Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 smartphone (codenamed Whyred) often face the need for deep diagnostics of the device. Standard Android settings do not always allow you to see the real state of the hardware or conduct a detailed calibration of the display. This is where the engineering menu comes to the rescue, a hidden part of the system designed to test components.
Access to this functionality does not require obtaining superuser rights (Root) or unlocking the bootloader, which makes the procedure safe for the average user. However, manipulation of settings requires extreme care, since changing critical parameters can disrupt the stability of the MIUI operating system.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all known ways to enter hidden sections, relevant specifically for the Redmi Note 5 model. You will learn how to check the response of the touchscreen, adjust the color range and test the operation of communication modules without installing third-party software.
Designation of the Engineering Menu and Hidden Functions
The Engineering Menu, or CIT, is a set of diagnostic tools built into the production phase by developers. This is especially true for the Redmi Note 5, as it has a rich history of updates and modifications. The main purpose of this section is to check the health of each component before selling.
Users often turn to these settings when they notice artifacts on the screen or sensors that are uneven. Unlike third-party apps from Google Play, the system test mode has direct access to hardware drivers, which allows them to get data without the delays and distortions that are typical of conventional programs.
It is worth noting that the functionality may vary depending on the version of the MIUI firmware. Global versions and Chinese assemblies (CN ROM) may have different set of available tests, for example, in some updates, the battery check interface or the NFC module has been changed.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the parameters in the sections marked as "Debug" or "Factory" may cause the radio module or display to malfunction.
Understanding what a particular test is doing will save you from random errors, like a vibration test just triggers a motor, and a screen test draws monochrome images to find broken pixels, and sensor calibration requires user input and certain actions on the screen.
Preparation of the device for diagnosis
Before any manipulations, you need to ensure stable operating conditions of the smartphone: the battery of the Redmi Note 5 should be at least 40-50%. This is critical, since some tests (for example, checking a flashlight or vibration) consume significant current.
It is recommended to close all background applications to free up RAM. Although tests run at the system level, a lack of RAM resources can cause false errors in reports, especially when it comes to multitasking tests or interface response speed.
☑️ Preparation of Redmi Note 5 for tests
It is also necessary to disable the debugging in advance USB, if it was enabled for other purposes to avoid conflict when trying to enter commands. SIM-The card is installed correctly if you plan to check the network, and the absence of a card can lead to an error in the registration of the network during the test.
The main method of entry through USSD-code
The fastest and most proven way to get into the hidden menu on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is to use special character combinations in the Phone app. These codes are universal for most Android devices, but may have features in the MIUI shell.
To start the main engineering menu, you need to dial the following combination:
##6484##Once you enter the last character, the asterisk will open automatically, you don't have to press the call button. If you do everything right, the screen will change, and you will see a list of tests with the names of the components in English. This is the CIT Mode.
There are alternative codes that can be useful for spezif tasks, such as #4636##, which opens up a menu of phone information where you can see battery usage statistics and details about Wi-Fi connections, but the first code is needed for hardware tests of the Redmi Note 5.
⚠️ Note: Some firmware versions may not allow code entry if the dialer has "Service Numbers" enabled, in which case you may try to disable tone definition or use a third-party caller.
If the code doesn't work, check if the antivirus or system restrictions are blocking access. In rare cases, carriers block the transmission. USSD-requests of a certain format, although for system codes Xiaomi is rather the exception.
Alternative ways to access through settings
If for some reason, code entry is impossible or inconvenient, MIUI offers a graphical interface to run the same tests, a method that is especially useful if the dialing keyboard is not working properly (which, by the way, can also be checked in the engineering menu).
To get into the testing section through settings, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the Settings app on the main screen.
- 🔍 At the top of the screen, find the search bar and type in the phrase “Check” or «CIT».
- 🛠️ In the search results, select “Device Check” (or “Test Device»).
This path leads to the same interface as USSD-The only difference is how you run it. Some older versions. MIUI This item could be deep in the menu “About the phone”, where you had to repeatedly click on the kernel version, but in current builds for Redmi Note 5 search works more efficiently.
Why isn’t the search in the settings working?
Search is the modern standard for navigation in Android, allowing you to remember complex paths to hidden features. For owners of Redmi Note 5 is the safest option, eliminating typos when entering numbers.
