Xiaomi’s advanced settings: how to unlock hidden features MIUI

Xiaomi smartphones based on the company shell MIUI They hide dozens of useful features that can make a device work better, and they're hidden for a reason: some of them can disrupt system stability if used incorrectly, others are designed for testing or debugging. However, for experienced users, access to advanced settings opens up new possibilities – from fine calibration of the display to control the processor and network.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the developer mode, access the engineering menu (Engineer Mode), and enable hidden options in the standard settings sections. You'll learn which features to use to optimize performance and which ones to avoid unless absolutely necessary. MIUI 14/15 and adapted to the models from Redmi Note 12 before the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Developer mode: how to turn it on and why it is needed

Developer Options is the basic tool for unlocking advanced features. Without it, most hidden features will remain unavailable. It's simple to turn on, but the path to it differs depending on the version. MIUI.

On most devices, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version string and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. After the notification “You became a developer!”, return to the main settings menu.
4. There will be a new section for developers (or additional) → Developers in some versions).

In the models with MIUI 14+ The path may be slightly different: → The phone. → Device information → Version. MIUI.

Why do you need that? In developer mode, you can:

• 🔧 Enable debugging on USB work-in ADB custom-made.
• ⚡ Speed up the system animations (or disable them completely) for a more responsive interface.
• 📡 Activate 4G/5G Only (without automatically switching to the 3G/2G).
• 🖥️ Change screen resolution and pixel density (DPI).
• 🔒 Unlock. OEM-unlocking.

💡

If nothing happens after 7 clicks, check if the "Developers" section is hidden in the Settings search. MIUI It can be called "Developer options" in English.

2. Engineering menu (Engineer Mode): hidden network and hardware settings

The engineering menu is the most powerful tool for diagnosing and fine-tuning the hardware of a smartphone, where you can test communication modules, calibrate sensors, and in some cases even overclock the processor, but careless actions can lead to loss of network or overheating of the device.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. Select Testing or Engineer Mode (depending on the model).

On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) You may need to enter another combination: ##36446337# or #6484##.

The following sections are available in the engineering menu:

⚠️ Note: Change of parameters in Telephony section → Band Mode can cause certain frequencies to be blocked LTE If the mobile Internet is lost after the changes, reset the network settings in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

3. Hidden settings MIUI: What can be included without risk

Not all advanced features require intervention in the engineering menu. MIUI There are some useful options hidden that can be activated without consequences:

• 📱 Google navigation gestures: go to Settings → Display. → Full screen mode and select gesture control (Android) to replace the standard gestures MIUI on a smoother from pure Android.
• 🔋 Limiting battery charging: C Settings → Battery → Battery settings enable Charging Limitation and set maximum 80-85% battery-life extension.
• 🎵 Equator for speakers: in Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality activate Mi Sound Equator and select Preset or adjust frequencies manually.
• 📡 Enforcement of use 4G/5G: In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred network type select only 4G or 5G (if maintained).

Another useful feature is the hidden themes of the design. MIUI There are undocumented themes that don't show up in the standard directory:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. In the search box, enter hidden or secret.
3. Click on hidden topics that appear (for example, MiuiHidden2023).

Limit the background activity of applications|Enable a dark theme for all applications|Disable auto-run of unnecessary services|Activate adaptive brightness with time-of-day correction-->

4. ADB-Teams for Extended Management of Xiaomi

If standard settings are not enough, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge for deep customization. This method requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and enabling debugging. USB (see section 1).

Here are some useful commands:

• 🔄 Disable all animations (accelerates the interface):
• 📶 Forced to enable VoLTE (if the operator supports, but the function is hidden):
• 🔋 Disable battery optimization for selected applications (useful for messengers and trackers):

⚠️ Note: Adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 unlock API Android, but it can cause some apps to run insecurely, and only use it if you understand the risks!

To work with ADB, you will need:

1. Install Platform Tools on PC.
2. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
3. Connect the smartphone to the PC and confirm trust in the computer on the screen of the device.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the adb.exe folder and enter commands.

💡

ADB-commands allow you to change parameters that are not available through the GUI, but they apply to the entire system. MIUI!

5. How to get it all back: Resetting hidden settings

If, after experimenting with advanced settings, the smartphone began to work unstable (for example, mobile Internet disappeared, communication quality deteriorated or artifacts appeared on the screen), do not panic. Most changes can be canceled.

Resetting methods:

• 🔄 Resetting network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network reset, and that brings mobile Internet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back to factory settings.
• 📱 Reset all settings (without deleting data): Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings → Resets all settings. It doesn't affect files and applications, but it resets all system settings.
• 🔧 Reset via Engineer Mode: In the engineering menu, select Restore Default in the problem section (e.g., Telephony). → Restore Default).
• 💻 Reset ADB-Settings: If you have changed the parameters ADB, For example, for animations: adb shell settings put global. window_animation_scale 1

If the smartphone stopped turning on after changes in the engineering menu, try:

1. Hold the power button. + Volume up on 10-15 second-on-second forced reboot.
2. If it doesn’t help, enter the recovery mode (Power) + Vol Up and select Wipe & Reset → Reset Settings.

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked loader (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ And now, a reset over a recavator might require you to enter a password from your Mi Account, and if you don't remember it, you'll have to contact a service center.

6 Xiaomi models with unique hidden features

Some Xiaomi devices have exclusive advanced settings that are not available on other models.

On flagship models (for example, Xiaomi 14) is also available hidden shooting mode RAW To activate it in a cell:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Go to Professional Mode.
3. Slip the cog icon (settings).
4. Hold your finger on the screen in the settings area. RAW 3-5 Seconds until the hidden option appears.

Nana POCO-The devices often hide the "Game Turbo 2.0" mode, which optimizes performance in games:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Game Turbo in the list and clear the cache.
3. Restart the device and a new Game Turbo section will appear in the menu.

7 Risks and Warnings: What Not to Do in Advanced Settings

Despite the temptation to “overclock” your smartphone or turn on all hidden features, some actions can lead to irreversible consequences.

• ⚠️ Change. IMEI Not only is this illegal (in some countries), it can also lead to a device being blocked by an operator.
• ⚠️ Disable system applications through ADB (For example, com.miui.securitycenter. MIUI It can cause permanent errors.
• ⚠️ Change the CPU Frequency manually (via Engineer Mode) → CPU). Incorrect values will lead to overheating and failure of the chip.
• ⚠️ Turn it on "USB-Debugging for unknown applications. This opens up access to your data for malware.
• ⚠️ Reset the module settings NFC In some models, this results in the loss of contactless payment functionality.

Also avoid:

• 🔌 Disabling battery optimization for all applications in a row.This reduces battery life in the 2-3 once.
• 📡 Manual selection LTE-frequency (in Engineer Mode) → Telephony → Band Mode, if you are not sure what ranges your operator supports.
• 🔒 Delete your Mi Account through ADB This will result in the device being locked (official unlock required).

If you have broken the stability of the system, try:

1. Perform a soft reset through Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings.
2. Update the firmware to the latest version through Settings → System Update.
3. In extreme cases, flash the device through Fastboot (instructions are on the official website of Xiaomi).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)