How to set up Xiaomi Redmi 8A: full-length MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi 8A — It's a budget smartphone that's still popular today because of its reliability and support for updates, but even a simple model requires the right setup to unlock the full potential of Qualcomm's Snapdragon hardware platform. 439 and shells MIUI. In this article, you will find not only the basic steps of activation, but also hidden functions. MIUI 12/14, which the official documentation is silent on.

We're going to take it from scratch, from the first turn on to the subtle optimization of performance and battery, and focus on settings that affect speed, autonomy and safety. 8A (or reset it to factory settings, this instruction will save you hours of searching for solutions online.

First Installing and Basic Setup

When you first switch on Redmi 8A, It offers you the initial setup wizard, and it seems intuitive, but many users miss key points that you have to manually fix.

When you press the power button, you'll see the Redmi logo, and then you'll see the welcome screen with the choice of language.

• 🌐 Select Russian (if it is not installed by default) – it will save you from problems with localization of system applications.
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi immediately – without the internet, many features (such as recovery from backup) will not be available.
• 🔄 Click Recover only if you have a backup in Mi Cloud or on another device. Otherwise, select Setup as a New Device».

While many people skip this step at the Mi Account sign-in stage, we recommend that you sign up or sign in to an existing account.

• 🔐 “Find the device” functions (blocking and cleaning when lost).
• ☁️ Cloud backup (photos, contacts, notes).
• 🛡️ Additional security settings (for example, unlocking the bootloader).

⚠️ Note: If you are buying a Redmi 8A hand, be sure to reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings before the first setup. The previous owner could have linked the device to his Mi Account, which will block you from accessing certain features.

After logging into the account, the system will offer to configure:

• 📱 Google Services (required for Play Market and Gmail).
• 🔒 Screen locking - select PIN-code or pattern lock (fingerprint is configured later).
• 📊 Personalization (themes, fonts) – you can skip and customize later.

Screen and gesture settings

Redmi 8A fitted 6.22-inch IPS-resolution-screen 720×1520 (HD+). Despite the budget resolution, the display can be optimized for comfortable use. → Display and pay attention to the following parameters:

One of the key features MIUI These are the controls. 8A three options available:

• 👆 Classic buttons (navigation bar at the bottom of the screen).
• 🖐️ Gestures with buttons (swipes on the bottom panel).
• ✨ Full-screen gestures (swipes from the edges of the screen).

To activate full-screen gestures (the most modern option) go to: Settings → Display. → Full screen mode → Full-screen gestures.

Another useful trick is to hide the camera's neckline. 8A The cutout is small, but some users prefer to hide it:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Select "Hide the neckline."
3. Install “Hide the cutout in landscape mode” (useful for games and videos).

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If after hiding the cutout in games, interface elements disappear (for example, HP-scale, return the setting to its original state. Not all applications work correctly with this function.

Optimizing performance and battery

Redmi 8A It's not a productive flagship, but with the right settings, it can provide smooth work in everyday tasks. The main brakes of this smartphone are the background activity of applications and unoptimized animations. MIUI.

Start by turning off unnecessary background processes:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook or TikTok).
3. Click on “Limit background activity” and “Disable autostart”.

To speed up animations and reduce delays:

• 🔧 Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the "Version" MIUI».
• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and install:

Windows animation: 0.5x


Transition animation: 0.5x




Duration of animator: 0.5x

Now for the battery. 8A It's equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, but without optimization, it can run out in a day:

• 🔋 Enable the Super Battery in Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery modes.
• ⚡ Turn off the “Quick Charging” (if you use a non-original power supply) – this will prolong the battery life.
• 📴 Limit background data transfer for social media in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Background gear.

Disable auto-update apps in Play Market|

Set a dark topic (AMOLED-There is no screen, but it reduces the load on the GPU)|

Turn off vibration when touching|

Reduce screen timeout to 15 seconds|

Enable charge saving mode with 20% battery-->

⚠️ Warning: If the battery starts to run out too quickly (less than 12 hours in standby mode), check the battery status in Settings → Battery → Battery status. If the capacity has dropped below 80 percent, consider replacing. 8A supports removable battery (if there is experience disassembly).

Sound and vibration adjustment

The speaker and microphone at Redmi 8A They're not the device's strength, but they can be improved software. Start by setting up your audio profile:

• 🔔 Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration.
• Select the “Silent”, “Sound” or “No Sound” profile depending on the situation.
• Set up customized sounds for notifications and alarms (for example, set a quiet signal for work chats).

To improve the sound quality in the headphones:

1. Connect headphones (wired or Bluetooth).
2. Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → Sound quality in headphones.
3. Turn on Mi Sound Enhancer and select the preset Bass or Clarity.

Vibration at Redmi 8A It often seems too weak or too annoying:

• 📳 B Settings → Sound and vibration → Touch vibrations turn off unnecessary vibrations (e.g. when typing).
• 🔄 B Settings → Special facilities → Increase the intensity for notifications.

If you are using Redmi 8A For music, set a uniform equalizer:

• 🎵 Open the Music app».
• Click on three dots in the upper right corner → «equalizer».
• Choose a preset of Rock or Pop (depending on the genre) or set up manually.

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Turning off vibration when touching the keyboard increases battery life 5-7% by reducing the load on the processor.

Communications and mobile networks: 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Redmi 8A supportive 4G LTE, But not all bands work equally well in Russia. If you have communication problems (call interruptions, slow Internet), check these settings:

To optimize the mobile Internet:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map → «Type of network».
3. Install "Only" 4G (recommended” instead of “Automobile».
4. Insert “Enhanced coverage” 4G» (if available).

