Where are the settings in the Xiaomi phone: 7 ways to open the menu settings

Have you just bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but can't find where the screen, sound or network settings are hiding? Or have the usual menu items disappeared after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many users - the MIUI interface changes regularly, and some features are hidden in non-obvious sections.

In this article, we will not only show you where the settings are in your Xiaomi phone, but also reveal all the possible ways to open them – from the standard icon on your desktop to voice commands and gestures. You'll learn how to find hidden developer options, why some menu items might go missing, and what to do if the settings don't open at all, and for older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1), we'll give you some separate instructions based on the specifics of their firmware.

This material is relevant for all current versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and Android 11-14, including global and Chinese firmware. If you are looking for a specific setting (for example, Developer Mode or Automatic Screen Rotation), use a page search (Ctrl+F).

1. Standard method: Settings icon on the desktop

The most obvious method is to use the Settings label** (cog icon), which is the default on the home screen or app menu, but even here, users are facing pitfalls:

• 🔍 The icon is missing? You may have accidentally deleted it from your desktop. Check the All Apps folder (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 📱 Two settings icons? Some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 11) have duplicate shortcuts: one leads to MIUI- settings, the other leads to standard Android settings.
• 🔄 The icon changed? After upgrading to MIUI 14, the design of the icon became minimalistic — instead of the gear, a stylized letter "i" can be displayed.

If you find a shortcut, tap it, and you'll see the main settings menu, and at the top of the screen, you'll see a search bar that can quickly find the right option, like type in "NFC," "Airplane Mode," or "Autoturn" to go straight to them.

⚠️ Warning: On Chinese-based smartphones (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra CN), the settings menu may contain items in Chinese, even if the system's primary language is Russian. To fix this, go to Settings → Additional → Language and Region and select "Russia" as region.

2. Quick access through the notification panel

Not everyone knows, but many settings can be opened directly from the notification bar (curtains), which is especially convenient if you need to quickly turn on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or flashlight:

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the curtain.
2. Click on the icon of the desired function (for example, “Mobile data” or “No sound”).
3. For extended settings, press the icon for 2 seconds - the corresponding settings section will open.

For example, if you press the Wi-Fi icon, you will be taken to Settings → Wi-Fi, where you can manage networks, turn on modem modem or configure Wi-Fi Direct.

• 📶 Mobile Network → SIM- map and access point settings APN.
• 🔊 Sound → Volume adjustment, profile selection (“No sound”, “Vibration”).
• 🔦 Flashlight → Flash brightness settings (on some models).

On models with MIUI 14 and Android 13+, a new section “Quick Settings” has appeared in the curtain – swipe left on the notification bar to see additional switches (for example, “Charge Saving” or “Synchronization”).

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If the curtain lacks the right icons, tap the pencil ("Edit") in the lower right corner and add the missing switches manually.

3. Search by settings: how to find the desired parameter in 5 seconds

MIUI has a powerful search engine built in that works not only on menu item names but also on keywords, for example, if you're looking for a way to turn off automatic app updates, just type "App update" in the search bar, and the system will show you a direct path to customization.

To use the search:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. At the top of the screen, tap the search field (magnifying glass).
3. Enter a request in Russian or English. For example: “screen resolution” → Settings → Display → Screen resolution. “fingerprint” → Settings → Passwords and security → Fingerprint. “USB-” → Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times tap) → Additional → For developers.

A MIUI search can even understand inaccurate language, for example, if you ask "how to take a screenshot," it will say:

• 📸 Button combination (Loudness down + Power).
• 👆 Gesture (swipe three fingers down the screen).
• ⚙️ Screenshot settings (Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshots).

⚠️ Warning: On smartphones with Chinese firmware, search may not work in Russian, in which case use English terms (e.g., "fingerprint" instead of "fingerprints").

4. Voice assistant and gestures: non-standard methods

If you're too lazy to look for manual settings, you can use voice assistants or special gestures, which are especially useful when the phone is connected to the Xiaomi Smart Home or you control it from a distance.

Method 1: Google Assistant or Xiao AI

• 🎤 Say, “OK, Google, open the settings” (for Google Assistant).
• 🤖 or "" (for Xiao AI on Chinese firmware).
• 🔍 To open a specific section, check the query: "OK, Google, open your Wi-Fi settings."

Method 2: Gestures (for MIUI 12+)

• ✋ Double swipe on lock screen → Quick access to flashlight or camera (configured in Settings → Lock screen → Gestures).
• 👆 Swipe down the home screen → Opens the search bar where you can enter a query for settings.
• 🔄 Triple touch of the back → You can set settings to open (in Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Double touch and gestures).

The POCO F4 GT and Redmi K50 Gaming have a unique gesture: press both volume buttons for 3 seconds to quickly open Settings → Sound.

5. Hidden settings: Developer mode and engineering menu

Some Xiaomi settings are hidden from ordinary users, but they can be activated. For example, the developer mode allows you to enable USB- debugging, adjust the interface animation or change the screen resolution manually.

How to open the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. You will receive a notification saying, “You are a developer!”
4. Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new section “For developers”.

What can be set up in the developer mode:

• 🔌 USB- debugging — to connect to a PC via ADB.
• 🎮 Screen resolution is a forced change DPI.
• 🚀 Window animations – speeding up or turning off animations.
• 📡 Network settings – network type selection (2G/3G/4G/5G).

Engineering menu (for experienced users)

This menu contains low-level parameters of the communication module, camera and sensors, and be careful that the wrong changes can lead to unstable phone operation.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Select “Phone Information” or “Battery Settings”.

⚠️ Warning: Don't change the settings on the engineering menu unless you understand their purpose, for example, setting up Band Mode in the Radio Information section incorrectly can cause network loss.

Make a backup copy of the data

Remember the current settings (take a picture of the screen)

Use only verified sources of instructions

Do not change the settings of the communication module without the need

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6. Settings for specific models: Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi

The MIUI interface is unified, but some models have unique features or settings. Below is a short guide for popular lines.

Redmi Note 10/11/12 and POCO X3/X4/X5:

Xiaomi 12/13/14 and Mix Fold:

• 📱 Foldable screen settings: Settings → Display → Screen Mode → Flexible screen (Mix Fold only).
• 🔒 Biometrics: Settings → Passwords and Security → Face Unlock 3D (on Xiaomi 13 Pro supports 3D- scanning).

Older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1, Mi 8)

• 🔋 Battery Savings: Instead of Power Mode, look for Charge Savings in the main menu.

If your model is not listed, search for settings (see section 3) or check the official Xiaomi website at:

https://www.mi.com/global/support

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POCO- smartphones often use “pure” Android without the MIUI shell. In this case, the path to settings coincides with standard Android (for example, Settings → System → Update instead of Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI).

7.What to do if the settings do not open

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the settings of Xiaomi do not open - when you click on the icon, nothing happens, or the application immediately closes.

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Flash your phone: Install global firmware via the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on Xiaomi website).

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting your phone requires a Mi Account you don't remember, don't try to bypass the lock via ADB or Fastboot - this can lead to hard-brick.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi settings