A detailed review of the available tests
Once you've successfully logged in to the engineering menu, you'll see a list of dozens of items, each one of which is responsible for checking a particular node on the smartphone, and navigation is done by touching it, and the table below is about the basic tests and how they're assigned.
| Name of the test | Function | What we check. |
|---|---|---|
| Version | Information | CIT, Android, MIUI version |
| TouchPanel | Diagnostics | Touchscreen, multi-touch. |
| Display | Visually. | Broken pixels, colors |
| Receiver | Sound. | Speaking speaker |
| Vibrator | Tactile | Vibration motor |
The TouchPanel test is particularly noteworthy, and it shows the coordinates of the press and the number of simultaneous touches. The Redmi Note 5 features multi-touch support of up to 10 touches. If the device registers less, it may be a problem in the display module.
The Display test allows you to switch the screen to different colors (red, green, blue, white, black) and is the best way to find broken pixels or uneven backlights, which are often found in IPS-matrixes after falls.
Don't ignore audio tests (Receiver, Speaker, Mic) that isolate the problem: if you can't hear your messengers but the recorder is clean, it's the application, not the microphone.
Sensor check and screen calibration
One of the most common reasons for accessing the engineering menu on the Redmi Note 5 is to calibrate the sensor. If the screen reacts with a delay or "phantom" presses, this section can help diagnose the problem. In TouchPanel mode, swipe your finger across the entire screen surface.
The line should be continuous and clear. If a line is interrupted or twitched in some corners, it indicates a local defect in the digitizer. In some versions of the software, a "Calibration" button is available, which resets the sensor calibration data to the factory ones.
The color rendering test uses the Display test, and when you switch colors, you'll look at the corners of the screen carefully, and you'll see yellow spots on the white background (a characteristic disease of IPS matrices when you overheat), and lights on black, and broken pixels will be visible as dots that do not change color.
⚠️ Attention: Calibration of the sensor will not fix a physically broken touchscreen. If the glass cracks or the plume is damaged, the software methods are powerless, you need to replace the module.
Remember, it's not software-enabled to "treat" burnt-out pixels or repair a plume that has fallen off, and the engineering menu only acknowledges a malfunction, helping you make a repair decision.
Diagnostics of communication modules and GPS
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 has communication modules that can also be tested. The CIT menu has items for checking GSM, WCDMA, LTE and GPS. The GPS test will show the number of satellites visible and the positioning accuracy. If the phone can't catch satellites even outdoors, the antenna or plume may be damaged.
The Sim Card Test will show if the phone can see the phone. SIM-This is useful if the network is lost after a drop or update. IMEI Devices that are important when buying used equipment.
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To accurately check GPS, go out into the open, indoors, the signal bounces off the walls, and the test can show falsely low positioning accuracy.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tests allow you to check the data transfer. The device will try to find available networks or devices. If the list is empty, although the router is working, the problem may be in the antenna module, which in Redmi Note 5 is made in the form of a plume that goes from the bottom board to the top.
Frequent problems and their solution
When working with the engineering menu, Redmi Note 5 users may encounter a number of typical problems, such as after the test, the screen may remain in color inversion or brightness mode, usually rebooting a smartphone solves this problem by resetting the temporary settings of the display drivers.
If the menu doesn’t open, check if you have a third-party call app that blocks processing. USSD-Back to the standard call. MIUI. The code may also not work if the phone is in flight mode or is not active. SIM-cards (for some tests).
There's a situation where the test is "hanging." In this case, press the power button on the 10-15 Don't panic, system tests rarely lead to a "brickle" device unless you change the values in the hidden engineering sections for factory engineers.
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Reboot is the universal solution to most software failures after testing. Don't be afraid to reboot your phone if the test is frozen.
Concluding recommendations
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is a powerful tool in the hands of a competent user, allowing you to conduct your own initial diagnosis before going to the service center or when buying a device from hand. Knowing the state of the battery, screen and sensor will save time and money.
Use this knowledge carefully, and the main goal is to diagnose, not change hidden parameters, and if tests show critical errors (for example, a lack of response of the touch screen in a certain area or a broken microphone), this is a direct reason to replace components.
Regular inspection of major nodes can help detect component degradation early, for example, noticing a reduction in battery capacity through a system test will help plan a battery replacement before the phone starts to turn off in the cold.