework”, “Android System” or “System Framework «MIUI This will result in the inability to load the operating system.

You can also force the cache of system applications that take up a lot of space through a full menu, and by standard means, some services are cache-free, and by using extended access, you can free up gigabytes of space by deleting temporary update files or residual data from remote programs.

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Before a mass shutdown of system applications, take a screenshot of a list or write down the names of the packages that are disabled, which will quickly restore the phone to work if something goes wrong.

Security and system recovery

Any interference with system settings requires understanding the consequences. If your phone malfunctions, a bootloop appears, or the sound is lost, you need to know how to get it back, and the easiest way to do that is to go into Safe Mode or Recovery.

If you have disabled an important application through the ADB or the developer menu, it is often enough to reset to factory settings. However, before you do this, try just restarting the device in Safe Mode. To do this, press the off button, and when the menu appears, keep your finger on the "Stop" or "Reboot" option for a long time until you prompt to enter Safe Mode.

In Safe Mode, only the basic drivers and system applications are loaded, and if the problem is caused by your intervention, the phone will work normally in this mode, which confirms that the hardware is intact, and the problem is in the software conflict, and after checking, you can restart as normal and re-enable the necessary services.

While using ADB is not a hack in itself, user damage to the system is often not covered by service centers for free.Act with caution and always have an up-to-date data backup on hand.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Activation of the full application menu is a powerful tool for experienced users, allowing you to more deeply control the operation of the smartphone, but requiring caution when handling system processes.