Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is a compact media player based on the Android TV operating system. In its architecture, this gadget is almost identical to the modern smart TVs of the brand, but has its own interface and controls. The standard user interface hides many system settings that are necessary for advanced configuration, installing third-party applications or debugging program code.
Hidden features are often required for enthusiasts who want to expand their console functionality beyond the standard Google Play Store. It is the developer mode that allows you to access debugging tools, control the device from a computer and change the system parameters that are not available in the usual menu. Without this procedure, many Android TV features remain blocked.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the process of activating the engineering menu, explain the purpose of each parameter, and explore how to connect through ADB. You will learn how to safely experiment with system settings without risking turning your device into a brick.
Preparing for activation of hidden settings
Before making changes to system settings, make sure your device is ready to work in extended mode. Xiaomi Mi TV Stick should be connected to the Internet, as some system checks require online verification. Also make sure that the remote is working and the batteries are sufficiently charged, as the process will require accurate navigation through the menu.
It's important to understand that turning on the developer mode gives you access to features that can affect the stability of the system if you use them thoughtlessly, but if you follow the instructions, the risk is minimal. The main attention should be paid to the firmware version, since the menu layout may vary slightly in different updates. MIUI for TV.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the settings in the For Developers section may cause applications to run unstable or reset.Write down the changes you make to return to the original state if necessary.
For a comfortable experience, you may need not only a standard remote, but also the ability to enter text if you plan to use Wi-Fi debugging. In some cases, the TV’s built-in keyboard is inconvenient, so preparing an alternative method of input (for example, through an app on a smartphone) will be a smart step.
Search for information about the assembly and activation of the menu
The key step is to find the "Assembly" item in the system settings. It is the multiple click on this setting that triggers the unlocking of the hidden menu. Unlike smartphones, where you need to press 7 times, on Xiaomi TVs, the counter may be less obvious, but the principle remains the same.
Follow the following steps to activate:
- 📺 Go to the main menu and select the Settings section (the gear icon in the upper right corner).
- 📦 Find the “About Device” or “System” item that lists the Android version and build number.
- 🖱️ Hover over the “Assembly” bar and press the button quickly «OK» remote 7 times in a row.
- ✅ Wait for the pop-up notification “You became a developer” to appear!».
After successfully completing these steps, a new item will appear in the previous settings menu. If the notification does not appear, try to speed up the pace of clicks or make sure that the focus of the cursor is strictly on the text of the build version, and not on the icon next to it.
Sometimes the system may request confirmation of an action through input PIN-If the device has parental or security restrictions, you must enter the previously installed access code.
Location of the section for developers
Once activated, the new section doesn’t always appear on the home settings screen. In the Android TV interface, it often hides deep in the system menus to avoid overloading the average user, so you need to go back to the main settings menu and carefully review the list of available categories.
Usually, the "Developers" item is in the "Device Settings" or "System" category. If you don't see it right away, try scrolling the list to the bottom or vice versa, to the beginning, as the grouping logic can change in different versions of Xiaomi firmware.
Inside this menu you will find many options such as:
- 🔍 Debugging by USB — main tool for connecting to a computer.
- 📡 Selecting a location emulation application – useful for geo-service testing.
- 🎨 Interface scale – allows you to change the size of fonts and elements UI.
- ⚡ Windows animation – speeding up the interface by turning off visual effects.
Don't be afraid of a lot of them. Most of them are designed to test applications and do not require intervention in the usual use of a media player.
Why do you need the item “Secondary Display Emulation”?
Configure debugging over USB and ADB
The most popular feature in this section is the Debugging of USB. Despite the name, in the case of Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is most often used to debug over the network (Wi-Fi), as physical USB-The port is used to power or connect the periphery, rather than transmit debugging data in the classical sense.
Activation requires:
- Go to the "Developers" menu.
- Find the USB Debugging Switch and activate it.
- Read the security alert and confirm the action by selecting “OK”.
Once this mode is enabled, your device becomes visible to computers on the same local network if the Wi-Fi debugging option (in newer versions of Android TV) is also activated or if you use the classic IP-address connection method.
When you first connect to a new computer, you'll see a request for debugging permission on your TV screen, you'll check the box "Always Allow from this computer" and you'll confirm the remote, and without that confirmation, the computer won't have access to the ADB file system and commands.
☑️ Checking debugging readiness
Using ADB to control the prefix
To interact with the console from your computer, you will need Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a powerful command-line tool that allows you to install applications, remove system debris and take screenshots. You can download platform tools from the official Android developer website.
The process of connecting is as follows. IP-Address to your Xiaomi Mi TV Stick. You can do this in the network settings or in the About Device menu. Then on your computer, open the command line in the folder with the ADB And then you enter the connection command.
adb connect 192.168.1.XX:5555Where 192.168.1.XX — it IP-Port 5555 is the standard for debugging over the network. If the connection is successful, you will see a message "connected to...».
With help. ADB You can run various useful commands, like, for example, for installation. APK-A file that cannot be downloaded from the store is commanded:
adb install -r path to file.apkYou can also force the device to restart or clear the cache of a particular application, which often solves problems with system freezes.
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Use the command 'adb shell pm list packages' to get a list of all packages installed, which will help you find the system name of the application that you want to remove or freeze.
Table of basic commands and parameters
For ease of use, we will give a table with the most useful commands and parameters that the owner of Xiaomi Mi TV Stick may need when working in developer mode.
| Parameter / Command | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| USB debugging | Allows ADB connection | VL (for advanced) |
| Window animation | Speed of interface animation | 0.5x or Off (for speed) |
| Background of processes | Limit of background tasks | No restrictions (standard) |
| USB-configuration | Port operation mode | MTP or Charging |
| Show touch | Visualization of pressing | Off (for resource savings) |
Changing the animation scale to 0.5x or shutting it down completely makes the interface more responsive, creating the illusion of a more powerful processor, but on very old versions of the software, this can lead to a twitchy image.
The Background Process option is best left unattended. Android TV itself effectively manages memory, and artificial restriction can cause background services such as widget loader or upgrade services to crash.
Disabling Developer Mode and Security
If you have completed the setup or want to return the system to its original state, the developer mode can be easily disabled, which will return the settings menu to its original appearance and close the ports for debugging, which will improve the security of the device when used on the shared network.
To turn off, just find the switch at the top of the Developer menu and move it to the Off position, after which all the settings inside the partition will reset to the default values.
⚠️ Note: When you turn off the developer mode, active sessions ADB If you've used third-party launchers that depend on these settings, they may stop working properly.
Remember that while the developer mode is on, your device is theoretically vulnerable to attacks from the local network if an attacker gains access to your Wi-Fi. So don't leave debugging on unnecessarily.
In case of critical errors after experimenting with settings, you can always perform a complete reset of the device to factory settings through the recovery menu or the standard system menu.
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Developer mode is a powerful tool, but it should be used consciously, and once you have set up, you should turn off USB debugging to improve security.