How to go to the settings Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI and HyperOS

Getting into the system menu of a mobile device seems like an elementary task, but owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face non-obvious nuances. MIUI interfaces and the new HyperOS have a unique architecture where standard access paths can be blocked, changed or hidden from an inexperienced user, especially when using custom launchers or after installing specific security updates.

Understanding how to get into Xiaomi settings correctly and quickly is essential not only for trivial ringtone change, but also for deep system optimization, cache cleaning or resetting a forgotten pattern lock. In this article, we will discuss not only the obvious methods, but also the technical ways to log in via ADB and special codes that can save the situation if the touch screen stopped responding or the standard menu hung.

We'll look at scenarios ranging from the normal operation of the device to emergency situations where the phone is locked or running in safe mode. Advanced settings give access to hidden features that the manufacturer by default hides from the eyes of the average user, but which are critical for enthusiasts.

Standard access via the notification icon and curtain

The most obvious and frequently used method is to find the appropriate desktop icon. In Xiaomi shells, it traditionally looks like a gray gear. However, if you use a third-party launcher or theme, the appearance of this item can be drastically different. The standard path in the application menu usually leads to the Tools folder, where the icon can be renamed or hidden in the depth of the lists.

An alternative and often faster way is to use the control panel. Swipe down from the top right or left corner of the screen (depending on the control mode chosen) opens the curtain of quick settings. In the top right corner of this menu, there is always a button to go to the full settings menu. This is convenient when you need to quickly activate developer mode or check the Android version.

• 📱 Click on the gear icon in the menu of all apps for full access.
• 🔽 Swipe down from the top corner of the screen to open the control center.
• ⚙️ Touch the gear icon in the upper right corner of the notification curtain.

Importantly, newer versions of HyperOS may change the logic of how items are arranged. If you can't find an icon, try using built-in search. Swipe down the center of your desktop to activate the search bar, and type in the word "Settings" or "Wi-Fi." The system will prompt you to go to the desired section, which saves time with deep navigation.

Using a voice assistant and search bar

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with powerful navigation tools that allow you to ignore the visual interface. Google Assistant voice assistant or built-in Mi AI (depending on the region of the firmware) can instantly open the desired menu. This is especially true when the hands are busy or the device screen is dirty, and accurate hitting on icons is difficult.

To activate this method, you just need to say, "OK, Google, open settings," or "Open phone settings," and the system recognizes the command and launches the settings app, which works even if the screen is locked, provided that the security settings allow you to do things without unlocking, which is the fastest way to access system functions.

The search bar inside the MIUI shell is also a powerful tool, which allows you to find not only apps, but also specific menu items, for example, you can type in a "Brightness" or "Battery" request, and the system will offer a direct transition to the corresponding slider or energy consumption schedule, bypassing long chains of nested menus.

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Use the “Open Developer Settings” command if the standard path through the About Phone menu for some reason does not work or is hidden by modified firmware.

Entrance through the engineering menu and special codes

There's a more advanced level of access to the configuration of the device, the engineering menu, which is designed to test hardware components and diagnose, but also allows you to change the hidden parameters of the system. USSD-This is one of the few ways to go into settings when the GUI is completely inoperable.

The main engineering menu is accessed using the code ##64663##. Once the last digit is entered, the menu will open automatically, without the need to press the call button. Here you can check the sensor, speakers, vibrations and communication modules. Be careful: changing some parameters in the engineering menu can lead to unstable operation of the radio module.

Another useful code to access advanced phone and battery information is ##4636##. This section provides detailed app usage statistics, Wi-Fi connection information, and performance testing, which are “hidden settings” that are useful for diagnosing communication or fast discharge issues.

⚠️ Note: Entering codes into the engineering menu can change the critical settings of the radio module. Do not change the values that are not sure, especially in the "Phone Information" section, so as not to lose communication with the operator's network.

Control through Computer and ADB Teams

If the smartphone touch screen is broken or not responsive to touch, the only way to get into the settings is to control from the computer. This is using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit. This method requires pre-activation of debugging over USB, but if it is already on, you get full control of the device.

To run the settings menu through the command line, you need to connect the phone to your PC, open the terminal in the ADB folder, and type a special command, which allows you to open a specific settings application, even if the phone's display does not display a picture (provided you see the image on the monitor via HDMI or blind control).

adb shell am start -a android.settings.SETTINGS

This command forces the main Android settings app to run, and if you need to get into a specific section, such as Wi-Fi settings, you can use a more specific intent, an approach often used by service center specialists to initially set up a device with a non-working touchscreen before flashing or repairing.

Code table for quick access to sections

For the convenience of specialists and advanced users, a table of basic codes and commands was compiled to allow you to instantly move around the system, using these combinations saves time when you need to diagnose often or configure several devices in a row.

It is worth remembering that on some global firmware Xiaomi, certain engineering codes can be blocked by the manufacturer for security purposes, in such cases, the use of ADB or the installation of specialized shortcut applications from the Google Play store, which duplicate the functionality of hidden menus, helps.

What to do if the settings menu is blocked or hidden

A situation where standard input to settings is blocked may occur when using enterprise-segment devices (MDM-locking), when infected with a locker virus or after a failed system modification, in which case standard methods do not work, and workarounds are required.

If a virus blocks access to a menu, try running your phone in Safe Mode. When you turn on the device, press the volume button. In this mode, third-party applications do not start, which allows you to remove the malicious file through the Application Manager. If this does not help, the only way out is a full reset via Recovery Menu.

In cases where access is restricted by parental control or corporate policy, it is virtually impossible to circumvent these restrictions by legal means without knowing the administrator password. Attempts to hack can lead to a complete lock of the device via IMEI. The only legal way to unlock in such cases is to contact the administrator of the device or use the account on which control was established.

⚠️ Note: If the phone belongs to the organization and has a profile on it MDM, Attempting to reset or flash the device may result in a remote lock by the manufacturer or employer (Blacklist).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions