Why Xiaomi Suddenly Appears Main Menu on Screen – and What to Do About It

Have you turned on a Xiaomi smartphone, and instead of the usual desktop, the mysterious Main Menu with incomprehensible items flaunts on the screen? Or does this menu pop up by itself during games, watching videos, or even blocking access to the phone? Don't panic - in 90% of cases the problem is solved in 5 minutes. But first you need to understand what this menu is and why it appeared.

In fact, Main Menu can be a number of different interfaces, from MIUI's regular engineering menu to malware masquerading as system settings. In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes, from randomly pressing a secret key combination to viruses and hardware failures, and give clear instructions on how to get the phone back to normal without having to reset.

What is Main Menu on Xiaomi – and where does it come from?

The term Main Menu in the context of Xiaomi smartphones can mean three completely different things:

• 🔧 The MIUI Engineering Menu is a hidden section for testing hardware components (display, camera, sensors) usually called by code ##4636## or a combination of buttons.
• 🛠️ Service menu for repairs – appears when certain buttons are pressed when turned on (e.g. Volume++ Power) and is used in service centers.
• ⚠️ Malware is a virus or ad module that mimics a system menu to access settings or display ads.

The most innocuous option is to call the engineering menu at random, for example, if you put your phone in your pocket with the buttons pinched, or if a child presses the key combination, then the Main Menu will disappear after you reboot or press the back button, but if the menu appears on its own, locks the screen or requires you to enter a password, this is cause for concern.

Another important point: on the new Xiaomi 12/13/14 series and Redmi Note 11/12, the engineering menu may look different — instead of the inscription “Main Menu”, you will see EngineerMode or CIT (Factory Test).

Reason №1: Accidental button pressing (and how to avoid it)

The most common reason is the unintentional call of the service menu via a keyboard combination, and Xiaomi smartphones have several “secret” combinations that activate hidden functions:

If you see Main Menu after you manipulate the buttons, just press the back button or reboot the phone with a long press on Power, but what if the menu appears on its own?

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to brake or warm up after leaving the service menu, check if the hardware component background tests have started. Go to Settings → Applications → Executables and force the process to stop com.android.cts.ctsshim (if any).

Make sure the phone is not in your pocket/bag with the keys pinched |

Try pressing the "Back" or "Home" button |

Reboot the phone with a long press on Power (10-15 seconds)|

Check if Safe Mode is activated (the inscription at the bottom of the screen)-->

Reason №2: Viruses and Advertising Software Masquerading as Main Menu

If Main Menu appears without you, locks the screen, or requires payment to unlock, there is a 99% chance that it is malware.

• 📱 The menu pops up when the screen is unlocked or when the calls are made.
• 🔗 The menu has links to unknown sites or offers to download apps.
• 💰 Payment data is required to be entered to “unblock”.
• 📊 Unknown applications (e.g. System UI Tuner, Device Test) appeared in the settings.

Most often, viruses penetrate through:

• 📎 Embedded in SMS/ messengers (“Your account is blocked, download the update”).
• 🎮 Pirate games or hacked apps (especially from sites like APKPure or BlackMod)
• 🔌 Connect to public Wi-Fi without VPN (Attackers are swapping download pages).

How to remove the virus:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by installation date – look for suspicious apps (like those with the names com.android.engineertest or MainMenuService).
3. Click "Delete" and confirm the uninstallation.
4. If deletion is blocked, start the phone in Safe Mode (hold Power → “Reboot Safe Mode”).

⚠️ Warning: Some viruses masquerade as system processes (e.g., Android System WebView). Before deleting, check the name on Google - real system applications cannot be removed!

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If the virus has blocked access to settings, try installing Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light antivirus via guest mode (swipe down on user notification → “Guest”).

Reason №3: Firmware failures or conflicts after the update

Sometimes Main Menu appears after a MIUI update or a failed firmware.

• 🔄 Version conflict (for example, you put custom recovery and then upgraded your phone regularly).
• 🗃️ Damage to system files (often with interrupted updates).
• 🔧 Incorrect developer settings (enabled debugging by USB or unlocking OEM).

How to check:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and look at the current firmware.
2. If the version is marked as "Unstable" (e.g. MIUI 14.0.23.5.8.DEV) it is a beta firmware that may contain bugs.
3. Check the error logs: go to Settings → Memory → Internal Memory → Logs and look for files with the.log extension for today’s date.

Decisions:

• 🔄 Reverse to stable firmware via Fastboot (instruction below).
• 🧹 Reset the settings (but do backup first!)
• 🛠️ Fly the phone through the Mi Flash Tool (if you have experience).

Reason №4: Hardware problems (buttons, plume, battery)

If Main Menu appears when you press the case, vibrate or connect the charger, the problem may be in the hardware:

• 🔋 The bloated battery presses the buttons or the display plume.
• 🔌 Oxidized contact volume/power buttons.
• 📱 Damaged plume (e.g. after falling).
• 💧 Moisture is brought under the buttons (even if the phone is not sinking).

How to diagnose:

1. Light a flashlight on the buttons - if they are drowned or staggering, the problem is the mechanics.
2. Try to move the case around the buttons carefully, and if you click on a certain place, it's a 100% hardware fault.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and check logs through adb logcat (look for errors like KeyEvent{action=1, keyCode=24} - this is the Volume+ button code).

Decisions:

• 🔧 Cleaning buttons with alcohol (if they stick).
• 🔋 Replace the battery (if it is swelling).
• 📱 Repair of a plume in a service center (not recommended on your own!)

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after Main Menu appears, don't try to disassemble it yourself -- 80 percent of the time, it damages the display plume.

How to remove Main Menu from Xiaomi screen forever?

Depending on the reason, the ways you delete the menu will be different.

Try to exit via the "Back" or "Home" button |

Reboot the phone (hold power 10-15 seconds) |

Check your phone for viruses through Safe Mode|

Remove the MIUI update (if the menu appears after the update) |

Reset the settings to factory (last option)-->

If the menu is due to a virus:

1. Remove suspicious apps (see Viruses section).
2. Do a full check through Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile.
3. If the virus is not removed, reset your phone to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset settings).

If the menu appears due to a firmware failure:

1. Reverse to the stable version of MIUI via Fastboot.
2. Turn off automatic update (Settings → About Phone → System Update → ⚙️ → Auto Update).
3. If the phone is warranty – contact the service center Xiaomi.

If the menu appears due to a hardware malfunction:

1. Check the buttons for sticking (wiggle them with your finger).
2. If the phone fell - bring to the service for the diagnosis of the plume.
3. If the battery is swollen, replace it immediately (this is dangerous!).

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If Main Menu appears after each reboot, it's 100% a sign of either a virus or a broken firmware, in which case resetting or flashing is mandatory!

Frequent questions about Main Menu on Xiaomi

If none of the tips helped, describe your situation in the comments: phone model, when the menu appeared and what exactly it contains.