Changes to the default settings on Xiaomi: from MIUI down-to-the-box

Xiaomi's smartphones and smart devices are known for their flexibility, but factory settings often don't take into account users' individual preferences. MIUI, Aggressive battery optimization or uncomfortable control gestures can (and should!) be reconfigured to suit you, but many owners are afraid to break the device by changing the default settings.

In fact, 90% of Xiaomi’s factory settings can be safely modified without risk to the system — if you know what the parameters are for, in this article, we’ll look at not only the obvious options like the themes, but also the hidden settings that the manufacturer does not advertise. From adjusting animations to disabling unnecessary services, you’ll learn how to make your Redmi, POCO or Mi is really yours".

Important: All instructions are relevant to MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese versions and tested on Xiaomi models 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5. For older devices (up to) 2020 Some menu items may differ, but the logic remains the same.

1. Changes in system settings MIUI default

Factory firmware MIUI It imposes a certain style of interaction on the user, from the location of the icons to the behavior of the notification panel. Fortunately, most of these parameters can be reconfigured without the superuser rights.

Start with the basic visual elements:

• 🎨 Topic and fonts: Go to Settings → Screen. → Theme: Not only can you change the wallpaper, but you can also change the style of the icons (Mi Theme Editor allows you to create custom themes), as well as the system font (available). ~20 options including San Francisco and Roboto).
• 📱 Control Panel: In Settings → Control panel set the order of switches (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.), and also enable display of the temperature of the processor or the level of charge of the headphones.
• ⚡ System animations: Hidden parameter! Activate Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times to turn on the developer mode, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, find the items Windows animation, transition animation and Animator Duration. Set the value 0.5x Speed up the interface by 40%.

Pay special attention to the gestures of control. Xiaomi uses "full-screen gestures" by default, but you can replace them with the classic three buttons or custom swipes.

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Full-screen display.
2. Select the type of navigation → Button (for classic appearance) or Gestal → Customization of gestures.
3. In gesture mode, you can turn off the vibration when swiping up or adjust the sensitivity of the edges of the screen.

2. Performance optimization: what can (and should) be turned off

Xiaomi is known for its "optimization" of background processes, which often leads to sudden closure of applications. This saves battery power but prevents multitasking.

One is auto-run applications, and by default, the system restricts the background work of most programs.

• 🔄 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Auto-start.
• 📱 Enable auto-run for instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), navigators (Google Maps, Yandex.Maps) and other critical applications.
• ⚠️ Don’t turn on auto-start for everyone in a row – it will reduce battery life on the device. 15-20%.

Second — MIUI Optimization, a hidden service that aggressively manages memory, can be disabled via a computer. ADB (computer):

adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1

After you execute this command, restart the device.

• ✅ Applications stay in memory longer.
• ✅ Delays disappear when switching between tasks.
• ⚠️ A small increase in energy consumption (up to 5) is possible%).

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If after the shutdown MIUI Optimization phone overheats, return the setting back with the same command, replacing 1 by 0.

The third is the limitation of the background for individual applications, for example, Google Play Services often wakes up for no reason.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app (e.g. Google Play Services).
3. Press the Battery. → Limit background activity.

3. Network and Internet settings: hidden parameters

Factory network settings on Xiaomi are often not optimal – especially if you use two. SIM-You can switch between Wi-Fi and mobile Internet, and here's what you can do to improve:

Priority SIM-data-card:

By default, the system selects SIM It's a random Internet thing:

• 📶 Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Settings SIM-map.
• 🔄 Select Priority SIM For data and specify the desired map.
• 📊 To balance traffic, enable Intelligent Switching (allows you to use both) SIM At the same time, if one of them is weak).

Hidden settings LTE/5G:

Settings menu → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Not all options are available to unlock extended modes (e.g., network type, LTE Only or NR/LTE for 5G), enter the engineering code:

##4636##

In the menu that opens, select Phone Information → Set your preferred network type. Careful: Incorrect settings can cause communication loss!

Wi-Fi: How to get a better network connection

By default, Xiaomi clings to the first network found, even if it is weak.

1. Activate the developer mode (as in the first section).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find Aggressive Wi-Fi Switch and turn it on.
4. In the same menu, turn on Always look for Wi-Fi networks (will increase battery consumption on the Internet). ~3%, but will improve the stability of the connection).

4.Sound and vibration: fine tuning

Xiaomi’s sound system offers more features than it seems; by default, many features are disabled — for example, separate settings for headphones and speakers.

