Have you just bought a Xiaomi smartphone or have been using it for a while, but still don’t know where to look for a feature? Don’t be surprised – the MIUI interface (and now HyperOS) is famous for its abundance of hidden menus, non-obvious paths and “secret” features that the manufacturer does not advertise. Even experienced users sometimes get lost in trying to find, for example, the developer mode, screen color balancing settings or hidden folders with backups.
In this article, we will not only list where the key features are in the Xiaomi phone, but also show how to get to them on different versions of the firmware — from MIUI 12 to fresh HyperOS. And also figure out which system folders can not be deleted so as not to break the smartphone, and where the data of applications that “eat” memory is stored. Ready? Then here!
1.Where in Xiaomi phone to find the basic system settings
Starting with the base, where to look for standard settings that you might need daily, Xiaomi has a different setup menu than pure Android, so even users who have switched from other brands sometimes get confused.
The main way to settings is the icon “Settings» (⚙️) It's on the desktop or in the app menu, but not everyone knows that some items are duplicated elsewhere:
- 🔧 Quick settings: swipe down from the top edge of the screen – here you can turn on/off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Flight Mode and other functions without deep immersion in the menu.
- 📱 Control Panel (in new versions of HyperOS): swipe down and hold - will open an extended menu with brightness, media player and fast switches.
- 🔍 Search by Settings: At the top of the main settings menu is a search bar – type in a keyword (such as “battery” or “sound”) and the system will show all relevant items.
Now, where to look for specific settings:
| Category of settings | The Way to MIUI/HyperOS | What can be set up here? |
|---|---|---|
| The Internet and the Internet | Settings → Connections and Sharing | Wi-Fi, mobile network, VPN, modem modem, NFC |
| Sound and vibration | Settings → Sound and vibration | Loudness, sound effects, vibration when touched |
| Screen and brightness | Settings → Display | Brightness, refresh rate, color temperature, Always-on Display |
| Battery and productivity | Settings → Battery and productivity | Power saving modes, application background activity, optimization |
| Annexes | Settings → Applications → Application Management | Deletion, cache, permissions, autorun, duplicates |
⚠️ Note: In HyperOS, some items have moved, such as "Special Features" now called "Useability" and are in Settings. → Please don't confuse it with Settings. → System system → And then there's the different menus!
Xiaomi’s Hidden Features: Where to Look for Them and How to Enable Them
Xiaomi likes to hide useful chips in non-obvious places, and this is where you can find the most popular hidden features on the phone:
- 🔄 Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone, tap 7 times on the version MIUI (Or the HyperOS version. Then you go to Settings. → There will be a new section for developers».
- 🎨 Hidden themes and wallpaper: in Settings → Wallpaper swipe to the left until the end - there are exclusive wallpaper from Xiaomi, which is not in the standard set.
- 🔇 Do Not Disturb Schedule Mode: Settings → Sound and vibration → Don't disturb. → Schedule. You can set up automatic on at night or during business hours.
- 📡 Hidden Wi-Fi networks: in the list of networks swipe down to the end and click “Add network”** – here you can manually connect to hidden access points.
Another little-known feature is MIUI Lab, which is called Experimental Functions in HyperOS, and it's testing new features that haven't yet entered the stable firmware version.
Settings → About phone → Version MIUI/HyperOS → tap 10 times over the MI logoBut beware: experimental functions can be unstable.
3. Where in Xiaomi files are stored: system folders and user data
If you need to find uploaded files, photos or documents, start with the Files app, but not everyone knows that Xiaomi has hidden system folders that don’t show up by default.
Here’s where the different types of data are stored on the phone:
- 📁 Downloads: /storage/emulated/0/Download — here are saved files from the browser and messengers.
- 📸 Photos and videos: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM (camera /storage/emulated/0/Pictures (Screenshots, saved pictures).
- 🎵 Music and ringtones: /storage/emulated/0/Music and /storage/emulated/0/Ringtones.
