How to set up a smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9: a complete guide for beginners

Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains one of the most popular budget smartphones even in 2026 — thanks to balanced performance, long support for updates and wide customization capabilities. However, out of the box, the device does not work at full capacity: factory settings are often optimized for the “average” user, not for your specific tasks. This article will help not just activate the phone, but to configure it correctly — from basic parameters to hidden MIUI functions, which the manufacturer does not advertise.

We will take the process in steps from first turn on and language selection to fine-tuning performance, battery and security, focusing on the specific issues of the Redmi 9, such as how to deal with overheating under prolonged loads or why the interface on firmware older than MIUI 12.5 can slow down. All instructions are relevant for the latest versions of the software (including MIUI 14 based on Android 12/13).

First Installing and Basic Setup

When you first turn on Redmi 9, the system offers you to go through the "master of initial configuration", where it is important to take your time and carefully choose the options - many of which will then have to be manually changed through the menu.

In the language selection phase, look for the region: India or China may be the default (if you bought your phone on AliExpress). Always choose "Russia" - this affects Google's available services, GPS operation, and even the list of pre-installed apps. If your region is not on the list, choose the nearest country with the same time zone.

• 🌍 Language and region: Install "Russian (Russia)" - this will save you from problems with localization of system notifications.
• 🔒 Xiaomi Account: Create it right away (link email and phone) – without it, you can’t use cloud storage, themes and some features MIUI.
• 📱 Data portability: If you are switching from another Android smartphone, use the option to “Clone apps” via Mi Mover (works on Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🛡️ Security: Set up unlocking by fingerprint or pattern lock — PIN-The code is too unreliable for Redmi 9 (We know vulnerabilities in the chip MediaTek Helio) G80).

Once you have completed the setup wizard, don't rush to install the apps. First, upgrade to Settings → About → About Phone → System Update. Even if the software version seems fresh, security patches may have come out. Only upgrade to Wi-Fi - the firmware files for Redmi 9 weigh 1.5-2.5 GB.

Optimizing performance: how to speed up the Redmi 9

The Redmi 9 is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G80 processor and 3/4 GB of RAM (depending on the modification), which is enough for basic tasks, but when you use social networks, games or multitasking, the phone begins to slow down.

The first thing you need to do is turn off the animation of the interface, and it will visually speed up the system.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Go back to the basic settings, find a new section for developers.
3. Scroll to the animation block and set all three parameters (Scale of animation, Duration of animation, Duration of transition) on Off.

Second, limit the background activity of applications. MIUI is known for aggressively killing background processes, but in the case of Redmi 9, it can be used for the benefit of:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📱 Select an app (for example, Facebook or VKontakte) → Battery limitations → Background activity.
• ⚡ Set a limit on “Medium” or “Strict” for all applications except instant messengers.

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If your phone is still slowing down after optimizing, try resetting the cache via Settings → Memory → Clear the cache. On Redmi 9, this often solves the problem of "suspending" when opening the camera or gallery.

The third problem with Redmi 9 is overheating under long loads, due to the imperfect cooling system and the peculiarities of the Helio G80 processor.

⚠️ Note: If the processor temperature exceeds 60°C (checked in Settings) → The phone. → System condition, this can lead to automatic trottling (decreased performance) and even shutting down the phone. PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact.

Battery settings: how to extend the operating time

The 5,020 mAh battery in the Redmi 9 is one of the main advantages of the model, but without the right setup, the phone can run out in a day even with moderate use.

• 📶 Mobile Network: Constant Search 4G/LTE low-signal.
• 📍 GPS geolocation: background location for maps and social networks.
• 🔄 Auto-Update Apps: Play Market and MIUI App Store updates programs in the background.
• 🌙 Always-On Display: Redmi 9 has this feature, but it puts the battery down a lot (up to 15% per night).

To optimize charge consumption:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Background Limitation.
3. Add to the list of restrictions all applications, except messengers and phone calls.
4. Activate the Adaptive Battery (MIUI’s artificial intelligence will optimize consumption depending on your habits).

For advanced users, there is another trick – disabling the second. SIM- It's a slot if you're not using it, even inactive. SIM-The card uses a charge to search for the network. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Turn it off. SIM-2.

Turn off Always-On Display|Limit the background activity of applications|Activate the adaptive battery|Disable Auto-Update Applications|Turn off the unused. SIM-map-->

Screen settings: Color temperature, resolution, Always-On

Redmi 9 is an IPS-matrix with a resolution of 2340×1080 (FHD+) and a diagonal of 6.53 inches. By default, the colors are set to "live" shades, which is not popular with everyone, and many users have questions about Always-On Display and automatic brightness.

