Special Features on Xiaomi: How to Include and Configure for Easy Use

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO brand-based MIUI They offer a wide range of tools for people with disabilities, and these features make the device more accessible to people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments. However, many owners are unaware of the existence of half of these options – they are hidden in the depths of settings and require a targeted search.

Empowering special features on Xiaomi can dramatically change the experience of interacting with the device. For example, the on-screen speaker TalkBack converts text into speech, allowing blind users to fully control the smartphone. The screen magnification feature helps the visually impaired to consider the small details of the interface, and real-time subtitles become a salvation for people with hearing impairments. But how to activate these tools? Where to find hidden settings? And what nuances are important to consider when using them?

In this article, we will break down all the special features available on Xiaomi, from the basic to the most advanced. MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS), which models support certain features, and how to avoid typical setup errors. And if you help set up a phone for a relative or friend, you'll find a checklist for quick device preparation.

Where to find special features on Xiaomi: the way in the settings

Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi does not place special features settings in a prominent place. MIUI The path to them may be slightly different, but the general logic holds. (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and newer you need:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).

2. Scroll down and select the Special Features section (on some firmware it may be called Universal Access or Additional Features).

3. Inside the section you will see categories: Vision, Hearing, Interaction and others.

On older models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3 s MIUI 12) the path may look like this: Settings → System system → Advanced settings → Special features. If you don't find a section, use the search bar at the top of the settings screen and type in "special features».

Important: on some custom firmware devices (such as Xiaomi.eu or LineageOS), the location of the points may differ. If you have unofficial firmware installed, we recommend first upgrade to the latest stable version. MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Functions for users with visual impairment

This is the most extensive category of special features on Xiaomi, and here are the tools that help visually impaired and blind users interact with the device.

🔹 The TalkBack is a voice assistant that voices all the actions on the screen: taps, swipes, notifications:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Vision. → TalkBack.
2. Activate the switch and confirm the start in the window that appears.
3. Follow the voice prompts to learn control gestures.

⚠️

Warning: After TalkBack activation, standard gestures MIUI For example, you'll need to use two fingers to scroll through the screen, and a single finger swipe will be perceived as a choice of element. To turn off the speaker, hold two fingers on the screen for 3 seconds.

🔹 Screen size allows you to scale up to 200 percent without loss of quality, useful for users with myopia or presbyopia. → Special facilities → Vision. → The screen size. You can adjust it here:

• 📱 Short-Time Enlargement – Triple-Tap Screen for Temporary Scaling.
• 🔍 Permanent zoom – everything is displayed in an enlarged form.
• 🖼️ Color inversion – Changes the colors on the screen for better readability.

🔹 Color correction is a filter for people with color blindness. MIUI Preset profiles for deuteranopia, protanopia and tritanopia are available. → Special facilities → Vision. → Color correction.

🔹 High contrast text, which makes fonts bolder and sharper, is included in the same section Vision, useful for older users or in bright sunlight.

Make sure your phone has enough charge (minimum 30%)

Connect headphones for better perception of voice prompts

Close all apps to avoid gesture conflicts

Learn the basic commands (double touch) = pick, two fingers up/down = scrolling)-->

Adaptations for users with hearing impairments

For people with hearing problems, Xiaomi offers several key features that compensate for the lack of audio, including real-time subtitles, which automatically convert speech into text during calls, videos or voice messages.

To include subtitles:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Rumor → Subtitles in real time.
2. Download the necessary language packages (Russian, English, Chinese and others are available).
3. Activate the switch and adjust the text display (font size, color, transparency).

Other useful options for the hearing impaired:

• 🔔 Visual alerts – screen blinking or camera flashing when an incoming call or notification is included in Settings → Special facilities → Rumor → A flashing flash.
• 🎧 Mono-audio combines stereo into one earphone channel, useful for hearing loss in one ear. → Sound. → Audio effects → Mono-audio.
• 📞 Amplify the sound in the headphones - increases the volume during calls. Configures to Settings → Special facilities → Rumor → Sound amplification.

