Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones hide advanced system settings — called developer mode — from ordinary users, which gives you access to fine-tuning performance, debugging USB, changing interface animations, and other features that the manufacturer considers “unsafe” for the average owner. But what if you need to test the app, speed up the phone, or just experiment with hidden features?
Incorporating developer settings on Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models) takes less than a minute, but requires knowing the exact sequence of actions. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard activation method, but also alternative methods for cases where the About Phone menu behaves unexpectedly, and you will also learn which settings should be changed first, and which are better not to touch without experience.
Important: the developer mode does not cancel the warranty or lock the device, but the wrong changes can lead to system failures. All manipulations you perform at your own risk - but with a competent approach, the risks are minimal.
Why include developer options on Xiaomi
Most users don’t even realize that their smartphone can do much more than what’s shown in standard settings.Developer Options reveals hidden features that can:
- ⚡ Speed up the interface – disabling or accelerating the animation of windows and transitions makes the phone noticeably faster.
- 🔌 Allow debugging by USB — Without it, it is impossible to connect to ADB, flash custom software or restore data through a computer.
- 📱 Change screen resolution – useful for testing app adaptability or battery saving.
- 🔒 Disable the protection. MIUI — For example, allow the installation of applications from unknown sources without warning.
- 📡 Optimize the network – the forced choice of network type (2G/3G/4G/5G) or the inclusion of the “Only” regime LTE».
And then there are the diagnostic tools in the developer's settings: error logs, CPU usage statistics, application activity monitoring, which is indispensable if you're developing software or trying to figure out why your phone brakes are happening.
But there is a downside: some settings can impair performance (for example, forced performance). GPU-It's a bit like speeding up all applications, or breaking the stability of the system (changes in kernel parameters), so you should back up the data before you experiment.
Standard way of inclusion: step-by-step instructions
The most reliable method of activating developer settings works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model and version of MIUI (8 to 14).
Check the battery charge (minimum 20%)
Close all background applications
Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (optional)
Open your phone settings-->
Follow the following steps:
- Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
- Scroll down and select About Phone (on some models, About Device or Phone Information).
- Find the MIUI version line and click on it 7 times in a row. After the first 3-4 clicks, a pop-up notification will appear with a countdown: “There are 4 clicks left to become a developer.”
- Continue to click until you see the message: “You are now a developer!”
After that, a new section will appear in the main Settings menu — Additional → Developer Settings (or just Developer Settings, depending on the version of MIUI). If the section does not appear, try restarting your phone or using an alternative method (described below).
Alternative Incorporation Methods (if Standard Incorporated Does Not Work)
In rare cases, the standard method may not work.
- 🔄 Settings reset after the update MIUI.
- 📱 You have custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS).
- 🔧 The manufacturer has blocked access to the developer mode (relevant for some regional firmware).
In such situations, try one of the alternative methods:
Method 1: Searching in the settings
If the About section is hidden or unavailable:
- Open the Settings and tap the magnifier icon (search) in the upper right corner.
- Enter the request: build number or version miui (in English).
- In the search results, find the line with the version of MIUI and click on it 7 times.
Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)
If your phone is connected to your computer and you have ADB drivers installed, follow the command:
adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1After that, the Developer Settings section will appear in the settings, which works even on blocked firmware, but requires command line skills.
What if nothing happens after 7 clicks?
Where to find the developer's settings after switching on
Once activated successfully, the new partition can be hidden in different places depending on the version of MIUI.
| MIUI version | The Path to Developer Parameters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12–14 | Settings → Additional → For Developers | On some models, the “Advanced” section may be called “Advanced Settings”. |
| MIUI 10–11 | Settings → System → For Developers | The top level of the menu, no nested folders. |
| MIUI 8–9 | Settings → Additional → For Developers | On older versions, the section can be hidden – use the search by settings. |
| Global ROM (European firmware) | Settings → Additional settings → Developer options | The name is in English, even if the language of the system is Russian. |
If the section is not displayed anyway, try:
- Reboot the phone.
- Clear the Settings app cache (in the Apps menu → Application Management → Settings → Clear the cache).
- Update MIUI to the latest version.
💡
On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi A1/A2 with pure Android) the path to the developer parameters is standard: Settings → System → For developers.
What Developer Settings Can Be Safely Changed
Now that you have access to hidden settings, it’s important to understand which ones can be changed without risk and which ones only with experience. Below are some of the safe settings that will benefit most users:
- 🚀 Window/transition animation (Animation window, Transition animation, Animator Duration) – reducing the value to 0.5x or shutting down will speed up the interface.
- 🔋 Background processes (Limit of background processes) – limiting to 2-3 processes will save battery power.
- 📶 Network type (preferred network type) – forced choice LTE or 5G (If maintained, it will improve the stability of the communication.
- 🔒 Debugging by USB (Debugging USB) — necessary to connect to ADB Xiaomi PC Suite.
- 🖥️ Screen resolution (minimum width) – change of value (for example, by 400dp) Make the interface elements more compact.
And now, what is better not to touch without extreme necessity:
- ⚠️ OEM unlocking – could cause phone to reset on next update.
- ⚠️ Forced. GPU-Acceleration – causes graphic artifacts in some applications.
- ⚠️ Disabling the verification MIUI — reduces the security of the system.
- ⚠️ Changing the parameters of the kernel - the risk of "filling" the phone.
💡
Before you change any settings, take a screenshot of your current settings (or write down their values) and this will help you get it back if something goes wrong.
How to disable the developer settings on Xiaomi
If you no longer need advanced settings or want to return the phone to a factory state, you can deactivate the developer mode.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Settings app (cog icon) and select it.
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
After that, the Developer section will disappear from the menu, but any changes you made to the settings will be saved until the next reset, and to return them to the default values, you will have to reset the phone to the factory settings (or manually return each setting).
⚠️ Attention: Settings will reset all personal phone settings (wallpaper, sounds, screen brightness, etc.) It is recommended to pre-back up through Settings → The phone. → Backup.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even when performing a simple procedure, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No notification after 7 clicks | Too slow/fast pressing or MIUI failure | Press at intervals of ~0.5 seconds. If it doesn't work, restart the phone. |
| The “Developers” section disappeared after the update | Resetting settings when updating MIUI | Repeat the turn on procedure (7 clicks on "Version" MIUI»). |
| You can’t change certain parameters (they are shaded). | Manufacturer restrictions or corporate policies | Try unlocking the bootloader or changing the firmware to global. |
| The phone is overheating after the changes | Forced activated. GPU-acceleration or background processes are not limited | Return the settings to the Background Processes and GPU-precipitation. |
If after changes in the parameters of the developer, the phone began to brake or overheat, follow the following steps:
- Open Developer Settings and reset all settings to default values (Reset button in the upper right corner, if available).
- Restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → “Reboot Safe Mode”) and check if the problem persists.
- If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset settings).
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) forced parameter change GPU or CPU These devices are particularly sensitive to overclocking or incorrect power saving settings.