To adjust the screen to suit yourself:

1. Color Temperature: Go to Settings → Screen → Color Scheme. Choose Standard for Natural Colors or Saturated for Bright Colors. Activate Reading for Eye Protection (blue light filter) and set your schedule from 21:00 to 7:00.
2. Always-On Display (AOD): Enables in Settings → Screen → Always-On Display. Select the display style (time, date, notifications). Set a schedule (e.g., only at night) or turn off altogether if autonomy is important.

Automatic brightness

• Activate in Settings → Screen → Brightness.
• Calibrate the light sensor: in a dark room, set the slider by 20-30%, in a bright one - by 70-80%.

If the Redmi 9 screen seems too dark even at maximum brightness, check the Adaptive Brightness settings in the same menu. Sometimes the system understates the brightness due to sensor error.

⚠️ Note: If after updating to MIUI 14 screen began to flash or spontaneously change brightness, reset the screen settings to factory: → Screen. → Resetting the screen settings. It helps 90% of the time.

Sound setting: volume, uniformity, Bluetooth

Redmi 9 speakers are not very sound-quality, but they can be improved software.

• 🔊 Low volume in dynamics (especially when listening to music).
• 🎧 Uneven sound in headphones (one channel is quieter than the other).
• 📶 Poor quality of communication during calls (noise, echoes).

Decisions:

1. Volume up: Turn Volume Amplifier on Settings → Sound → Advanced settings. Set the sound uniformity on Balanced (if one speaker is quieter).
2. Bluetooth setting: For better audio in wireless headphones, select the aptX or AAC codec in the Bluetooth device settings. If the sound is interrupted, turn off Absolute Volume in Settings → Connected Devices → Developer Settings.

Quality of calls

• Activate Voice Improvement in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Improving voice.
• If your partner is not hearing well, check the microphone for contamination (especially after prolonged use).

If the sound is still quiet after all the manipulations, the problem may be the firmware. Some versions of MIUI 13 for Redmi 9 have a volume-limiting bug, the solution is to upgrade the system or reset the sound settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → System Applications → Sound settings → Storage → Clear Data

Security and privacy: what to disable in MIUI

MIUI is known for its intrusion into user privacy: data collection, advertising in system applications, background activity. On Redmi 9, this is especially noticeable because of limited resources.

1. disabling data collection and advertising:

• 📊 Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Special permits → Use data and disable all items.
• 📢 B Settings → Memory. → Cleaning off the recommendations MIUI.
• 🔍 B Settings → Google → Advertising disable personalization of ads.

2. Restriction of permissions for applications:

• 📱 B Settings → Confidentiality → App permissions check which programs have access to: 📍 Geolocations (disable for unnecessary applications). 📷 Camera and microphone (especially for social media). 📂 Warehouse (many games request access for no reason).

Protection against viruses and fraudsters:

• 🛡️ Install Google Play Protection as the main antivirus (Xiaomi’s built-in Security often gives false positives).
• 🔒 B Settings → Passwords and security → Blocking applications add banking programs and instant messengers.
• 📵 Disable the installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Confidentiality → Unknown sources).

Hidden MIUI features for Redmi 9

MIUI hides a lot of useful features that most users don't know about, and here are the most useful features for Redmi 9:

• 🔄 Double tap to wake up: Activated in Settings → Screen. → Double tap to wake up. Allows you to turn on the screen by touching the display switched off twice.
• 📸 Camera gestures: In Settings → Additionally. → Gestures enable camera start with double press of power button (works even on locked phone).
• 🔋 Smart switching SIM-If you have two cards SIM-maps, in Settings → SIM-map → Smart switching can be configured to automatically select the network for calls / Internet.
• 🎵 Musical effects: In Settings → Sound. → Sound effects turn on Dynamic sound to improve quality in headphones.
• 📡 High Performance Mode: In Settings → Battery → Performance modes select High Performance for gaming (but remember, this will reduce battery life).

Another hidden possibility is to change the DPI, which is useful if you think the icons and the text are too big.

1. Activate Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → For developers → Minimum width.
3. Set a value of 411 (standard for Redmi 9) or 390 for a more compact display.
4. Reboot the phone.

If after changing the DPI, some applications (e.g. banking) no longer display correctly, return the standard value (411) or add these programs to exceptions in the developer settings.

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Hidden MIUI features may conflict with some applications (especially banking ones).Always test changes and be ready to return default settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Redmi 9

OTG cable:

• Connect your old phone to Redmi 9 via OTG-cable.
• In Explorer (Files), select files to copy.

To transfer WhatsApp, use the built-in backup function in Google Drive.