How to exit Main Menu mode on Xiaomi Redmi: a step-by-step guide

Main Menu mode on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a hidden section for testing hardware components, which is usually opened through a combination of buttons or service codes. For example, when you fail to enter a USSD-command or after an incorrect firmware update, the main problem is that standard exit methods (back button or swipe) in this mode often do not work due to blocking system gestures. MIUI/HyperOS.

If your Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10 or other model is stuck in Main Menu with a blue screen and test list (LCD, Touch, Camera, etc., don't panic. 90% of the time, you can get out without losing data. This article has 5 proven methods, including hidden button combinations, ADB-We'll also look at why a smartphone might get stuck in this menu and how to prevent it from being hit again.

What is Main Menu on Xiaomi and why does it open?

Main Menu Mode (aka Engineer Mode or Factory Mode) is a diagnostic tool built into Xiaomi’s firmware based on Qualcomm or Mediatek.

• 🔧 Testing of sensor, display, speakers and cameras in production.
• 📡 Checks of network modules (4G/5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth in service centers.
• 🔄 Calibration of sensors (accelometer, gyroscope, compass).
• 🛠️ Diagnostics of hardware faults before repair.

Under normal circumstances, you can get into Main Menu:

• 📱 Using service codes such as ##4636## (for testing) or ##3644633## (for battery information).
• 🔄 Button combination: Volume+ + Power when on (on some models).
• 🖥️ Through ADB-Command: Adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings.

However, most users get here by accident - for example, when trying to enter USSD-request to check balance (e.g. *100#) or after a crash when updating firmware. 9A, Redmi 8, where the engineering menu can open even if the call button is held for a long time.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is stuck in Main Menu after a failed firmware or unlock the bootloader, standard exit methods may not work. In this case, you will need to force flashing through Fastboot (instruction in section 5).

Method 1: Standard button exit (works 60% of the time)

The simplest method is to use hardware buttons, which works if the smartphone is not locked at the firmware level.

1. On the Main Menu screen, press and hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
2. After vibration, release the button and wait for the standard system boot.
3. If the smartphone opened Main Menu again, repeat the action, but hold the button for 20-25 seconds (this will cause a forced reboot).

On some models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) works an alternative combination:

• 🔄 At the same time, hold the volume.+ and 10 seconds power.
• 🔄 After the appearance of the Xiaomi logo release the buttons – the device should boot in normal mode.

Make sure battery power > 30% | Turn off the charger (if connected) | Check if the "Loudness-" button (can block output) is pressed-->

If this method doesn't work, move on to the next one. Don't try to reboot the device many times, because it can damage the file system.

Method 2: Exit via hidden menu (for MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS firmware)

MIUI firmware since version 12 and the new HyperOS has a hidden option to exit the engineering menu, which works even if the standard buttons don't respond.

1. On the Main Menu screen, find the Exit or Back option (usually at the bottom of the screen). If it is not, tap the top of the screen (where the status bar is usually displayed) 5 times in a row.
2. You'll see a hidden menu with the option Reboot System or Exit Factory Mode. Select it.
3. Confirm the action by pressing OK or Yes.

If there is no Exit, try an alternative path:

1. Enter the Manual Test (or Item Test) section.
2. Scroll down to Version or Software Info.
3. Click on it 10 times – it will open the hidden developer menu where the exit option will be.

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On some models (Redmi K50, Redmi Note 10 Pro) the hidden menu opens by entering the code ##3646633## directly in Main Menu (use the keyboard on the screen).

If none of the items are active, then the firmware has blocked the output through the interface, in which case Method 3 (ADB) or Method 4 (Fastboot) will help.

Method 3: Exit through ADB (for advanced users)

If the smartphone is detected by the computer in Main Menu mode, you can exit it using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires pre-configuring debugging over USB, but works even on locked devices.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• ⚡ Included debugging by USB (If not activated before, the method will not work).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is determined (the serial number will appear), move to the next step. If not, install the drivers or try another cable.
4. Run the command to reboot to normal mode: adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -c android.intent.category.HOME
5. If it doesn’t work, try a forced reboot: adb reboot

If ADB does not see the device, but the smartphone is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB Diagnostics or Mediatek Preloader, use an alternative command:

adb shell input keyevent 3

This simulates the push of the back button at the system level.

⚠️ Attention: If debugging is on USB It was not included until it was in Main Menu, ADB-In this case, go to Method 4 (Fastboot).

Method 4: Forced exit via Fastboot (if nothing helps)

If previous methods fail, it is an emergency reboot via Fastboot, which is suitable for all Redmi models, but requires access to Fastboot mode (aka Bootloader).

Instructions:

1. Turn off your smartphone (hold Power + Volume + until the screen is turned off).
2. Press Power + Volume for 10 seconds until a screen with a picture of a hare and the inscription Fastboot appears.
3. Connect the device to your PC and open the command line in the folder from fastboot.exe.
4. Enter the command to reboot to normal mode: fastboot reboot
5. If the smartphone opens Main Menu again, reset the cache (app data not affected): fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot

If this does not help, then you can reset the entire file via Fastboot (delete all data!):

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

Yes, no problem | Yes, but only after installing the drivers | No, the computer can't see it |I haven't tried-->

Method 5: Flashing through Mi Flash (extremely)

If none of the methods worked, and the smartphone loads cyclically into Main Menu, it remains completely flashed through the Mi Flash Tool, which will delete all the data, but return the device to a working state.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer (Mi Flash Tool does not support) macOS/Linux).
• 📁 Official firmware for your model (download from Xiaomi website).
• 🔧 Mi Flash Tool Programming.
• ⚡ Battery charge > 50%.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool.
2. Unpack the firmware archive (a file with the.tgz extension) into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Turn off your smartphone and put it in Fastboot mode (Power + Volume buttons).
4. Connect the device to your PC and start the Mi Flash Tool.
5. In the program, click Select and specify the path to the folder with the firmware.
6. Select firmware mode: Clean all - full reset (recommended). Clean all and lock - reset + lock the bootloader (only if you have unlocked it previously).

Flash

⚠️ Note: Firmware via the Mi Flash Tool deletes all data, including photos, contacts and apps. If your smartphone had important files, try extracting them first through the device. ADB pull (if device is determined).

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Flashing is a last resort, and before using it, make sure you've tried all other methods, including cache dumping via Fastboot.

How to prevent re-entry into Main Menu

To avoid accidentally opening Main Menu in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 📵 Don't enter the unknown. USSD-codes (e.g. #0#, #4636##) if you are not sure what they are intended to be.
• 🔄 Do not hold the Loudness and Power buttons for longer than 5 seconds at the same time (this may cause you to switch to the engineering menu).
• 📱 Update the firmware only through official channels (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🛡️ Set a password/pattern lock – this blocks access to hidden menus without unlocking.
• 🔧 Turn off the debugging. USB, If you do not use it (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → For developers → Debugging by USB).

If you often have to work with engineering menus (for example, to test hardware), install the QuickShortcutMaker app from Google Play, which allows you to create shortcuts to quickly access hidden settings without the risk of getting stuck in Main Menu.

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On HyperOS models (like the Redmi K70), the engineering menu is protected by an additional check, and to get into it, you need to enter the password from the Mi Account associated with the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Main Menu on Xiaomi Redmi