If the internet speed is low, try to manually select the operator:

• 📡 In the same menu, click "Select Network» → «Manually».
• Wait for the network search and select your operator (for example, “MTS” or “Beeline”).
• 🔄 If the connection is unstable, turn on Flight Mode for 30 seconds, then turn off.

To set up the Wi-Fi:

• 📶 B Settings → Turn on “Auto-connection to open networks” (caution: this may connect you to unsafe points).
• 🔒 Enable “Public Network Notification” to protect against phishing.
• 📊 In “Additional Wi-Fi settings,” turn off “Smart Switch” (unless you want your phone to automatically switch to mobile data).

Bluetooth in Redmi 8A (4.2) is stable, but it may be necessary to connect to a car radio or headphones:

• 🎧 Remove the old pairing (in Settings) → Bluetooth press the device → «Forget it»).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and Bluetooth device before reconnecting.
• 📱 Enable “Visibility for All” for 2 minutes if the device can’t find the phone.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI Mobile Internet is missing, check your settings APN. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) Compare the parameters with the official settings of your operator (they can be found on the MTS / Beeline / Tele2 website).

Camera: hidden functions and settings

Redmi 8A fitted 12-MP camera (Sony) IMX363) diaphragm-high f/1.8. It's not a bad module for a budget smartphone, but without the right settings, photos are noisy or overlit. Here's how to improve the quality of your shots:

Basic camera settings:

• 📸 In the app "Camera" touch the icon ⚙️ (gear) → «Permission».
• Set 12MP (not 48MP with interpolation is a marketing trick).
• Turn it on «HDR» Automatically (useful for landscapes).
• Turn off the AI camera if you don’t need artificial saturation and contrast.

For the video:

• 🎥 Set the permit. 1080p (Full HD) and a frequency of 30 fps (60 fps gives a smoother video, but degrades the detail in low light).
• 🔊 Enable Video Stabilization (although it is software-based, not optical).

Hidden features of Redmi camera 8A:

• 🌃 Night mode: works even without a tripod, but keep your phone as still as possible 2-3 seconds.
• 📐 Document Mode: Automatically straightens photos of documents (useful for scans).
• 🎭 Portrait mode: blurs the background, but requires good lighting (in the dark, the effect disappears).
• 🔍 Macro mode: Close the camera to the object on the 3-5 sm.

If the camera starts to “glutch” (hangs, does not focus), do:

1. Cache cleanup: Settings → Annexes → Camera. → Clear the cache.
2. Resetting camera settings: in the app "Camera» → ⚙️ → «Restore the default settings».
3. Check Updates: Sometimes camera bugs get fixed in newer versions MIUI.

Security: fingerprint, face unlock and encryption

Despite the budget price, Redmi 8A It offers a few layers of protection, like fingerprint, face unlock, and data encryption, but some of the features don't work perfectly, so let's figure out how to set them up properly.

To add a fingerprint:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Fingerprint.
2. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock (required!).
3. Follow the instructions on the screen, putting your finger at different angles.
4. Add in. 2-3 fingerprint (for example, index and thumb) for reliability.

Face unlocking works faster, but is less safe.

• 👤 B Settings → Passwords and security → Face unlocking.
• Uncheck the “Require Password When Rebooting” box (if you want to unlock without rebooting). PIN post-start).
• ⚠️ Do not use this feature for payment applications (for example, SberBank Online) – it can be fooled by a photo.

For encrypting the device (protects data when stolen):

1. Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Encryption.
2. Install. PIN-password or code (at least 6 characters).
3. Connect the charger – the encryption process takes 30-60 minutes and drains the battery.

Additional security measures:

• 🔐 Enable “App Lock” for instant messengers and gallery (Settings) → Passwords and security → Application lockdown).
• 📍 Turn off “Location Transfer” in the background for social media.
• 🛡️ Install Google Play Protect to scan malware applications.

⚠️ Note: If you have forgotten PIN-code or pattern lock, and fingerprint and face unlock do not work, you will have to perform a hard reset (Power) + Vol Up is off. This will delete all data! To avoid data loss, link the device to your Mi Account and turn on Find the Device».

Reset and Recovery: What to Do When Your Phone is Halt

Even the most stable smartphone can start to "glutch" after prolonged use. 8A Been braking, spontaneously rebooting or not responding to touch, try these steps in order:

Soft reboot (if the phone responds to buttons):

• 🔄 Hold the power button. 10-15 Seconds until the screen goes out and the phone restarts.

Forced reboot (if the screen is frozen):

• 🔋 Hold the power button. + Volume increase for 20 seconds.

Cache reset (does not delete data, but cleans temporary files):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold the Power. + Vol Up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select “Wipe Cache Partition” (manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. Reboot the phone ("Reboot System").

Hard reset (deletes all data!):

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts).
2. Turn off the phone.
3. Press Power + Vol Up to enter Recovery.
4. Select "Wipe" Data/Factory Reset» → confirm.
5. After reset, select “Reboot System”.

If the phone doesn’t turn on at all (black screen, no charging reaction):

• 🔌 Connect the original cable and power supply, leave on charging 30-60 minute.
• 🔋 Try to clamp down the Power + Vol Up + Vol Down for 30 seconds (sometimes it “revives” a completely discharged device).
• 🛠️ If nothing helps, the problem may be in the hardware (for example, the battery plume dump).

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Before resetting to factory settings, be sure to log out of your Mi Account in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Otherwise, after the reset, the phone may require you to enter your previous account information!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions