The developer mode on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a useful tool for power users, but sometimes it turns on accidentally or no longer is necessary. Left active, it not only clutters the Settings menu, but can also create security vulnerabilities in the device, such as enabled USB debugging or OEM unlocking make it easier to access data when a phone is lost.
In this article, you will find 5 working ways to turn off developer mode on any Redmi device, from the budget Redmi 9A to the flagship Redmi K60 Pro. We will break down standard methods through MIUI, forced reset, as well as the rare cases when the mode gets stuck after a firmware update. All instructions are tested on current versions of MIUI 14/15 (Android 13/14).
⚠️ Warning: If you have previously activated the bootloader unlock (OEM Unlock) through the developer mode, disabling it will not block the bootloader back.
1. Standard shutdown via MIUI settings
The easiest way is to deactivate the developer mode in the settings menu, which works if you haven't made changes to the system files or blocked access to the developer's settings.
Open the Settings app and follow the steps:
- Go to About Phone (or Device on new MIUI versions).
- Tap 7-10 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You are a developer!” appears (yes, even to turn off, you need to activate access first).
- Return to the main Settings menu and find a new section Additional → Developer options.
- At the top of the screen, move the developer’s settings slider to the off position.
✅ After that, the section will disappear from the Settings menu. If you have a choice, try restarting your phone or use the following method.
Check the version. MIUI on the telephone"|Make sure there is no active debugging USB|Close all background applications (especially) ADB-tool)|Backup of important data (in case of resetting)
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2. reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
If the standard method didn't work, it could be a system failure, in which case a factory reset would help, and it would delete all the data from the device, so use it only when you need it.
Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi:
- Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select to erase all data (reset).
- Enter the password (if installed) and confirm the action.
- Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-15 minutes).
⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) after reset may remain active debugging USB. Check it out in Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Debugging by USB.
| Model Redmi | Time to reset | Developer status after reset |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi 9/9A/9C | 7-10 minutes | Shutting down completely. |
| Redmi Note 11/12 | 10-12 minutes | Maybe there's a USB debugging. |
| POCO F4/F5 | 5-8 minutes | Disabled, but re-activated for verification |
| Redmi K50/K60 | 12-15 minutes | Full shutdown, but possible bugs with MIUI Optimization |
3. Disconnection via ADB (for power users)
If the developer mode is stuck after updating the firmware or rooting, the ADB team will help. The method requires a computer and installed Xiaomi drivers.
Step-by-step:
- Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
- Connect Redmi to your PC via USB and enable USB Debugging in the developer settings.
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with Platform Tools and type:
adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 0
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.settings.APPLICATION_DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGS_CHANGED- Reboot your phone with the adb reboot command.
Critical detail: On MIUI firmware below 12.5, the command may not work due to Xiaomi limitations. In this case, use an alternative method with file editing build.prop (described below).
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Before use ADB Check that in Windows Device Manager your Redmi is displayed as Android ADB Interface, not MTP-If not, install the drivers manually through MiFlash.
4. editing of the build.prop file (advanced method)
On some firmware (such as custom or beta versions of MIUI), the developer mode remains active even after the reset, in which case editing the build.prop system file will help.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly changing this file may result in a bootloope (cyclic reboot) Make a backup before editing!
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
- Go to /system/build.prop and open the file in the text editor.
- Find ro.debuggable=1 and replace it with ro.debuggable=0.
- Save the changes, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the device.
If the phone does not turn on after restarting:
- 🔄 Go to Recovery Mode (squeeze the power supply) + Loudness up).
- 📁 Choose Mount → System and restore the original build.prop from backup.
- 🔧 If there is no backup, search the phone via Fastboot.
What if the phone does not boot after building.prop editing?
5. Features for different Redmi models
The process of disabling developer mode may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI. Below are the key nuances for popular devices.
Redmi Note 10/11/12 Series
On these models, after disabling the developer mode through the settings, USB Debugging can remain active.
- Go to Settings → Additional → Special Opportunities.
- Turn off the debugging slider via USB.
- Confirm the action by clicking Cancel permission in the pop-up window.
POCO F3/4/5
On POCO devices with POCO Launcher shells, the developer settings section may be hidden elsewhere:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → System system → Advanced settings.
- 📱 If there is no section, use the search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top).
- 🔄 After shutting down, restart the phone while holding power. + Loudness up for 10 seconds.
Redmi K50/K60 Pro
On flagships with MIUI 14+, the developer mode is linked to MIUI Optimization, to fully deactivate it:
- Turn off Developer Settings in the settings.
- Go to Settings → Special features → MIUI Optimization.
- Turn on the option (if it has been disabled) and restart the device.
6. Frequent errors and their solutions
When you turn off the developer mode, users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The developer mode is turned on itself after restarting | Failure in settings.db file | Perform a reset or clear cache via Recovery |
| No item "Developer options" in the settings | Unactivated access (must be tapped according to MIUI) | Tap 7 times on the MIUI version in the About Phone section |
| ADB issues an error device unauthorized | No confirmed access to debugging on the phone | Confirm resolution on the Redmi screen when connecting |
| After editing build.prop, the phone does not turn on | Incorrect access rights or syntax | Recover the file via Fastboot or TWRP |
⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations, the developer mode continues to activate on its own, this may indicate virus software or unofficial firmware. Check the phone with antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes) or reflash the device via MiFlash.
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On models with unlocked bootloader, the developer mode can automatically turn on after the MIUI update. To avoid this, before the update, disable debugging via USB and block the bootloader through the fastboot oem lock command (data will be erased!).