- 🔄 Backup copies: /MIUI/backup/AllBackup — Here are stored backups created through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
To see hidden folders (such as those with app cache or system data), turn on the display of hidden files in the Files app:
- Open the Files.
- Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
- Select “Settings” → “Show hidden files”**.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders with Android names, MIUI, data or system - this can cause your smartphone to fail! If you need to free up space, clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse.
Downloads from /Download
Duplicate photos in the Gallery → Albums → Duplicates
Unused. APK-file /Download-->
4.Where Xiaomi is located camera settings and how to optimize them
The Camera app** in Xiaomi has separate settings that don’t duplicate in the main menu of the phone.
- Open the Camera app.
- Swipe up or tap on the arrow (↓) at the top of the screen.
- Select the "Settings" option** (cogs) ⚙️).
You can set it up here:
And Xiaomi has a hidden Manual Mode for manual ISO, shutter speed and white balance.
- Select “More” → “Professional”** (or “Pro”).
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If your Xiaomi model doesn’t have Pro mode, try installing an alternative camera app like GCam (Google Camera).But first check compatibility with your model on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forum!
5 Where Xiaomi Hidden Battery Settings and How to Extend Its Life
The battery is one of the most vulnerable parts of Xiaomi smartphones, especially the budget lines of Redmi and POCO. In order not to “kill” it ahead of time, you need to know where the key power consumption settings are.
Main points:
- 🔋 Energy saving modes: Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery mode: You can choose between Balanced, Energy Saving and High Performance».
And Xiaomi has hidden battery usage statistics by charging cycles to see:
Enter the dialer in ##4636##
Select “Battery Information” → “Use”⚠️ Note: If the Battery Status section says “Good” but the phone runs out in a few hours, check “Battery Consumption by Application” in Settings. → Battery: Often the fault of messengers (for example, Telegram in the background) or games.
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Turning off Auto Brightness** and manually adjusting the screen backlight level by 50-60% can increase battery life by 15-20%.
6 Where Xiaomi has security settings and how to enhance them
Security in Xiaomi is not just about security PIN-There's a code or a fingerprint hidden in the phone that many people don't know about.
Where to find them:
- 🔐 Application Protection: Settings → Passwords and security → Application protection: You can set a password for individual programs (for example, WhatsApp or Gallery).
And Xiaomi has a hidden malware protection feature in real time to enable it:
Settings → Passwords and security → Virus Protection → Settings (⚙️) → Real-time ScanningBut remember: Xiaomi’s built-in antivirus isn’t as powerful as specialized solutions (like Dr.Web or Kaspersky).
What to do if you forget the pattern lock on Xiaomi?
7.Where Xiaomi Stores App Data and How to Clean It
Over time, the smartphone begins to slow down, and the reason for this is not only outdated firmware, but also the accumulated cache of applications. Where to look for it and how to clean it?
Main locations:
- 🧹 General cleaning: Settings → Warehouse → Cleaning – here the system will find unnecessary files (cache, temporary data, duplicates).
But beware: clearing the cache of some applications (such as Google Play Services or Mi Account) can cause service failures, and it is better to first clear the cache for one application and check the stability of the system.
And Xiaomi has a hidden Deep Clean feature that not only removes cache, but also unneeded system files to run it:
Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup → Deep Cleanup (bottom of the screen)8 Where Xiaomi is the settings for developers and why they need them
If you want to get more control of your phone, turn on Developer Mode. Where to find it and what to do with it?
Activation:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (or HyperOS version).
- Enter a password/pattern lock if required.
Then, in Settings → a new item will appear for developers. Here you can:
- 🛠️ Insert “Debugging by” USB»** (You need to connect to the PC through ADB).
⚠️ Warning: Don't turn on the "Stay awake" option on a permanent basis, it will quickly drain the battery. Use it only for debugging.
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Developer mode allows you to speed up the phone, but incorrect settings can lead to failures. For example, turning off "Background Process Limitations"** can cause overheating.