Buying a new smartphone, especially an affordable model like Xiaomi Redmi 9A, always causes a pleasant excitement, but the first inclusion is often accompanied by confusion due to the abundance of settings and preinstalled software. The correct initial configuration of the device allows not only to improve usability, but also significantly extend the life of the battery, which in this model has a capacious battery of 5000 mAh.
Owners of budget devices based on the MIUI shell need to pay special attention to optimization, since by default the system is set to demonstrate capabilities, not to comfortable everyday operation. Competent approach to initial settings will eliminate annoying advertising, unnecessary charge consumption and performance problems in the future.
This guide is designed to make your Redmi 9A the perfect tool for work and entertainment, minimizing manufacturer interference in the user experience.
Primary activation and language selection
After removing the device from the box and installing SIM-The card must be pressed on the right side of the case. The screen will light up and you will see the Mi logo, after which the process of loading the Android operating system with a shell installed on top of it will begin. MIUI.
The first step is to choose the interface language. In the list of languages, find and select "Russian" or "English" if you prefer an English-language interface, then the system will suggest connecting to a Wi-Fi network, which is a critical step for activating an account.
- 📶 Select your home Wi-Fi network from the list of available connections.
- 🔑 Enter the router password by observing the register of letters and numbers.
- ✅ Wait for the confirmation of the connection, which will be indicated by the icon next to the network name.
Without an internet connection, most Google and Mi Account services will not be activated, so make sure the signal is stable.If you don't have Wi-Fi access, you can skip this step using the mobile internet, but this can lead to traffic consumption.
Log in to Google and Mi Accounts
The next step is authorization in the Google ecosystem, which is necessary for the Google Play Store to work, sync contacts, photos and restore data from the previous device, enter your Gmail address and password, following the instructions on the screen.
⚠️ Note: If you enter your Google account information for the first time on that device or after a reset, the system may request confirmation via a push notification on another device or code from your other device. SMS.
In parallel, Xiaomi will offer to create or sign in to Mi Account, a manufacturer’s own account that allows you to use device search, cloud storage and synchronization of the theme settings. Although you can skip signing in to Mi Account, registration is desirable to fully use the features of the Redmi brand.
When creating a password for Mi Account, use complex character combinations, as this account has deep permissions to the system. Remember that logging out of a Google account on this device without a password can block the phone (FRP protection).
Setting date, time and region
Automatic time setting usually occurs immediately after you connect to the Internet, but it’s worth checking the settings manually. Go to Settings menu → Additional settings → Date and time to make sure your time zone is selected and network sync is enabled.
Region selection is an important factor that affects the performance of some system applications and the availability of advertising. By default, China or India may be chosen, but for users from the CIS, the optimal choice is often Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan or Belarus.
Changing the region may require rebooting the device to apply the changes, and in some cases, changing the region to India or Russia allows you to access additional themes in the Themes store that are not available to other locales.
You can also customize the date and time format in this section by selecting a 12-hour or 24-hour format, as well as the date format (day/month/year or month/day/year), which is especially important for those who are used to a certain standard.
Optimizing the interface and removing advertising
One of the most annoying features of the MIUI shell is the built-in advertising that can appear in system applications. To turn off personalized advertising recommendations, go to Settings → Password and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services and turn off the “Receive Personalized Recommendations” item.
Next, you need to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is responsible for displaying banner ads. Find Settings → Password and Security → Data Access, switch to the Wi-Fi and Mobile Network tab, and find the msa process. Disable network access for this process.
- 🚫 Turn off “Get recommendations” in security settings.
- 📉 Find and disable network access to the msa process.
- 🧹 Clear the data of the “Security” and “Download” apps to reset the ad cache.
What if the MSA doesn’t shut down?
After this manipulation, the number of intrusive sentences in standard applications such as Explorer, Music or Downloads will decrease significantly, but completely removing ads from some embedded widgets without root rights may not work.
Management of notifications and authorizations
Once they install apps, they start asking for permissions to access the camera, microphone, geolocation and contacts, and Android and MIUI have a flexible access control system that needs to be configured to protect personal data.
Go to Settings → Applications → Access data to see a list of all requests. Carefully study which apps have access to your SMS and calls – often junk programs require these rights unnecessarily.
| Type of permit | Who needs it? | Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geolocation | Maps, Taxi, Weather | Tall (surveillance) | Only when used |
| Microphone | Dictaphone, messengers | Medium (wiretapping) | Only for the chosen ones. |
| Contacts | Phone, social media. | High (spam) | Only trusted |
| Camera. | Photo, Video, QR | Medium (espionage) | On request. |
Pay special attention to the permission to “Start.” In Redmi 9A with its 2 or 3 GB of RAM, background processes can be very stressful. Leave autorun only for messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and alarms, the rest of the applications are better to run manually.
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Use the “Second Space” feature to separate personal and work applications, which is especially handy on devices with a single user profile.
Battery setting and energy saving
The 5,000mAh battery in the Redmi 9A offers great autonomy, but the Helio G25 processor is not highly energy efficient under load. Properly configuring power saving modes will help extend the life without recharging.
There are several modes available in the Settings → Battery menu. Balance mode is recommended for everyday use, which dynamically adjusts performance, Saving mode limits background activity and brightness, and Ultra-Savings turns the smartphone into a simple “caller”.
⚠️ Note: Do not turn on the Ultra-Savings mode constantly if you need notifications from messengers - in this mode they will not come.
It’s also worth activating “Memory Optimization” in the battery settings so that the system automatically clears the cache of long-unused applications, especially for low-volume RAM models.
☑️ Checking battery settings
To maximize charge savings, reduce the screen refresh rate (if this option is available in your version of the software) or simply reduce the brightness to a comfortable level, since the IPS-matrix consumes a significant part of the energy.
Installation of necessary applications and updates
The final step of the initial setup is to install the missing software and check for system updates. Go to the Google Play Store and download the essential applications: browser, antivirus (optional), office suite and navigator.
Be sure to check for firmware updates. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Having the latest security patches is critical to protecting your device from new threats.
Settings → About phone → MIUI version → Check the updatesIf the system suggests upgrading, connect the device to a charger and stable Wi-Fi, as the process can take between 15 and 40 minutes.
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Regular system updates are the only way to get new features and fix vulnerabilities on Xiaomi’s budget smartphones.
After installing all updates and applications, it is recommended to back up your settings to the Google or Mi Cloud cloud in order to quickly restore the familiar environment in case of a device loss or failure.