First Installing and Basic Setup
The Xiaomi Redmi 7, released in 2019, is still a popular budget smartphone due to its balanced performance and support for updates. However, out of the box, the device is not running at full power – many features are hidden or disabled by default.
The first switch on starts with language and region, and it’s important to specify Russia or your country of residence, as the available services (e.g. Google Play), date format and local MIUI features depend on it. If you purchase a device with Global ROM, there will be no problems. Owners of Chinese versions (China ROM) will have to additionally install the Google Services Framework manually.
When you connect to Wi-Fi, you should use your home network instead of mobile Internet, which will speed up update downloads and account sync. Once you log in to Mi Account (require to link your email and phone number!), the system will suggest you recover data from another device. If you are new to the Xiaomi ecosystem, skip this step, you better set up your smartphone from scratch.
Optimizing performance and memory
Redmi 7 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor and 2-4 GB of RAM. To avoid brakes, you need to correctly manage background processes. Go to Settings → Applications → Autostart and turn off autoboot for unnecessary programs. Pay special attention to messengers and social networks – they often “hang” in memory.
To speed up, turn on performance mode: Settings → Battery and Performance → Performance mode → High-performance. However, remember that this will slightly increase battery consumption. The alternative is to manually clean the cache once a week through Settings → Storage → Clear the cache.
- 🔧 Turn off animation: go to Settings → About the phone, tap 7 times on the version MIUI, Then to the Developer Settings → Scope of window/transition animation select Off.
- 📱 Use the “Lite” versions of applications: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite take up less memory and slow down less often.
- 🚫 Freeze system applications: through Settings → Disable unnecessary services (e.g. Mi Video if you don’t watch videos).
☑️ Optimization of Redmi 7
⚠️ Note: Do not disable system processes called com.android. or miui. – This can lead to unstable work or “eternal” loading of the smartphone.
Battery settings: how to extend autonomy
The Redmi 7 has a 4,000mAh battery, but factory settings often reduce the time you run. The first thing you need to do is turn off the automatic brightness and set the value manually at 40-50%. Also go to Settings → Screen → Sleep mode and select 30 seconds to reduce the charge consumption when you do not act.
In Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use → Check which apps consume the most power. Limit background activity for social networks and instant messengers, and for navigators (like Google Maps) enable battery optimization.
| Function | Recommended setting | Saving charge |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive brightness | Turn it off, set it 40%. | 15% |
| Sleeping mode. | 30 seconds | 10% |
| Background activity of applications | Restrict social media | 20% |
| The "Ultra-Economies" regime | Include at 15% charge | 30% |
A critical feature of Redmi 7: when the discharge is below 5%, the smartphone can suddenly turn off without warning.To avoid data loss, set up automatic shutdown at 10% charge through the AccuBattery app (available on Google Play).
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If the battery is running out of power in standby mode, check application activity through Settings → Battery → Usage Statistics. Often push notifications from games or ad services are to blame.
Security and confidentiality
MIUI It has built-in protection tools, but by default they're not always activated. Start by setting up your screen lock: go to Settings → Lock screen and password and select PIN-code (minimum 6 digits) or pattern lock. Avoid simple combinations like "1234" or date of birth.
To protect against malware, enable application scanning: Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Install unknown applications. Here, disable the ability to install APKs from unreliable sources (such as browsers). Also activate Virus Protection in Settings → Security.
- 🔒 Encrypting the device: Settings → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials (increase security, but slow down slightly).
- 👁️ Hidden folders: in the Files application you can create a password folder for confidential documents.
- 📡 VPN For public networks: use ProtonVPN or Windscribe when connecting to open Wi-Fi.
⚠️ Attention: Redmi 7 has a vulnerability in the Bluetooth module that allows you to remotely connect to the device without a password. Update the firmware to the latest version and turn off Bluetooth when it is not needed.
Hidden MIUI features you didn’t know about
MIUI 12/13 (depending on the firmware version) hides a lot of useful features. For example, the Second Space mode allows you to create a separate work profile with your own applications and settings. Activated through Settings → Special Features → Second Space. This is convenient for separating personal and work data.
Another useful feature is Game Turbo for gamers. It's enabled through Settings → Special Features → Game Mode. It blocks notifications, optimizes performance, and even allows you to record gameplay. To activate while playing, swipe from the top right corner of the screen down.
How to turn on the hidden mode of the engineering menu?
For customizers, there is a dark theme with a schedule. Go to Settings → Screen → Dark theme and set up automatic switching from 21:00 to 7:00. This will not only reduce eye strain, but also save up to 5% of battery life per day.
Network and Internet setting
Redmi 7 supports networking 4G LTE, But sometimes the speed leaves much to be desired. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Mobile network settings and select Only 4G (If the coating is unstable, turn on Automatically, but this may increase battery consumption.
To speed up Wi-Fi, turn off automatic open network connectivity: Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional settings → Autoconnect to open networks. Also, we recommend you fix frequently used networks by clicking on the Wi-Fi name and selecting Secure Network.
- 📶 Signal amplifier: in the engineering menu (##4636##) You can manually select your preferred network (for example, LTE Band 3/7/20 for Russia).
- 🔄 Dual Wi-Fi: If the smartphone is connected to two networks at the same time, it will automatically switch to a more stable one.
- 🛡️ firewall MIUI: Blocks application background traffic (Settings) → Connections and sharing → firewall).
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Use 4G Only mode for maximum internet speed, but remember that roaming will increase your communication costs.
Update firmware and reset settings
Regular updates to MIUI fix bugs and add new features. To check the relevance of the firmware, go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. If a new version is available, download it over Wi-Fi (file size can exceed 1 GB).
If your smartphone starts to slow down or glitch, do a soft reset: Settings → About Phone → Reset → Reset all settings. This will delete user data but save files in memory. To completely reset to factory settings, select Reset to factory settings, but back up first!
⚠️ Note: After resetting, Redmi 7 may require you to enter your old Mi Account password, even if you don't remember it. → Xiaomi account before reset.
Custom firmware installations (like LineageOS) are available for power users, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and may take away warranty.For more detailed instructions, look at the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums.