How to use Xiaomi smartphone correctly: from basic settings to advanced chips

Xiaomi smartphones have gained popularity due to the combination of affordable prices, powerful hardware and flexible firmware MIUI. However, even experienced Android users are sometimes lost in the abundance of settings and unique features of the brand.This article will help you understand how to effectively use Xiaomi smartphone – from the first inclusion to the fine optimization of the system.

We're not going to recapitulate the obvious things like "how to turn on your phone" or "how to install an app," but instead focus on the unique features. MIUI, You won't find it on standard Android, and you'll find it on typical novice errors, like, did you know that Xiaomi can set up automatic cache cleanup on schedule, or use hidden mode for apps without root rights?

The article is relevant for all modern models - from budget Redmi Note to Xiaomi flagships 14. We will pay special attention to the firmware MIUI 14/15 Xiaomi services, which are often ignored by users.

First Installing and Basic Setup

When you first turn on a Xiaomi smartphone, the system offers you to go through the initial setup wizard, where many users make the critical mistake of skipping steps because they are not important, and in fact, these settings are what determine the performance, security and usability of the phone in the future.

Here are the key points to pay attention to:

• 🔐 Mi Account: Without it, you won’t be able to use cloud storage, device search, and some features MIUI. Create it right away, even if you don’t plan on syncing.
• 📱 Selecting the wrong country (e.g. India over Russia) may cause some services (e.g. Google Pay) to work incorrectly.
• 🔄 Data portability: Use the official Mi Mover app to transfer contacts and files from your old phone.It works faster than Google Backup.
• 🛡️ Data Protection: Enable Device Encryption (see Settings) → Additionally. → Privacy: This will protect your data when stolen.

Once the setup wizard is complete, be sure to check for updates. Even if the phone is new, the store may have installed outdated software. → The phone. → Update: If you have an update, install it over Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic.

Interface. MIUI: What to change first

Firmware MIUI It's very different from pure Android, and it's scary for newcomers, but after a few tweaks, it's going to be more user-friendly than the competition, and let's start with the most annoying thing, which is advertising and unnecessary services.

To disable advertising in system applications:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Synchronize and disable Mi Recommendations.
2. B Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Mi Services turn off Receive recommendations.
3. For apps like Browser or Music, go to their settings and deactivate the items with the mention of advertising.

Now for gestures and navigation. MIUI offer three options:

We recommend trying the gestures. MIUI (adjusting to the settings → Display. → Full screen display. They allow:

• 👆 Swipe up to return to the main screen.
• 👆👆 Swipe up and hold to open recent applications.
• 👈 Switch from left to right to return.
• 👉 Swipe from right to left for quick switching between applications.

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To return the classic navigation buttons, go to Settings → Display. → Full-screen display → Select the "Bags" and select the "Bags" style".

Optimizing performance and battery

One of Xiaomi’s biggest problems is aggressive battery optimization, which sometimes kills background processes, such as messengers not getting notifications, and music stopping when the screen is locked, and you can manually fix this.

First, check the performance mode:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Performance Mode.
2. Choose Balanced for everyday use or High performance if you want maximum power (but the battery will run out faster).

Then set up auto-start and background activity for critical applications:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select the application you want (e.g. Telegram or Spotify).
• 🔄 Enable Auto Start, Background Activity and Without Restrictions in Battery.

Another useful feature is to clean the cache on schedule, and it frees up memory without manual intervention.

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Turn on Auto Cleanup and set up a schedule (e.g. every day at 3:00).
3. Add to the exceptions applications that you do not want to lose data (for example, games with offline saves).

Hidden MIUI features you didn’t know about

MIUI It hides a lot of useful things that are not obvious at first sight:

1. Second Space (Dual Apps)

The feature allows you to clone apps (for example, have two WhatsApp or Telegram accounts on the same phone).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Dual Apps
2. Select a cloning app (not all are supported).
3. After cloning, the second account will be available through a separate icon on the desktop.

2. Hidden applications (App Vault)

If you want to hide the app from prying eyes without removing:

• 🔒 Hold your finger on the desktop. → Select Desktop Settings.
• 👁️ Enable Hidden Applications and Add the Right Programs.
• 🔑 To see hidden apps, swipe down the desktop with two fingers.

3. Quick Teams (Quick Ball)

It's a floating button that gives you access to frequently used features (screenshot, lock, return to the home screen, etc.) How to configure:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Fast ball.
2. Turn on the function and select the actions for the button.
3. Set up transparency and position on the screen.

4. Reading Mode (Reading Mode)

If you like to read from your phone, this mode reduces the strain on your eyes, making the screen black and white and lowering the brightness. → Display. → Reading mode.

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Dual Apps doesn't work with all apps, VK Instagram is cloned without problems, and some banking applications can block work in cloned mode.

Security: How to Protect Your Data on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones are often criticized for collecting data, but most of the leaks are user-faulted.

1.Switch off unnecessary telemetry

MIUI sends anonymous data about your phone usage to limit it:

• 📊 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Confidentiality → Services Mi.
• 🔕 Disable Send Usage Data and Diagnostics.
• 🔍 In the same section, check App Permits and revoke access to contacts/location from unnecessary programs.

2. Set up application lock

You can block access to individual applications with a password or fingerprint:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Blocking applications.
2. Select applications (e.g. Gallery or Bank).
3. Set a password or use biometrics.

3. Turn on malware protection

V MIUI There's a built-in Security antivirus. Run a full security check:

• 🛡️ Open the Security app.
• 🔍 Click Scan and wait until it is completed.
• 🔄 Enable Auto Scanning in the App Settings.

⚠️ Warning: Never disable Google Play Protect (in Google Play settings) is the primary protection against malware applications. Even if you have an antivirus installed, Play Protect should remain active.

Working with the camera: the secrets of shooting on Xiaomi

Xiaomi cameras are known for their software, which sometimes "recycles" photos, but with the right settings, you can get great pictures.

1. Modes of shooting

The standard Camera app has modes that many people ignore:

• 🌃 Night mode: not only at night, but also in low light conditions (such as restaurants.
• 🎭 Portrait: blurs the background, but for better results, move away from the object 1-2 meters.
• 📸 Pro mode: allows you to manually adjust shutter speed, ISO And white balance, useful for shooting moving objects.
• 🌐 Wide-angle: Use architecture or landscapes to capture, but remember that there may be distortion around the edges.

2. settings that are worth changing

By default, the camera saves the photo in format HEIF (It saves space, but not all devices support it. JPEG:

1. Open the camera. → Settings (cogs) → Photo format.
2. Choose High Quality (JPEG).

We also recommend:

• 🔍 Include a grid for the correct composition.
• 📏 Disable the Watermark (if not required).
• 🔄 Turn on Save Mode Setting so that the camera remembers the last mode used.

3. Videotaping.

For stable video, use these settings:

⚠️ Note: When shooting a video in 4K 60fps If you notice that the body is hot, switch to the 1080p or take a break.

Firmware Update: How to Do It Right

Updates MIUI They come out often, but not all of them are stable. Here's how to update without the risk of "bricking" the phone:

Preparation for the update

Before the update:

2. Methods of updating

There are three official ways:

• 🔄 By air (OTA): The easiest method. The way: Settings → The phone. → Update system. Update downloaded and installed automatically.
• 📱 Update: Sometimes updates appear here earlier than in the settings.
• 💻 Manually via Mi Flash Tool: for power users. Requires an unlocked bootloader and can lead to data loss.

3.What to do if the update "hangs"

If the update process has stalled on the Mi logo:

1. Wait 20–30 minutes (sometimes it takes a long time).
2. If it doesn’t help, press the power button. + Volume up 10 seconds for forced reboot.
3. If the phone doesn't turn on, try logging in to Recovery (clip the power). + Volume up) and select Reboot.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even the most reliable smartphones fail.-5 Xiaomi users’ problems and solutions:

1.The battery goes down fast.

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Background Processes: Check Settings → Battery → Battery usage and limit activity of "gluttonous" apps.
• 📡 Weak signal: the phone uses a lot of power to find the network.
• 🔍 Viruses or Advertising Software: Check Your Phone with Security → Scanner.

2.The phone is warming up

Normal temperature of the processor - up to 40-45°C. If higher:

• 🎮 Close Resource-intensive Games/Apps.
• 🔄 Turn it off. 5G (if not necessary, in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
• 🌡️ Check if the case blocks the vents (especially for the Poco F-series).

3. Notifications are not working.

A common problem is battery optimization.

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notifications Management.
2. Find the problem app and turn on Show notifications.
3. In the battery settings for this application, select No Limits.

4. Slow operation of the interface

If MIUI start»:

• 🧹 Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup → Deep cleaning.
• 🔄 Turn off animations: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times to enable Developer Mode, then in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, install Windows animation = 0.5x.
• 📱 Reset the desktop settings: Click on the home screen → Desktop settings → Drop it.

5 Fingerprint or Face Unlock is not working

Problems with biometrics are solved as follows:

• 👆 Remove and add the print again to Settings → Password and security → Fingerprint.
• 🔦 For Face Unlock, make sure there is no bright light behind your face.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the sensor gets knocked down after a long workout.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions