Owners of modern Xiaomi smartphones often face the need to gain advanced access to the system to install specialized applications or debug program code. Model Redmi Note 9 Pro, built on the basis of the Snapdragon 720G processor and the MIUI shell, requires certain actions to activate hidden functions. Standard security settings limit access to system partitions, so the user must manually unlock the ability to interact with the computer through the ADB protocol.
The activation process does not require a Root-right or flashing device, but it requires careful attention to each step of the instruction. Any error in the sequence of actions can lead to the fact that the computer will not see the smartphone, or the security system MIUI will block the connection attempt. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps from activating the hidden menu to checking the connection on the PC.
The main difficulty lies in the aggressive policy of shell security. MIUI, It's designed to protect user data from unauthorized access, which is why the default options for developers are hidden from the eyes of the average user. To get started, you'll need the Redmi Note 9 Pro itself, which is a serviceable smartphone. USB-cable and computer running Windows, macOS or Linux.
Activation of the developer mode on Redmi Note 9 Pro
The first and mandatory step is to unlock the hidden settings section known as “Developers For” — which is not displayed in the standard MIUI interface until the user has taken action — you need to go to the main settings menu and select “About” where all the technical information about the device is contained.
Inside this section, find the line Version. MIUI. This is where you need to put a series of quick touches. 7-10 The system will start counting the attempts, and then will issue a notification that you have become a developer, if the system requests a password to unlock the screen or PIN-code from Mi-account, enter it to confirm actions.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to About Phone section.
- 👆 Find the line Version MIUI and quickly press it 7 times in a row.
- 🔓 Enter the screen unlock password if the corresponding request appears.
- ✅ Wait for the pop-up message “You became a developer!».
⚠️ Warning: When the developer mode is activated, a security risk warning may appear on the screen. MIUI, A warning of potential data vulnerabilities when you connect to unknown computers. Confirm if you trust the device you're connecting to.
Once activated successfully, a new option, Additional Settings (or Developer Settings, depending on the firmware version), will appear at the bottom of the main settings menu, and this is where all the necessary debugging switches will be located, and without this initial step, no further settings will be available.
It's important to understand that turning on this mode doesn't affect the device's warranty, but it does open up access to low-level features. Developer mode allows you not only to debug applications, but also to change the animation speed, the limit of background processes and Bluetooth parameters. Be careful when changing parameters you don't know.
Setting up debugging parameters in the developer menu
Once the hidden menu is available, you need to go directly to the configuration of communication parameters. Find the Developer's Item in the list and open it. You need to scroll down to the debugging section. By default, all the switches here are off.
Find the USB Debugging option and activate the slider. The system will immediately give a warning that the data in this mode can be accessed by the computer. Confirm the on. However, unlike pure Android, this is not enough on Xiaomi. Immediately under the main switch will appear a new item — debugging by USB (Security settings).
This extra item is a unique feature of the MIUI shell, which is needed to simulate screen taps or install applications without user confirmation, and without activating this subitem, many tools like Mi Unlock or ADB AppControl will not be able to fully interact with the phone.
- 🔧 In the menu "For developers" turn on the debugging switch USB.
- 🛡️ Activate the Debugging Point USB (Security settings).
- 📝 Enable the option “Enable through” USB» pop-up.
- ✅ Confirm the action by entering the code if it appears on the screen.
When enabling advanced debugging, the system may require confirmation via SMS Or just warn about the risks. On the Redmi Note 9 Pro with versions MIUI 12 and above often requires confirmation via the Mi Account linked to the device. SIM-active tariff card if the system requests verification by number.
Also in this section, check the default USB configuration option: Set File Transfer (MTP) or Unauthorized so that you don’t have to manually select port mode each time you connect, which will make it easier to continue working with the file system of the device.
☑️ Checking the developer's settings
Solving confirmation problems RSA-key
After switching on all switches, you need to physically connect the smartphone to the computer through USB-When you first connect to the Redmi Note 9 Pro, you should see a system window requesting debugging permission. RSA computer.
If the window doesn't appear automatically, try connecting and disabling the cable several times, and check if the file transfer mode is selected in the notification curtain. Sometimes the system blocks pop-ups if heavy applications are running in the background. Close all programs before connecting.
In the dialog box that appears, you must tick Always Allow from that computer and press OK. This action will keep the computer in the list of trusted devices. If you ignore this step or click Cancel, the computer will only be able to charge the phone, but will not gain access to the command line.
⚠️ Note: Never agree to a request RSA-If you plug your phone into a public charger at an airport or cafe, attackers can use that access to steal data or install malware.
In case the confirmation window never showed up, it may be Do Not Disturb mode or blocking pop-ups for system services on the phone. Check the notification settings for the com.android.systemui process. Cleaning the Settings app cache also helps, but this is a last resort.
Successful key confirmation is critical, and without it, ADB teams will return the unauthorized error. Make sure the device screen is unlocked when you connect, as the login request may not be displayed for security reasons.
What happens if the RSA window doesn’t appear?
Install ADB and Fastboot drivers on your computer
In order for your computer to correctly recognize the Redmi Note 9 Pro in debugging mode, you need to install the appropriate drivers. Windows 10/11 often tries to automatically find the driver, but in the case of Android devices, this rarely works correctly. You will need a Universal ADB Driver package or official drivers from Xiaomi.
Download the archive with platform tools SDK Platform-Tools from the official website of Android developers. Unpack the archive in the root directory of the disk, for example, in C:\adb, so that the path does not contain Cyrillic characters, this will eliminate possible errors when executing commands.
Open the Device Manager on your computer (Win + X → Device Manager) and connect your phone. Under Other Devices or Portable Devices, an unknown device with a yellow exclamation mark may appear. Right-click, select Update Driver → Search for drivers on this computer, and specify the path to the driver folder.
| Component | Appointment | Where to download |
|---|---|---|
| ADB Driver | Debugging applications and files | Android Developers |
| Fastboot Driver | Firmware and unblocking of the loader | Xiaomi Community |
| USB Driver | Basic MTP/PTP communication | |
| Qualcomm Driver | Brick Recovery (EDL) |
After the successful installation of drivers in the Device Manager in the section "USB Controllers" or "Portifical devices" should appear Android ADB Interface. If instead displayed MTP USB Device, then the debugging mode is not activated or the driver is not installed correctly. Repeat the installation procedure by selecting the driver manually from the list.
To check the connection, open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the ADB tools and type the command:
adb devicesIf the list shows the serial number of your Redmi Note 9 Pro with device status, then the connection is successfully established. RSA-The offline status indicates problems with the cable or driver.
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Use it. USB-port 2.0 (black) on the motherboard for better compatibility. USB 3.0/3.1 (Blue or red sometimes cause drivers to conflict with older versions ADB.
Additional USB settings and operating modes
Shell MIUI Provides enhanced management capabilities USB-It's a connection that can be useful not only for developers, but also for advanced users. USB. Here you can force the mode of operation when connecting.
In addition to standard file transfer, modes are available. RNDIS (ferret USB) and MIDI. For debugging, the most important mode is No Transfer, which is sometimes used to charge without access to data, but for the purpose of debugging. ADB Make sure you select a mode that supports data transmission.
You should also pay attention to the Wi-Fi debugging option, which allows you to connect the debugger wirelessly, which is convenient if you want to use the debugger. USB-The port is damaged or occupied. To activate this function, the phone and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
- 📡 Wi-Fi debugging: allows you to work without cable, but requires configuration IP-address.
- 🔌 USB-Configuration: Choose from MTP or PTP file-access.
- ⚡ Charging: in debugging mode, the charging speed may be lower than usual.
Importantly, when you activate USB debugging, your phone can run faster, even if it's connected to a PC, because of the constant CPU activity and background synchronization services, and if you're not using debugging right now, you'd better turn it off to save power.
Some users are faced with a situation where the computer “can see, can’t see” the phone, in which case, try to disable the USB settings “Use USB for:” and select it again after each connection, and also helps to turn off the USB power saving mode in the battery settings.
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The stability of the ADB connection depends on the quality of the cable and the correctness of the installed Qualcomm or Xiaomi USB Driver drivers in the Windows system.