Developer mode on Xiaomi: how to go, what you can configure and why it is necessary

The hidden capabilities of Xiaomi smartphones allow power users to fine-tune the system to their needs. One of the most powerful features is the developer mode, a special menu that gives access to low-level Android and MIUI settings. Without it, you can not unlock the bootloader, change the interface animation or debug applications through ADB.

Many Redmi, POCO or Mi owners don’t even realize that their device can do much more than the standard interface, such as speeding up the system, enabling USB debugging for firmware or testing, and changing the screen and processor settings. But how do you get there? In this article, a step-by-step picture instruction that is relevant to all modern versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and Android (10 to 14).

It's important to understand that not all settings on this menu are safe, and some settings can cause the phone to run in an unstable way if you change them without understanding the consequences, so we're not only going to show you how to open developer mode, but we're also going to explain which options you can touch and which ones you can leave unchanged.

Why do I need a developer mode on Xiaomi?

Developer mode isn't just a secret menu for geeks, it's going to come in handy in a variety of situations:

• 🔧 Unlocking the bootloader is the first step to install custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) or obtain root rights.
• 📱 Debugging by USB — Without it, you can’t connect your phone to Android Studio or use it. ADB for advanced manipulation.
• ⚡ Accelerating animations – reducing transition times between screens makes the interface visually faster.
• 🖥️ Changing screen resolution – useful for testing app adaptability or battery saving.
• 🔄 Resetting of counters MIUI — Sometimes required to bypass system restrictions (for example, frequent account changes).

You can also include an error log to diagnose problems, change background process policies (so that applications don’t close arbitrarily), or even emulate a secondary display for media developers.

But there is also the flip side: incorrect settings can:

• 🔋 Reduce battery life (for example, if the non-switched screen is constantly on).

How to open the settings for developers on Xiaomi: a universal way

The instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12/13/14 and Android 10–14.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (on some models – About Device).
3. Find the MIUI version string and tap it 7 times in a row (quickly, but not too fast – the system should have time to react).
4. After 3-4 taps, a pop-up notification will appear: “You’re almost there!”.
5. At press 7, the system will say, “You’ve become a developer!” – this means that the mode is activated.

Now go back to the main Settings menu, and a new section will appear, Additional (or Advanced Settings), and inside it, a Developers Item.

Important! On some firmware (e.g., global versions of MIUI for Europe), the path may be slightly different:

• 🌍 Nana MIUI EU (Unofficial firmware: Settings → System system → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
• 📱 Nana POCO shelled POCO Launcher: Sometimes you need to select All settings in the settings first.
• 🔄 On Android One (models of the Mi type) A2/A3): Settings → System system → The phone. → Assembly number (stamp it on it).

Where to find the developer settings after activation

Once activated successfully, the Developer Form can be “hidden” in different locations depending on the version of MIUI.

If you don’t see the partition even after activation, try:

1. Use the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen) and enter a query for developers.
2. Reboot the phone – sometimes the menu only appears after the reboot.
3. Make sure there are no restrictions (e.g. corporate policies or parental controls)

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If you have a POCO F3/4/5 or other POCO Launcher model, try changing the theme to a standard MIUI – sometimes this helps to display hidden settings.

What settings can be changed safely (and which ones can’t)

There are over 50 options on the developer menu, but most of them are for testing and debugging, and we've selected useful and safe options that won't hurt the phone:

✅ It's safe to change:

• ⚡ Window/transition animation (Scale of animation) – down to 0.5x speed up.
• 🔄 Don’t turn off the screen (Do not turn off the screen) – useful for presentations or reading.
• 📱 Enable debugging on USB — necessarily ADB and firmware.
• 🔒 Allow unlocking OEM — need to unlock the loader.
• 🖼️ Secondary display simulation for multimedia developers.

⚠️ It is dangerous or pointless to change:

• 🚫 Forced mode GPU — may cause overheating and lag.
• 🔋 Disabling optimization MIUI — This will result in a quick discharge of the battery.
• 📡 Changing the region of the mobile network – the risk of losing communication.
• 🔄 Resetting of counters MIUI — It may disrupt the account.

Critically, never turn on the “Don’t keep activities” option, which will cause all apps to close immediately after they’re folded, making the phone virtually unusable.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to unlock the bootloader, first link your Mi Account to your device in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. Without this, unlocking will be impossible!

How to turn off the developer mode on Xiaomi

If you don't need the advanced settings anymore, you can deactivate them.

1. Open the Settings. → For developers.
2. In the upper right corner, press the switch (it should turn grey).
3. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After that, the section will disappear from the settings menu, and to return it, you will have to re-tap the MIUI version.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12) may require a factory reset to completely remove the developer menu, but this is an extreme measure — it is usually enough to just turn off the switch.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off the developer mode does not reset the parameters you have changed! If, for example, you have accelerated animation or enabled debugging USB, These settings will remain active even after the menu is deactivated.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes users have difficulty trying to turn on the developer mode, and here are the most common cases and ways to fix them:

🔹 No notification after 7 clicks

Causes and solutions:

• 🔒 Phone is locked – unlock the screen (PIN, graphical).
• 📱 Guest profile is used – switch to your main account.
• 🔄 The system is glitching – restart the phone and try again.
• 📲 Custom firmware installed – some builds remove this feature (try the official firmware).

🔹 Developer's menu missing after update

After major MIUI updates (e.g. 13 to 14), the settings may reset.

1. Re-slip the MIUI version 7 times.
2. If it doesn’t help, do a reset (but it will delete all the data!).

🔹 You can't turn on "Debugging by" USB"

If the option is inactive (grey), check:

• 🔌 Is the phone connected to the computer? USB (Sometimes a physical connection is required).
• 🔒 Are superuser rights allowed (if the phone is rooted).
• 📱 Developer mode is enabled (top switch in menu).

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If none of these methods worked, try updating your firmware through Settings → System Update. Sometimes bugs are fixed in newer versions of MIUI.

Additional features: Hidden MIUI features for power users

Developer mode isn’t the only way to gain extended control over Xiaomi, but here are some more hidden chips that come in handy:

🔹 Secret codes for testing

Dial in the phone application:

• #4636## - battery information, networking and usage statistics.
• ##225## - Calendar check (useful for synchronization)
• #6484## - Sensor test (accelerometer, gyroscope)

🔹 Unlocking additional options in MIUI

Some functions are hidden, but they can be activated:

• 📡 4G+ (Carrier Aggregation – Enable in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Turn it on. VoLTE/4G+.
• 🔊 Network Monitoring – In Developer Mode, turn on Show Network Use.
• 📱 Hidden gestures - in Settings → Screen. → Sometimes there are experimental functions.

For the most advanced users, there is another layer of control: ADB commands. For example, to enable dark mode for all apps (even those that don’t support it), use:

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 2

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can disrupt the system if you're incorrectly typed. Always check the syntax and backup before experimenting!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions