Developer mode on Xiaomi MIUI 12: how to turn on and what it gives

Xiaomi’s MIUI 12-based smartphones hide a powerful tool from ordinary users: the developer mode, which gives you access to advanced system settings, ADB debugging, changing animations, and even unlocking the bootloader. But how do you activate it if you don’t have a direct switch in standard settings?

In this article, we're not just going to show you how to turn on the developer mode on MIUI 12, but we're going to show you why the average user needs it, and we're going to show you some hidden features that the manufacturer doesn't advertise, but that can make your device work much better, from performance optimization to testing new features, all of which are available once the developer is activated.

Important: the manual is suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with the MIUI 12 shell version and later. If you have an older version, the process may be slightly different, which we will mention too.

What is a developer mode and why it is needed

Developer Mode is a hidden Android settings section designed to test and debug applications. On MIUI 12, it gives you access to more than 50 additional options that the manufacturer hides from ordinary users.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do after activation:

• 🔧 Speed up interface animation – reduce delays when opening applications.
• 📱 Enable debugging on USB — necessary for the operation of ADB, Unlocking the bootloader or firmware through Fastboot.
• 🔄 Reset the settings of the graphics driver – useful for artifacts or hanging in games.
• 📡 Changing the frequency region for a mobile network can improve signal reception in some regions.
• 🔒 Disable the protection. MIUI Optimization – required for some system modifications.

Not all features are safe, however, for example, changing the parameters of the kernel or GPU can cause the device to work unstable, so before activating the developer mode, it is worthwhile to understand what settings you need.

⚠️ Note: Some settings in developer mode may disrupt warranty performance. For example, unlocking the bootloader will officially void Xiaomi warranty obligations.

Step-by-step: how to turn on the developer mode on MIUI 12

The activation process takes less than a minute, but requires precise steps to be executed. Here is a universal guide for all devices on MIUI 12:

1. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row.

If you can’t find the “About Phone” item, try an alternative way:

Settings → System → About the device → MIUI version

Some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro) may require a password or graphical key to confirm actions.

Make sure your phone is at least 30% charged.

Close all background applications

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (some features require internet)

Remember or record the current screen settings (brightness, color temperature)-->

Where to find the developer settings after activation

Once activated successfully, the new partition can be hidden in different locations depending on the device model.

If the section does not appear after 7 clicks, try:

• 🔍 Reset the device.
• 🔄 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes bugs interfere with activation).
• 📱 Check if the section is hidden in the search by settings (enter “developer” in the search bar).

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU) may have a developer section blocked by security policies, requiring manual editing of system files.

Top.-5 useful functions in the developer mode MIUI 12

Now that you have activated the developer mode, let’s figure out which settings should be changed first to improve the operation of the device.

1. Accelerating interface animation

By default, MIUI 12 uses 1x latency animations, which can seem slow.

Settings → For developers → The scale of the animation window (0.5x)


Settings → For developers → Transition animation scale (0.5x)




Settings → For developers → Duration of the animator (0.5x)

These changes will make the interface more responsive, but may seem too harsh for some users.

2. Enable debugging over USB

You need to work with ADB, firmware through Fastboot or use utilities like Scrcpy to enable:

Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB (enable)


Settings → For developers → Allow debugging ADB in charging (optional)

3. Unlocking OEM

This option allows you to unlock the bootloader to install custom firmware. Attention: activating this option will reset all data on the device!

Settings → For developers → Unlock OEM (enable)

4. Change of screen resolution (Force GPU Rendering)

Forced rendering via the GPU can improve performance in games, but will increase battery consumption:

Settings → For developers → Forced rendering of the GPU (enable)


Settings → For developers → Disable hardware overlays (enable)

5. Logistics of errors

Useful for diagnosing problems, including logs of the system that can then be analyzed:

Settings → For developers → Enable error log (enable)


Settings → For developers → Process log lines (set “Full”)

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If the phone starts to brake after the developer changes its settings, return all settings to the default state. For this, the “Developers” section has the option “Restore default settings”.

What to do if the developer mode disappears after the update

Sometimes, after a MIUI update, the developer section disappears, and this happens because the hidden flags are reset.

1. Repeat the activation procedure (7 taps on the MIUI version).
2. If it doesn’t work, try resetting the Settings app**: Settings → Apps → Application Management → Three dots (menu) → Reset settings
3. In extreme cases, reset all settings (without deleting data): Settings → About phone → Reset settings

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 12.5 Enhanced) may require additional confirmation via ADB:

adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1

⚠️ Note: If you are using the beta version MIUI, Some developer features can be disabled by Xiaomi server for stability testing.

Security: What developer settings are best not to touch

Not all settings in developer mode are harmless. Some may be:

• 🔋 Reduce battery life (e.g. forced activation) 4G/5G or GPU-rendering).
• 🛡️ Weakening data protection (disabling verification) USB-device).
• 📱 Failure of the system (change of kernel parameters or Dalvik).
• 🚫 Break the guarantee (unblocking) OEM or).

Here is a list of parameters that are not recommended to be changed without a clear understanding of the consequences:

Settings → For developers → Inactivity of the screen (change can lead to overheating)


Settings → For developers → Background limit process (can kill the desired processes)




Settings → For developers → Turn off the absolute volume level (risk of damage to speakers)




Settings → For developers → Diagnostic modem (may disrupt mobile communication)

Developer Mode on MIUI 12 vs MIUI 13/14: What has changed

If you’re upgrading from MIUI 12 to a newer version, you should be aware of the key differences in developer mode:

In MIUI 14, Xiaomi tightened control over some developer features, especially those related to security, such as the following:

1. Link the Mi Account to the device.
2. Wait 168 hours (7 days) after activation of the option.
3. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

This is done to protect users from accidental changes that could result in data loss or device disruption.

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Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi has been actively restricting security-related developer features. If you want total freedom of action, consider installing custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or LineageOS).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi developer mode