How to set up a desktop on Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite: from wallpaper to hidden chips MIUI

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

MIUI

In this article, we will analyze not only the basic actions (change wallpaper, add widgets), but also hidden functions. MIUI 12/13/14, And what you can do is you can transform the desktop into a specific task, from a minimalist interface for work to a gaming launcher with quick access to utilities. 11 Lite – for example, how to get around the restrictions AMOLED-screen when choosing dark themes or why some widgets may β€œslow down” on this device.

If you've just unpacked your smartphone or you want to refresh it, this guide will help make your desktop not just beautiful, but functional. And for experienced users, we've prepared a section with advanced tricks, including customization through the Internet. ADB and hidden parameters MIUI.

1. Basic setting: wallpaper, icons and application grid

Let's start with the basics that change the way you see your smartphone. In the Mi 11 Lite, the Theme app is responsible for changing the wallpaper, but not everyone knows that you can find not only static pictures, but also dynamic paralax wallpapers or even live wallpapers based on the time of day.

To change the wallpaper:

  1. Long press on the free space of the desktop β†’ Wallpaper.
  2. Select the category: My wallpaper, Live wallpaper or Super Wallpaper (requires downloading).
  3. Click on your favorite option and select Apply on the home screen or Apply on both screens.

For the Mi 11 Lite, dark wallpaper with a AMOLED-Optimization -- they save battery life and they reduce eye strain. AMOLED Or use third-party apps like WallpapersCraft.

Application grid and icon size are customized through a long press on the desktop β†’ Screen settings β†’ Desktop grid. You can choose from here. 4Γ—5 before 5Γ—6 Icons, the best option for Mi 11 Lite β€” 4Γ—6: It keeps you comfortable and does not overload the screen.

πŸ“Š What kind of desktop style is closer to you?
Minimalism (few icons, lots of free space)
Functionality (widgets, quick access)
Game (bright wallpaper, utilities for gamers)
Classic (standard view) MIUI)

2. Widgets: which to choose and how to optimize them

Widgets in MIUI β€” It's not just a piece of jewelry, it's a tool for quick access to information. On the Mi 11 Lite, they work smoothly, but some (like the weather widget with animations) can slightly load the Snapdragon processor. 732G. It is important to choose only those that are really needed.

Adding the widget is simple:

  1. Long press on the free space of the screen β†’ Widgets.
  2. Scroll through the list and drag the desired widget to the screen.
  3. Set up the size (some widgets support stretching).

Useful widgets for Mi 11 Lite:

  • πŸ“Š Battery statistics: shows remaining charge and operating time.
  • 🎡 Music management: quick access to player without unlocking.
  • πŸ“… Task Calendar: synced with Google Calendar.
  • 🌑️ Weather with animation (but can slow down on weak firmware).

If the widget starts to β€œglutch” (for example, does not update data), try:

  1. Remove it and add it again.
  2. Clear the cache of the application to which it is linked (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Select an application β†’ Clear the cache).
  3. Disable battery optimization for this widget (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ All applications β†’ Find the widget. β†’ Shut down).

Remove unnecessary widgets|Limit animation in the developer settings|Disable battery optimization for critical widgets|Update MIUI last-minute-->

Topics and Styles: How to Make the Interface Unique

MIUI It's famous for its themes system, but not everyone knows that the Mi 11 Lite can be installed not only official themes from the store, but also custom ones through.mtz files.

To set a custom theme:

  1. Download the.mtz file from a trusted source (e.g, XDA Developers or Mi-Themes).
  2. Place the file in the MIUI/theme folder on the internal drive.
  3. Open the Topics β†’ My Themes β†’ Import.
  4. Select a file and apply the theme.

Beware of topics from suspicious sites – they may contain malicious code. Before installing, check reviews and the rating of the topic.

If after applying the theme some elements are displayed incorrectly (for example, the application icons have become blurred), try:

  • πŸ”„ Reboot your smartphone.
  • 🎨 Go back to the standard theme and apply the custom theme again.
  • πŸ“± Update theme app via Google Play.

⚠️ Note: On the Mi 11 Lite, some themes may conflict with the Dark Mode feature. If the dark mode stopped working after applying the theme, reset the theme settings to the standard one.

Type of topicPlusesConsRecommendation
Official (from the store) MIUI)Safe, optimized, optimizedLimited choiceFor beginners.
Custom (.mtz)Unique designRisk of instabilityFor the experienced
Icon themesChanges all icons.Could slow down the launcher.Use it on a clean firmware
Adaptive (in color of wallpaper)Automatic adjustmentNot all elements change.For minimalists.

4. Hidden functions MIUI desktop

MIUI It hides a lot of useful things that are not obvious at first glance, like, did you know that you can use the Mi 11 Lite:

  • πŸ” Hide app icons without removing them (useful for minimalists).
  • πŸ“± Duplicate work desks for different tasks (work/rest).
  • ⚑ Set up gestures for quick application launch.
  • 🎨 Change the color of accent elements (for example, sliders and highlights).

To hide the app icons:

  1. Long tap on the icon β†’ Remove from the desktop (the application will remain on the menu).
  2. Or drag the icon to the Hidden Applications folder (created by long pressing in a free place). β†’ folder).

For duplication of desks:

  1. Swipe left on the main screen before the empty table appears.
  2. Click Add Desktop (a new screen will appear).
  3. Fill it with the right widgets and icons.

The color of accent elements changes in Settings β†’ Screen. β†’ You can choose one of the options, or you can create your own shade.

