If you own a Xiaomi Mi TV or a smartphone of this brand, you've probably come across the term Main Menu, the main menu of the device. But what exactly is behind this option? Why does it sometimes disappear from the screen and in some models you have to call it through a combination of buttons? In this article, we will discuss in detail what is Main Menu in the Xiaomi ecosystem, where to look for it on different devices, and how to use it to optimize the work of equipment.
Main Menu is a bridge between basic settings and hidden features, such as accessing the Engineer Mode on TVs or activating debugging options on smartphones, and the interface and location vary depending on the model and firmware version, often confusing users.
What is Main Menu in Xiaomi devices
Main Menu is a central control section that combines key device settings. Unlike the standard Settings menu (where only custom settings are collected), Main Menu can include:
- 🔧 Hidden technical options – for example, screen calibration or testing of hardware components.
- 🔄 Advanced system functions not available in the normal interface (reset to factory settings without a password, forced software updates).
- 🛠️ Tools for service centers that the manufacturer hides from the average user.
On Xiaomi Main Menu TVs, people often confuse Quick Settings, but they're different things: One gives you access to low-level settings, and the other only to brightness, sound and network. On smartphones, the situation is similar: Main Menu can hide behind a button combination or be activated via ADB.
⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Main Menu with Recovery Mode! the latter is designed to restore the system and requires caution - wrong actions can lead to data loss.
Where is Main Menu on Xiaomi TVs?
On Mi TVs, Redmi Smart TVs and other models of the brand, the path to Main Menu depends on the version of the MIUI TV firmware. Here are the current ways of access (tested on firmware 2023-2026):
| Model TV set | How to call Main Menu | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4S/4A/4X (2018–2021) | On the remote, press Menu → Settings → All settings → About the device → Software version. Quickly press 5 times on OK. | It runs on firmware up to MIUI TV 3.0. |
| Redmi Smart TV X (2022–2026) | Hold Menu + Home on the remote for 10 seconds. | You may need to enter. PIN-code (by default 1234 or 0000). |
| Mi TV Q2/Q1E (2023–2026) | Go to Settings → Device → Special features → Menu Shortcut. | On some models, the item is hidden - activation through ADB is required. |
If the Main Menu does not open, check:
- 🔋 Remote charge (sometimes a weak signal blocks combinations).
- 📋 Firmware version – on new models Xiaomi may need to update the software to the latest version.
- 🔒 Parental controls – often block access to system menus.
Main Menu on Xiaomi smartphones: where to look and how to use
On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, the term Main Menu is used less frequently, but it may mean:
- Hidden network settings menu – called by code ##4636## (checking phone, battery, usage statistics).
- Engineering menu – activated via ##36446337## (for hardware component testing).
- Advanced MIUI settings – available through Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to unlock Developer Options).
Important: On smartphones running MIUI 14 and later, some codes may be blocked due to Xiaomi's security policy, in which case access to Main Menu will require an ADB or root connection.
Check the version. MIUI customized|Make sure your phone is at least 50 times charged%|Download. ADB-PC drivers (if you plan to use commands)|Make a backup copy of the data
-->
Example of Main Menu on a smartphone: if you need to manually select a network type (2G/3G/4G/5G), Xiaomi’s standard settings often limit the choice. The engineering menu (#4636##) allows you to force the desired mode to be activated, even if it is hidden in the interface.
Hidden Main Menu features you didn’t know about
Not all users know that you can use Main Menu to:
- 🎮 Activate the developer mode without standard tapania according to the version MIUI (through ADB Adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1).
- 🔊 Set up the sound HDMI-CEC on TVs – this allows you to synchronize the volume with the external sound system.
- 📡 Forced to change the firmware region (for example, from Chinese to global) if the device was purchased abroad.
- 🔄 Remove the software update if the new version is unstable (not available on all models).
One of the most useful hidden features is screen calibration, and on Xiaomi TVs, you can manually adjust color temperature, gamut, and even disable automatic brightness adjustment, which often works incorrectly, using Main Menu.
- Open Main Menu (see instructions above).
- Go to Picture Settings → Advanced → Color Calibration.
- Use test images to customize (we recommend downloading templates from RTINGS.com).
What happens if you change your color settings without test images?
Frequent Main Menu problems and how to fix them
Users often find that Main Menu:
- ❌ Not open despite the correct button combination.
- 🔄 It spontaneously closes in a few seconds.
- 🔒 Requires a password that doesn’t fit any of the standard ones (0000, 1234, 6752).
Let’s look at the solutions for each situation:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The menu doesn't open. | Outdated firmware or lock by the manufacturer | Update the software through Settings → System Update. If it doesn’t work, use ADB to force it to turn on. |
| The menu closes itself | Activated energy saving mode or worked protection against accidental pressing | Turn off the energy saving in the settings and try again. On TVs, check the remote for sticky buttons. |
| Requires an unknown password | User PIN set or parental controls activated | Reset your TV settings to factory settings (Settings → Reset). On smartphones, try resetting your pattern lock through Mi Account. |
⚠️ Note: If the Main Menu on the Xiaomi TV requires a password, and the standard combinations do not fit, do not try to pick it up manually - after 5 unsuccessful attempts, the menu can be locked for 24 hours.
How to reset settings via Main Menu (if your phone/TV doesn't respond)
If your Xiaomi device is stuck, not powered on or not working properly, Main Menu may be the only way to bring it back to life.
For TVs:
- Turn off the TV for 30 seconds, then turn it on.
- On the remote, hold Menu + Volume Down for 15 seconds until Main Menu appears.
- Go to Factory Reset → Confirm (use volume buttons for navigation, OK for selection).
For smartphones:
- Turn off the phone.
- Press the Power + Volume Up before the Mi logo appears.
- From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (use volume buttons to move, Power to confirm).
💡
If the Xiaomi TV does not find channels after reset, then perform AutoSearch → Manual Scan → Select Finland (this bypasses regional restrictions on certain frequencies) before setting up.
Security: What you can and can’t do in Main Menu
Main Menu provides ample opportunities, but wrong actions can lead to:
- 🚨 Loss of warranty (if you change the settings for service centers only).
- 💥 Device failure (for example, when the screen voltage is incorrectly calibrated on TVs).
- 🔒 Blocking your Mi Account (if the system suspects a hack).
What can be done safely:
- ✅ View device information (model, serial number, firmware version).
- ✅ Customize the sound and image within the recommended values.
- ✅ Update the software if the system offers official firmware.
What to avoid:
- ❌ Make changes to Hardware Test or Factory Mode sections without a clear understanding of the implications.
- ❌ Install unofficial firmware via Main Menu (use Fastboot or Recovery for this purpose).
- ❌ Change regional settings if you are not sure of compatibility (for example, switching Chinese firmware to global can disable). 5G).
💡
If you are not sure about your actions, make a backup copy of the data and write down the current settings (for example, by taking a screen picture) before changing any parameters in Main Menu.