💡 On Xiaomi models 12T, Redmi K50 And now, the newest feature is environmental recognition (child crying, doorbell, alarm) that works through a microphone and sends alerts for important sounds.

Sensory and motor adaptations

For users with limited mobility, Xiaomi offers settings that make it easier to interact with the screen, and these features will be useful for those who are temporarily unable to use the phone with one hand (for example, if they are broken).

👆 Gesture control -- allows you to do things without touching the screen:

• 🤏 Compression gesture – clench your hand in front of the front camera to take a screenshot.
• ☝️ A finger up gesture – scrolling down the page.
• ✌️ Gesture "peace" - return to the main screen.

Included in Settings → Special facilities → Interaction → Gesture control requires a front-facing camera to work.

🕹️ Touch assistant is a floating button that duplicates the main actions (back, home, latest apps) useful for broken physical buttons or large screens. → Special facilities → Interaction → Touch assistant.

⏱️ Touch delay - increases the time between pressing and screen response, preventing accidental clicks. → Special facilities → Interaction → Delayed touch.

📱 One-handed mode - compresses the interface for easy control of the large screen with one hand, switches on the home button swipe or Settings → Screen. → One-handed regime.

💡

If your hands are shaking, activate the Touch Stabilization function in Interaction, which ignores random short taps, reducing the number of input errors.

Hidden features of special features: what else can be configured

In addition to the main options, in MIUI They've hidden less obvious, but no less useful, settings that even experienced users often miss.

🔋 Charge saving for special features – disables background activity of unnecessary applications, prolonging the device’s life. → Special facilities → General. → Saving charge.

📝 Voice input and commands -- lets you control your phone without using your hands, like saying "Open WhatsApp" or "Enable flashlight." Activated via: Settings → Special facilities → Interaction → Voice assistant.

🔒 Safe Special Options mode, which blocks changes to settings without passwords, is useful if the phone is used by a child or a person with cognitive impairments. → Special facilities → General. → Safe regime.

🌐 Language settings for TalkBack – in addition to standard languages, you can download regional dialects (for example, Ukrainian or Kazakh.

Typical problems and their solutions

When setting up special features, users often face difficulties, and here are the most common ones and ways to eliminate them:

🚫 TalkBack doesn't voice elements

• Check if the sound on the device is off.
• Make sure you select the correct language in TalkBack settings.
• Restart your phone – sometimes a special-service reset helps.

⚠️ Subtitles don't appear during calls

• Make sure the microphone is not silenced (check the permissions for the Phone app).
• Update the language packages in the subtitles settings.
• Check if the Do Not Disturb mode is on.

🔄 Control gestures are not working

• Make sure the front camera is not closed.
• Disable other apps that use the camera (like Snapchat or TikTok).
• Check if permission to use the camera for Special Opportunities is included.

⚠️

Note: On some models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4) post-update MIUI 14 may reset the configuration of special features.We recommend backing up the settings through Settings → The phone. → Backup.

How to Set Up Special Opportunities for a Child or Elderly Person

If you are setting up a phone for a disabled relative, it is important to consider the specific needs of the relative.

👶 For children with special needs:

• 🎨 Include large icons in Settings → Screen. → Size of elements.
• 🔒 Activate Safe Mode so that your child does not change the settings.
• 📚 Install applications with a simplified interface (e.g. Simple Launcher).

👵 For the elderly:

• 🔊 Increase the volume of the call and notifications in Settings → Sound.
• 📱 Enable the Senior Mode (if available) or Simplified Launcher.
• 📞 Set up a quick call to emergency contacts via double pressing the power button.

💡 General advice:

• Create a Special Opportunities shortcut on the home screen for quick access.
• Use voices with natural intonation in TalkBack (available in voice settings).
• Check the compatibility of third-party apps (such as WhatsApp or Viber) with special features.

💡

Before giving the phone to an elderly relative, test all features in their presence. Many options (such as TalkBack) require training and may seem uncomfortable at first.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions