Went into Xiaomi's hidden engineering menu (known as Main Menu or Service Menu) but don't know how to get out of there? This is a situation familiar to many owners of the brand's smartphones, TVs and set-top boxes. The fact is that Main Menu is a back-end section designed to test equipment and diagnose, not for everyday use. Unlike standard settings, there's no obvious back or exit button, which often baffles users.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can exit Main Menu on different Xiaomi devices, from Redmi and POCO smartphones to Mi TV Stick and TVs. You’ll learn what button combinations work on specific models, how to avoid accidental resets, and what to do if a device is “hang” in the engineering menu, and also why some Main Menu items can lead to locking the gadget without the possibility of recovery.
What is Main Menu on Xiaomi and why is it necessary?
Main Menu (or #4636### on Android) is a hidden section that manufacturers use to:
- 🔧 Testing of hardware components (screen, camera, speakers, sensors)
- 📡 Network settings (modes 4G/5G, frequency bands)
- 🔄 Calibrations of sensors (accelometer, gyroscope, compass)
- 🛠️ Diagnostics of malfunctions before repair
On Xiaomi devices, Main Menu is usually logged in through:
- 📱 On smartphones: combination ##4636## or ##6484## (for sensor test)
- 📺 On TV/Setsetsetsets: Holding the Menu + buttons Up on the remote for 5 seconds
- 🖥️ On Mi Notebooks: boot to BIOS via F2/Del when enabled
⚠️ Warning: Changing the parameters in Main Menu without understanding the consequences can result in loss of warranty, camera failure, network failure, or total device failure. For example, incorrect calibration of the light sensor on the Redmi Note 12 results in a constant maximum screen brightness.
Why is it so hard to get out of this menu? The thing is, Main Menu is not designed for ordinary users, it's optimized for service center engineers, so navigation buttons here often work differently than in standard MIUI.
Method 1: Standard exit via the back button (not always working)
The most obvious method is to press the back button (or swipe from right to left on gesture-controlled smartphones).
| Type of device | Action for exit | Does it work? |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO smartphones | Press the physical/touch back button or swipe | ❌ No (80 percent of cases) |
| Mi TVs | Back button on the remote. | ✅ Yes (if not in test mode) |
| The Mi Box TV set-top box | Back button on the remote. | ⚠️ Partially (depending on firmware version) |
On most Xiaomi smartphones, the Main Menu button doesn’t work – instead of exiting, it can:
- 🔄 Reboot the current test (e.g., screen check)
- 📱 Return to the beginning of the menu (but do not close it)
- 🚫 Lock the screen (on some models POCO F5)
If the standard method didn't work, go to the following methods, but first check:
☑️ Preparing to exit Main Menu
Method 2: Forced reset (universal method)
If the back button doesn't work, the most reliable way to exit Main Menu is to force the device to restart.
📱 For smartphones. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO:
- Press the power button for 10-15 seconds.
📺 For Mi TV TVs and Mi Box consoles:
- Turn off the power outlet for 30 seconds.
- Turn it back on - the device will boot in normal mode.
⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., the Redmi Note 10 Pro), prolonged power button retention may trigger the Fastboot menu instead of rebooting. In this case, select Reboot using volume buttons.
💡 Why does this method work?
Forced reboot resets all the time settings, including active tests in Main Menu, which is the equivalent of "battery pulling" on older phones.
💡
If the engineering menu reappears after the reboot, it may mean that the service center software is installed on the device, in which case a full reset to factory settings is required.
Method 3: Use of hidden commands (for advanced commands)
On some Xiaomi devices, the Main Menu is possible through service codes or button combinations, which are suitable for power users:
📱 For smartphones:
- 🔢 Enter the code ##0000##, which will reset the current test (works on Redmi 9/Note 8 Pro).
- 🔄 Press Volume Up + Power for 5 seconds at the same time (will cause a reboot).
- 📱 On IR-blaster models (e.g., POCO X3), try sending a command from another phone via the Mi Remote app.
📺 For TV and consoles:
- 🎮 On the Mi TV Stick remote, press Home + Back for 8 seconds.
- 🔌 On Mi TV 4S/5X TVs, try the Menu + Down + OK combination.
⚠️ Warning: Some codes (e.g. ##3644633##) can trigger a test of equipment that cannot be interrupted without being reset. Use them only if you are sure of action!
What to do if the device is suspended in testing mode?
Method 4: Reset via Fastboot (if nothing helps)
If the device is stuck in Main Menu and does not react to the reboot, you will have to use Fastboot mode. This method is suitable for smartphones and requires a computer with Mi Flash Tool drivers installed.
🔧 Step-by-step instruction:
- Turn off the phone (press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
- Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
- Connect the device to the PC and type in the command line: fastboot reboot
- If it doesn’t work, reset: fastboot erase cache fastboot reboot
⚠️ Important: The fastboot erase userdata or fastboot flash all commands will delete all data from the phone! Use them only as a last resort.
For TVs and consoles Xiaomi mode Fastboot is not available – here will help only physical power outage or contact the service.
💡
Resetting via Fastboot is a last resort. If you are not sure about the commands, it is better to contact the service center to avoid turning the phone into a brick.
Method 5: Contacting the service center (guarantee cases)
If all of the above methods fail, and the device:
- 🔄 Continuously downloaded to Main Menu
- 📵 Does not respond to buttons and reboots
- 🔧 Shows errors like "Test Mode: Fail"
So the problem is deeper than it looks.
1. Check the warranty:
If the device is warranty, do not try to reset it yourself - this can cause denial of repair.
2.Clarify the model and firmware:
Tell the master:
- 📱 Precise model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, not just "Redmi")
- 🔢 Version MIUI (see Settings → About Phone)
- 🔧 How exactly did you get into Main Menu (code, button combination, etc.)
3. Be prepared to be discharged:
In 90% of cases, leaving the “eternal” Main Menu requires complete flashing, which leads to data loss.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many users compound the problem by trying to exit Main Menu in the wrong ways. Here are the top -5 errors and their consequences:
| Mistake. | Effects of consequences | How to do the right thing |
|---|---|---|
| Entering random service codes | Activation of the test equipment that cannot be interrupted | Use only verified codes (see Section 3) |
| Reset via Settings → Reset from Main Menu | Delete all data without leaving the menu | First exit the menu, then reset. |
| Change network settings (e.g. Band Selection) | Loss of communication with the mobile network | Don’t touch the RF Test and Network settings |
| Disconnecting the battery on non-disruptive models | Damage to the plume or loss of warranty | Use the forced reboot. |
| Ignoring warnings such as "For MTK Only" | Failure of firmware on devices with Qualcomm | Check the compatibility of the codes with your processor |
💡 Tip: If you accidentally changed your settings in Main Menu, but the device is still working, try returning defaults via Restore Defaults (if you have one on your menu).