How to Make Xiaomi Better: A Complete Guide to Setup

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are all known for their value for money, but out of the box their software isn’t always perfectly optimized. The standard MIUI shell, and now the new HyperOS, contain a lot of background processes, advertising and pre-installed software that can slow down the device. To unlock the real potential of your gadget, you need to make a series of tweaks that will turn a regular phone into a powerful tool.

In this article, we will explore proven ways to make Xiaomi better, faster and more convenient for everyday use. We will touch on the hidden features of the system, animation settings, memory management and removal of excess software. Following these recommendations will allow you to significantly extend battery life and increase responsiveness of the interface.

Don't be afraid to delve into the settings, as most of the actions described are safe and reversible, but before major changes are made, it is recommended to back up important data, which is a standard precautionary procedure that will save your contacts and photos in case of unforeseen situations.

Cleaning the system from advertising and excess software

The first thing that catches your eye when you use a smartphone is the intrusive advertising in system applications. Fortunately, Xiaomi has provided the ability to turn off most ad modules manually, which will not only improve the visual experience, but also save traffic and battery power.

First, you need to turn off MSA (MIUI System Ads). Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. Find the msa app in the list and turn off the switch. The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, then you need to click "Cancel." If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure 3-4 times.

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If you can’t find the MSA app, try changing the system language to English, disable the service, and then return the Russian language.

Next, you have to remove ads in standard applications. Every system application (Music, Video, Explorer, Downloads) has its own "Receive recommendations" switch, and disabling this feature makes the interface clean and minimal.

• 🛑 Security: Settings → Advertising → Disable “Receive recommendations».
• 🎵 Music: Menu (three dots) → Settings → Advanced settings → Showing advertising blocks.
• 📁 Conductor: Menu → Settings → About the annex → Disable “Receive recommendations».
• 📥 Downloads: Three dots → Settings → Disable “Receive recommendations».

⚠️ Warning: After updating the firmware, the ad settings may reset. Periodically check these points to keep the system clean.

Optimization of animations and interface speed

Visual smoothness of the shell depends on the animation settings, which are set to standard values by default, which can appear slow on screens with high refresh rates or, conversely, create a feeling of lag on budget models.

To access advanced settings, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version or OS Version field. After the message “You became a developer” appears, go to Additional → For Developers.

Find the section related to drawing and change the following parameters:

• 🚀 Windows animation: Set the value 0.5x or turn it off completely.
• ⏱️ Transition animation: Change to 0.5x instantaneously.
• 🔄 Duration of animation: Reduce to 0.5x.

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Reducing the animation to 0.5x visually speeds up the smartphone by 30-40%, creating the feeling of a more powerful processor.

Also in this section, you should pay attention to the Background Process option. If you have little RAM (up to 4 GB), limit the number of background processes to 2-3. This will free up resources for an active application. However, if memory is 6 GB or more, it is better to leave the standard value or Standard Limitation so that applications do not unload from memory too often.

Configuring energy saving and battery

The aggressive energy saving system in MIUI often kills the necessary applications, which stops notifications coming in. On the other hand, improper calibration can lead to a quick discharge. Balancing performance and autonomy is a key challenge.

From the Settings → Battery menu, select Balanced mode for everyday use. Performance mode should only be turned on for games or heavy tasks, as it significantly increases the heating of the case. To extend the life of the Li-Ion battery, try to keep the charge in the range from 20% to 80%.

An important step is to set up auto-run applications. Go to Security → Permissions → Auto-run. Leave only messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and important services on. Other applications, especially games and stores, should be prevented from auto-run.

Memory and storage

A full internal storage is one of the main reasons for the brakes on a smartphone: when the free space runs out, the system has no place to place temporary files and cache, which leads to slowdowns in writing and reading data. Regular cleaning is necessary for stable operation.

Use the built-in Security → Cleanup app, which safely removes system debris, cache and remnants of remote applications, but don’t blindly trust the “acceleration” function, which shuts down all applications, which causes the processor to restart processes, using more power.

The Android/data folder, which stores game and app caches, can sometimes accumulate gigabytes of temporary files, and newer versions of Android may require a third-party file manager, such as Total Commander or Files by Google, to access this drop.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.obb extension manually unless you are sure of their identity. This may cause games to work incorrectly and you will have to download them again.

Improving the quality of photos and cameras

The camera’s regular app is often overcomplicated and contains unnecessary filters that spoil the naturalness of the shots. To make Xiaomi better in terms of photography, you can use Pro mode or install third-party modes.

In camera settings, disable Photo Improvement (AI) if you want more realistic colors, and it’s also recommended that you set the photo resolution to the maximum available value, rather than relying on pixel binning if you plan to further process the images.

For owners of models with good sensors (such as the Sony IMX), the Google Camera (GCam) is a ported version of the Pixel camera that uses Google’s HDR+ processing algorithms.

• 📸 Dynamic range: GCam better pulls shadows and light.
• 🌙 Google Algorithms Often Make Less Noise in Low Light.
• 🤳 Portrait: A more natural background blur without "cutting" the ears.

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Look for a stable version of GCam (Google Camera) specifically for your Snapdragon CPU model on the 4PDA forum or in the developers’ Telegram channels.

Network settings and Internet speed

Often the problem with slow internet is not the operator, but rather the DNS settings or preferred network type, and optimizing network settings can reduce ping in games and speed up page loading.

Try changing your DNS settings to faster and more secure servers, such as from Cloudflare or Google. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. In the Host Name of the Provider field, enter the value:

dns.google

Or alternatively:

1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com

It’s also worth checking if the browser’s traffic saving mode is turned on, which can slow down the loading of “heavy” sites.In Wi-Fi settings, turn off the Wi-Fi Assistant feature if it switches you to mobile Internet when the router’s signal is weak, causing connection breaks.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions