Xiaomi smartphone users often face the challenge of accessing hidden parts of the operating system that don’t appear on the default home screen. The standard MIUI or HyperOS interface hides a lot of useful tools for the average user to avoid overloading them with unnecessary information. However, for specific tasks such as deep diagnosis or resetting, knowing the paths to these menus becomes critical.
There are several ways to activate hidden functions, ranging from simple keyboard shortcuts to special engineering codes. Android’s system menu, accessible through debugging, allows you to manage running processes at a level not available in standard settings. In this article, we will detail all the methods that will help you unlock the potential of your device and gain full control over the software part of the gadget.
Before making any changes, it’s important to understand the difference between the UI and system utilities. Misuse of certain features can lead to unstable phone performance, so proceed carefully. We’ll look at secure access methods, and we’ll also touch on more sophisticated options for experienced enthusiasts looking to modify the work of Redmi or Poco.
Use of the engineering menu through dialer code
The fastest way to get into the hidden test menu is to use a special numeric code that is typed in the Phone app, which does not require root rights or a computer connection, making it available to any smartphone owner. Just open a standard call and type in the sequence ##6484##.
Once you enter the last star, the CIT (Customer Integration Test) will automatically open on the screen, and it's a collection of tools to test all the hardware components of the device: the screen, speakers, microphones, sensors and communication modules, which were created by engineers for quick diagnostics in the factory, but it's also useful for ordinary users when looking for faults.
⚠️ Note: Do not change the settings in sections that you do not know the purpose of, especially in the Version subsection, as this may cause a software failure.
Inside the CIT menu, you can run an automatic test of all components or check them manually. For example, if you have a sensor that is not working well, the corresponding test will show the exact coordinates of the touches and help identify dead zones. To exit the test mode, you usually just need to click the back button or use standard Android navigation.
What if the code doesn't work?
Activate the developer menu on Xiaomi
To access deeper system management, you need to activate the hidden “Developers” section, which is hidden from the user’s eyes by default, to prevent the accidental change of important parameters that affect the stability of Android, and to unlock this partition, you need to perform a series of sequential actions in the settings.
Go to the Settings menu → About the phone and find the line "Version" MIUI» (or "Version" OS»). You need to press this line quickly. 7-10 Once in a row, until a pop-up notice that you have become a developer appears, and then a new item will appear in the main settings menu, in the "Additional" section.
☑️ Activation of the developer mode
The menu that opens contains a variety of useful tools, such as USB debugging, mocap location selection, background limitation, and window animation. USB debugging is especially important for those who plan to use ADB commands or install applications from non-official sources. Be careful: rescaling DPI or turning off hardware acceleration can make the interface uncomfortable or cause a reboot.
Launching the Android System Menu (Activity Launcher)
If you need to access hidden Android settings that are not included in the MIUI, the best solution is to use a system activity launcher. This is difficult to do as standard means, so you will need to install a third-party but secure application such as Activity Launcher or Quick Settings Tile.
These snails scan installed packages and find all hidden Activities, including battery settings, notifications, special features, and Wi-Fi testing. Once installed, search the app for Settings (usually with a gear icon without a MIUI logo) and run the desired subsection, which allows you to see, for example, battery usage statistics by clock or force system services to stop.
- 📱 Allows you to open hidden settings pages that are not available through the standard menu.
- ⚙️ Gives access to testing of the radio module and reset network settings at the depth level.
- 🔋 Helps to analyze the charge consumption in detail by specific system processes.
These launchers are safe to use, as they only open existing windows without changing the firmware code, but it is worth remembering that some hidden pages may not look adapted to your smartphone screen or contain technical terms in English.
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Use a search inside the Activity Launcher app by “battery” or “wifi” to quickly find the system’s hidden test pages.
Management through ADB and Command Line
For advanced users who need full control of the device, Android Debug Bridge is an indispensable tool (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable and pre-activation of debugging USB It's in the developer menu. ADB You can open any menu of applications, even if they do not have an icon on the desktop.
To open a specific menu, you need to know the name of the packet and the activity name. -n package_name/activity_name. For example, to run a hidden test menu, you can use a command that emulates code entry, or immediately open the desired system component.
adb shell am start -n com.miui.calculator/com.miui.calculator.cal.CalculatorThis method allows you to automate processes and open service menus that are completely hidden from the average user. You can create your own scripts to quickly diagnose or reset certain settings without having to flip through dozens of menu screens. The main thing is to know exactly the syntax of commands and the names of components you want to run.
Hidden features in the menu of special features
In the Android operating system, and in the MIUI shell in particular, there is a section called "Special Features" that is often ignored but contains powerful control tools. Here you can configure voice, gestures or external switches, which effectively opens up an alternative smartphone control menu.
One useful feature is the Special Features Menu, which adds a floating button to the screen.This button can emulate the actions of physical buttons (Home, Back, Recent), take screenshots, lock the screen, or launch Google Assistant. This is especially true if the physical buttons on your Xiaomi are worn out or have stopped responding.
| Function | Description | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Special Opportunity Menu | Screen button for navigation | Settings → Advanced → Special. capabilities |
| Eye control | Eye cursor control | Settings → Special. opportunities → Eye control |
| Voice access | Full voice control | Settings → Special. capabilities → Voice access |
| Switcher | Management of external buttons | Settings → Special. capabilities → Switch |
Activating these features doesn’t require complex manipulations, but can significantly change the experience of interacting with the device. For example, the zoom function allows you to use the screen as a magnifier, which is useful for reading small text in system logs or menus without having to climb into the font settings.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
When trying to open hidden menus, users may face a number of restrictions, imposed by manufacturer or carrier. For example, on some global versions of firmware, the engineering menu may be cut down or completely blocked, and situations may occur when the paths to settings change after the HyperOS update, and the old codes stop working.
If the ##6484### code doesn't work, try entering it in Google's Phone app if it's installed, or use the alternative code ##4636##, which opens the phone information testing menu, which allows you to check the network type, signal strength, and switch radio modes, which often helps with mobile Internet problems.
⚠️ Note: Changing the preferred network type in menu 4636 may temporarily disable SIM-card if the selected standard is not supported by your operator in the region.
In case the developer menu is missing after the reboot, the “Enable MIUI Optimization” feature may have been enabled in the same developer menu, which turns off the classic Android menu, but changes the behavior of the system and the operation of application permissions, so this method is only worth using for experienced users who understand the consequences.
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Most hidden features are for diagnosis, and their random change can disrupt the smartphone, so always remember the original values before experimenting.
Security and Restore Settings
Working with hidden partitions of the system always carries certain risks. Incorrect configuration of debugging parameters or changing the density of the DPI can make the interface unreadable or lead to an endless cycle of restarts (bootloop).
Xiaomi has a built-in backup tool that allows you to save system settings, calls, SMS and icon location. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and create a copy on your internal drive or in the cloud. This will quickly restore the device to work in the event of a critical failure.
- 💾 Regularly backup important data before interfering with system settings.
- 🔄 Remember or photograph the initial values of the parameters you plan to change.
- 🛡️ Don’t install questionable apps to access menus, use only proven tools from Google Play.
If the smartphone still stopped responding to commands or went into reboot, try to boot into safe mode. To do this, when you turn on the device when the MI logo appears, press the volume button, this will turn off all third-party applications and allow you to remove problematic software or reset settings.