How to go to the developer settings on Xiaomi Redmi: hidden settings and functions

Developer mode on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones gives you access to hidden system settings that the manufacturer hides from ordinary users, which allow you to fine-tune performance, debug applications through ADB, change interface animations or even overclock the processor, but not everyone knows how to properly activate this mode without risking the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to enable the developer options on any Redmi (including the Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others), what features become available after activation, and what to look for to not disrupt the stability of the smartphone, and you will learn how to return everything back if hidden settings are no longer needed.

Why are the developer’s settings hidden by default?

Xiaomi, like other Android device makers, hides developer options for several reasons: First, inexperienced users can accidentally change critical settings, leading to slowdowns, overheating, or even data loss, such as turning off background restrictions can drain the battery in a matter of hours.

Second, some features are designed solely for testing and debugging applications. For example, not turning off the screen while charging is good for developers, but can shorten the life of the display when used constantly. Finally, MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) is optimized for the mass user, and unnecessary settings only complicate the interface.

• 🔧 The risk of unstable operation: changing the parameters of the kernel or graphics accelerator can cause lags or reboots.
• ⚡ Fast battery discharge: enabling debugging by USB or background activity of processes increases energy consumption.
• 🛡️ Security vulnerabilities: regime OEM Unlock makes it easier to hack a device if a smartphone falls into the wrong hands.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g., Redmi Note 8 Pro with Mediatek processor) activate debugging by USB can block access to internal memory when you connect to your PC. Before changing your settings, back up your data.

Step-by-step: how to enable the developer settings on Xiaomi Redmi

The process of activating hidden settings is the same for all Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12/13/14, including POCO and Black Shark. You do not need root rights or special programs – just follow a few steps in the settings menu.

Follow this instruction:

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 firmware - About Device).
3. Find the MIUI version line and tap it 7 times in a row, and after each click, a pop-up notification will appear, saying, 6 steps left, 5 steps left, and so on.
4. At press 7, you will see a message saying, You became a developer! This means that the hidden menu has been successfully unlocked.
5. Go back to the main Settings menu, and a new section will appear, Additional (or Advanced Settings), and inside it, Developer Settings.

Stick to the version. MIUI exactly 7|Make sure that you have a notice saying, “You’ve become a developer!"|Check for a new section in the settings|Do not change the settings if you are not sure of their purpose-->

If nothing happens after 7 taps, check:

• 📱 You're just tapping the Version. MIUI, Not the device model or Android version.
• 🔄 Some firmware requires a tap 10 times (e.g., on Redmi). 5A s MIUI 9).
• 🔒 If the menu does not appear, restart the smartphone and try again.

Where to find the developer’s settings after activation?

Once successfully unlocked, the new partition can be hidden in different places depending on the version of MIUI.

If the section is not displayed anyway, try:

• 🔍 Enter a request from a developer or developer in the search for settings.
• 🔄 Switch the system language to English – sometimes it helps to find hidden items.
• 📱 Make sure you don’t have a guest mode or a limited profile (check in Settings). → Users).

MIUI 14|MIUI 13|MIUI 12|MIUI 11 or older |I don't know-->

Top.-5 useful functions in the parameters of the developer Xiaomi Redmi

Now that you've accessed the hidden settings, let's look at which ones are really useful for the average user. Not all settings are worth changing, but some can greatly improve the smartphone experience.

Here are the 5 most requested features:

• ⚡ Debugging by USB (USB debugging – allows you to connect to a PC to install applications through ADB, unlocking the loader or firmware of the custom Recovery.
• 🎮 Acceleration GPU-rendering (Force) GPU rendering – speeds up the interface and games, but can increase the load on the processor.
• 🔄 Windows animation scale – reducing the value to 0.5x Makes transitions between applications instantaneous.
• 📶 Mobile network type – forced switching to mobile network 4G/LTE Instead of automatic selection (useful in areas with unstable signal).
• 🔋 Background process limit – limiting the number of applications running in the background saves battery.

Not all settings are safe, however, such as enabling Don’t keep activities will cause all programs to close when folded, and simulating additional displays can cause graphic artifacts.

💡

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

How to disable the developer settings on Xiaomi Redmi

If you don't need the hidden settings anymore, or you're afraid of accidentally changing something, you can deactivate them.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Developer settings.
2. In the upper right corner, press the switch (it will turn grey).
3. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

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

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12) disabling the developer settings resets all the changed settings to default values. USB, They will have to be reconfigured.

If the switch is not on the menu, try an alternative method:

• 📱 Reset all settings to factory (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).
• 🔄 Install the update MIUI — Sometimes it drops the developer flag.
• 🛠️ Use it. ADB-Adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 0 (requires a connection to the PC and enabled debugging USB).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with the developer settings, Xiaomi Redmi users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

Another common mistake is locking the bootloader after OEM Unlock is turned on. On new Redmi models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+), this option may require you to link your Mi Account and wait 7 days before unlocking. If you do not plan to install custom firmware, it is better not to activate this option.

Security: What developer settings can not be touched

Some of the settings on the developer menu can permanently disable a smartphone or make it vulnerable to hacker attacks, and this is something that is strongly discouraged from being changed without a clear understanding of the consequences:

• 🚨 OEM Unlock – unlocking the bootloader erases all data and can lead to a device blink (inoperability) if an error occurs.
• 🔓 Disable the authentication of the bootloader – makes the smartphone vulnerable to malware.
• ⚙️ Changing the scale of the minimum width can break the adaptability of the interface.
• 📡 Disable the absolute signal level – impairs the stability of the mobile network.
• 🔥 Enable strict mode - flashing screen when booting the processor annoying and does not bring practical benefit.

Redmi owners with Mediatek processors (e.g. Redmi 9A or Redmi 10A) should be especially careful on these chips, where changing the parameters of the GPU or CPU often leads to overheating and automatic shutdown of the device.

💡

If you are not a developer and do not plan custom improvements, just turn on USB Debugging and animation 0.5x. The rest of the settings are better left unchanged.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions