How to exit Main Menu on Xiaomi devices: 5 proven ways

You went to the hidden Main Menu engineering menu on a Xiaomi smartphone or TV, but you don't know how to get out of there? This situation is familiar to many users who accidentally activated the mode for testing equipment - for example, through the combination of ##4636# or the remote button. Unlike standard settings, exiting Main Menu is not always intuitive, and some actions here can lead to irreversible reset of network settings or block IMEI.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to exit the engineering menu for Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Mi TV devices, including models from 2023-2026. From simple methods (for example, reboots) to advanced ones through ADB or hardware buttons, and learn what mistakes users often make and how to avoid them.

What is Main Menu on Xiaomi and why is it necessary?

The Main Menu (or Engineer Mode) is a hidden diagnostics section that manufacturers (including Xiaomi) use to test hardware components such as the communication module, screen, battery, sensors, and is usually accessed through service codes or button combinations, but sometimes users get there by accident – for example, when setting up a Mi TV via a remote or after a failed firmware update.

Externally, Main Menu looks like a text menu with items in English (less often in Chinese), where you can:

• 📶 Check the network signal (Network Testing)
• 🔋 Diagnose the battery (Battery Info)
• 🎤 Testing the microphone and speakers (Audio Test)
• 📡 Set up parameters Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (RF Test)

However, for the average user, this section is dangerous: changing certain parameters (for example, Band Selection in network settings) can lead to loss of communication or even “bricking” the device, so it is important to know how to exit it correctly.

Method 1: Standard output via the Back or Menu button

The easiest method is to use hardware or software navigation buttons.It works on most Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) and some Mi TV models (if the menu is open through the remote).

Instructions:

1. Press the Back button (arrow or swipe from right to left on gesture screens).
2. If the button doesn’t work, try holding it for 2-3 seconds.
3. On Xiaomi TVs, press the Menu button on the remote, then select Exit or Back.

🔹 If the buttons don't work, you may have the menu locked at the firmware level, so you can move on to the following ways.

Make sure you do not change the settings in the Network section.|Close all submenu (click Back to the main screen)|Do not press Reboot or Factory Reset|Check the battery charge (minimum 30%)-->

Method 2: Forced reboot of the device

If the standard output doesn't work, hard reset will help, a method that is data-safe, but resets any unsaved changes to the engineering menu.

For smartphones:

• 📱 Hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the device starts to reboot.
• 🔄 On models with a non-removable battery (for example, Xiaomi) 13T) You may need to keep food on. + Loudness up.

For Mi TVs:

• 📺 Turn off the power outlet for 30 seconds, then turn on again.
• 🔌 On models with a Reset button (e.g., Mi) TV Q2) You can press it with a pin for 5 seconds.

Method 3: Exit through service codes (for smartphones)

On some Xiaomi devices (especially Qualcomm or MediaTek processors), you can close Main Menu by entering reverse service code, which works if the menu was opened through a combination of characters.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and type in ##36446337## (code to exit the engineering menu on most Xiaomi).
2. If the code didn't work, try: ##4636## → Press Back
3. On older models (e.g. Redmi 4X) the code can help: ##0000###

⚠️ Note: Do not enter random codes from the Internet – some of them (for example, ##7780##) start resetting settings!

Method 4: Use ADB (for advanced users)

If the device is locked in Main Menu and does not respond to buttons, you can exit via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and enabled debugging over USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable.
2. Open the command line (cmd) and enter: adb devices (make sure the device is defined).
3. Exit the engineering menu command: adb shell am force-stop com.android.engineermode
4. If it doesn’t work, try the adb shell input keyevent. KEYCODE_BACK

🔹 For Mi TVs, TV: use the command:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -c android.intent.category.HOME

It'll get you back on the main screen.

1. Is USB debugging enabled in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).

2. whether Xiaomi USB Drivers are installed on the PC.

3. whether you use the original cable (not all) USB-cables support data transmission).-->

Method 5: Extreme measure - reset to factory settings

If none of the methods work, you'll have to reset completely, which will delete all the data on the device, but it'll be guaranteed to shut down Main Menu. Use this method only as a last resort!

For smartphones:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Factory Reset (manage by volume buttons, confirmation by power button).

For Mi TV:

1. Press and hold the Power button on the remote for 10 seconds.
2. In the Restore Menu, select Factory Reset (you may need to enter). PIN-code, by default - 0000 or 1234).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) K50) Recovery reset can block the bootloader if it was previously unlocked OEM Unlock. in this case, you will need authorization in Mi Account.

💡

Before resetting, try saving data via ADB pull or Xiaomi Cloud services. After reset, the device will return to factory settings, including the MIUI version at the time of purchase.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users compound the problem by trying to exit Main Menu in the wrong ways, and here are the most common mistakes:

• 🚫 Changing Network settings: editing bandwidth (Band) or network modes (LTE/WCDMA) Solution: Reset your network settings to Settings. → SIM-map → Reset.
• 🚫 Press Reboot to Bootloader: This will put the device into firmware mode, from which you can not leave without a PC. Solution: connect to your computer and run fastboot reboot.
• 🚫 Delete system files: In the File System section, you can accidentally erase critical data. Solution: don't touch this item without knowing ADB.

If the device becomes unstable after leaving the menu (for example, the mobile network or Wi-Fi is lost), do:

1. Reset network settings: Settings → Memory and reset → Network reset.
2. Check updates: Settings → About the phone → System update.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions