How to Go to Hidden Applications on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s current MIUI and HyperOS smartphones have a huge number of features, some of which are hidden from the eyes of the average user. This is not accidental: developers are trying to protect critical system components from accidentally removing or changing settings that can lead to unstable device operation. However, advanced users often face the need to access these tools to fine-tune the system, diagnose or run specific services.

There are several proven ways to access hidden applications without getting root permissions. Some methods require only changing the interface settings, while others involve using USB and computer debugging. In this article, we will discuss each option in detail, assess the risks, and provide step-by-step instructions for Redmi, POCO, and Xiaomi models.

Before you start activating hidden features, it’s important to understand that you’re interfering with the operating system. Android is a flexible platform, but rash actions can lead to crashes. We’ll look at secure activation pathways that don’t violate the warranty, but require careful execution of each step.

Activation method through the menu "Hidden settings"

The easiest and safest way to access additional features is to use the built-in developer menu, which is often hidden by default. Unlike older versions of Android, which required multiple clicks on the build number, in modern Xiaomi shells, this item may already be available, but not activated.

To start, you need to go to the basic settings of the device. Find the Settings → About Phone section. Here you should find the MIUI version or OS version and click on it 7-10 times in a row before the notification that you became a developer appears, and then a new section will appear in the settings menu.

In the Developer Menu (or Special Features) that opens, you need to find a switch that displays system processes, and enabling this option makes previously hidden shortcuts visible in the general application list, allowing you to manage background services that are not normally displayed in the launcher.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → About the phone and activate the developer mode.
• 🔍 In the developer menu, find the item “Show system processes».
• ⚙️ Use the search by settings by entering the word “hidden” or “system».
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes to the launcher.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable system services that you do not know are intended for, and this may cause sensor, communication, or interface to malfunction.

Using third-party launchers for display

The standard MIUI launcher often filters the list of applications by hiding system utilities. Installing an alternative launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allows you to bypass these restrictions. These programs have direct access to the list of all installed packages, including those that are marked as hidden.

Once you install the new launcher, you need to assign it to the primary launcher. Go to Settings → Desktop and select the installed application. Immediately after you change the interface, you will see that the list of applications has expanded significantly, and there will be icons with gray icons or no name — these are the hidden system components.

Be careful, though: running some utilities through a third-party interface can cause visual bugs. For example, settings windows may not scale properly or overlap with Xiaomi lane interface elements.

Activation via ADB (Android Debug Bridge)

The most powerful method available to advanced users is using USB debugging and command line, which allows you not only to see hidden applications, but also to force them to run even if you don't create a shortcut, and you'll need a computer and an ADB driver installed to work.

First, you need to turn on the phone to debug via USB. The path looks like this: Settings → About Phone → (7 times tap according to OS) → Advanced settings → For developers → Debugging by USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable and confirm the permission to access in the window that appears on the phone screen.

Open the command line on your computer in the ADB folder and enter a command to output a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -s. Find the system package you need (for example, com.miui.calculator or com.android.settings).

adb shell am start -n name.packet/.NameActivity

If you don’t know the exact name of the activity, you can use utilities like Activity Launcher that work in conjunction with ADB or directly on the device (if you have rights), which ensures that even those components that are completely removed from the launcher interface are launched.

Search through the All Apps menu and search

Some firmware versions don't remove hidden apps from the general list, they just strip away desktop icons. To find them, open the menu of all apps and search the top of the screen. Type the name of the system component in English, such as "Calculator," "Compass," or "Scanner."

Often, a search will yield results even when the icon is hidden. By clicking on the item you find, you can launch the application. For convenience, you can create a shortcut manually: pinch the found application in the list (if the launcher allows), or use widgets to create a link to a specific activity.

This method is especially useful if you accidentally hid an important application through Hide Apps in the theme or security settings. Unlike system hidden processes, custom hidden apps are easily returned through search.

Compatibility issues on HyperOS

With the release of the new HyperOS shell, Xiaomi’s security policy has become stricter, many methods that worked on MIUI 14 can now be blocked, in particular, the ability to run system activities through third-party launchers without special permissions is limited.

If standard methods don't work, try resetting the launcher settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All Applications → System Launcher → Memory → Clean. This will bring all standard icons back to view, but reset the widgets on the desktop. It's important to keep a backup of the layout before performing this operation.

HyperOS has also changed its permissions, so that when you try to run a hidden application through an ADB or launcher, the system can request confirmation of action every time, which is normal behavior of Android's security mechanism, which is reinforced in new versions.

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Use the Activity Launcher app from Google Play, which automatically scans the device and creates shortcuts for all hidden activities, allowing you to run them in one click without typing commands.

Engineering menus and hidden tests

A separate category of hidden applications is the engineering menu and the hardware tests, which are designed for service centers, but are also available to users. CIT-menu (hardware testing).

This menu can check the vibrator, screen, microphones and sensors, but it also hides sections related to IMEI and antenna calibration. Changing parameters in Telephony or RF sections by an inexperienced user can lead to signal loss or locking of the communication module.

To access the full engineering menu through ADB, you can use the command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.SubSettings

This will open a hidden settings section where radios and network debugging points may be present. Be extremely careful: improper settings of frequencies or network modes can make the phone unable to register with the operator's network.

⚠️ Warning: Never change the values in the engineering menu unless you know exactly what the parameter is for.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Using ADB and third-party launchers are the most effective ways to access hidden functionality, but they require caution and an understanding of the Android structure.