Xiaomi Developer Mode: How to Open, Configure, and Use Hidden Features MIUI

Why you need a developer settings on Xiaomi and what they give the user

Hidden section of the developer’s settings in Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones POCO — It is a powerful tool for experienced users, which is disabled by default in the MIUI. Its activation gives access to dozens of additional parameters, allowing you to fine-tune performance, debugging, animation and even unlock functions that are not available in the standard interface.

The main reasons why users are looking for a way to go to the developer settings on Xiaomi:

• 🔧 Debugging by USB — a prerequisite for firmware through Fastboot, obtaining root rights or working with ADB.
• ⚡ Accelerating animations – reducing the transition time between screens to minimum values (or completely shutting down).
• 📱 Change of the firmware region - forced change MIUI from Chinese to global (or vice versa) without data resetting.
• 🔒 Unlocking the bootloader is the first step to install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience.

However, not all functions are equally useful. For example, changing the Dalvik settings. VM If you don't understand the mechanisms, you can slow down or even lose data, so before you activate the developer mode, you should clearly define why you need it.

Step-by-step: how to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi (MIUI 12–14)

The process of activating the hidden menu is the same for most Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older devices on the MIUI 12-14 The main thing is to know the correct sequence of actions and take into account the nuances of a particular version of the shell.

Follow this algorithm:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (on some models – About Device).
3. Find the line Version MIUI And you tap it 7 times in a row, and after 3-4 taps, you'll get a notification saying, "You're almost there!».
4. After pressing 7, the system will show a message: “You are a developer!” – this means that the hidden menu is unlocked.

If nothing happens after 7 clicks:

• 📱 On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) line MIUI It can be called the assembly number - tap it.
• 🔒 Make sure there are no parental controls or corporate restrictions on the device (e.g., via Mi Enterprise).
• 🔄 If the smartphone freezes after pressing, restart it forcibly (clip the power supply). + Volume up for 10 seconds).

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On smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, after activation of the developer mode, you may need to enter a password from the Mi Account account to confirm your identity.

Where to find the developer settings after activation

Once you successfully unlock the developer's settings menu, it doesn't appear on the home settings screen. You need to look for it in one of the following places (depending on version). MIUI):

If the menu is not displayed even after activation:

• 🔍 Enter the query “For developers” in the settings search bar (without quotes).
• 📱 Restart your smartphone – sometimes the menu only appears after the reboot.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.

Top.-5 useful features in the settings of the Xiaomi developer

When you open the developer menu, you'll see more than 50 options, and we've selected the most useful and safe options for the average user:

1. USB debugging (USB debugging)

🔹 Why you need: to connect your smartphone to your PC through ADB, Firmware, data backup, or utilities like the Mi Flash Tool.

🔹 How to turn on: activate the switch and confirm permission to connect to the computer.

⚠️ Warning: Never connect a smartphone with debugging enabled to someone else’s PC – this can lead to data theft or malware installation.

Windows animation scale (Window animation scale, Transition animation scale)

🔹 Why you need: Accelerate transitions between screens (value) 0.5x) or completely disabling animation (Animation off) to increase responsiveness.

🔹 How to set up: set all three settings (Window, Transition, Animator duration) 0.5x.

3. Background process limit (Background process limit)

🔹 Why you need: limit the number of applications running in the background to save battery.

🔹 How to set up: Select Standard Limit (4 Processes) or No Background Processes (for maximum savings).

⚠️ Attention: when choosing Without background processes, notifications in messengers and mail will cease to work.

4. permission to simulate the location (Mock locations)

🔹 Why: To test geo-location-based applications or use services like Fake GPS.

🔹 How to enable: Select an imitation app from a list (e.g. Fake) GPS Location).

5. Forced GPU-acceleration GPU rendering)

🔹 Why you need: forced use of a graphics processor for rendering 2D-elements that can speed up the interface.

🔹 How to turn on: activate the Force switch GPU rendering.

⚠️ Note: on weak smartphones (e.g. Redmi) 9A) This can lead to overheating and increased battery consumption.

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Not all features in the developer menu are secure: change the settings of Dalvik, Strict mode or OEM Unlocking without understanding the consequences can lead to unstable smartphone operation.

Dangerous settings: what not to include unnecessarily

Some of the options on the developer menu can disrupt your smartphone if you change them without understanding them.

1. Unlocking OEM (OEM unlocking)

🔹 Hazard: allows the bootloader to be unlocked, allowing access to system partition modifications. Incorrect actions can lead to a device "brick" (completely inoperable.

🔹 When you need to: only if you plan to install custom firmware or get root rights.

2. do not turn off the screen while charging (Stay awake)

🔹 Hazard: the constant operation of the screen leads to overheating and shortened battery life (especially on the screen). AMOLED-display).

🔹 When you need: only for app testing or debugging.

3. Strict mode enabled (Strict mode enabled)

🔹 Danger: Blinking the screen during long I/O operations can be annoying and does not bring practical benefits to the average user.

🔹 When you need: only developers to find “lags” in apps.

4. Change in the scale of the minimum width (Smallest width)

🔹 Danger: Incorrect value can lead to incorrect display of the interface (blurred icons, cropped menus).

🔹 When you need: only to adapt applications to the tablet mode (for example, on the Xiaomi Pad 6).

5. Disable absolute volume (disable absolute volume)

🔹 Hazard: Can lead to unpredictable volume behavior when connecting Bluetooth devices.

🔹 When to: Only if you have trouble adjusting volume on specific headphones.

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Before changing the dangerous parameters, back up the data via Settings. → System system → Backup. This will help restore the smartphone if something goes wrong.

How to turn off the developer mode on Xiaomi

If you no longer need advanced settings or want to hide the developer menu from outsiders, you can deactivate it. MIUI:

Method 1: Through resetting settings (MIUI 12–14)

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Choose Reset all settings (not to be confused with Reset to factory!).
3. Confirm the action. The developer menu will disappear, but all the data and applications will remain in place.

Method 2: Through Configuration File Editing (for experienced)

🔹 Root or need to be rooted ADB.

🔹 Execute the command:

adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 0

🔹 After the reboot, the developer menu will be hidden.

Method 3: Update MIUI

🔹 When installing a major update (e.g., with a MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the developer menu is automatically reset.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with the developer mode on Xiaomi, users encounter typical errors, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The debugging is not activated USB

🔹 Reason: Mi drivers are not installed PC Suite or on USB debugging in another application (e.g. Scrcpy).

🔹 Decision:

• 🖥️ Install official drivers from Xiaomi website.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and PC.
• 🔒 Revoke debugging permissions for other apps in the Debugging by Menu USB → Withdraw permits.

Problem 2: Developer menu missing after update

🔹 Reason: Resetting settings in a major update MIUI.

🔹 Solution: Re-slip 7 times on the Version MIUI In Settings → The phone.

Problem 3: Change of animations does not work

🔹 Reason: Some models (Xiaomi) 13T) animation blocked at core level.

🔹 Solution: Use ADB forced-change:

adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0.5


adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0.5




adb shell settings put global animator_duration_scale 0.5

Problem 4: The “Developer is on” notification is constantly appearing.

🔹 Reason: MIUI Warning of potential risks.

🔹 Solution: Turn off notification in Settings → Notifications → System notifications.

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If after changes in the developer menu, the smartphone began to slow down or overheat, return all parameters to the default values (the Reset button in the upper right corner of the menu).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions