Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X smartphone often face the need to access hidden operating system features that are not visible by default in the standard menu. This may be necessary to connect the device to the computer for deep debugging, install custom firmware through ADB or simply to fine-tune the MIUI interface. The standard interface hides these options so that inexperienced users do not accidentally disrupt the system, but for advanced users these tools are indispensable.
Activating this mode is safe, if you understand what settings you're changing. Unlike unlocking the bootloader, turning on the developer menu doesn't require superuser rights or data resets. You only need a few minutes of free time and attention when performing sequential actions in the settings menu. Below, we'll take a detailed look at each step, and also look at the useful settings available after activation.
Before you start, make sure your device is charged at least on the 30-40%, Although the risk of discharge during simple settings is minimal, it is also worth having on hand. USB-cable if you plan to test your PC connection right away.Let's move on to directly activating the hidden menu on your Redmi Note. 4X.
Why you need access to advanced settings
The main purpose of the hidden menu is to give engineers and app developers tools to test, but users also find a lot of useful things here, such as changing the speed of the animation of windows, which will visually speed up the interface, or preventing the system from turning off the screen while charging. Without activating this partition, access to these functions is closed.
And that's where the USB Debugging Switch is, which is critical for anyone who wants to use a smartphone to debug apps, transfer files through special protocols, or use tools like the Mi PC Suite to back up at a low level, and without the option enabled, the computer will only see the phone as a media device or charger.
β οΈ Note: Changing the settings in the "Developers" section may affect the stability of the system. Do not change values whose purpose you do not know, especially those related to processes in background or scale. DPI.
Another important feature is the ability to select a specific location emulation application, which is often used in gaming applications or specific services that require fake geolocation, and you can reset your Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network settings if the modules are not working properly, which sometimes helps faster than a full reset of the phone.
Activation of the Assembly number in the menu "About the phone"
The first and most important step is to unlock the developer menu login itself, which is hidden behind multiple clicks on the build number in the MIUI shell, just like in pure Android, and is a security mechanism that prevents users from accidentally getting into complex settings.
Take your Redmi Note 4X and unlock the screen. You need to go to the main settings menu. Usually, the icon is a gear, and if you can't find it on your desktop, search by settings or swipe down to access global search.
In the list that opens, find a item called "About the Phone" in Russian localization. In some versions of the firmware, it can be at the top of the list or, conversely, at the bottom, depending on the version of MIUI. Inside this item contains all the technical information about your device: the version of the processor, the amount of RAM and the firmware version.
Find a line called "Version". MIUI". That's what you press. But not once. You have to do a series of quick presses -- usually enough. 7-10 Do it rhythmically, but without bigotry, so as not to damage the touchscreen.
After a few clicks, you will see a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen that will count down: βPush 4 times left,β βPush 3 times left,β etc. When the counter reaches the end, a notification will appear βYou are a developer!β. This means that the hidden partition is successfully activated and ready to use.
βοΈ Verification of activation
Search and login to the "Developers" menu
Once you've been granted developer status, the new menu item won't automatically appear on the home settings screen. It's hidden in an additional submenu that also requires attention to detect. In early versions of MIUI, the layout logic may have been different, but in current builds for the Redmi Note 4X, the path is standardized.
Go back one level up to the main settings menu. Scroll down to the very end. There you should see "Additional" (or "Advanced Settings", depending on the translation). Click on it.
In the list that opens, look for the "Developers" line. It's now active and loginable. If you don't see this item right away, try closing the Settings app completely through Task Manager and opening it again -- sometimes you need to restart the settings interface to display new options.
Inside, you'll see a warning that changing these settings could affect the phone's performance.This is the standard Android security warning. Boldly ignore it if you're reading this article, as you're already aware of the risks. The switch at the top of the screen must be activated (burn blue or green).
Configure debugging over USB and other parameters
Once inside the menu, you'll see a long list of options. The most important thing for most users is "Debugging by the Internet." USB". It's turned off by default for security reasons. To activate it, press the switch next to the appropriate point.
The system will give a warning that in this mode the device is vulnerable to attacks when connected to untrusted computers. Confirm the action by pressing OK. Then, when you connect the phone to the PC, a request for debugging permission from this computer will appear on the screen. Always check the RSA key print if you are not sure about the computer you are connecting to.
In addition to debugging, there are other useful settings available to optimize the work of the Redmi Note 4X:
- π Animation Scale: allows faster visual transitions between windows, making the interface more responsive.
- π Keep the screen active while charging, which is convenient for using the phone as a desktop clock or navigator.
- π‘ Adaptive sound quality: settings that affect the operation of Bluetooth headsets and codecs.
- π Location Emulation: Selecting an application that will manage your geo-position in the system.
What is the limit of background processes?
You can also find information about running services, use the βInactive Applicationsβ function to clean up memory, and even turn on a mode that simulates working on a slow device to check how the application behaves in low performance.
Resetting developer settings and security
If you've changed some parameters in the course of your experiments and the system is unstable, or if you've lost your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings, don't panic. There's a reset button at the top of the Developer menu, and it returns all the parameters in this section to factory values.
Click the three dots in the top right corner (or reset button if it is handed out separately) and select Reset. This action is safe and will not affect your personal data, photos or contacts. It will only return the configuration of system services to the original state.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| USB debugging | On (only when connected) | Allows ADB teams |
| Window animation | 0.5x or Off | Visual acceleration |
| Background processes | Without restrictions / Standard | Stability of applications |
| Absolute level | On (for Bluetooth) | Headset volume |
| USB-configuration | File Transfer (MTP) | Type of connection to PC |
This is normal Android security behavior.
β οΈ Warning: Never turn on the "Traffic" option OEM-Unlocking, unless you plan to unlock the bootloader, may block the ability to use certain banking or security applications.
Frequent problems with the inclusion of the regime
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where repeatedly clicking on the version of MIUI does not work, the message "You became a developer" does not appear, most often this is due to the fact that the clicks are made too slowly or, conversely, too quickly, and the system does not recognize them as a series of clicks.
Try changing the rhythm of the taps. Make sure you tap with confidence, clear taps on the line "Version" MIUI". If that doesn't work, check if you have "Guest" or "Second Space" mode on. MIUI Access to developer settings is limited in the guest profile.
Another reason could be the file corruption of the system application Settings, in which case it will help to clean the cache of the application Settings through the menu Apps β All Apps β Settings β Memory β Clear. After that, restart the phone and try again.
π‘
If the developer menu is gone by itself after the reboot, just repeat the procedure by clicking on the build number. MIUI sometimes requires reactivation after a system update or reset.
Also, it is worth considering that some global firmware versions may have slightly different menu items, such as "Developer options" instead of "Developers" if the system language is switched to English. Make sure you search for the correct term depending on the interface language.
Final recommendations on the use of
The developer mode on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is a powerful tool in skilled hands, allowing not only debugging applications, but also conducting deep diagnostics of the systemβs state, but, like any powerful tool, it requires careful handling.
It is not recommended to keep USB Debugging on permanently unless you are using it right now, it reduces the attack surface on your device when connected to public charging stations or other computers.
If you use your phone for games, experimenting with graphics settings or process limits can give you an increase in FPS, but it can also lead to game dropouts. Test the changes gradually, making one change at a time to understand what exactly caused the problem.
π‘
The main purpose of activating the developer mode is to gain access to debugging tools and fine-tuning animations, which allows you to personalize the experience of using the Redmi Note 4X to your needs.
Now that you know how to turn on and configure this mode, you can safely experiment with the capabilities of your smartphone, the main thing is to keep your mind and back up important data before making major system changes.