Equalizer and sound effects:

Settings menu → Sound and vibration → The quality of sound is hiding:

• 🎧 Equalizer: Preset profiles (Bases, Rock, Jazz) or manual band settings (60Hz to 16kHz).
• 🔊 Mi Sound Enhancer: Improves headphone sound with processing algorithms. Works best with Xiaomi Earbuds or Redmi Buds.
• 🎵 Audio effects for apps: You can assign different profiles for Spotify, YouTube and games.

Vibration: How to make it less irritating

Xiaomi's standard vibration often seems too rough. → Sound and vibration → Vibration:

• 📳 Select the type of vibration → Soft (or custom, if you want to create your own template).
• 🔕 Turn off vibration when typing in Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Keyboard vibration.
• 🎮 For games, turn on Vibration in games → Intensive (if maintained).

Set an equalizer profile for your headphones|

Turn off the keyboard vibration (if annoying)|

Enable Mi Sound Enhancer for Music|

Set up separate sound profiles for applications|

Check vibration settings for notifications and calls-->

Hidden function: mono-audio for people with hearing impairments:

If you find it difficult to perceive stereo sound, activate monomode:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Hearing.
2. Turn on the mono-audio.
3. Set up the balance between the left and right channel with a slider.

5.Security and Privacy: What to Disable First

Xiaomi collects more data than many users realize, and fortunately, most spyware features can be deactivated without compromising the device.

Disabling the collection of diagnostic data:

By default, Xiaomi sends device usage information to the company's servers to stop:

• 📊 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Send an error report and disable the option.
• 🔍 B Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Deactivate all points of diagnosis.
• 🌍 B Settings → Google → Google services → Diagnostics disable Send usage data and diagnostics.

Restrictions on advertising and personalization:

MIUI displays ads in system applications (e.g. Browser or Music) to remove them:

1. B Settings → Confidentiality → Advertising Turn Off Personalized Advertising.
2. In the same menu, click Reset Advertising ID.
3. To completely remove advertising, you may need to disable system applications through ADB (instructions are available in the next section).

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Turning off personalized ads doesn't remove them completely, but it does make them less intrusive. It requires super-user rights or custom firmware to remove ads completely.

Protection against surveillance: location settings:

Many applications (including system applications) constantly request access to geodata, to limit this:

• 📍 B Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location Disable Access for Unnecessary Applications.
• 🔄 B Settings → Additionally. → For developers, find a Mok location and select Device Only (this will block the substitution of coordinates by third-party applications).
• 🚫 B Settings → Google → Managing a Google Account → Data and personalization → Location history disable geodata retention.

⚠️ Note: Disabling Google Location History may disrupt Google Maps and Yandex.Navigator. If you use navigation frequently, leave this option on, but limit access to geodata for other applications.

6. Resetting to factory settings: when necessary

If you've been "experimenting" with the settings and the device is unstable, you may need to reset, but a full reset is a last resort.

Partial reset (without loss of data):

B Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings available options:

• 🔄 Network Settings Reset: Returns Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile network settings to factory settings (passwords will be saved).
• 📱 Reset application settings: Reset permissions and notifications for all programs.
• 🎨 Resetting themes and fonts: Returns standard design MIUI.

Full reset (Hard Reset):

If the device is braking or not turning on, perform a full reset:

1. Make a backup of the data through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

If the phone is not turned on, use the recovery mode:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up for 10 seconds.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the reset and reset.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a blocked bootloader, a reset via Recovery may require you to enter a Mi Account. If you forget your password, it will be difficult to unlock your phone - you will have to contact the service center.

7 Hidden MIUI features you didn't know about

Xiaomi hides some useful options deep in the menu, and here are the most interesting ones:

Dual Apps (Dual Apps):

It allows you to clone messengers and social networks to use two accounts at the same time.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Double Apps.
2. Select an app (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
3. Click Create a Double App.

The clone will appear on the desktop with an icon in the form of two layers.

Second Space mode:

Creates an isolated environment with separate applications and data (useful for work or privacy) Activated in Settings → Special facilities → Second space. You can adjust:

• 🔒 Separate password for entry.
• 📱 Different wallpaper and settings.
• 📵 Disabling notifications from the main space.

Gamer Turbo Mode (Game Turbo)

Improves performance in games by turning off background processes. Swipe on the side of the screen in the game or through Settings → Special facilities → Game Turbo, you can do it here:

• 🎮 Disable notifications during the game.
• 📊 Monitor FPS processor temperature.
• 🔊 Customize the sound for games (boost bass, turn off vibrations).

Hidden Developer Mode for Camera:

There are undocumented settings in the Camera app to unlock them:

1. Open the camera and make a gesture of "double touch with two fingers" on the screen.
2. There will be a menu with options like camera Log, Settings HDR and manual focusing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi settings