How to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9C: detailed instructions with pictures and tips

Developer mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9C is a hidden Android feature that allows you to access dozens of additional system settings, which can speed up the interface animation, enable debugging over USB to work with ADB, change network settings or even unlock hidden CPU capabilities, but by default this mode is disabled, and its activation requires several hidden actions.

In this article, we will not only show you how to turn on the developer mode on Redmi 9C, but also analyze:

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Why this mode can be useful to the average user (spoiler: not only for programmers!).
  • โš ๏ธ What settings are better not to touch, so as not to disturb the stability of the smartphone.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ How to get it all back if something goes wrong.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ What to do if the developer mode disappears after the update MIUI.

Important: The instruction is suitable for all Redmi 9C modifications (including NFC versions), as well as for other Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12/13/14. If you have an older version of the shell (for example, MIUI 11), some menu items may be slightly different - we will mention this too.

Why do I need a developer mode on Xiaomi Redmi 9C?

Many users mistakenly believe that the developer mode is only for programmers or those who are engaged in firmware modification, in fact, even a regular user can use it to:

  • โšก Speed up the smartphone โ€“ you can turn off animation transitions between screens, which will make the interface more responsive.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Optimize battery consumption โ€“ for example, disable background activity for individual applications.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Improved quality of communication โ€“ manually select the type of network (2G/3G/4G) or to activate the "Only" mode LTE".
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Connecting to a PC for debugging - without this mode it is impossible to use ADB or Fastboot.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Improved performance in games - forced 4x MSAA or disable the restriction FPS.

In addition, in the developer mode, you can:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Enable additional screen emulation (useful for testing adaptive applications).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Allow applications to be installed from unknown sources even if it is blocked by the system.
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Manually set up DNS-servers to speed up the Internet.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Change the behavior of buttons (for example, change the places "Back" and "Recent").

โš ๏ธ Note: Some developer mode settings can cause system failure or performance impairment if changed without understanding the consequences. For example, enabling the option Do not save operations will result in loss of all data when you restart!

๐Ÿ“Š Why you want to turn on the developer mode on Redmi 9C?
Speed up the work of the smartphone
Connect to a PC for debugging
Set up a network/Internet
Unlock additional functions
Other

Preparing a smartphone before turning on the developer mode

Before you start activating the mode, make sure your Xiaomi Redmi 9C is ready to change.

  1. Check out the MIUI version โ€“ go to Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ MIUI version. If you have a version older than MIUI 12, some menu items may differ.
  2. Charge the battery โ€“ although the process of turning on the developer mode does not require much energy, it is better to have at least 30% charge in case of unforeseen situations.
  3. Backup โ€“ If you plan to change your system settings, save important data (contacts, photos, messages) in case of a crash.
  4. Disable VPN or proxy โ€“ sometimes they interfere with the correct operation of the system menus.

Also make sure that there are no active restrictions on your smartphone from parental controls or corporate policies (if the phone was issued by your employer), which can block access to hidden settings.

โ˜‘๏ธ Preparation for the inclusion of the developer mode

Done: 0 / 5

Step-by-step: how to turn on the developer mode on Redmi 9C

Now, the key is activating mode. In MIUI, this process is a little different from pure Android, so follow the instructions carefully:

  1. Open Settings โ€“ find the gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu.
  2. Go to the About Phone section โ€“ itโ€™s usually at the bottom of the settings list.
  3. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version, and after the third or fourth press, a pop-up window will appear with the remaining clicks counted, and after the seventh tap, you will see a notification "You became a developer!".
  4. Return to the main Settings menu โ€“ now there will be a new section for developers (may be in the category "Additional" or "System").

If nothing happens after seven clicks:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Try to press faster โ€“ sometimes the system does not have time to register all taps.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Make sure you are using the version. MIUI, Not by phone model or assembly number.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Reboot your smartphone and try again.

On some firmware (e.g., the global version of MIUI for Europe), the section may be called "Developer options" or "Developer options." If you don't find it right away, search in the settings (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

What if the โ€œDevelopersโ€ section does not appear?
If after 7 clicks the partition does not appear, check: 1. You may have custom firmware installed where this partition is disabled. 2. Try to update MIUI to the latest version through Settings โ†’ System Update. 3. In extreme cases, reset settings (but this will delete all data!).

Where to find and how to open the developer settings after activation?

Once activated successfully, the Developer Form section can be hidden in different places depending on the version of MIUI.

MIUI versionThe way to partitionNotes
MIUI 12/13/14 (Global)Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ For DevelopersYou may need to scroll down the list.
MIUI 12/13 (Chinese)Settings โ†’ System โ†’ For DevelopersOn Chinese firmware, the section can be in English.
MIUI 11 and olderSettings โ†’ Advanced settings โ†’ For developersOn older versions, the path may be different.
Custom firmware (such as LineageOS)Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Developer parametersRoot rights may be required for access.

If you canโ€™t find the section, use the search in the settings:

  1. Open the Settings.
  2. Slip the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner.
  3. Enter the request for โ€œdeveloperโ€ or โ€œdeveloperโ€.
  4. The system will show a direct path to the desired section.

โš ๏ธ Note: On some firmware, the Developer section may be hidden due to security policies (e.g., on enterprise devices), in which case it can only be returned via reset or flashback.

What developer mode settings can be safely changed?

Now that you have access to hidden settings, it is important to understand which ones can be changed without risk to the system and which ones are better left alone.

  • โšก Windows animation scale โ€“ reducing the value to 0.5x speed up the opening of applications.
  • โšก Transition animation scale โ€“ similarly speeds up screen change.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Limit background processes (limit background processes) 2-3 The process will save the battery.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Preferred network type โ€“ forced choice LTE It can improve internet speeds.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Disable absolute volume โ€“ useful for Bluetooth headphones.
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Debugging by USB (USB debugging โ€“ required to connect to a PC via ADB.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Mock location resolution โ€“ required for applications like Fake GPS.

Here are some dangerous settings that can disrupt your smartphone:

  • ๐Ÿšซ Donโ€™t keep activities โ€“ closes all applications when you exit, unsaved data is lost.
  • ๐Ÿšซ GPU-acceleration (Force) GPU rendering โ€“ can cause graphic artifacts.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Disable permission monitoring โ€“ security threat.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Turn on 4x MSAA โ€” Increases the load on the processor in games.

๐Ÿ’ก

If you accidentally changed a dangerous setting and your smartphone started to glittle, donโ€™t panic! return everything back or reset through Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Reset settings (the data will not be affected).

How to turn off the developer mode on Redmi 9C?

If you no longer need access to hidden settings or want to return your smartphone to its original state, there are two ways to turn off developer mode:

Method 1: Through resetting settings (without data loss)

  1. Open Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Resetting settings.
  2. Select "Reset all settings" (not to be confused with "Reset to factory"!).
  3. Confirm the action โ€“ the For Developers section will disappear, but your files and apps will remain in place.

Method 2: Manually via settings (for MIUI 12 and later)

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ For developers.
  2. In the upper right corner, tap the "On" switch to deactivate the mode.
  3. Confirm the disconnection โ€“ the section will remain on the menu, but all changes will reset.

On older versions of MIUI (up to 12th), you can only turn off mode through resetting, and note that after updating the system, the developer mode can automatically turn off, in which case it will have to be turned on again.

๐Ÿ’ก

If you plan to sell or transfer your smartphone to another person, be sure to turn off the developer mode and debugging over USB โ€“ itโ€™s a matter of security for your data!

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with the developer mode on Redmi 9C, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
No section appears after 7 clicksToo slow taps or firmware blockingPress faster or update your MIUI
USB debugging doesn't workADB drivers are not installed on PCDownload Mi PC Suite or drivers from Xiaomi website
The smartphone is overheating after the changesForce GPU rendering or 4x MSAA enabledReturn the settings to the original state
Mobile network disappears after connection type changePreferred network type is not selectedSelect LTE/3G/2G (auto)
Apps dye after background processes are limitedExtremely restrictive (no background processes)Set a limit on the Standard Limit

If after changes in the developer mode, the smartphone began to slow down or reboot, follow the following steps:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.
  2. Find the Settings app and clear its cache.
  3. Reset the device.
  4. If the problem remains, reset the settings through Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Reset settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I turn on the developer mode on Redmi 9C without pressing the version of MIUI?
No, this is the only official way to activate. However, on some custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the developer mode can be turned on by default or activated via the terminal using the command adb shell settings put global. development_settings_enabled 1.
Why did the developer mode disappear after the MIUI update?
This is normal system behavior โ€” after major updates, some hidden settings are reset. You need to re-tap 7 times on the MIUI version to return the partition. All previously set parameters (for example, debugging over USB) will be saved.
Can I unlock the bootloader on Redmi 9C through the developer mode?
No, the developer mode only allows you to enable debugging over USB (USB debugging), which is necessary to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool. The unlock itself is performed on a PC and requires a Xiaomi account to be tied.
What Developer Mode Settings Are Useful for Games?
For gamers, the following options are recommended: โšก Force 4x MSAA โ€” Improves graphics (but increases load!). ๐ŸŽฎ Disable HW Overlays โ€“ Reduces the lags in games. ๐Ÿ”„ Background process limit โ†’ 4 processes โ€“ prevents game from being uploaded from memory. ๐Ÿ“ถ Mobile data is always active - stable online in multiplayer games. Attention: these settings reduce battery life!
How to reset all the developer mode settings to standard?
There are two ways: Manual Reset: Go to Settings โ†’ For developers and manually return all sliders to their original position. Auto Reset: Perform Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Resets โ†’ Reset all settings (app data will not be affected).