Xiaomi Developer Menu: How to Turn on What Gives and How Not to Break Your Phone

Why You Need a Xiaomi Developer Mode and When to Enable It

Developer Mode in Xiaomi smartphones is a hidden settings section that gives you access to advanced features of the MIUI operating system. It is disabled by default so that ordinary users do not accidentally change critical settings. But for enthusiasts, testers or those who want to make the most of their device, it is an indispensable tool.

Among the key features: unlocking the bootloader, setting up the interface animation, enabling USB-debugging ADB, Changes in network settings (e.g., forced VoLTE activation or 5G), However, some features can cause the phone to malfunction or even cancel the warranty if used without understanding the consequences.

When should you activate this mode? For example, if you plan to:

• 🔧 Install custom firmware or TWRP;
• 📱 Testing apps through Android Studio;
• 🚀 Optimize performance (e.g., disable background processes);
• 🔍 Diagnose sensor or network problems.

But remember, Xiaomi updates MIUI regularly, and the menu items may change. In this article, we will look at the current ways for the versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS (2026).

Step-by-step: how to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi

The activation process is the same for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, but may vary slightly depending on the shell version.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Tablet Device) section.
3. Find the line MIUI version (in HyperOS can be called OS version) and tap it 7 times in a row.
4. After the seventh press, a notification will appear: You have become a developer! or Developer Mode is activated.

If you have Xiaomi on Android 13/14 With HyperOS, the path may look like this: → The phone. → Device information → OS version: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) a password must be entered or PIN-post-activation.

Battery charge > 50%|Wi-Fi connection (to check for updates)|Password/pattern lock configured|Backup copy of important data-->

Important! On some devices (like the POCO F5 or Redmi K60) you may need to restart after the developer mode is activated. If the menu doesn't appear right away, restart your phone.

Where is the developer menu after activation?

Once activated successfully, the new section will appear in the main settings to find it:

1. Return to the main settings menu.
2. Scroll down and find the option Additional (or Advanced Settings in HyperOS).
3. Inside, there will be a subsection for developers (sometimes hidden under the System).

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Pad 6), the path may be different: Settings → System → Developer. If you don’t find it, search for settings (the magnifier icon at the top of the screen) and enter the developer request.

If the developer menu suddenly disappeared after the MIUI update, repeat the activation procedure (7 taps according to OS).

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On some Xiaomi devices, the developer menu may be called "Developer Settings" or "Developer Settings." If you don't find it, check the language of the system (should be Russian or English).

The most useful features in the Xiaomi developer menu

Now that you're on the menu, let's figure out which settings are really useful and which ones are better left out. We've highlighted the TOP-5 features that most users will need:

• 🔄 Debugging by USB (USB debugging – required to connect to a PC via ADB, Install custom firmware or work with Android Studio.
• 🎮 Force 4x MSAA — Improves graphics in games, but can reduce FPS weak-wielding.
• ⚡ Window/switch animations – speeding up or turning off animations makes the interface faster (useful for older models like Redmi) 9A).
• 📶 Modem mode (Mobile data is always active) – keeps mobile Internet active even when connected to Wi-Fi (useful for VoLTE).
• 🔒 Unlocking OEM (OEM unlocking) – a mandatory step before unlocking the bootloader.

However, there are also dangerous options:

• 🚨 Do not turn off the screen – quickly drains the battery;
• 🚨 Background processes – limitation can lead to app crash;
• 🚨 Reset to factory settings – erases all data without confirmation!

On devices with HyperOS appeared a new option — MIUI Optimization (translated as "Optimization") MIUI"). Disabling it can improve performance, but will lead to malfunctions in the work of Xiaomi’s proprietary applications (for example, Mi Home or Mi Fit).

How to turn off the developer menu on Xiaomi

If you no longer need advanced settings or want to hide them from outsiders, there are two ways to turn off developer mode:

Method 1: Through settings

1. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
2. In the upper right corner, press the switch (it will turn gray).
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

Method 2: Resetting settings

If the first method did not work (for example, due to a failure), reset:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Choose Reset all settings (not to be confused with Reset to factory!).
3. Confirm the action. The developer menu will disappear, but the personal data will remain intact.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) after deactivation of the developer mode, it may be necessary to reactivate to access the USB-debugging.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with the developer menu, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

Another common mistake is blocking Mi after trying to unlock the bootloader, and if you see this device is bound to a Mi Account, it means that the phone was previously linked to another account.

1. Try to log into the original Xiaomi account.
2. If the device is used, ask the previous owner for an uncoupling via account.xiaomi.com.
3. In extreme cases, contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.

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Before any manipulations with the bootloader or firmware, be sure to untie the Mi Account from the device, otherwise you risk getting a "brick".

Security: What can be broken in the developer menu and what can’t

Developer mode has huge opportunities, but it also has huge risks, so let's look at which settings are relatively safe and which ones can lead to serious problems.

✅ Safe settings (you can experiment with them)

• 🔹 Windows/Switching Animation – Speeding Up the Interface;
• 🔹 Force GPU rendering – can improve performance in games;
• 🔹 Do not turn off the screen when charging - convenient for presentations;
• 🔹 Showing clicks is useful for creating tutorials.

⚠️ Dangerous settings (require caution)

• 🔸 Unlocking OEM — opens access to the firmware, but removes the warranty;
• 🔸 Background processes – restriction can break the work of messengers;
• 🔸 Reset to factory - erases everything without confirmation;
• 🔸 Turn off the absolute volume level – can damage the speakers.

❌ Critically dangerous settings (do not touch unnecessarily)

• 🚫 Mock Locations – can block geolocation forever;
• 🚫 Disable application signature verification – the risk of installing malware;
• 🚫 Change the size DALVIK VM — This will lead to a cyclical reset;
• 🚫 Strict mode - flashing screen irritating and not useful.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices, enable Disable option HW overlays can cause graphic artifacts and processor overheating, a feature designed only for debugging applications!

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about the menu of the developer Xiaomi