Modern smartphones, especially Xiaomi and Redmi devices, offer users a huge customization experience that goes far beyond the standard menu. However, most of these tools are hidden from the eyes of the average user to prevent accidental system failure or disruption of the stability of work. One of these hidden sections is the developer menu, access to which on the shell of MIUI (now HyperOS) with the version of Android 9 (Pie) is often difficult due to the aggressive security policy of the company.
Activation of this section is necessary not only for programmers to debug applications, but also for advanced users who want to speed up animations, ban background processes or enable debugging. USB Owners of Redmi Note 7, Redmi 6 and other devices of the period often find that the standard way of settings is to use the system applications. → The phone. → The core version simply doesn’t work or requires additional action.
In this guide, we will take a look at the details of activating hidden features on the firmware MIUI 10 and MIUI 11 running Android 9. You will learn how to properly configure settings for maximum performance, what risks exist when changing system timers and why some menu items may not be available without a network connection.
Why you need a hidden menu and what functions it opens
The hidden settings section is a powerful Android operating system management tool that is hidden by default so that inexperienced users don’t change critical settings. For Xiaomi and Redmi owners, access to these settings opens the door to fine-tuning the interface. For example, you can change the scale of fonts, the speed of animation of windows and transitions, which visually makes the device more responsive.
One of the key features is the ability to manage background processes. MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving, which often kills the right applications. In the developer menu, you can set a limit to background processes or turn on the option "Do not remain active", which is useful for testing, but can also be used to force the memory cleanup on older devices.
And there's a USB debugging switch, which is the key to deep-level interaction with your computer.
- 📱 Install applications directly through ADB without using Google Play.
- 🔧 Reset passwords or unlock the device through specialized software.
- 📸 Creating full screenshots (screencasts) with sound transmission.
- 🚀 Forced rendering GPU Improve performance in heavy games.
It is important to understand that changing the settings in this section can affect the stability of Redmi. Some options, such as "Show touch" or "Point pointer position", are used for demonstration, but can be annoying in normal use. Others, such as changing the DPI (screen density), can make the interface unreadable if you set the wrong value.
Step-by-step activation instructions on MIUI 10 and 11 (Android 9)
The process of enabling the developer mode on Xiaomi devices with Android 9 has its own features that differ from pure Android. Unlike the standard procedure, it often requires not only to tap the build number, but also to confirm the action with an access code or account. First, make sure your device is charged and connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, as a check may be required. SIM-card or account Mi Account.
Go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find the About Phone section, which is usually at the top of the list. Here you need to find the MIUI version bar. Some versions of the firmware require you to press it 7-10 times quickly until a pop-up notice appears "You've become a developer!", however, on Android 9 there is often an additional security step.
☑️ Activation algorithm
If you have repeatedly clicked on the version MIUI You have a field to enter the unlock password, enter it, and then the system may require you to enter the code from the screen. SMS-a message sent to a number linked to SIM-This is a security measure against accidental malware activation, and after you've successfully checked it, you'll see a message that the mode is activated.
Now go back a step to the Additional menu (or immediately to the settings if the menu is not included). There should appear a new Developers item (or Advanced Settings → Developers). If you don't have one right away, try restarting the device. On some global firmwares, the path may be different: Settings → Advanced Settings → Developers.
⚠️ Note: If the system requires a link to a Mi Account to activate the mode, do not delete this account immediately after activation, otherwise access to the features may be blocked before re-authorization.
Configuring debugging over USB and interaction with PC
One of the most popular features of the hidden menu is USB Debugging, which allows your computer to have full access to the smartphone's debugging commands. To activate, search the developer's USB Debugging Switch and turn it on. The system will issue a security risk alert — confirm the action by pressing OK.
When Redmi first connects to a computer with debugging enabled, a request for debugging permission from that computer will appear on the smartphone screen. RSA-Make sure to tick Always allow from this computer and press OK. Without this confirmation, the computer won't be able to execute any commands through this computer. ADB.
In the same section are important settings for working with the file system:
- 🔌 Configuration USB Default: allows you to select the mode of operation (only charging, transfer files, MIDI, RNDIS). Choose the data transfer option MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).
- 📂 Compulsory authorization MTP: It is useful if the computer stops seeing the phone after unlocking the screen.
- 💾 Selective debugging: Allows debugging only for certain applications, increasing security.
If you plan to use your smartphone for development or deep modification, pay attention to the item Select an application for pseudo-location. GPS-It's also useful to use the function of Don't turn off the screen when charging, which prevents the smartphone from going to sleep while it's connected to the power source, which is convenient for long data transfer operations.
