How to enable developer options on a Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi phones, powered by the feature-rich MIUI operating system, offer a wealth of customization and advanced settings. One such hidden menu, Developer Options, provides access to tools and tweaks primarily intended for developers but can also be incredibly useful for tech-savvy users. Whether you want to enable USB debugging, adjust animation speeds, or explore other advanced features in April 2025, unlocking Developer Options on your Xiaomi phone is the first step. This guide will walk you through the simple, step-by-step process to enable Developer Options on your Xiaomi phone.

Step 1: Accessing the Settings App (Your Starting Point)

The journey to unlocking Developer Options begins within your phone’s main settings.

1. Locate the Settings App: Find the Settings app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer. It usually looks like a gear or cogwheel. Tap on it to open the Settings menu.

Step 2: Navigating to “About phone” (Finding Your Device Information)

Developer Options is hidden under the “About phone” section, which contains details about your device.

1. Scroll Down to “About phone”: Once you are in the Settings menu, scroll down until you find the option labeled “About phone.” The exact position might vary slightly depending on your MIUI version in April 2025, but it’s usually near the top or bottom of the list. Tap on “About phone.”

Step 3: Locating the “MIUI version” (The Magic Trigger)

The key to unlocking Developer Options on a Xiaomi phone lies in repeatedly tapping on the “MIUI version” information.

1. Find “MIUI version”: Within the “About phone” menu, look for an entry labeled “MIUI version.” This entry displays the current version of MIUI your phone is running. It might be listed under a “Software info” or similar submenu on some newer Xiaomi devices in April 2025.

Step 4: Tapping Repeatedly to Unlock (The Secret Knock)

This is the crucial step that activates the hidden Developer Options menu.

1. Tap the “MIUI version” Multiple Times: Rapidly tap on the “MIUI version” entry seven times in quick succession. You need to tap it fairly quickly for the system to recognize the action.
2. Observe the Confirmation Message: After tapping the “MIUI version” seven times, you should see a small pop-up notification or a message at the bottom of your screen indicating that “You are now a developer!” or “Developer options are now enabled!” This confirms that you have successfully unlocked the hidden menu.

Step 5: Accessing the Developer Options Menu (Exploring the Hidden Settings)

Once unlocked, the Developer Options menu will appear in a different section of your Settings app.

1. Go Back to the Main Settings Menu: Navigate back to the main Settings menu where you initially found the “About phone” option.
2. Look for “Additional settings”: Scroll down the Settings menu and look for an option labeled “Additional settings.” Tap on “Additional settings.” On some newer Xiaomi phones in April 2025, this option might be labeled differently, such as “Advanced settings.”
3. Find “Developer options”: Within the “Additional settings” menu, you should now see a new entry called “Developer options.” Tap on “Developer options” to access the hidden settings.

Step 6: Using Developer Options (Proceed with Caution)

You have now successfully unlocked and accessed the Developer Options menu on your Xiaomi phone in April 2025. This menu contains a wide range of advanced settings that can be used for various purposes, including:

• USB Debugging: Allows your phone to communicate with your computer for development purposes.
• OEM Unlocking: Necessary for unlocking the bootloader of your device.
• Window Animation Scale, Transition Animation Scale, Animator Duration Scale: Adjusting these settings can make your phone feel faster or slower.
• Force RTL layout direction: Useful for testing app layouts for right-to-left languages.
• Stay awake: Prevents your screen from turning off while charging.
• Mock locations: Allows you to set a fake GPS location for testing purposes.
• Aggressive Wi-Fi to Cellular handover: Forces your phone to switch to cellular data more quickly when Wi-Fi signal is weak.
• Disable absolute volume: Can sometimes resolve Bluetooth volume issues.

Important Note: Exercise caution when exploring and modifying settings within the Developer Options menu. Incorrectly changing some settings can potentially cause your phone to malfunction or behave unexpectedly. If you are unsure about what a particular setting does, it’s best to leave it at its default value.

Step 7: Disabling Developer Options (If Needed)

If you no longer need access to Developer Options or want to hide the menu again, you can easily disable it.

1. Open the Settings App: Go to your phone’s main Settings menu.
2. Navigate to “Additional settings” (or “Advanced settings”): Find and tap on this option.
3. Tap “Developer options”: Open the Developer Options menu.
4. Toggle the “Developer options” Switch Off: At the very top of the Developer Options menu, you should see a toggle switch. Simply tap on this switch to turn it off. The Developer Options menu will now be hidden from the Additional settings menu.

My Personal Insights on Developer Options 

Having explored the depths of Android and MIUI settings, I’ve found Developer Options to be a treasure trove of useful tweaks and tools. While primarily intended for developers, many of these settings can enhance the user experience for regular users as well. Just remember to proceed with caution and research any settings you’re unfamiliar with before making changes. Unlocking Developer Options on your Xiaomi phone in April 2025 is a simple process that opens up a world of possibilities for customization and control.