The hidden developer menu in Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones gives you access to dozens of additional settings that the manufacturer hides from ordinary users. Here you can speed up the animation of the interface, enable debugging over USB for firmware, change network settings or even simulate a secondary display. But how do you get there if the item is not in the standard menu?
Unlike Xiaomi’s flagship models, where the path to developer mode may differ, Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T modifications) activation algorithm is universal – it works independently of the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14) and regional firmware. The main thing is to know the exact sequence of taps according to the build version, which many users miss. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard way to turn on, but also alternative methods for cases when the menu does not open.
Why you need a developer mode on Redmi 9
Most Redmi 9 owners don’t even realize that their smartphone is capable of more. Developer Options reveals features that are usually only available to Xiaomi engineers or customization enthusiasts.
- 🔧 Debugging by USB — mandatory point for firmware through fastboot, unlocking the bootloader or working with ADB.
- ⚡ Acceleration of animation: reducing the transition time between windows 0.5x The interface is noticeably faster.
- 📡 Manual Network Configuration: Choosing a Mobile Network Type (2G/3G/4G), enabling VoLTE or VoWiFi manually.
- 🖥️ Simulation of a secondary display to test multitasking or connect to an external monitor.
- 🔒 Unlocking OEM — critical point before unlocking the bootloader).
In addition, the developer menu hides tools for diagnosing the battery, controlling background processes, and even hidden gestures that are not documented in the official instructions of Xiaomi. For example, you can enable Double-tap to wake even on models where this feature is disabled by default.
Standard way of inclusion: step-by-step instructions
The developer menu activation algorithm on Redmi 9 is identical to most Android devices, but there are nuances associated with the MIUI shell. Follow the instructions carefully - an error at any stage will lead to the fact that the menu will not open.
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
- Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Phone in English).
- Find the line Version MIUI (MIUI version) and tap it 7 times in a row.
After the seventh tap, a pop-up notification will appear: "You are now a developer!" which means that the hidden menu has been successfully unlocked, but it has not yet appeared in the main settings - you need to find it manually.
☑️ Verification of successful activation
Where do you look for the developer menu after activation? Go back to the main Settings menu and scroll down to the new Additional settings, which will have a developer options submenu inside it. If you don't, try restarting your phone or using an alternative method (described below).
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If nothing happens after 7 taps, check if the phone has power saving mode installed, it can block system actions. Turn it off in the battery settings.
Alternative Incorporation Methods (if Standard Incorporated Does Not Work)
Sometimes the developer menu doesn't activate the first time, and the reasons can range from a firmware bug to the limitations of the regional version of MIUI.
Method 1: Through Developer Settings (if the item is hidden)
If after 7 taps according to MIUI menu did not appear, but the notification was, try:
- Open Settings → Search (the magnifying glass icon at the top).
- Enter the request by the developer or developer.
- The results will appear item For developers - tap on it.
Method 2: With ADB (for power users)
If the phone does not respond to taps according to MIUI, you can turn on the developer mode via the computer:
- Connect Redmi 9 to your PC over USB and enable File Transfer.
- Open the command line (CMD) Enter: adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1
- Restart the phone – the developer menu will appear in the settings.
Why doesn't 7 taps work?
What to do if the developer menu is gone after the update
After the MIUI update (especially the larger ones, version 12 to 13), the developer menu may disappear. It's not a bug, but a feature of the firmware: Xiaomi resets some settings to factory settings.
- Repeat the procedure with 7 taps according to the MIUI version.
- If the menu does not appear, check if the OEM Unlock and USB Debugging settings have reset – they will have to be turned on again.
- In extreme cases, reset settings (Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset), but this will delete all data from the phone.
⚠️ Note: If after the update, not only the developer mode, but also other settings (for example, VoLTE or Wi-Fi Calling) have disappeared, this may indicate incorrect firmware. MIUI for your model.
Hidden features of Redmi 9, available only in developer mode
Now that the developer menu is activated, we'll see what useful (and not so) features are hidden there. Not all of them are safe — some can disrupt system stability or lead to loss of warranty (for example, unlocking OEM).
| Function | What's he doing? | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Staying Active (Stay Awakening) | The screen does not turn off when charging | Accelerated wear of the matrix |
| Debugging by USB (USB debugging) | Allows you to control your phone from a PC via ADB | Vulnerability to malware |
| Unlocking OEM (OEM unlocking) | Allows unlocking of the loader | Phone reset, loss of warranty |
| Animation Scale (Window/Transition/Animator Scale) | Speeds up or slows down the animation of the interface | Can cause lags at a value of 0.5x |
| Background Process Limit (Background Process Limit) | Limits the number of working applications | Closing important services (for example, messengers) |
The Force option deserves special attention. GPU Rendering – it forces the phone to use a GPU for rendering 2D-It's a component that can speed up the interface and cause overheating!
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The most useful features for the average user are speeding up animation (makes the phone faster) and turning on VoLTE (better call quality).
Dangerous settings: what not to include unnecessarily
Not all options on the developer menu are safe. Some may:
- 🔥 Lead to overheating (e.g., Force) 4x MSAA — forced anti-aliasing filtration).
- 📵 Change the settings of Mobile data always active).
- 🔒 Reset your phone (Automatic system updates option in some firmware).
- 🛡️ Disable permission monitoring (for example, Disable permission monitoring).
One of the most insidious options is Don't keep activities, which forcefully shuts down all apps as soon as it leaves them, which can:
- Break notifications (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).
- Resetting progress in games.
- Call for a permanent reboot of the launcher.
⚠️ Warning: If you have turned on Don't keep activities and the phone has started to glittle, return the setting to its original state (Off) and restart the device. In some cases, you may need to reset the cache via Recovery.
How to turn off the developer mode on Redmi 9
If you don't need a developer menu anymore, you can deactivate it.
Method 1: Through settings
- Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
- At the top right, press the switch (ON/OFF).
- Confirm the blackout.
Method 2: Complete reset (if the menu is not switched off)
If the switch is inactive or the menu is not lost, follow:
- Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset → Resetting settings.
- Select Reset all settings (does not delete files, only settings).
Once reset, the developer menu will disappear, but any changes you made through it (like accelerated animation) will return to standard values.