diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index b8eb750..d1dca04 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 0.13.2
  - fix: model parameters defined via expressions were not exported
+ - fix: only export hidden parameters in developer mode
  - enh: export ancillary parameters in autosave
 0.13.1
  - fix: make sure fit parameters are identified by their label
diff --git a/docs/sec_interface.rst b/docs/sec_interface.rst
index 336aed6..e04a9ea 100644
--- a/docs/sec_interface.rst
+++ b/docs/sec_interface.rst
@@ -276,3 +276,5 @@ mode.
     (it is excluded by default, because it is virtually identical to the
     :ref:`sneddon_spher_approx <nanite:sec_ref_model_sneddon_spher_approx>`
     model which is much faster).
+  - Displays and exports hidden model parameters (parameters whose name
+    starts with an underscore ``_``).
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/export.py b/pyjibe/fd/export.py
index ea85ae8..4e04b34 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/export.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/export.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 from afmformats import meta
 import nanite.model as nmodel
+from PyQt5 import QtCore
 
 from .. import units
 
@@ -32,6 +33,10 @@ def save_tsv_metadata_results(filename, fdist_list, which=EXPORT_CHOICES):
     if np.sum([k not in EXPORT_CHOICES for k in which]):
         raise ValueError("Found invalid export choices.")
 
+    settings = QtCore.QSettings()
+    settings.setIniCodec("utf-8")
+    dev_mode = bool(int(settings.value("advanced/developer mode", "0")))
+
     size = len(fdist_list)
     columns = OrderedDict()
     # Metadata
@@ -63,6 +68,9 @@ def save_tsv_metadata_results(filename, fdist_list, which=EXPORT_CHOICES):
                 if "params_initial" in fdist.fit_properties:
                     fp = fdist.fit_properties["params_initial"]
                     for ki in fp:
+                        if ki.startswith("_") and not dev_mode:
+                            # ignore hidden parameters in normal mode
+                            continue
                         if not (fp[ki].vary or fp[ki].expr):
                             label, hrvalue = get_unitname_value(
                                 name=nmodel.get_parm_name(model_key, ki),
@@ -76,6 +84,9 @@ def save_tsv_metadata_results(filename, fdist_list, which=EXPORT_CHOICES):
                 if "params_fitted" in fdist.fit_properties:
                     fp = fdist.fit_properties["params_fitted"]
                     for ki in fp:
+                        if ki.startswith("_") and not dev_mode:
+                            # ignore hidden parameters in normal mode
+                            continue
                         if fp[ki].vary or fp[ki].expr:
                             label, hrvalue = get_unitname_value(
                                 name=nmodel.get_parm_name(model_key, ki),