Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi is always an exciting moment, but the standard procedure of initial setup often disappoints users with an abundance of pre-installed software and intrusive offers. Immediately after turning on, the device will offer to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi, but this will be followed by a long list of agreements with terms of use of services that are not everyone needs.
Unlike many other manufacturers, the MIUI shell or its new version of HyperOS has its own unique logic that is radically different from pure Android. Many features, such as advanced notification management or aggressive charge saving, require manual intervention to correctly operate familiar applications. If you ignore this stage, you will find that important messages will not arrive on time, and the screen will constantly annoy with banner ads in the system utilities.
In this guide, we will go through all the critical settings from the moment you first turn on the screen, and we will discuss how to properly configure your Mi Account, what permissions apps really need, and how to turn a standard interface into a convenient tool for work and entertainment.
Initial activation and setting up of Mi-account
The activation process begins immediately after the choice of the interface language, and the system will offer to connect to the Wi-Fi network, which is a prerequisite for activating the device and verifying its authenticity. At this stage, it is important to read the terms of the license agreements carefully, especially the paragraphs relating to the transmission of location data and device usage. IMEI-code with manufacturer's servers.
The Mi Account is the centerpiece of the ecosystem, and without it, you can't use the cloud to make full use of your lost device, find your lost device, and synchronize your contacts. When you sign up or log in to your existing account, it'll offer cloud sync, a critical feature that saves your photos, notes, voice recordings, and even your desktop icons in the cloud.
- 🔒 Security: Account allows you to remotely lock your phone or erase data in case of theft.
- ☁️ Backup: Automatically save system settings before resetting or switching to a new phone.
- 📱 Ecosystem: Single entry for Mi Cloud, Mi Community and design themes.
- 🛡️ Protection: Two-factor authorization to access personal data from other devices.
⚠️ Warning: Never sign in to your Mi Account on someone else's or suspicious device. If you're buying a used phone, make sure the previous owner logs out of your account, or you won't be able to activate the device (Block Mi Account).
After logging in, the system will offer to adjust biometric protection. Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with fingerprint scanners built into the screen, or sensors in the on button. It is recommended to add a fingerprint and adjust facial recognition, as this greatly speeds up access to banking applications and confirmation of payments. PIN-biometrics may not work under certain conditions (wet hands, poor lighting).
Optimizing the interface and removing advertising
One of the most common complaints of new users is the presence of ads in system applications. Fortunately, in modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, it can be eliminated by regular means without having to install third-party software. Ads are displayed through the MSA service (MIUI System Ads), and disabling them is the first step to comfortable use.
In the list of services, find msa and turn off the switch. The system will warn you several times about the consequences and ask you to wait 10 seconds before confirming - this is the standard procedure for retaining the user. After disabling advertising in folders and applications, it will become less, but for full effect, it is also recommended to go to each system application (Conductor, Downloads, Music, Themes), click three dots in the corner, select Settings and turn off "Receive recommendations".
☑️ Checklist for cleaning the interface
Then you have to adjust the navigation. By default, the system offers gesture control, which allows you to use the entire screen without unnecessary buttons at the bottom. However, if you are used to the classic three buttons, you can change this in Settings → Additional settings → System navigation. Here you can adjust the sensitivity of the side edges to avoid accidental clicks when using cases. Navigating with gestures requires addiction, but greatly expands the usable area of the display.
The Xiaomi Theme Store offers thousands of options, but many are overloaded with animation and consume battery. For initial setup, you’d better choose a standard theme or minimalist option, and then customize the fonts and icons in detail. In the Screen section, you can turn on Vision Protection mode or adjust the color temperature to your preferences, which will reduce the load on the eyes when reading.
Set up notifications and application management
The aggressive power saving system in Xiaomi smartphones often causes messages from instant messengers to arrive with a delay. To avoid this, you need to manually set the priority for important applications. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the desired messenger (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp) and select Autostart. Enable this feature, and also in the "Battery Savings" section, select the option "No restrictions".
It's also important to understand the categories of notifications, and it allows you to flexibly configure which notifications will come with sound and vibration and which will only come out the curtain, open the notification curtain, press and hold the message, then select "Notification settings." You can turn off the ads from the apps themselves, leaving only private messages, and control notifications helps to keep your focus and avoid distraction by information noise.
| Type of application | Recommended setting | Reason. |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers | Auto Start: On, Restrictions: No | Instant delivery of messages |
| Social media. | Auto Start: Off, Limitations: Smart | Battery savings, notifications are not critical |
| Navigators. | Auto Launch: Off, GPS: Always | It only works when opened, you need accurate GPS. |
| Banks. | Auto Start: OFF, Protection: On | Security is working on demand |
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To quickly configure all applications, use the built-in Security tool → Permissions → Auto Start. This will save time compared to customizing each application individually.
The Tools folder, which contains all the system utilities, should be considered as a specialty if you don't use a calculator, a voice recorder or a scanner. QR-codes are daily, can be removed from the desktop or moved to a folder to avoid cluttering the space. However, removing the applications themselves through settings is not recommended, as this can work system dependencies.
Data security and confidentiality
The privacy issues in today's smartphones are particularly acute. Xiaomi provides powerful data protection tools that need to be activated immediately. The Security app (green shield icon) has a Hide Files or Second Space section. The second space creates a completely isolated environment on your phone, as if you had two different devices, perfect for separating work and personal life or for handing the phone to children.
The privacy settings recommend turning off usage and diagnostic data to the manufacturer's servers if you want to maximize privacy. Path: Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Special Permits → Access to Use. It's also worth checking which apps have access to the microphone and camera. In newer versions of the system, when using these resources, a green dot lights up in the corner of the screen - this is an activity indicator.
⚠️ Note: When installing applications from unknown sources (not from Google Play or Mi GetApps), the system will issue strict warnings. Don't ignore them unless you are sure about the file's security.
To further protect important applications (Gallery, Bank, Notes), use App Protection, which requires you to enter a password or fingerprint every time you launch your chosen application, which takes a couple of seconds, but ensures that no one will see your correspondence or photos if your phone is in the wrong hands even when unlocked.
What to do if your phone is lost?
Advanced battery settings and performance
Autonomy is one of the key parameters of a modern smartphone. In the battery settings (Settings → Battery), you can choose between Balanced, Economy or Performance modes. For everyday use, balanced mode is optimal. If you are an avid gamer, switching to performance mode will improve FPS in games, but will accelerate the discharge and heating of the case.
The Charging Optimization feature helps extend battery life. The smartphone remembers your habits (for example, if you put your phone on overnight charging) and pauses charging at 80%, completing it to 100% only by the time you wake up, which prevents the battery from being in a full-charge state for long periods, which reduces the degradation of the cell's chemistry.
- ⚡ Adaptive charging: Smart power distribution based on temperature.
- 🌙 Night mode: Automatic power saving from 23:00 to 07:00.
- 📉 Statistics: A detailed report on which applications use up the most charge.
- 🚀 Acceleration: Clean up memory before launching heavy games via Game Turbo.
Under About Phone, you can find MIUI and Android. Check for updates regularly. Security updates come more often than major system updates and close vulnerabilities that hackers can access. Always back up important data before installing a major update.
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Properly adjusting background activity restrictions for rarely used apps can increase smartphone life by 15-20% without compromising functionality.
Camera and multimedia work
Xiaomi's cameras have a lot of functionality that's hidden in the standard Photo mode. First, set the aspect ratio. The default is often 4:3, which uses the entire matrix. 16:9 just crops the image, reducing the usable area of the frame. Social media is more convenient to use 9:16, but to maintain quality, it's better to shoot at 4:3 and crop later.
Turn on the grid in the camera settings. Crossing the grid lines helps you build the frame composition according to the rule of thirds, making the photos more harmonious. Also, you should pay attention to the Pro mode, which allows you to manually set ISO, shutter speed and white balance. This is useful when shooting in difficult lighting conditions, where automation can be mistaken.
Use cloud services to store photos and videos, or regularly copy data to your computer. The built-in gallery has Albums feature, where you can sort media by event, people or location thanks to artificial intelligence. However, to free up space on the device, use the Cleanup feature, which finds similar photos and screenshots.
Useful Hidden Functions and Chips
There are many features in MIUI that are not mentioned in the manual, like Quick Notes, which, if you turn off the screen, you can draw notes directly on the locked screen, swipe your finger from the bottom up (or a special icon) to quickly record a thought without unlocking the phone completely, and these notes sync to the cloud.
Another useful feature is Sidebar, which allows you to swipe the application windows from the edge of the screen, which is convenient for multitasking, such as watching videos and texting in the messenger at the same time or doing calculations in the calculator. Activated in the Additional section → Sidebar.
If you have a large smartphone, activate One Hand mode in additional settings. Swipe on the Home button (or down the navigation bar) will reduce the size of the screen, allowing you to reach the top corner.