Where to look for settings in Xiaomi devices: from smartphones to smart lamps

Xiaomi devices are famous for their extensive customization capabilities, but finding the right settings section is sometimes harder than setting up the gadget itself. Especially if you’re holding a MIUI smartphone for the first time, trying to figure out the menu of a Mi TV or setting up a Yeelight smart lamp. Even experienced users sometimes get lost: where is the very option to turn off ads, change screen resolution or adjust gestures?

In this article, we will not just list the paths to the main sections, but show you the logic of the configuration layout in the Xiaomi ecosystem, you will learn how to quickly find the desired parameters on different devices, what are hidden menus (like # #4636# for testing), and why the same functions can be called differently depending on the model, and also analyze typical errors – for example, why NFC settings can be “hidden” in the “Connections” or “Special features” section.

Settings in Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI): structure and quick access

Interface. MIUI It's been a lot of changes from version 12 to version 14, but the basic structure is the same (⚙️ Settings) is divided into 4 key categories:

• 📱 Device: This controls the display, sound, battery and gestures, such as setting up the Always on screen (AOD) is in the settings → Display. → Screenshot.
• 🔗 Connections: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SIM-maps NFC. Note: In some of the firmware section NFC separately placed at the top of the menu!
• 🔒 Applications: Manage notifications, permissions, and system applications (including disabling ads in Mi Browser).
• 👤 Accounts: sync with Mi Account, Google and other services.

To speed up your search, use the settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner). For example, type "screen resolution" - the system will immediately show the path of Settings → Display → Screen resolution. This works even for hidden functions, like Developer Mode (activated by a 7-fold tap on the MIUI version in the About Phone section).

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MIUI 14+ has added the Quick Settings feature – swipe down from the top right corner of the screen and hold any icon (such as Wi-Fi) to get directly into its settings.

⚠️ Attention: On smartphones POCO (for example, POCO F5) menus may differ – some sections (such as Game Turbo) are displayed on the main settings screen rather than hidden in Special Features».

2. Hidden and engineering settings: what can be customized through codes

Xiaomi gives users access to the engineering menu and hidden parameters through special codes, which are useful for diagnosing, testing iron or fine-tuning the network.

To access these menus, open the Phone app, enter the code and wait for automatic redirects. On some models (for example, Redmi Note 12), the engineering menu can be blocked, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader.

If you need to enable USB debugging to work with ADB, do the following:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new section for developers.
4. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the permission to connect to the PC.

Settings in Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV)

Xiaomi's TV menu is built differently than smartphones. MIUI, It has its own PatchWall shell (in India) or standard Android. TV (In global versions, the main settings are hidden behind the icon. ⚙️ on the main screen or in the side menu (called by the Menu button on the remote control).

Key paths:

• 📺 Screen and sound: Settings → Display and sound → Screen resolution (changed here) 4K/1080p), Image mode (Standard, Movie, Game).
• 🎮 For gamers: Settings → Special facilities → Regime. ALLM (Automatic refresh rate for consoles).
• 🔊 Sound: Settings → Sound. → Uniform volume (normalizes sound between channels).
• 🌐 Network: Settings → The Internet and the Internet → Ethernet/Wi-Fi. Note: In some models (Mi) TV Q2) Ethernet is hidden in "Additional».

Mi TV features: HDMI-CEC (HDMI control of other devices) can be called differently. In global firmware, it is Anyview Cast, in Chinese it is Miracast +. To enable synchronization with the soundbar or receiver, go to Settings → HDMI-CEC devices and accessories →

⚠️ Note: On PatchWall TVs (e.g. India), the Settings section can be hidden behind a long hold of the Home button on the remote. ⚙️.

Xiaomi Smart Devices: Where to Settings in Mi Home and Alternative Apps

Xiaomi’s smart gadgets (Yeelight bulbs, Mi Robot robot vacuum cleaners, Aqara sensors) are controlled via the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home in newer versions).However, not all settings are available in the main interface – some settings are hidden in the Additional Device Settings or require a connection to third-party systems (such as Home Assistant).

Examples:

• 💡 For Yeelight lamps: Color temperature and brightness are adjusted in the main screen of the device, and Schedule and Automation in the Scenarios section.
• 🤖 For robot vacuum cleaner Mi Robot: room maps and cleaning areas are edited in Settings → Map, and suction parameters - in Settings → Cleaning regimes.
• 🚪 For Aqara sensors: the sensitivity of the response changes into the Device → Settings → Sensor parameters.

If the device does not appear in Mi Home, check:

Check the compatibility of the device with your region (some gadgets only work in China)

Update the device firmware through Settings → Software Update

Reset the device to factory settings (usually by pressing the button for 5 seconds)

Check if the connection is blocked by antivirus or VPN-->

For advanced users, some devices (such as the Xiaomi Gateway) support local management without the cloud.

1. Find out. IP-gateway.
2. Connect to it through the browser at the address http://[IP-address].
3. Use it. API-Key (generated in Mi Home in the Profile section) → Settings → Security).

5. Settings in Xiaomi laptops and tablets

Xiaomi laptops (Mi Notebook series, RedmiBook) run on Windows, but have proprietary Mi Smart Share and Mi Bluetooth software, which add their partitions to the settings. For example, to configure Fast File Transfer between laptop and smartphone, you need to:

1. Open Start. → Mi Smart Share.
2. Enable the option to Allow Discovery.
3. On your smartphone, activate File Transfer to Settings → Connections → Mi Smart Share.

In the Xiaomi Pad tablets (for example, Pad 6) uses MIUI for tablets - here the settings menu is similar to smartphones, but there are features:

• 🖥️ Multitasking: Floating window settings (Settings) → Special facilities → Floating windows).
• ✏️ Stylus: Calibration and sensitivity are adjusted in Settings → Additionally. → stylus.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi laptops with Windows 11 may not have a driver for functional keys (for example, brightness adjustments).Solution: download Mi Notebook Driver from the official website in the support section of your model.

6. How to reset to factory settings (without data loss)

If the device is getting glitchy or you want to sell it, it's helpful to know how to do the reset correctly. MIUI has two options:

1. Soft reset (saves files but removes app settings and accounts): Settings → About phone → Reset settings.
2. Hard reset (full cleaning): Settings → About phone → Reset to factory settings.

For Mi TVs, the way is different:

Settings → Device → Reset and Update → Reset settings

Important: before reset, untie the device from Mi Account, otherwise after the reboot, you will need to enter the username / password of the previous owner. You can do this in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Delete the account.

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On Xiaomi TVs, factory reset erases all installed apps, but does not affect files on connected apps. USB-accumulator.

7. Frequent problems and solutions

Xiaomi users often face the typical difficulties in finding customizations.

If you can’t find a specific setting, try:

1. Update the firmware (sometimes options appear after the update).
2. Change the firmware region (for example, from Global to EEA – they may differ in the available features).
3. Use ADB to force the inclusion of hidden options (requires knowledge).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions