Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi: hidden features and setup of the main menu MIUI

Have you ever encountered the term Main Menu in the context of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones and wondered what it is? This feature is often mentioned in the instructions for hidden settings, engineering menus or device recovery, but not all users understand its real purpose. In this article, we will discuss in detail what lies behind the concept of Main Menu on Redmi, how to open it, what features it provides, and why this section can be useful for both ordinary users and experienced enthusiasts.

Main Menu is not a standalone app or a universal term for all smartphones, and in the Xiaomi ecosystem, it is most often associated with an engineering menu (Engineer Mode) or a hidden service menu that is accessible through special codes or keyboard combinations. However, depending on the Redmi model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, Redmi 10C or POCO X5) and firmware versions MIUI This section can have different functions, from testing hardware components to resetting settings to factory ones. Next, we will look at all the nuances, including unique codes for different generations of Redmi, which are rarely mentioned in the official documentation.

What is Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi: Definition and Purpose

Main Menu (or “Main Menu”) on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a collective name for several types of service interfaces that don’t appear in the standard user menu. MIUI. Depending on the context, this term may be:

• 🔧 Engineering menu (Engineer Mode) – a tool for diagnosing hardware components (display, battery, sensors, etc.).
• 📱 Hidden Settings Menu – Extended options not available through a standard interface (e.g. network setup or debugging).
• 🔄 Recovery Mode – a section for resetting, updating, or restoring the system.
• 🛠️ Hardware Test Mode – Checking the device’s performance at the factory or in service centers.

It is important to understand that Main Menu is not an official term for Xiaomi, but rather a “people’s” name used in manuals and forums. For example, on the Redmi Note 11, Main Menu may mean an engineering menu opened by code ##4636#, and on Redmi, Main Menu may mean an engineering menu opened by code #4636#. 9A — Service menu for display testing (code ##3644633##).

Why is this menu hidden from the general public? The fact is that the wrong actions in these sections can lead to:

• ⚠️ Network failure (for example, when changing modem parameters).
• ⚠️ Data loss (when reset via Recovery).
• ⚠️ Locking the device (if incompatible settings are activated).

⚠️ Note: Changing the settings in Main Menu may void the warranty on the device. The manufacturer does not recommend using these features unnecessarily.

How to open Main Menu in different Xiaomi Redmi models

How to access Main Menu depends on the Redmi model and version MIUI. Below we will present current methods for popular devices (data tested on firmware 2023-2026 years).

If the code doesn’t work, try the following alternative methods:

1. Use the app. MTK Engineering Mode (for devices running MediaTek processors).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and use the adb shell am start command -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings.
3. On some models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro) the menu is opened through Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (5 times press the line).

Engineering menu functions (Engineer Mode) in Main Menu

One of the most useful sections of Main Menu is the Engineer Mode, an engineering menu that allows you to test the hardware components of a smartphone. On Xiaomi Redmi, it most often opens with code ##4636## and contains the following tabs:

• 📊 Information - data about the model, firmware version, IMEI, condition SIM-map.
• 🔋 Battery Information – charge level, temperature, battery voltage.
• 📶 Usage Statistics – Application and Network Use Statistics.
• 🔌 Wi-Fi Information – Signal strength, MAC-address, link.

For example, in the Battery Information tab, you can see the actual battery capacity (not the one displayed in the standard interface) and the number of charging cycles. This is useful for diagnosing battery wear. And in the Wi-Fi Information section, you can check what frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) your network is running at.

For experienced users, the Testing tab (not available on all models) is especially interesting, where you can:

• 🎤 Check the microphone (recording and playing the test signal).
• 📸 Test the camera (check autofocus, color rendering).
• 🔊 Check the speakers and vibrations.
• 📡 Conduct a stress test module GPS.

⚠️ Note: On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), trying to change the settings in the Band Mode section may result in loss of communication!

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If the engineering menu doesn’t open with code, try using the Shortcut Master app from Google Play – it finds hidden menus even on blocked firmware.

Main Menu's Hidden Features: What You Can Configure

In addition to diagnostics, Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi allows you to activate features that are not available in standard settings.

1. Including debugging by USB loader-free

On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9C) can be included USB Debugging through the engineering menu, even if the option is hidden in the developer settings:

1. Open the menu with ##4636##.
2. Go to the Information tab.
3. Click on the Build Number 7 times.
4. Return to the main settings – a section for developers will appear.

