Leica M10 and M11: Secret menu could be locked after issues emerged

Leica users recently discovered a hidden service menu that can be opened using a button combination on the Leica M (Typ 240), Leica M10 and Leica M11, as well as all variants of these model lines. This menu provides information about the remaining battery capacity and the total number of photos taken – information relevant to buyers of used cameras.

However, some of the functions in this menu can cause serious problems. On Reddit, users report that the displays on some cameras no longer turn on after options in the service menu have been changed. We contacted Leica, and unsurprisingly, Leica advises against using the service menu without the appropriate technical knowledge. Specifically, Leica writes (translated from German):

Access to the internal service menus by end users is not part of our cameras' standard operating concept. These menus are intended for technical diagnostic and servicing purposes. Leica therefore recommends that users do not access them or make changes on their own. In particular, changes to internal settings can impair the proper functioning of the camera.

According to Leica, information such as battery capacity is not accessible in the regular menu because the user interface is intended to be kept as uncluttered as possible. Leica denies that the Leica M10's hardware supports a touchscreen – the corresponding diagnostic functions are only present because the Leica M10 and M10-P share a common software architecture, meaning both cameras use the same service menu.

While the service menu remains accessible using the relevant button combination, this could change following a future software update. Leica is considering "additional safeguards," as the company confirmed in response to our inquiry:

The internal service menus are not intended for use by end users.

Leica reserves the right to modify access to these functions or protect them with additional safeguards. The reliable operation of our cameras and ensuring proper technical diagnostics are the priorities guiding this decision.