How to return a standard launcher if the custom bugs?
If after installing a third-party launcher (Nova, Apex) or custom theme, the desktop began to brake, return the standard launcher. MIUI: Go to Settings. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management. Find the current launcher and press Disable. The system will automatically prompt you to return the standard launcher. MIUI Launcher. after that, clear the launcher cache (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ MIUI Launcher β†’ Clear the cache).

5. Performance Optimization: Why the Desktop is Slowing Down

On Mi. 11 Lite with its Snapdragon 732G and 6/8 GB RAM is usually smooth, but sometimes there can be slowdowns:

  • 🧹 Overload widgets (especially animated ones).
  • πŸ—‘οΈ A filled launcher cache.
  • πŸ”„ An outdated version MIUI.
  • 🎨 It's too heavy a topic.

To remove the brakes:

  1. Clear the launcher's cache: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ MIUI Launcher β†’ Clear the cache.
  2. Turn off animation: Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate Developer Mode, then Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers β†’ The scale of the window/transition animation (schedule) 0.5x or disconnect).
  3. Update MIUI: Settings β†’ About the phone β†’ System update.
  4. Remove unnecessary widgets and heavy themes.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The desktop is starting to glittle, try resetting the launcher settings. MIUI Launcher (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ MIUI Launcher β†’ Clear the data. This will delete all your desktop settings! Take screenshots of the current icon layout in advance.

If the problem persists, check the processor boot in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Battery use: If the launcher consumes more than 10% of the charge, it is a sign of a problem, in which case resetting to the factory settings will help (but this is an extreme measure).

πŸ’‘

To speed up your desktop, turn off the transition effects function in the launcher settings. β†’ Screen settings β†’ Effects of transitions β†’ Shut down.

6 Advanced settings: ADB and hidden parameters

For those who are ready to dive deeper, the Mi 11 Lite offers fine tuning options through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge, which is a great way to do it:

  • πŸ”“ Unlock hidden functions MIUI (For example, real dark mode for all applications).
  • πŸ“± Change the screen resolution (useful for saving charge).
  • ⚑ Disable unnecessary system applications.
  • 🎨 Customize the color temperature of the screen more accurately than in standard settings.

Example of a command to enable the true dark mode for all applications:

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 2

To return the standard mode:

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1

To change the screen resolution (for example, to FHD+ standard 1080Γ—2400):

adb shell wm size 1080x2280

⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB This can cause your smartphone to work in an unstable way. Before experimenting, back up your data through Settings. β†’ Additionally. β†’ Backup and reset.

Another useful trick is to turn off advertising in the MIUI. For that, do it:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

πŸ’‘

Use of the ADB requires the inclusion of debugging USB (Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI β†’ 7 times press β†’ Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers β†’ Debugging by USB). Without this, teams will not work.

7. Backup of desktop settings

After a long setup of the desktop for yourself, it will be a shame to lose all the changes due to a reset or update. MIUI There's a built-in backup tool, but it's not always reliable:

Method 1: Built-in MIUI backup

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Backup and Reset β†’ Local Backup.
  2. Select System Settings and Application Data (especially note) MIUI Launcher).
  3. Click Backup and wait until it is completed.

The backup file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.

Method 2: Third-party applications (e.g. Swift Backup)

    To restore the settings after resetting:

    1. Copy the backup file back to the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
    2. Go to Settings. β†’ Additionally. β†’ Backup and reset β†’ Restore.
    3. Select the right backup and confirm the recovery.

    ⚠️ Warning: Restore desktop settings from backup may conflict with the new version MIUI. If after recovery, the launcher began to glittle, clean its cache (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ MIUI Launcher β†’ Clear the cache).

    FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a desktop on Mi 11 Lite

    Can I install Google’s Pixel Launcher on Mi 11 Lite?
    Yes, but with reservations. Pixel Launcher is not optimized for MIUI, Some functions may be missing (e.g. gestures). MIUI Or support themes. To set up: Download APK-Pixel Launcher file from a verified source (e.g. APKMirror). Install file by allowing installation from unknown sources. Set it as default launcher in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ By default. β†’ If some system application icons (such as Themes or Security) are missing after installation, return to the standard launcher.
    Why did the desktop settings reset after the MIUI update?
    It's standard behavior. MIUI For major updates (e.g., version 12 to version 13), the system resets the launcher settings for stability. To avoid losses: Before upgrading, take screenshots of the current icon layout. Create a backup through Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Backup: Use third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher) that save settings regardless of updates MIUI.
    How to remove the folder "Other applications" on the desktop?
    This folder appears when there are too many icons on your desktop. To remove it: Move all the icons from the Other Apps folder to your desktop or to other folders. If the folder is empty, it will disappear automatically. If the folder doesn't disappear, reboot your smartphone. If the folder appears again, reduce the number of icons on the desktop or increase the size of the grid (4Γ—6 or 5Γ—6).
    Can I use the Mi 11 Lite to create a transparent notification panel?
    Yes, but only with custom themes or modified firmware. MIUI The transparency of the notification panel depends on the wallpaper: If the wallpaper is dark, the panel will be semi-transparent. If the wallpaper is light, the panel will turn white. For real transparency: Set a custom theme with transparency (look in the open-source version). XDA Or use the Magisk module (requires root rights).
    How to turn off automatic sorting of icons on the desktop?
    V MIUI Automatic sorting of icons by alphabet is enabled by default. To disable: Long press on the desktop β†’ Settings: Find the AutoSort option and turn it off. If you don't have the option, use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher). MIUI It's a hidden function, and then it's only a launcher change that helps.