How to set up Xiaomi Redmi Note 12: a complete guide from the first on to fine-tuning

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is one of the most popular smartphones of 2023, combining powerful iron, high-quality hardware. AMOLED-screen-and-flip MIUI. But even Xiaomi’s experienced users often miss key points when initially set up, which leads to performance, autonomy, or usability issues. This article will not just list the menu items – we will break down the hidden functions, optimize the system for your tasks and avoid the typical errors that spoil the impression of the phone.

Unlike the standard instructions, here you will find:

• 🔧 Step-by-step setting up with the latest updates MIUI 14/15 (Relevant to the Redmi Note 12 Pro/Pro+/4G/5G)
• ⚡ Ways to speed up the system without root rights and complex manipulations
• 🔋 Optimizing the battery that actually extends the life (tested by 10)+ device)
• 🛡️ Protection against surveillance and unnecessary data collection (including hidden settings Xiaomi)

Whether you bought the Redmi Note 12 yesterday or have been using it for a month, this guide will help you get the most out of your smartphone, starting with the most important thing: the first switch on and the basic settings.

1. First Entry and Basic Setup

When you first turn on the Redmi Note 12, the system offers you to go through the initial setup wizard, where many users make critical errors that you then have to manually fix.

After pressing the power button:

1. Choose a language (Russian or English – other languages can cause update issues).
2. Connect to Wi-Fi (required! Without the Internet, you can't download critical system updates).
3. At the stage of Sign in to Mi Account: What happens if you miss the binding of the Mi Account?Without the Mi Account, you will not be able to use the cloud backup, find the phone through Find Device, and also get restrictions on some functions (for example, theme registration). However, if you don’t plan to use Xiaomi services, you can skip this step and create an account later in Settings. → Mi Account. 🔑 If you already have an account, sign in (this will open access to data sync). ⚠️ Do not use passwords from other services (such as Google or social networks) – Xiaomi is regularly targeted by hackers.
4. Set up unlock: 🔐 Fingerprint. + PIN-The code is the best option. The print is convenient. PIN You will need it after the reboot. 🚫 Avoid Graphic Keys – It’s Easy to See or Guess.

Personalization

No,

MIUI

Once you have completed the setup wizard, don't rush to install the applications.

2. Update firmware and Verification MIUI

Redmi Note 12 comes with different versions MIUI depending on the region, for example, the global version (MIUI Global) often lags behind Chinese (MIUI China is functional, but more stable. The first thing you need to do is update the system to the latest version available.

How to check and update the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If you have an update, download it (preferably via Wi-Fi, as the files weigh in). 2-4 GB).
4. After downloading, click Reboot and Update.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 If the update is suspended on 50%, Don't panic - that's OK for Xiaomi. 10-15 minute.
• ⚠️ Do not interrupt the process, even if it seems that the phone is frozen. Interrupting the update can lead to a knock (inoperability) of the device.
• 📱 If after the update the phone began to warm or brake, reset the cache: turn off the phone, press the Volume up. + In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Cache.

How to find out your version of MIUI:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Scroll down to the MIUI version.
3. Click on it 7 times – it will open a hidden menu with additional information (useful for debugging).

3. Performance Optimization: How to Speed Up Redmi Note 12

Redmi Note 12 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (depending on the model: Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, 685 or 778G), but even with a powerful iron MIUI It can slow down because of background activity:

Step 1. Turn off the animation system

Animations make the interface look more beautiful, but they slow it down.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and click on it 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the items: The scale of window animation → Select No Animation Size of Transition Animation → No animation Animator Animation Time → No animation.

Step 2: Limit background activity

MIUI aggressively caches applications that eat up RAM to fix it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose an app that doesn’t have to work in the background (like Facebook or TikTok).
3. Press Limit Background Activity.
4. For system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), use Disable if you are not using them.

Step 3: Set up Battery and Performance

Redmi Note 12 has a hidden menu that lets you manually choose your priority, performance or energy saving, to open it:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Select Performance Mode.
3. Set High Performance (if you want top speed) or Balanced (for normal use).

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If the phone began to warm up after changing the performance mode, return the settings to Balanced and check whether the case blocks the vents (they are located in the lower part of the case).

Step 4: Cleaning up cache and garbage

Over time, the system accumulates debris, which slows down, to clean it up.

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Click Clean (the system will prompt you to delete unnecessary files, cache and duplicates).
3. For deep cleaning, use the Security app (built-in) MIUI): open it, go to the Cleanup tab and click Deep Cleanup.

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Regular cleaning of the cache (once in a week) 1-2 Weeks) and turning off unnecessary background processes can increase the speed of the Redmi Note 12 on 20-30%.

4. Battery setup: how to extend the operating time

One of the main problems with the Redmi Note 12 is that it's running out of battery, especially in the first batches of devices. MIUI And the background activity of system applications. Here's how to fix it:

Step 1: Disable unnecessary functions

• 📡 5G (If not necessary: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred type of network and select 4G.
• 📍 Continuous search Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: In Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi turn off Network Search in the background.
• 🔦 Autobrightness: set fixed brightness at level 50-60% (Auto-regulation often works incorrectly and eats charge).

Step 2. Set up Energy Saving.

V MIUI There are several modes of energy saving:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
2. Choose Balanced (for most users) or Super Energy Saving (if you want to maximize your uptime).
3. Turn on Adaptive Charge (slows battery wear, limiting charge to 80% at night).

Step 3: Limit the background activity of applications

Many apps (especially social media and instant messengers) continue to work in the background even when you're not using them.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Instagram or WhatsApp).
3. Press the Battery. → Limit background activity.
4. For particularly voracious apps (like Facebook), choose Deep Optimization.

Step 4. Check the battery consumption

To see what’s going on with your Redmi Note 12:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
2. See which apps consume the most energy.
3. If Android System or MiuiDaemon is a sign of a system problem, try resetting your network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).

5. Screen setting: AMOLED maximum

Redmi Note 12 Pro/Pro+ fitted AMOLED-screen-support 120 Hz and HDR10+. But by default, many features are disabled or not working optimally. Here's how to set up a display for better image and autonomy:

Step 1: Set the refresh rate

The high refresh rate (120 Hz) makes animations smoother, but increases battery consumption.

• 🔄 For gaming and video viewing: 120Hz (online automatically in supported apps).
• 📱 For normal use: 60 Hz (saving up to 15% charge).

To change the frequency:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. Select the screen refresh rate.
3. Install Adaptive (the system will automatically switch between 60Hz and 120Hz).

Step 2: Turn on a dark theme and adjust the color palette

AMOLED-The screens save energy when you display dark colors, so you can turn on a dark theme:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Dark Theme.
2. Select Enable or Schedule (e.g. 20:00 to 7:00).
3. For better color reproduction, go to Settings → Display. → Color scheme and choose Saturated (for bright colors) or Standard (for natural shades).

Step 3: Configure the display always on (AOD)

Function AOD (Always On Display shows the time and notifications on the screen that is turned off:

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Always-on display and lockdown.
2. Select the display style (e.g. Digital Watch or Analog Watch).
3. Set up a schedule or leave it always (but remember that this slightly increases battery consumption).

Step 4: Calibrate the touch screen

If the screen does not respond well to touch (especially at the edges), calibrate:

1. Go to Settings. → Display. → Touch and gesture.
2. Select Screen Calibration and follow the instructions.

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If the colors on the screen seem too cold, turn Read Mode on Settings → It reduces the blue component, which is good for the eyes in the evening.

6. camera setup: how to make a better photo

The camera in the Redmi Note 12 (especially in the Pro versions with a sensor on 50 MP) is capable of great pictures, but only with the right settings. By default, many functions are disabled or work suboptimal.

Step 1: Enable the full resolution shot.

By default, the camera takes pictures in 12.5 MP (pixel binning), but you can use the full 50 MP:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ Settings in upper right corner.
3. Select Photo Resolution → 50 MP.
4. Please note: the files will weigh more (10-15 MBT for a snapshot).

Step 2. Set up your shooting modes.

Redmi Note 12 has a few hidden modes that improve the quality of the shots:

• 🌃 Night mode: automatically turns on in the dark, but you can force it to activate by touching the icon 🌙.
• 🎭 Portrait mode: blurs the background (bokeh effect). For best results, move away from the object to the 1.5-2 square.
• 📸 Pro-mode: allows you to manually configure ISO, It's good for shooting in difficult environments.
• 🔍 Macro mode: available only on the main camera (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ There is a separate macro lens).

Step 3: Disable unnecessary functions

Some camera features only worsen the quality of the images:

• 🚫 Artificial intelligence (AI): often overdoses the processing (skin becomes plastic, colors are unnatural). → AI-camera.
• 🚫 Watermark: Adds Xiaomi logo to photo. Disables in Settings → Watermark.
• 🚫 Shutter sound: interferes with shooting in quiet places. → Shutter sound.

Step 4. Take the video in 4K

Redmi Note 12 Pro/Pro+ support video recording 4K@30fps. To incorporate this regime:

1. Open the Camera app and switch to Video mode.
2. Touch the badge. ⚙️ and choose 4K.
3. To stabilize, turn on Ultrastabilization (batch) 🌪️).

💡

For the best photos in Redmi Note 12 Use Pro mode with manual settings ISO 100-400 and excerpts 1/1000 In the afternoon, turn on the night mode and reduce the ISO before 800, reduce noise.

7. Security and privacy setting

Xiaomi has been in scandals over the collection of user data, MIUI It has vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.This is how to protect your Redmi Note 12:

Step 1. Turn off data collection

By default, Xiaomi sends anonymous usage statistics to disable:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Open source code.
2. Click on the MIUI version several times until you get a message: You are a developer!
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Disable: Sending error reports Automatic reporting Improvement MIUI

Step 2: Set up permissions for applications

Many applications request geolocation, microphone and camera access without needing to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permits.
2. Select a category (e.g. Camera or Microphone).
3. Turn off access for unnecessary apps (like why Facebook should have access to your camera in the background?).

Step 3: Enable malware protection

MIUI It has an antivirus built in, but it's not always effective:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Click on the profile icon → Play Protect.
3. Enable the device scan for threats.

Step 4: Set up application lock

If you give your phone to other people (like children), block access to important apps.

1. Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Application lockdown.
2. Set a password (other than unlocking the screen).
3. Select the applications you want to block (for example, Bank or Gallery).

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To check which apps have access to your geolocation in the background, go to Settings → Confidentiality → Permit manager → Geodata and sort by Always. Turn off access for unnecessary applications.

8 Additional settings: gestures, sound, smart functions

The Redmi Note 12 supports many hidden features that most users are unaware of, making it easier and more productive to use your phone.

Gestures and management

• 👆 Double touch to wake up: turn on Settings → Display. → Touch and gesture → Double touch to wake up.
• 🔄 Return gesture: instead of the standard navigation bar, use swipes (includes in Settings) → Display. → Navigation panel → Gesture navigation).
• 🎵 Camera gesture: Double pressing the power button quickly opens the camera (includes in Settings) → Touch and gesture → Quick camera launch).

Sound and vibration

• 🔊 Mono Sound: If You Can't Hear in One Ear, Turn on Settings → Special facilities → Mono-audio.
• 🎶 Equalizer: improves the sound in the headphones. → Sound and vibration → equalizer.
• 📳 Touch Vibration: Turn off if it is annoying (Settings) → Sound and vibration → Vibration on touch).

Smart functions

• 🔄 Automatic Screen Rotation: If it Acts Accidentally, Turn on Settings → Display. → Crash-turn → Confirmation of turnaround.
• 📡 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on schedule: for example, turn off Wi-Fi at night (Settings) → Connections → Wi-Fi → Schedule).
• 🔋 Adaptive charging: protects the battery from wear (Settings) → Battery and productivity → Adaptive charging).

Do not disturb mode.

To avoid being distracted by notifications at night:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Do not disturb.
2. Set up a schedule (for example, from 23:00 to 7:00).
3. Enable only important notifications to skip calls from selected contacts.