When you first pick up a Xiaomi device — whether it's a smartphone, a TV or a smart speaker — the first thing you encounter is the main menu. But what is it really like? Why is it called differently on MIUI smartphones, and it looks different on Mi TVs than it does on Redmi Notes? This article will take you through all the nuances, from basic features to hidden features that are not even written in the official instructions.
Many users confuse the main menu with a launcher or system settings, which is actually a separate interface element that serves as an entry point to all the functions of the device. For example, on Xiaomi smartphones, it allows you to quickly switch between applications, manage notifications or activate game mode. On Mi TVs, you can adjust the picture, sound or connect the periphery. Next, we will discuss where to look for this menu on different devices and how to use it with maximum efficiency.
What is the Maine Menu on Xiaomi: Definition and Purpose
The main menu is the central interface element that provides access to all the basic functions of the device. On Xiaomi devices, it can look different depending on the type of gadget:
- 📱 Smartphones and tablets: usually a drop-down panel with quick settings and notifications (top-down swipe).
- 📺 Mi TVs TV: full-screen menu with sections "Settings", "Applications", "Sources" and others.
- 🎧 Smart speakers and wearable electronics: a simplified menu with voice control or touch buttons.
The main goal of the main menu is to simplify navigation and reduce the number of steps to access frequently used functions, such as on Redmi smartphones or on the Internet. POCO You can use it to turn on Game Mode, Dark Theme, or Charge Saving without going into the deep settings. On TVs, you can quickly switch the signal source from the signal source. HDMI1 on TV-antenna.
It is important to understand that the main menu is not the same as:
- 🚫 Launcher (Desktop shell where application icons are located).
- 🚫 Notification panel (although on smartphones they are often combined).
- 🚫 System settings (this is a separate section that can be accessed from the main menu).
Where is the main menu on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI)
On MIUI-powered smartphones (including Redmi, POCO, Black Shark), the main menu is implemented as a drop-down panel that opens with a swipe from top to bottom.
- 📲 Swipe down from the top edge – opens the notification panel + Quick settings (this is the main menu).
- ⚙️ Swipe down from top right corner – only opens the control panel (quick settings without notifications).
- 🔍 Double Swipe Down – Deploys the full list of notifications.
The menu is based on the MIUI version:
| MIUI version | Maine menu design | Features |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12/13 | Tile interface with round icons | Adaptive color scheme under wallpaper, control gestures |
| MIUI 14 | Minimalist design with large icons | Improved animation, support for dark themes |
| HyperOS (2026) | Flat design with a focus on productivity | Quick access to game mode and energy saving |
On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5), contextual prompts are added to the main menu, for example, if you plug in your headphones, a quick button will appear to turn on the Headphone Sound Mode.
⚠️ Attention: On HyperOS devices (2026), some Maine menu items have changed, such as the Game Mode button now being in Performance rather than in quick settings.
How to open the Maine menu on Mi TV and Mi Box
On Xiaomi Mi TVs and Mi Box consoles, the main menu is organized differently from on smartphones, here it is a full-screen interface that opens with a click on:
- 🎮 Home button on the remote (main method).
- 🖱️ The button "Menu" on some console models (for example, Mi). TV Stick).
- 👆 Gesture up on touch panel remotes (e.g. Mi) TV 4S).
The menu on TVs is divided into several tabs:
- 📺 Main – content recommendations, installed applications.
- 🔍 Search – universal search for all sources.
- 📁 Applications – list of installed programs (analogue of the application menu on the smartphone).
- ⚙️ Settings – access to system parameters.
On new models (for example, Mi TV Q2 2026) in the main menu added tab Game mode, which automatically optimizes the input delay when connecting consoles (PS5, Xbox) or PC.
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If the remote doesn't have a Home button, try rebooting the TV by holding the Power button for 10 seconds, often solving the problem of the interface freeze.
Hidden Maine Menu Features You Didn't Know About
The main menu on Xiaomi devices hides a few useful features that are not obvious at first glance.