Optimization of the interface and acceleration of the system
Owners of Xiaomi devices based on Android 9 often complain about the excessive slowness of the animations of the MIUI shell. In the developer menu, tools are hidden that allow you to visually speed up the system without using third-party launchers.
You're interested in three things: Windows animation, transition animation, and animation duration. They're all set to 1x by default. Changing those values to 0.5x makes the interface twice as responsive. Visually, it looks like the phone is starting to fly. The value of 0x completely disables animations, which can be useful on very old models, but makes the interface dry and sharp.
The danger of installing 0x animation
Another useful feature is Forced Rendering. GPU. This option forces the processor to use the graphics core to render 2D-On old devices with weak interfaces. CPU It can add to that. FPS In menus and simple games, but will lead to increased battery consumption, and on modern processors, this feature may already be on by default or not.
You should also pay attention to setting up the Background Process Limit, which limits the number of applications running simultaneously. If your Redmi has little RAM (2-3 GB), setting a limit of 2 processes may free up resources for an active task, but multi-tasking will suffer – applications will restart every time you switch.
Diagnostics, Logging and Debugging of Wireless Networks
For network diagnosers and enthusiasts, the developer menu offers advanced logging tools. In the Debugging section, you can find the settings for the Debugging Journal, and you can choose the level of detail of logs or disable their recording altogether to save space in the memory and resources of the processor.
The network-related settings are worth a special attention, and you can turn on the current connection speed display, select your preferred network type (LTE/WCDMA/GSM) and adjust Bluetooth settings. For example, the Bluetooth AAC coding factor option allows you to improve the sound quality when connecting wireless headphones if they support a high-resolution codec.
The table below shows the main network parameters and their impact on the operation of the device:
| Parameter | Description of function | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| The mobile network is always active. | Keeps mobile internet on even when Wi-Fi is connected | Accelerates network switching but increases traffic consumption |
| Wi-Fi aggregation | Uses Wi-Fi and mobile network simultaneously to download | Increases download speed, increases energy consumption |
| Showing Wi-Fi speed | Displays the current connection speed in the status bar | Visual Effects Only Helps Diagnose the Network |
| Enable the Bluetooth HCI log | Save Bluetooth data packets for analysis | It is necessary for debugging headsets, creates log files |
If you're experiencing Wi-Fi connection problems at certain frequencies, you can find Wi-Fi Range on the developer menu. Forced 5GHz band selection can stabilize a connection in noisy air, where 2.4GHz is unstable. However, remember that the 5GHz range is much smaller.
Possible problems and ways to address them
Despite its usefulness, activating developer mode on Xiaomi with Android 9 can face a number of limitations. Often users complain that the menu item simply disappears after the reboot or becomes inactive (gray).
Another common problem is that you can't enable USB debugging because of MIUI's security policy. The system may require a permanent Internet connection to verify your rights, which is helped by temporarily switching the date on the device a year ahead, activating the function, and then returning the correct date.
If you have changed the font settings or DPI and the interface is unreadable:
- 🔄 Try to reboot the device quickly – sometimes the settings are reset themselves.
- 🔌 Connect your phone to the PC and through ADB Enter a command to reset settings.
- 🧹 Reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode if the screen is completely black.
💡
Before changing the Least Width (DPI) setting, write down the initial value.The standard for most Redmi on Android 9 is 360 or 411 dpi. Setting too much can make system buttons unclickable.
⚠️ Warning: Never turn on the "Always Allow Debugging" function USB" It's on public charging stations or unfamiliar computers, and it gives the attacker full access to your data and file system.
Safety and Return to Factory Settings
After all the necessary manipulations (install applications, configure the interface), it is recommended to turn off the developer mode, this will reduce the attack surface for potential viruses and prevent accidental changes in settings by children or carelessly handling.
If you've experimented with graphics or network settings and the system is starting to run unstable (artifacts appear, sound is gone, Wi-Fi is not working), the best solution is to reset the developer's settings. At the bottom of the menu, there's often a Reset button that will return all the settings in this section to their original values without affecting your personal files.
Remember that MIUI is a complex system and some hidden settings may conflict with Google's security updates. Check firmware updates regularly, as in newer versions of Android, some experimental features may be removed or moved by Xiaomi developers.
💡
Developer Mode is a powerful tool that gives you full control of the device, but requires caution. After using debugging or acceleration functions, it is recommended to turn off the mode to improve the overall security of the smartphone.