Buying a new smartphone from a Chinese giant is always an event that can be both a pleasant surprise and a source of slight confusion. MIUI interface or its new version of HyperOS is significantly different from the stock Android that users of other brands are used to seeing. To achieve its potential, you need to immediately after unpacking perform a series of settings that by default may be disabled or work incorrectly in our regions.
Many owners have been using the device for years without realizing that powerful tools for customization and protection exist. Proper use begins with understanding the logic of the shell. Unlike competitors, here almost every element of the interface is changeable. Ignoring the initial setup can lead to fast battery discharge, incorrect notifications and even problems with the security of personal data.
In this article, we'll explore the key aspects of operation that will turn your phone into a truly smart device, not going into the complex technical details, but focusing on practical steps to improve the everyday experience. Get ready to learn why standard settings are just the tip of the iceberg.
Primary configuration and accounts
The first thing that a user faces after turning on is choosing a language and connecting to Wi-Fi. However, the critical step is logging into Mi Account, which is not just a formality, but a key to the ecosystem that allows you to lock the device remotely, synchronize contacts and find the lost gadget. Without an account binding, many system functions, such as Find a Device, will not work.
Special attention should be paid to the setting of the region. Often the default is China or India, which affects the operation of some services and the availability of advertising. It is recommended to immediately choose your country or region "Russia / CIS" if you are in these countries, this will change the set of pre-installed applications and algorithms of the system.
⚠️ Warning: When creating a Mi Account, be sure to include a real phone number and backup email. Restoring access without this data is almost impossible due to the company's strict security policy.
Google services are configured in parallel, and the system will prompt you to log in, but it is important to check what data is synchronized, and it is recommended to enable synchronization of contacts, calendar and photos (via Google Photos or Mi Cloud), which will create a reliable backup in case of loss or failure of the device.
☑️ Xiaomi's initial setup
Interface and desktop management
The MIUI shell offers two fundamentally different ways to organize space: a classic style with an app menu and an iOS style where all the icons are on desktops. You can switch between them in Settings → Desktop. The choice depends on your personal preferences, but the style of iOS often seems more convenient for those who have switched from the iPhone.
And just as important is folder organization. Unlike standard Android, folders in MIUI can be made transparent, resized, and even turned into widgets. It creates a unique visual style. A long tap on the empty space opens the editing menu, where you can access the themes, widgets, and transition settings.
- 🎨 Themes allow you to completely change the appearance of icons, fonts and system sounds without obtaining root rights.
- 📱 Widgets in MIUI More interactive and functional than pure Android.
- 🔒 Screen locking is also amenable to deep customization through the “Themes” app».
To control one hand, the developers have implemented a One Hand mode, which can be activated by swiping from the bottom corner of the screen inwards or through the control panel, which narrows the display area, making the top of the screen accessible to the thumb.
Battery optimization and energy saving
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with capacious batteries, but aggressive system optimization can interfere with the normal operation of applications. By default, MIUI can “kill” the background processes of messengers, which causes notifications to come with a delay.
Go to Settings → Applications → Auto Run and allow launch for important applications (Telegram, WhatsApp, mail). Then go to Settings → Battery → Application Energy Saving. Here, for each critical application, select No Limits mode, which ensures that the system does not force the process to close.
| Energy saving regime | Description of action | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| No restrictions. | The application works in the background without restrictions | For messengers and navigators |
| Battery savings | Limits background activity | For gaming and heavy applications |
| Smart restrictions | The system decides when to close the process. | Standard default setting |
And you also have to pay attention to the Adaptive Brightness function, which is learning your habits and adjusting the backlight itself, which saves a lot of charge, and you only have to turn it off if the algorithm is not working properly in your lighting conditions.
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Turn on Dark Mode on schedule (e.g. 20:00 to 7:00) This not only keeps your eyes on at night, but also saves you energy. AMOLED-screens where black means off pixel.
Security and confidentiality
Security is a hot topic in the era of digital payments and personal correspondence, with Xiaomi providing built-in antivirus and virus scanners that check apps that are installed. While third-party antiviruses are often not required, built-in security tools cannot be ignored.
One of the most useful features is the Hidden Profile, or Second Space, which creates a completely isolated environment inside a phone with a separate set of apps, photos and accounts, and you can switch between them by fingerprint or password, which is ideal for separating work and personal life, or for handing the phone to children.
⚠️ Attention: Second Space takes up extra space in memory. If you have a 64GB model, use it with caution or clean the cache regularly.
Don’t forget about biometrics. The fingerprint scanner in Xiaomi works fast, but it can be configured even more flexible. In the password and security menu, you can assign actions for long-term pressing or double tapping on the scanner (start the camera, pay, launch the application).
Special features and hidden functions
Many users don’t realize that their phone has features that are usually considered the preserve of flagships of other brands, such as Quick Ball, a floating button, analogous to AssistiveTouch in iOS, which allows you to quickly take screenshots, lock the screen or launch applications with a single touch.
Another interesting feature is the Sidebar, which is that if you swipe it from the edge of the screen, you get access to the apps and tools that you use, and you can add not only apps to the sidebar, but also specific contacts to make a quick call or transfer money.
Engineer's secret code
For those who like to read from the screen, Read Mode is a useful feature, which not only makes the background yellow, but adjusts the color temperature depending on the time of day, reducing the burden on vision, and you can set up automatic turn on on the sunrise and sunset schedule.
Cleaning the system and working with memory
The built-in Security app has a Cleanup tool that removes cache, advertising files and remnants of deleted applications, and is recommended to use it regularly, at least once a week.
But be careful with so-called memory accelerators: In modern versions of Android and MIUI, manual memory cleaning (RAM) often backfires: the system has to reload applications, which consumes more power. Trust the automatic memory management that is built into the core of the system.
- 🗑️ Remove unused applications through Settings → Apps, not just from the desktop.
- 📸 Photos and videos take up the most space – set up automatic upload to the cloud.
- 📂 Files in the Downloads folder are often forgotten for years – check it monthly.
If the phone is slow, try rebooting. This is a banal but effective tip: Rebooting resets temporary errors in RAM and stops the hanging processes. Do this at least once every few days.
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Regular reboot of the device (every 3-4 days) is more effective than any third-party “accelerators” and helps to maintain stable operation of the system without lags.