Xiaomi smartphone users often face puzzling messages or confusion in terms when it comes to system settings.The phrase main menu xiaomi that this usually pops up in two cases: either when trying to log into the engineering menu, or when searching for hidden features of the MIUI shell and HyperOS. Many device owners confuse the standard app menu with deep system partitions, access to which is restricted by the manufacturer for security.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what lies behind this concept and how to access the hidden functions of your gadget. Understanding the structure of Xiaomi will allow you not only to personalize the interface, but also to solve a number of technical problems without going to the service center. It is important to distinguish between the usual user menu and the engineering mode, since working with the latter requires caution.
First of all, it's worth noting that the standard main menu is the launcher you see every day, but there's a hidden debugging section that advanced users often have in mind, which gives them complete control over the hardware and software of the device, and let's figure out how to get to those settings and what they give.
Main Menu in the Xiaomi ecosystem
When you talk about Main Menu in the context of Xiaomi, most often you don’t just mean an application icon screen, it’s a comprehensive navigation system that includes a standard launcher and hidden engineering sections. The standard menu is responsible for running applications and widgets, while the engineering menu is designed to diagnose and deeply customize communication parameters, display and processor.
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a layered structure, the top layer is the user interface, and below it are the default-enabled system services, the engineering menu allows you to bypass some of the software constraints set by the manufacturer, a powerful tool that, however, requires an understanding of the processes that take place inside the Android operating system.
Some users mistakenly believe that access to Main Menu gives superuser rights (Root), which is not quite true. The engineering mode allows you to change specific hardware parameters, but does not give you complete control over the file system, as Root access does. However, incorrect changes here can lead to unstable operation of the device.
How to activate the engineering menu and hidden options
To enter the advanced settings menu, you need to activate the developer mode. Without this step, most hidden features will remain unavailable. The activation process is standard for most Xiaomi Redmi and Poco models, but may vary slightly depending on the shell version.
The first step is to go to About, where you can find the line MIUI Version or OS Version and quickly click on it 7-10 times in a row, and the system will tell you that you have become a developer, and then a new item for developers will appear in the advanced settings, where important parameters are hidden.
☑️ Activation of the developer mode
Inside the developer menu, you can find USB debugging, window animations, and background process parameters. This is where you often find the answer to the question about the main menu, because it opens up access to system logs and hardware tests. Beware: changing some parameters can lead to malfunctioning applications.
⚠️ Attention: Including debugging by USB Makes your phone visible to computers. Don't connect your device to unknown charging stations in public with this mode activated.
Navigation through system sections through codes
There is an alternative and faster way to get into the deep settings - using the USSD-Entering special combinations in the Phone app allows you to instantly open diagnostic menus without defaulting on standard settings, which is especially useful if the system interface is locked or not working properly.
One of the most popular codes is ##64663##. It opens the CIT (Customer Information Test) menu, where you can check all the sensors, screen, vibration and communication modules, which is a kind of "main menu" for testing iron. Another code, ##4636##, opens the menu of phone information and usage statistics.
Using codes requires accuracy. If you type the wrong combination, nothing happens, but if you get to the right menu, you get technical data, for example, menu 4636 allows you to switch the network type or look at detailed statistics on Wi-Fi connections, which is not available in a normal interface.
| Code. | Function | Danger. |
|---|---|---|
| ##64663## | Equipment Test (CIT) | Low. |
| ##4636## | Phone information | Medium |
| ##7780## | Resetting (Factory Reset) | Tall. |
| *#06# | IMEI verification | Safe. |
Remember that some codes can be blocked by the carrier or changed in newer versions of HyperOS firmware. If the code doesn't work, it may be that the manufacturer has restricted access to this feature for a particular model or region.
Application and process management
Main menus often include running processes. Xiaomi’s standard task manager is aggressive toward background applications, which sometimes interferes with the normal operation of messengers or navigators. Understanding how the system manages memory is critical for stable operation.
You can set a limit on background processes in the developer menu, and by default, the system decides how many applications to keep in memory, but you can manually limit the number of applications, or you can prevent the system from killing certain processes, through the "Limit of background processes."
What is window animation?
Also worth noting is the Inactive Apps feature, which allows you to force applications you rarely use to close, freeing up RAM, especially for low-ram models where every megabyte counts.
For advanced users, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool is available, and you can send commands through your computer to remove system debris or freeze unnecessary services.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.bloatwareUse of such commands requires caution: Removing critical system components can lead to a "bootloop" (cyclic reboot).
Configuring the interface and launcher
The main menu (launcher) is the face of your smartphone. Xiaomi offers extensive customization options that are often hidden from the eyes of the average user. Changing the grid of applications, fonts and icons allows you to make the interface unique.
The launcher settings can enable hidden features such as increasing the number of apps on the screen or changing the font size in the captions. These settings sometimes require the use of third-party configurator apps, as they may not be available in the standard menu.
Design themes are another powerful tool, and Xiaomi’s theme store allows you to change not only wallpaper, but also the style of system windows, sounds, and even download animations, but it’s worth remembering that heavy themes can consume more battery life.
If you don't like the standard launcher, you can replace it with a third-party launcher, like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, which will completely change the logic of interaction with the main menu, making it more like pure Android or iOS.
Diagnostics and Problem Solving with Main Menu
The main value of access to hidden menus is the ability to self-diagnose. If the smartphone begins to behave strangely (network disappears, touchscreen glides, battery quickly goes down), tests in the engineering menu will help to localize the problem.
For example, the Touchpad test can detect dead zones or false presses, the screen color test will show broken pixels that are not visible in normal images, and this data is useful when contacting the warranty service, as it provides objective evidence of a malfunction.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to reset the calibration settings of the sensors (accelometer, gyroscope) unnecessarily. After reset, a complex recalibration procedure may be required that is difficult to perform at home.
You can also check the battery information, including the number of charge cycles and the current temperature of the cells, through the menu, to see if the battery has degraded and if it is time to replace it.
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Before going to the service center, be sure to take screenshots of the test results from the engineering menu, which will save the master's time and help prove the marriage faster.
Safety and risks of system modification
Interfering with the operating system always carries risks, and while Xiaomi is trying to protect users from fatal errors, the ability to break the software part is a rule of thumb: don't change the parameters that you don't understand.
It is especially dangerous to experiment with radio modules. Changing the frequencies or regions of the modem can cause the phone to stop catching the network or only work in 2G mode. Sometimes you can restore the original settings only by flashing the device.
In addition, activating some debugging features can reduce the overall security of the device, making it vulnerable to malware. Once the diagnosis is complete, it is recommended to turn off the developer mode and debugging over USB.
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The basic principle of modification is that any change in the engineering menu must be reversible, and if you don't know how to get it back, you better not start the experiment.
Regular data backup is a must before any manipulation of the system. Xiaomi cloud services or local backups on the PC will help to recover data in the event of an unexpected failure.