2. Change the firmware region (to unlock functions)

In the #54298## menu (on some models) you can change the firmware region from Global to China or EEA. This can unlock additional functions, for example:

• 🎵 Radio. FM (Redmi Note 11 is often disabled in global firmware).
• 📸 Camera modes (e.g. Movie Effects on Redmi) K50).
• 🔊 Additional audio settings (e.g. Dolby Atmos on older models).

Be careful, though: a change in region can lead to:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty.
• ⚠️ Unstable performance of some applications (e.g. Google Pay).
• ⚠️ The emergence of Chinese services (if you choose the region of China).

Sensor testing and calibration

In the engineering menu, you can check the performance of sensors:

• 🧲 Magnetometer).
• 🌡️ Thermometer (temperature sensor).
• 💡 Light sensor (auto-brightness).
• 🔄 Gyroscope and accelerometer (for games and AR).

For example, if your Redmi Note 12 does not have a screen autorotation, you can check through the engineering menu whether the gyroscope gives correct data.

Open the engineering menu (#4636##)

Select the Sensors tab

Check the readings of each sensor (values should change during movement)

Compare with reference values (for example, the accelerometer at rest should show ~9.8 m/s²)

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Main Menu vs Recovery Mode: What's the difference?

Many users confuse Main Menu with Recovery Mode, but these are two different tools.

Recovery Mode is an emergency mode used to:

• 🔄 Reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).
• 📥 Installation of official updates through ADB Sideload.
• 🔧 System Recovery After Failure.

For example, if your Redmi 10 doesn't turn on or is stuck on the logo, Recovery Mode is the first tool to restore, but Main Menu is useless in this situation, because it requires a working system.

How to get into Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Volume Up button. + 10 seconds power.
3. Release the buttons when the MI logo appears.
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

⚠️ In Recovery Mode on Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 14+ You may need to enter a password from your Mi Account, even if you haven't set it before.

Dangerous settings in Main Menu: what not to touch

While Main Menu provides access to powerful tools, some of them can harm the device, and here is a list of settings that you shouldn’t change without a clear understanding of the consequences:

• 📡 Band Mode – a change may result in loss of communication with the operator.
• 🔋 Battery Calibration – Incorrect calibration reduces battery life.
• 🔒 OEM Unlock – Unlocking the bootloader cancels the warranty and increases the risk of hacking.
• 📶 Network Lock can be blocked SIM-map.
• 🔄 Factory Reset Protection (FRP) — activation will lead to a password request after resetting.

For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ There's a Disable Network option in the engineering menu that completely disables the communication module, and if you activate it, the phone will lose the ability to make and surf the Internet, and you'll only get your settings back through resetting.

Another dangerous section is the Hardware Test, which is where you can:

• 🔥 Overheat the processor with performance tests.
• 💥 Disable the speakers with a loud signal.
• 📵 Block sensors with incorrect calibration.

Main Menu: When it really needs to be

Despite the risks, Main Menu can be useful in the following situations:

Diagnostics of malfunctions

If your Redmi has become slow, discharged quickly or catching the network poorly, the engineering menu will help to identify the cause:

• 🔋 Battery Health Check (Battery Information tab).
• 📶 Network signal test (Network tab).
• 🔥 Monitoring of processor temperature (inlay) CPU).

For example, if the battery shows a capacity of less than 80% of the nominal, this is a signal to replace the battery.

2 Unlocking Hidden Functions

On some Redmi models, you can activate:

• 🎵 FM-radio (if it is disabled in the firmware).
• 📸 Camera modes (for example, Log profile for video shooting).
• 🔊 Dolby Atmos (on older models, where it is disabled by default).

3. Preparation for sale or repair

Before selling your phone through Main Menu, you can:

• 🔄 Check it out. IMEI (It should match the sticker on the box).
• 📱 Ensure the performance of all sensors.
• 🔋 Check battery charging cycles (important for wear assessment).

If you are giving your phone for repair, it is recommended to take screenshots of key parameters (for example, IMEI and SN) from the engineering menu to avoid replacement of components.

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The engineering menu is a diagnostic tool, not a daily tool, and if you're not sure what you're doing, you should go to the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi