Xiaomi Redmi 5A remains popular because of its availability and reliability, despite the release of more modern models. Many users buy this gadget as a second phone, a device for a child or elderly relatives. However, to make the budget device work as efficiently as possible, you need to properly perform its initial setup and optimization of the system.
Owners often face questions about how to remove advertising, configure notifications and distribute internal memory, which in the basic version is only 16 or 32 GB. Competent approach to the configuration of the MIUI shell allows you to significantly speed up the interface and extend battery life. In this material, we will analyze all the stages of “habitation” of your new or dropped smartphone.
Don’t neglect the basic security and sync settings, as this will save your data in the event of a device loss, and we’ll look not only at the standard procedures, but also at the hidden capabilities that will help unlock the potential of this Android device.
Initial activation and configuration of accounts
After you put it in. SIM-If you have a card and you have your device enabled, you will be asked to select a language and connect to a Wi-Fi network. This is a critical step, because activating Mi Account requires a stable Internet connection. Without an account link, you will not be able to fully use the cloud services and search functions of the device.
When you log in to a Google account, the system may suggest that you restore data from a backup. If you are switching from another Android smartphone, this is a convenient way to quickly migrate contacts and a list of installed applications. However, for Redmi 5A with its limited memory, it is better to choose selective synchronization so as not to overload internal storage.
☑️ Post-onset verification
Note the date and time settings, which are usually automatically tightened, but in some regions with unstable cellular signal, it is better to manually or force them to sync over the network, which will prevent errors in the operation of security certificates in the browser and applications of banks.
Optimizing the MIUI interface for speed
The MIUI shell is known for its visual effects, which on the Snapdragon 425 processor can cause micro-latency. To make the control more responsive, it is recommended to disable the extra animation. To do this, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers (if the partition is hidden, click on the build number seven times in the About menu).
In the developer menu, find the Windows Animation Scale, Transition Animation Scale, and Animation Duration Scale. Set 0.5x or turn them off completely. Visually, the interface will become dry, but the speed of opening applications will increase markedly, and this is especially true for budget devices with 2 GB of RAM.
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Use the Standard or Lite theme in the theme store if the standard interface is slow. They consume less GPU resources.
Also worth checking the screen settings. In the Settings menu → Screen make sure Read Mode is enabled only on schedule or manually, not constantly so as not to distort the colors.The screen resolution in the Redmi 5A is 1280×720, which is the optimal balance between clarity and battery load.
Memory and data storage management
Internal memory is the scariest resource in this model. The system and pre-installed applications occupy a significant portion of the 16 GB available. The first thing you need to do is configure the MicroSD card. Unlike older versions of Android, you can use the card as an extension of internal storage, but it can slow down applications.
The best strategy is to use a map for media files. Configure the camera and voice recorder to save the photo and audio directly to the external medium. To do this, open the Camera app, click on three bars in the corner and select Settings. → Save it on. SD-map.
| Type of data | Recommended seat | Reason. |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | SD-map | It takes up a lot of space, rarely used by the system. |
| Applications (Social networks) | Internal memory. | They need fast access and are more stable. |
| Music and Books | SD-map | Consistent reading does not require high speed. |
| Cash card (Navigator) | SD-map | Offline maps take up gigabytes of space |
How to transfer applications to SD-map?
Clean Download folder and messenger cache regularly. The built-in Security app has a Cleanup tool that helps you find garbage, but it’s best to check the storage manually periodically through the Settings → Memory menu.
Security and privacy settings
Data security on Xiaomi is built around Mi Account and local passwords. be sure to install a graphical key or digital PIN-The biometric fingerprint sensor on the back is fast and convenient, but it needs to be calibrated correctly when you first set it up.
Enable Find Device in Mi Account settings, which will allow you to remotely lock your phone or erase data in the event of a theft, and it is also useful to activate the second layer of protection to hide applications and personal files that are accessed through a special password.
⚠️ Note: Do not use simple passwords like “1234” or “0000” in the event of a device being stolen, an attacker can unlock it in seconds, gaining access to your banking applications and correspondence.
Check the permissions for installed applications. Often flashlights or calculators request access to contacts and geolocation that are not necessary for their operation. Restricting access rights improves overall security and reduces battery consumption.
Battery and energy saving modes
The 3,000mAh battery in the Redmi 5A, when used correctly, can run for up to two days, but it requires a good background setting. MIUI has an aggressive energy saving mechanism that can prematurely close applications you want, like instant messengers.
For important applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, email), you need to remove background activity restrictions. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Selection of applications, find the right one and select No Limits mode. This ensures that notifications are received in a timely manner.
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Getting the background processes right is more important than constantly cleaning up memory. Leave the system scheduler to decide which apps to close, but make exceptions for instant messengers.
Use In-Flight mode or disable unnecessary communication modules (Bluetooth, GPS, NFC) if you are in a bad signal reception zone. Constant network search by a cellular module is one of the main consumers of energy. Also reduce the brightness of the screen or turn on autobrightness to save charge.
Working with notifications and system messages
One of the most annoying features of MIUI is the abundance of advertising notifications and news in system applications. Fortunately, most of them can be disabled. Go to the Security settings, click on the gear and turn off Receive Recommendations.
You can do the same thing in the Music, Video and Explorer apps, and each of them has a settings menu that displays recommendations and news, and turning them off will not only remove visual noise, but also reduce the load on the processor and network.
- 📱 Turn it off «MIUI Daemon in Advertising Settings, if Active, to Reduce Telemetry.
- 🔔 Set up Do Not Disturb to schedule so your phone won’t ring at night, except for emergency contacts.
- 🚫 In each app’s notification settings, select the Android style instead of the app’s «MIUI», If standard banners overlap the content.
Controlling notifications makes it possible to turn your smartphone from a source of constant noise into a handy tool. Don't ignore the ability to group notifications from different apps so as not to clutter the status bar curtain.