- 🔄 Quick profile switching: on smartphones, you can add a Work Profile/Personal Profile switch in the notification panel (useful for data sharing).
- 🎮 Game turbo mode: on Mi TVs TV In the main menu there is a hidden option Game Turbo, which reduces the input delay to 8 ms (included in Settings). → Display. → Game mode).
- 🔋 Hidden charge savings: on smartphones in fast settings, you can activate Supereconomic mode, which turns off background processes and limits performance to 1 core.
- 🔊 Customization of sound for headphones: in the main menu of TVs there is an option Sound profile, which automatically adjusts the equalizer for connected Bluetooth headphones.
On MIUI 14+ smartphones, Concentration (the equivalent of Focus Mode on iPhone) is added to the main menu, blocking notifications from selected apps for a given period of time to find it:
- Open the Maine menu (swipe from top to bottom).
- Click on the icon. ⋯ (three points) in upper right corner.
- Select Concentration Mode.
How to enable hidden developer mode through the main menu?
Common problems with the main menu and their solutions
Sometimes the main menu on Xiaomi devices doesn’t work properly, and here are the typical problems and ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The menu doesn't open with a swipe. | Lack of launcher or gestures | Reboot the device or reset gesture settings to Settings → Display → Full-screen display |
| The menu icons are missing. | System cache error | Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → System Launcher |
| The menu is slowing down. | Animation overload | Turn off animation in Settings → Special Options → Delete animation |
| The Home button does not work on the TV. | Delayed remote or firmware | Reconnect the remote or update the software through Settings → Update |
If the smartphone lost quick settings from the main menu, try:
Reboot the phone.
Update MIUI to the latest version
Reset the launcher settings (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear Data)
Check if the light interface mode is disabled in special features
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⚠️ Attention: On Mi TVs TV With firmware older than 2022, there may be a bug that opens the main menu with a delay of up to 5 seconds, due to the processor overload due to PatchWall background processes.
How to customize the Maine menu for yourself: personalization
One of the advantages of Xiaomi devices is the flexibility of the interface, and the Main menu can also be adapted to your needs:
- 📱 On smartphones: 🔧 Change the order of the quick settings: swipe down, press ⋯ → Change. 🎨 Change the color scheme: Settings → Display. → Color scheme. 🔕 Hiding Unnecessary Notifications: Keep Your Finger on Notifications → Shut down.
- 📺 On TVs: 📌 Fix frequently used apps on the home page. 🔊 Set up sound profiles for different scenarios (movies, games, music). 🖼️ Change the wallpaper of the main page: Settings → Personalization.
HyperOS smartphones have a feature called Dynamic Wallpaper, which automatically adjusts the color of the Maine menu to the current time of day.
Settings → Wallpaper → Dynamic wallpaper → Choose a styleOn Mi TV Q2 and later, you can configure voice control of the main menu via Alice or Google Assistant.
- Open the Settings. → Voice assistant.
- Choose your preferred assistant.
- Activate the option to Manage the Menu with Voice.
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Personalizing the maine menu not only improves convenience, it can also improve performance, for example, turning off unnecessary widgets on the home page of a TV sets speeds up its loading by 15-20%.
Main menu on other Xiaomi devices: smart watches, speakers, routers
In addition to smartphones and TVs, Xiaomi has a lot of smart devices that also have their own main menu, and let's see how it's implemented in them:
- ⌚ Smartwatch (Mi Band, Watch): The menu opens by swiping up or clicking a physical button. Contains sections: Steps, Pulse, Notifications, Settings.
On the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, the main menu has added a stress section that monitors the level of tension during the day, and in the Mi Smart Speaker speakers there is a hidden feature Night Mode, which automatically lowers the volume after 22:00.
On Xiaomi routers, you can include a Game Accelerator in the main menu of the web interface, which prioritizes traffic for online games (for example, Dota 2 or Dota 2). PUBG). This option is hidden in the section Additional → QoS.