Xiaomi Engineering Menu: How to Open, Why You Need and What Risks

Xiaomi’s engineering menu is a hidden settings section that the manufacturer leaves behind for hardware testing, sensor calibration, and troubleshooting. Unlike the standard Developer Menu, it’s a low-level setting that affects communication modules, display, battery, and even the processor, and provides opportunities for fine-tuning the device, but also carries serious risks, from accidental IMEI reset to full “bricking” of the smartphone.

In this article, we will discuss all working ways to log into the engineering menu on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO (Including models from 2023 to 2026, we will explain which features are available to the average user and which are better to stay away from, and you will learn how to safely exit the mode and what to do if the smartphone stopped working correctly after changes. MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

What is an Engineering Menu and Why You Need It

Engineer Mode or Service Menu is a service interface that Xiaomi, like other manufacturers, integrates into firmware for internal testing.

• 📡 Check the strength of the signal network (RSSI), switch between communication standards (2G/3G/4G/5G) and test Wi-Fi, Bluetooth modules, GPS.
• 🔋 Diagnose the state of the battery: real capacity, number of charging cycles, temperature and current.
• 🎛️ Calibrate sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, proximity and illumination sensor.
• 🖥️ Customize display parameters: color temperature, gamut, refresh rate (if supported).
• 🔧 Make changes to system files (e.g. edit build.prop) that can speed up the device or, conversely, disable it.

However, most of the features in the engineering menu are for Xiaomi engineers or service centers.

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if traces of interference are detected).
• ⚠️ Network disruption (for example, the smartphone will stop catching) LTE).
• ⚠️ Reset. IMEI Serial number (the device will become illegal»).
• ⚠️ Complete refusal to load ("brick»).

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the BandMode section (network frequency settings) may result in a blockage SIM-Some providers (e.g. MTS or Beeline) see this as an attempt to circumvent restrictions.

Official and unofficial ways of entry

There are several ways to open an engineering menu on Xiaomi, but not all of them work on modern devices.

1. via USSD code (the easiest way)

On most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (except for some 2023-2026 models), the engineering menu is opened using a secret code. Enter the following combination in the Phone app:

##4636##

Then the menu will open with tabs:

• 📊 Information - data on the network, battery, use of RAM.
• 📶 Battery information - detailed battery statistics.
• 📡 Usage statistics – Application activity.
• 🔧 Wi-Fi information – Wi-Fi module test.

If the code doesn’t work, try alternatives:

##36446337##

##2846579##

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) These codes can be blocked, in which case use the methods below.

2. through the application "Testing" (MIUI Test)

Xiaomi hides some of the engineering features in the standard MIUI Test (or CIT) application to find it:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 5-7 times on the MIUI version line (you will see a message “You became a developer”).
3. Go back to the main settings menu and find a new section for developers.
4. Activate the option of Engineering Testing Mode.
5. In the list of applications will appear MIUI Test (a badge with the Xiaomi logo and wrench).

Inside the MIUI Test you will find:

• 🔋 Battery tests (including calibration of the charge controller).
• 📱 Touch screen check (multi-touch, sensitivity).
• 🎤 Diagnostics of microphone and speakers.
• 📡 Tools for setting up GPS and NFC.

3. via ADB (for advanced users)

If USSD-codes MIUI Test does not work, you can try to open the engineering menu through debugging USB. For that:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and install ADB Tools.
3. Enter in the command line:

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

If it didn't work, try:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.miui.cts/.MainActivity

This method is suitable for devices on MIUI 14 and HyperOS, where standard methods are blocked.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Enable debugging over USB in settings | Download ADB Tools from the official website | Connect the phone with the original cable-->

What settings can be changed safely

Not all the options on the engineering menu are equally dangerous, and here is a list of relatively safe features that can be tested without the risk of damaging the device:

Here is what is not recommended to touch:

• ❌ BandMode – changing the frequency of the network can block SIM-map.
• ❌ IMEI Repair – Incorrect input will result in loss IMEI.
• ❌ Factory Reset – resetting to factory settings via engineering menu can erase data irrevocably.
• ❌ MTK Settings (on MediaTek processors) - changing the parameters of the core is fraught with "brik».

💡

Before any changes to the engineering menu, back up your data via Settings → System → Backup. This won’t save you from hardware breakdowns, but it will save you photos and contacts.

What to do if your smartphone stops working after the changes

If after editing the parameters in the engineering menu Xiaomi stopped turning on, does not catch the network or behaves unstable, act according to the algorithm:

1. Reset to factory settings: Turn off the phone. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
2. Recovery IMEI (If the network signal is missing: Download the archive with the original IMEI For your model (see the forums) 4PDA or XDA-Developers. ADB or Fastboot, run the file. modem.img.

Reflashing through the Mi Flash Tool:

• Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
• Use the Mi Flash Tool in Clean All mode.

⚠️ Note: If after discharge IMEI The smartphone still does not catch the network, check if it is blocked by the operator. IMEI ce SIM-In this case, you will need to contact the communication room.

Xiaomi models where the engineering menu is blocked

Starting with MIUI 13 and especially on HyperOS, Xiaomi has been actively blocking access to the engineering menu on new devices, and here is a list of models where standard methods don’t work:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13T / 13T Pro - locked USSD-codes required ADB.
• 📱 Xiaomi 14 / 14 Pro / 14 Ultra – Engineering menu is available only through Xiaomi service utilities.
• 📱 Redmi Note 13 Pro / 13 Pro+ — 4636## and #36446337## are not working.
• 📱 POCO F5 / F5 Pro – partially blocked access to network settings.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 – engineering menu hidden due to the features of firmware for folding devices.

For these models, the only working ways are:

1. Use ADB (described above).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP) and run engineering utilities through it.
3. Contact the Xiaomi service center for unlocking (confirmation of ownership is required).

💡

On devices with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 processor (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro), the engineering menu can be locked at the bootloader level, in which case only official unlocking through the Mi Unlock Tool will help.

Alternatives to the Engineering Menu: What to Use Instead

If you need to test Xiaomi hardware components but the engineering menu is not available, use these tools:

These apps don’t offer the low-level access of the engineering menu, but they cover 90 percent of the average user’s tasks, such as AccuBattery showing the actual battery capacity and the number of charging cycles, and NetMonster allowing you to manually select a 4G frequency (if the operator supports it).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's engineering menu