How to get out of the Xiaomi engineering menu: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi’s engineering menu is a powerful tool for diagnosing and fine-tuning a smartphone, but users often face a problem: how to safely exit it if the device starts to work unstable or the menu opens accidentally. Unlike standard settings, the engineering menu (#4636## or ##36446337##) does not always have an obvious back button, and improper actions can lead to system failures or even a device “brick”.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to exit the engineering menu for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS firmware, including forced modes and emergency situations. Particular attention will be paid to models with Qualcomm Snapdragon and Mediatek, since they have different algorithms for the engineering menu, and you will learn what to do if the smartphone freezes in test mode after changing the parameters is the only case when standard methods may not work.

What is Xiaomi’s Engineering Menu and Why It’s Hard to Close It

Engineering menu (Engineer Mode) is a hidden service section designed to test hardware components: screen, camera, sensors, communication module, etc. It is available on all Xiaomi devices through special devices. USSD-codes or button combinations, but unlike the recovery menu (Fastboot or Recovery), the engineering menu runs on top of the operating system.

The main problem is that:

• 🔧 Many menu items do not have feedback – after changing the settings, the screen may go out or freeze.
• 📱 On some firmware (MIUI 12 and below) the Back button is not working properly due to shell errors.
• ⚠️ Changing critical parameters (e.g., Band Selection for modem) can result in network loss or reboot cycle.

It’s important to understand that the engineering menu is not the same as the Fastboot or EDL Mode, and if you’re logged in with ##4636##, it’s software-based, and if the menu opens after a hardware reset (like the Volume Up + Power clip), it’s a recovery mode, and the instructions in this article don’t apply to it.

Method 1: Standard exit via the "Back" button

The easiest method is to use a hardware or software return button, which works 80% of the time if the menu is open through the back door. USSD-code and no critical parameters have been changed.

Instructions:

1. Press the physical Back button (if you have one on your model, such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
2. If there is no button, swipe from right to left on the bottom of the screen (the gesture "Back" in MIUI).
3. Some firmware (HyperOS) may require a double press on the Home button.

If the screen is not responding:

• 🔄 Try restarting your smartphone with a long power button hold (10-15 seconds).
• 📴 On models with Mediatek (for example, Redmi) 9A) Sometimes the combination of Volume Down helps. + Power for Forced Reboot.

⚠️ Note: If the screen flashes after clicking "Back" or if the message "Testing mode active" appears, the display settings have been changed).

Method 2: Exit through USSD (for MIUI firmware 13 and below)

On the old versions. MIUI (Up to the 13th inclusive, the engineering menu can be closed by entering the reverse USSD-This method works if the menu was opened through the:

• 📞 ##4636## (general information and statistics)
• 📡 ##36446337# (Equipment Test)
• 🔋 ##4634## (battery test)

To get out:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##4636## (no stars) and press the call.
3. If the menu is not closed, try #36446337##.

This method does not work on MIUI 14 and HyperOS, so use Method 1 or 3 instead.

Method 3: Forced reboot (for suspended devices)

If the smartphone doesn’t respond to taps or the screen shows artifacts after testing the engineering menu, you’ll need a hard reboot, a method that’s universal for all Xiaomi models, but has nuances depending on the processor.

Model instructions:

• 📱 Qualcomm Snapdragon (Xiaomi 12T, POCO F4): Hold Volume Down + Power on 10-15 A few seconds before the logo appears. MI.
• 📱 Mediatek Helio/Dimensity (Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro: Squeeze Volume Up + Power on 20 seconds (may be required until later) 30 seconds).
• 📱 Old models (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1): Remove the battery (if removable), then insert back and turn it on.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices, a hard reboot may result in the engineering menu being reopened after activation. In this case, use Method 5 (Reset via Safe Mode).

If the smartphone does not turn on after the restart or shows a “No Command” error, then the critical parameters of the bootloader have been changed, in this case, you will need firmware through Fastboot (see the section “What to do if the smartphone does not turn on”).

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If the mobile network is missing after the reboot, check the settings. APN In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN). Often the engineering menu drops them to the factory.

Method 4: Exit through Safe Mode (if the menu opens automatically)

If the engineering menu appears every time you turn on your smartphone, it means that the test mode has been activated (for example, through the Factory Mode settings), in which case logging into Safe Mode - a mode without third-party apps and settings - will help.

How to log in to Safe Mode:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button before the MI logo appears.
3. Once the logo appears, release Power and immediately press Volume Down.
4. Hold Volume Down until the "Safe mode" appears in the lower left corner.

In Safe Mode mode:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the EngineerMode app or MTK Engineer Mode and clean up the data.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone in normal mode.

If the engineering menu continues to open after that, the system flags have been changed, in which case only resetting through Recovery will help (see the next section).

Method 5: Recovery Reset (extreme case)

If none of the previous methods worked and the smartphone is fixated on the engineering menu or does not turn on normally, you will need to reset via Recovery Mode.This method deletes all data, so use it only as a last resort.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your smartphone (remove the battery if necessary).
2. Hold the combination: 📱 For most models: Volume Up + Power. 📱 For POCO X3/Redmi K40: Volume Down + Power.
3. After the MI logo appears, release the buttons - you will be taken to Recovery.
4. Choose a language (if available: 🔧 Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (complete reset). 🔄 Reboot → Reboot to System.

If you need a password and you don’t remember it:

• 🔑 On models with Qualcomm, you can reset your password via Fastboot command: fastboot erase userdata fastboot erase frp
• 🔑 Mediatek will need it. SP Flash Tool and firmware with DA-file.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices, Recovery resets can block the bootloader if the option was previously activated OEM Unlock. In this case, after the reset, you will need to unlock through the Mi Unlock Tool.

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Recovery is the last chance to bring the smartphone back to life without firmware, but after it will require reconfiguration of the device, including the binding of the Mi Account (if activated).

What to do if the smartphone does not turn on after the engineering menu

If the smartphone does not respond to buttons or shows "No Command" after manipulation in the engineering menu, it means that critical parts of the system have been damaged, in which case only firmware via Fastboot or EDL will help.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install it on a PC: 🖥️ Mi Flash Tool (for Xiaomi). 🖥️ Qualcomm drivers HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (for the EDL). 🖥️ Firmware for your model (for example, fastboot rum for Redmi Note 10 Pro).
2. Put your smartphone in Fastboot mode: (a) Press Volume Down + Power b) Connect to PC in
3. If the device is not identified in Fastboot, transfer it to EDL: 🔌 For Qualcomm: short test points on the board (disassembly required). 🔌 For Mediatek: Use the Volume Up button combination + Volume Down + USB.

Mi Flash Tool

"Clean All"

If you are not sure about your actions, you should contact the service center. Wrong firmware can permanently disable the device (for example, due to the wrong version of anti-rollback on Qualcomm).

FAQ: Frequent questions about exiting Xiaomi's engineering menu