Many owners of the popular smartphone are wondering how to activate hidden functions on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro or improve the performance of the device. This device, built on the basis of the MediaTek Helio G90T processor, is still relevant thanks to competent optimization and powerful hardware. However, standard MIUI settings do not always allow you to unlock the full potential of the gadget, requiring the user to dive deeper into system parameters.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of activating the engineering menu, adjusting the screen refresh rate and optimizing RAM, you will learn what system limitations can be avoided without losing warranty and how to properly configure notifications to avoid missing anything. It is important to understand that any changes to system files require care and follow instructions accurately.
Before you start modifying your settings, make sure the operating system version is up to date. Check for updates in the settings menu, as new security patches often contain patches for the features we will affect. Ignoring this step can lead to software conflicts.
Activation of the developer mode and debugging via USB
The first step to getting enhanced access to system management is to enable developer mode, a standard procedure for Android devices that allows you to access system logs, debug applications, and manage the processor, and on the MIUI shell, this process has its own features associated with enhanced protection of user data.
To start, go to the Settings menu. → About the phone. Find the line "Version." MIUI» And you can quickly tap it seven times in a row, and after the fifth tap, the system can ask you to enter a pattern lock or unlock the screen password, which is a security measure that prevents children or strangers from accidentally activating hidden functions.
Once activated successfully, a new Advanced Settings option will appear in the main settings menu, which will house the Developer Menu, which contains critical settings such as USB debugging, which is necessary to connect your smartphone to your computer for file transfer or use of specialized software, and you can set up a limit of background processes, which is useful for performance testing.
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Turn on the “Do not turn off screen” option in the developer menu if you use your smartphone for navigation or reading, and it often locks while charging.
It is worth noting that the inclusion of some functions, for example, factory unlocking (OEM unlocking), may require confirmation via Mi Account and an active Internet connection, the system will alert you to potential security risks when you enable these options. OEM-Unlocking is a prerequisite for the subsequent installation of custom recavers.
Display setting and refresh rates
The screen of the smartphone is one of its main advantages, but the factory color and refresh rates may not satisfy all users. the IPS LCD display with FullHD+ resolution is able to display a wide color coverage, but by default the system can use energy saving modes that limit brightness or contrast.
To access the advanced display settings, go to Settings → Screen. You can select the color mode (Standard, Saturated, Advanced) and color temperature. For those who want to get the most accurate color reproduction, it is recommended to use the Standard mode, and for brighter and richer images, the saturated mode.
- 🎨 Reading mode: It reduces eye strain by turning the screen into electronic paper.
- ⚡ Update Frequency: Although the screen is physically 60Hz, you can experiment with animations on the developer menu.
- 🌗 Dark theme: Deep system integration to allow color inverts in supported applications to save power.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party apps to calibrate the screen or change the gamut may result in incorrect display of colors in system interfaces and loss of software warranty.
Special attention should be paid to the function of "Vision Protection" or DC Dimming, which reduces the flicker of the screen at low brightness. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this feature is activated through a secret menu or special commands, which makes the picture more comfortable for the eyes at night.
PWM (pulse-latitudinal modulation) resistance.
Optimization of memory and speed
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro has a lot of RAM, but the MIUI shell is known for its aggressive background control, which is designed to save battery power, but sometimes causes the right applications to be unloaded from memory too quickly. To change this behavior, you need to properly configure the memory settings.
In the developer menu, find the “Background Process Limit” option. The default is “Standard Limit,” but you can change it to “No Limits” for specific applications. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, select the desired application (such as messenger or navigator), click “Battery” and select “No Limits” to ensure that the system will not “kill” the application process.
Also worth looking at is the Memory Extension feature (if available in your firmware version), which allows you to use some of your internal memory as virtual RAM, which can help with heavy gaming, but can reduce data read speed slightly compared to physical RAM.
☑️ Optimizing memory
To speed up the interface, you can scale down the animation. In the developer menu, find the "Scale of window animation," "Scale of transition animation," and "Duration of animation." Changing the value from 1x to 0.5x will visually speed up the system, making the feedback to touch more instantaneous, and this creates a sense of greater device performance without really increasing the clock speed of the processor.
Managing Notifications and Blockings
The notification system in MIUI is specific and often raises questions for new users. The notification aggregator is divided into "Important" and "Other", which helps structure the flow of information, but sometimes leads to the fact that important messages are lost in the general mass.
To manage notifications, press any notification in the curtain and select Notification Settings, where you can customize the behavior of each application in detail: allow or disable sound, vibration, pop-ups and display on the lock screen.
| Type of notification | Sound. | Vibration. | On the lock screen | A pop-up window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messages (SMS) | On | On | Show me. | On |
| Social media. | On | Off | Show me. | Off |
| Games | Off | Off | Hide | Off |
| Systemic | On | On | Show me. | Off |
Also in the Redmi Note 8 Pro feature is “Blocklist” (Blocklist), built into the application “Security”, which allows you to filter unwanted calls and SMS-The database is updated automatically, but you can manually blacklist numbers, which effectively protects against spam and fraudulent calls that often reach mobile devices.
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Properly configured notifications not only eliminates noise, but also significantly saves battery power, preventing constant wake-up of the screen.
Camera: hidden settings and modes
The 64MP main camera (Samsung GW1) in the Redmi Note 8 Pro is capable of taking great pictures, but the standard processing algorithm sometimes “cooks” colors or makes too much noise in low light. For mobile photography enthusiasts, there is a way to activate additional modes through an engineering menu or third-party configuration files (GCam).
The standard camera app has a Manual mode that allows you to manually display ISO, shutter speed, focal length and white balance, which is accessed by swipe in shooting mode, and manual settings give you full control of exposure and allow you to take pictures in RAW format, saving as much detail as possible for later processing.
For those who want to go further, ported versions of Google Camera (GCam) are available, which often include improved HDR+ and Night Sight algorithms that work better than standard ones, but installing GCam requires finding a stable build that is compatible with the MediaTek Helio G90T processor, as not all features can work correctly.
⚠️ Warning: Installing modified versions of the camera (GCam) from unverified sources may lead to leakage of personal photos or unstable system operation.
Don't forget to check the resolution settings. By default, the camera can shoot in 16MP (binning pixels) to improve light sensitivity. To use all 64MP, you need to manually switch the mode in the camera menu to 64MP. Remember that this mode does not work HDR and night shooting, and the file size increases significantly.
Battery and life extension
The 4,500mAh battery is another trump card for the Redmi Note 8 Pro. However, lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, and the right charging habits can prolong their life. MIUI has built-in tools to monitor battery health and optimize power consumption.
In the app "Safety" -> "Battery" you can see the statistics of the charge consumption by application. If you notice that any application consumes disproportionate amount of energy in the background, limit its background activity. It is also recommended to enable "Optimize charging", which learns your habits and slows down charging at night, so as not to keep the battery at 100% for too long.
How do you calibrate the battery?
Using a quick 18W charge (Quick Charge 4.0) is safe for the device, as the power controller regulates the current. However, prolonged use of the phone during fast charging can lead to overheating, which negatively affects the battery chemistry.
For maximum savings in critical situations, turn on Ultra-Energy Saving Mode. It limits the number of available applications and disables background processes, allowing the smartphone to run in call and messenger mode for tens of hours even with a charge remaining 5-10%.