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

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are powered by MIUI, which hides many useful features behind factory settings. One of these hidden features is the developer mode, a special menu for power users that allows you to fine-tune the device, without which you can not unlock the bootloader, change the animation of the system or debug applications through ADB.

Many people mistakenly believe that this mode is only for programmers, and in fact, it will be useful for anyone who wants to speed up a smartphone, extend battery life or install custom firmware. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the developer mode on any Xiaomi device, from the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra to the budget Redmi Note 12.

It is important to understand that enabling this mode does not void the warranty or harm the device — it is a standard Android feature, just hidden from ordinary users. However, some settings in this menu can lead to unstable system operation if you change them at random.

What is a developer mode and why it is needed

Developer Mode is a hidden menu in Android that provides access to low-level operating system settings, which appeared in the first versions of Android for debugging applications, but over time has become a powerful customization tool.

On Xiaomi smartphones, this menu is especially useful because MIUI severely limits the user experience in the standard interface.

• 🔧 Speed up interface animation (make transitions between screens instantaneous)
• 📱 Unlock the bootloader for installing custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
• 🔋 Disable background activity of applications to save battery
• 🖥️ Enable debugging on USB work-in ADB and Fastboot
• 📡 Change the regional network settings (e.g. enable support) 5G on uncertified devices)

Without this mode, you can’t perform many operations, such as getting root rights through Magisk or flashing your device through the Mi Flash Tool. Even if you don’t plan on deep tuning, some features will come in handy in everyday use – for example, forced GPU rendering to speed up games or disabling automatic application updates.

On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 and later, the path to developer mode has changed — it is now hidden deeper than in older versions of Android 10-12.

Preparation: Check the MIUI version and phone model

Before activating the developer mode, make sure you know the exact model of your device and the firmware version.

• 📱 In some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) The path to the menu may be different.
• 🔄 Old versions. MIUI (Before 12.5), the settings interface looked different.
• 🚫 On Chinese versions of firmware (China) ROM) Additional restrictions may be required

To find out this information:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to About Phone (About Phone)
3. Scroll down to MIUI version and device model

If you have a global firmware version (Global ROM), there will be no problems. On the Chinese versions (CN ROM), you may need additional authorization in Mi Account to unlock some features.

Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on the developer mode

The activation process is the same for most Xiaomi devices, but may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI. We will consider a universal method that works on 90% of devices (including Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T, POCO X5 Pro and others).

Step 1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu).

Step 2. Scroll down and select About Phone. On some devices, this item may be called About Device or Phone Information.

Step 3. Find the MIUI version line and tap it 7 times in a row, and after the third or fourth press, a pop-up will appear, "There are 4 clicks left to become a developer."

Step 4: After the seventh press, a notification will appear: “You are now a developer!”

Step 5: Go back to the main Settings menu, and a new option will appear there, Additional Settings, and go there and select Developer Options.

If the Developer Settings item is not in the Additional Settings, try searching it through the search bar at the top of the Settings screen (the magnifier icon).

7 times I've been on Version. MIUI"|You have received a notice saying, “You have become a developer!"|In the settings appeared the item "Developer parameters"|Make sure the switch at the top of the menu is on-->

Where to look for a developer mode in different versions of MIUI

As we mentioned earlier, the menu layout may vary. Here's a path chart for different versions:

On devices with POCO Launcher (for example, POCO F4 GT), the path remains the same, but the appearance of the menu may differ - instead of standard MIUI icons, branded POCO design elements will be used.

If the menu doesn't appear:

1. Check that you have exactly 7 times tapped on the MIUI version, and not on another line.
2. Restart the device – sometimes the menu only appears after the reboot
3. Update your firmware to the latest version (older versions of MIUI had bugs displaying the menu)

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If you have a two-sim smartphone Xiaomi, the developer mode is activated separately for each of them. SIM-It's okay -- just ignore the notices of the second one. SIM.

The main settings of the developer mode that will be useful to everyone

Now that you've activated the developer mode, let's figure out which settings to change first. Not all settings here are safe -- some can lead to overheating, battery drains, or even soft-brick devices.

We have collected the TOP-5 useful settings that will not harm, but will significantly improve the user experience:

• ⚡ Accelerate Animation: Go to Windows Animation, Transition Animation and Animator Duration – Set the Value 0.5x Or turn off for instantaneous transitions between screens.
• 🔋 Background Process Limit: At Process Limit, select Process Maximum 2, which will extend battery life, but some applications will reboot when you return to them.
• 📶 Forced activation 4G/5G: In the Mobile Network, you can manually select the type of network (for example, only LTE), If the automatic system is not operating smoothly.
• 🖥️ Inclusion GPU-Acceleration: Option for forced use GPU (Force GPU rendering) can speed up the interface but increases the workload on the processor.
• 🔒 Disable Automatic Updates: In Automatic System Update, select Off. to MIUI You have not installed updates without your knowledge.

Careful with these settings:

• 🚫 Do not turn off the screen while charging - leads to overheating and battery degradation
• 🚫 Turn off the absolute volume level – can damage the speakers when connecting headphones
• 🚫 Insert the check USB — shut down USB, unless you confirm the connection

How to turn off the developer mode (and whether to do it)

If you no longer need advanced settings or want to hide the menu from outsiders, you can deactivate it, but note that some features (such as ADB or Fastboot) will stop working until the mode is turned on again.

Method 1. Through settings (soft shutdown)

1. Go to the Developer's Settings
2. At the top of the screen, find the switch Enable the developer settings
3. Put him in the off position.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required)

After that, the menu will remain in the settings, but any changes you make will reset to standard values.

Method 2. Complete reset (hard shutdown)

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings
2. Select Reset All Settings (not to be confused with Reset to Factory!)
3. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Warning: A full reset will delete all your personal data, including photos, contacts and installed apps.Be sure to back up through Settings before this operation. → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud Backup.

If you just want to hide the menu from prying eyes, the first way is enough, and you only need a full reset if you accidentally change the critical setting and the device becomes unstable.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when you follow the instructions, you sometimes have problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 The menu doesn't appear after. 7 Solution: Check that you are tapping exactly according to the Version MIUI, Not another line (like the device model) and some firmware you need to tap. 10-12 Try rebooting your phone, too.
• 🔒 Mi Account Password Required Solution: This is typical for Chinese firmware (CN ROM). You need to link the device to your Xiaomi account and confirm the developer’s rights through the SMS email.
• 📱 No "Developer Settings" in the Solution: Use the search bar in the settings (the magnifier icon at the top). Type "Developer" or "Developer" and the system will find the hidden menu.
• 🔧 Some settings are blocked Solution: On new devices (Xiaomi) 13/14 series of parameters (e.g., some parameters, OEM Unlock) is blocked until you link your Mi Account and wait. 7 days (protection against theft).

⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, some settings in developer mode can cause the device to reset, such as enabling Automatic system updates on custom firmware will return the phone to stock. MIUI.

If none of these methods worked, try updating your firmware through Settings → System Update. Many bugs with the developer menu display have been fixed in new versions of MIUI.

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On Xiaomi devices with MediaTek processors (like the Redmi Note 12 4G), some developer settings may be missing or work differently than on Snapdragon.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions