How to set up Xiaomi Mi 9: the full guide

Xiaomi Mi 9 has become a landmark device for the company, presenting flagship specs at an affordable price. However, to the gadget to reach its potential, the basic setup in the first launch wizard is not enough. Many users face intrusive advertising, fast battery discharge or unstable GPS immediately after purchase.

The MIUI’s original configuration makes it the perfect tool for everyday use, and in this guide, we’ll look at hidden settings that aren’t obvious when you first turn on, but are critical to performance.

You will learn how to properly calibrate the Super AMOLED display, adjust the power saving of the Snapdragon 855 processor and protect personal data. Following these steps will prolong the life of the device and make interaction with the interface as comfortable as possible.

Primary calibration of the display and interface

The screen is the main advantage of the model, but the factory color settings often seem to users too saturated. For correction, go to Settings → Screen → Colors and saturation. Here, we recommend choosing Standard or Professional mode, if you care about the accuracy of colors, not their brightness.

Special attention should be paid to the frequency of the interface update. Although the screen here is 60 Hz, the animations can seem twitchy. In the Developer menu (which is activated by seven times clicking on the MIUI version), find the items "Scale of animations".

⚠️ Note: Setting the value of animation below 0.5x It can lead to visual artifacts when scrolling heavy web pages, as rendering does not keep up with the speed of rendering.

For a comfortable reading experience in all light conditions, activate Vision Protection mode. It adds a warm filter that reduces eye strain. The automatic schedule for this feature can be adjusted to the time of sunrise and sunset.

💡

For quick white calibration, use the Screen Test app from Google Play, launching it after a 30-minute warm-up of the matrix.

Optimization of battery operation and energy saving

The 3300mAh battery in the Xiaomi Mi 9 requires careful background management. MIUI aggressively kills apps, but sometimes it prevents you from getting notifications. Go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Auto Run and select only messengers.

In Battery, activate Optimization mode, it analyzes the use and limits the background activity of unused programs, and for games and heavy tasks, you can turn on Game Turbo, which redistributes the CPU resources.

It's important to understand the difference between screen modes: Always On Display consumes charge even when it's not easy. If autonomy is a priority, set it up only on a schedule or when you pick up your phone.

Setting up a security and privacy system

The MIUI security system offers flexible tools, but by default collects a lot of telemetry. Turn off data transfer to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → User Experience Improvement Program. This will stop sending usage statistics to the manufacturer's servers.

To protect against unauthorized access, use not only the fingerprint scanner, but also the Lock Extension, which allows you to hide individual applications, gallery or notes with an additional password, access to this data will only be possible after double-tap or special gesture.

Check the list of apps with microphone and camera permissions regularly. The Xiaomi Mi 9 has an indicator in the status bar that lights up green if any program is using your sensors right now.

Notification management and ad cleanup

One of the main problems with the shell is embedded advertising. To get rid of it, you need to turn off the msa service (MIUI System Ads). Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data and find in the msa list by turning off the switch.

You should also go through the built-in applications: Explorer, Downloads and Music, each of them has a Receive Recommendations Toggle in its settings, and disabling it will stop the news feed from appearing in folders and on the lock screen.

⚠️ Note: When you turn off msa, the system may request confirmation of action with a standby timer several times.

To fine-tune notifications, use the Notification Tape, where you can prevent banners from displaying for games or stores, leaving only important messages from messengers, which will save the screen from constantly blinking.

Setup of camera and video stabilization

The Xiaomi Mi 9 camera is capable of many things, but requires the right setting of scripts. In Pro mode, you can manually set the ISO and shutter speed. For night shooting, be sure to use a tripod and Night mode, which takes a series of pictures with different exposures.

Video stabilization works effectively, but it cuts a lot of the frame. If you want a wide angle, turn on Ultra Wide mode, but note that electronic stabilization works worse there. For vlogs, you'd better use the main module with optical stabilization enabled.

Don't forget the save format. Standard JPEG takes up less space, but HEIF (if supported by an application) allows you to save more detail with less file weight. Videos are better shot in 4K 30fps for a balance of quality and volume.

Network connections and data transmission

The NFC module in Xiaomi Mi 9 supports card emulation, but payment systems often require additional configuration. In the Contactless Payment menu, select the default application. The antenna location is at the top of the case, so you need to attach this edge to the terminal.

To speed up switching between Wi-Fi networks, activate the Wi-Fi Assistant feature, which automatically connects the phone to open networks with a good signal if your home network is lost, but in public places this may not be secure.

Bluetooth also has hidden capabilities. By including the aptX HD codec in the developer menu, you can stream audio to compatible headphones in high resolution, which will significantly improve audio detail.

💡

The Mi 9 antenna module is sensitive to metal covers – the use of dense metal bumpers can reduce the LTE signal level by 1-2 divisions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)