Buying a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially if you are first encountering the MIUI or HyperOS ecosystem. Many users are wondering how to start Xiaomi correctly to avoid typical errors and immediately get the most performance from the device. The initial activation process is not much different from other Android smartphones, but has a number of specific nuances associated with the Mi Account account and regional settings.
Getting your device right first has a direct impact on the stability of the device in the future, and don’t rush to skip configuration steps or ignore system updates, which are often offered immediately after you turn on. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at every step from removing the device from the box to fine-tuning the interface for comfortable use.
Primary activation and language selection
After you removed the smartphone from the box and inserted it SIM-The card, you press and hold the power button on the side of the case, and the screen will light up, and you will see the Xiaomi logo, followed by the welcome screen, and at this point the system will suggest selecting the interface language. For users from Russia and CIS countries, you need to choose “Russian” or the corresponding language of your region, so that the fonts are correctly displayed and voice assistants work.
The next step is to connect to Wi-Fi. This is critical, because without the Internet, you can't complete activation, check for security updates, and log in to your account. If you don't have access to a wireless network, you can skip this step, but then the functionality will be limited. It's recommended to use a stable 5GHz Wi-Fi connection to quickly download system files.
It will also offer to copy apps and data from your old device, if you had an Android smartphone, you can use a cable or wireless connection to migrate contacts, photos and installed apps, and iPhone owners will need a special app, but you can still transfer the basic data.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data copying process or turn off the smartphone screen during the initial setup, this may lead to a software failure and the need to reset.
Once you have selected a language and connected to the network, the device can suggest setting a date and time, which are usually automatically pulled up from the network, but can be adjusted manually in the appropriate menu if necessary.
Registration and login to Mi Account
The centerpiece of the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem is the Mi Account, which is the equivalent of an Apple ID or Google account, which allows you to synchronize contacts, notes, voice recordings and find a device in the event of a loss, and when you first start up, the system insists on signing in to an existing account or registering a new one.
Sign up will require a mobile phone number or email address. It is important to provide current data, as it will come with a confirmation code. Creating a Mi Account opens up access to Xiaomi Cloud storage, design themes and Find Device services. Without this account, some functions, such as finding a phone or syncing a gallery, will not be available.
If you don’t plan to actively use the brand’s cloud services, you can skip the sign-in by selecting the “Skip” or “Login Later” option, but security experts recommend that you create an account so that you can remotely lock your smartphone if you are stolen.
- 🔐 Security: Account protects the device from unauthorized access and resetting by attackers.
- ☁️ Synchronization: Automatically save important data to the cloud in case of a gadget breakdown.
- 🎨 Personalization: Access to the theme, font store and always-on display (AOD).
The password from the account is better written or saved in the password manager, as it can take time to recover, and it is also worth enabling two-factor authentication for additional protection of personal data.
Setting up Google Services and Security
Despite having its own services, Xiaomi runs on Android, so logging into a Google account is a standard procedure, which is necessary for the Google Play Store, YouTube, Gmail and navigator. If the smartphone has already logged in to a Google account, the system will offer to restore a backup of settings and a list of applications.
At the security setting stage, the system will suggest setting up biometric unlocking. Xiaomi's current models are equipped with fingerprint scanners built into the screen or power button, as well as facial recognition modules. The setup takes less than a minute and significantly speeds up access to the device in everyday use.
Also at this stage, you may be asked to configure Google Pay (or its analogues) for contactless payment, which requires adding a bank card to work, and depending on the model and region, additional verification through the banking application may be required.
⚠️ Note: When setting up Google services, carefully read the permissions that apps request. Not all services need to access a microphone or geolocation all the time.
The MIUI/HyperOS security system will also offer threat scanning and memory optimization, a standard procedure that takes a few seconds to identify potential problems immediately after installation.
☑️ Safety check at launch
Updating the operating system
Smartphones often reach customers with a firmware version released months ago, during which time developers could release important security patches or bug fixes, so it is recommended to check for updates immediately after the initial setup is completed.
To do this, go to the settings menu and select About, the system will automatically contact the server and check the current version of Android and the shell, and if the update is available, a notification will appear describing the changes and the size of the package.
Downloading and installing the update can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, depending on the speed of the Internet and the amount of data being downloaded, and you won’t be able to use the phone at this time, so it’s best to do this when the device isn’t urgently needed.
- 🚀 Performance: New firmware versions often include processor and memory optimization.
- 🛡️ Security patches close vulnerabilities discovered by hackers in previous versions.
- ✨ Functional: New features, emojis and interface improvements appear.
Make sure that before the upgrade, the battery charge is at least 50-60% so that the smartphone does not turn off at the critical moment of flashing system partitions.
What to do if the update does not come?
Removing Advertising and Configuring Privacy
One of the features of the MIUI shell is that it has built-in advertising in system applications. To make smartphone use comfortable, you need to disable personalized advertising recommendations, this is done through the settings of your Mi Account and the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service.
Go to settings, look for “Password and Security” or “Faceprints, Faces, and...,” then select “Privacy.” Here, find the “Advertising Services” section and disable the “Get Recommendations” slider. Also, go through system applications (Music, Explorer, Downloads) and find the “Get Recommendations” option in their settings to turn it off.
In addition to advertising, you should pay attention to privacy settings, the system may request permission to use location data, browsing history and other parameters to improve the performance of services, and you can disable these functions if you value privacy above personalization.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| MSA (Advertising) | Applications → Settings → Authorization | Shut down. |
| Recommendations | Settings → Password and security → Privacy | Shut down. |
| Auto-reproduction | Settings → Applications → Video / Music | Turn off the Wi-Fi autoplay |
| Access to photo | Settings → Confidentiality | Restrict for third-party applications |
After these steps are done, the interface will become cleaner, and notifications will no longer come with offers to install games or subscribe.
💡
To quickly find hidden advertising settings, use a search on your smartphone settings by entering the words “advertising”, “recommendations” or “msa”.
Data portability and application installation
The final launch phase is to fill your smartphone with content, and if you didn't use automatic porting when you started, now is the time to install the apps you need. The main source is the Google Play Store, but for some services (for example, banking applications of the Russian Federation) it may be necessary to install through the Internet. APK-files or alternative stores such as RuStore.
To install applications from unknown sources, the system will ask for permission. Be careful and download installation files only from official developer sites or proven resources. Once you install the main messengers and social networks, check their operation and set up notifications.
You can also set up control gestures at this stage. From the “Additional” → “Fullscreen mode” menu, you can choose to control three buttons or modern gestures (swipes), which is especially true for smartphones without a physical home button.
- 📱 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber – the basis of communication.
- 🏦 Finance: Applications of banks for payment and transfers.
- 🎵 Media: Yandex.Music, Spotify, YouTube for entertainment.
Don’t forget to check the operation of the main functions: the camera, speakers, microphone and screen sensor to make sure that the device is serviceable within the warranty period.
💡
Properly configuring access rights and disabling unnecessary advertising at the start will save you time and nerves in the future, making the use of the smartphone as comfortable as possible.