How to Use Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Xiaomi smartphones have gained popularity thanks to a combination of affordable prices, powerful hardware and unique MIUI firmware. But even experienced users sometimes have questions: how to set up a new device correctly, what features are hidden in the menu, and how to avoid typical errors. This article will help you understand all the nuances from the first inclusion to the fine optimization of the system.

We won’t recap the standard manual out of the box, but instead focus on practical tips that save time: how to quickly transfer data from an old phone, why Xiaomi discharges so quickly in the early days, and what settings to change immediately after purchase, and also talk about the hidden features of MIUI 14/15, which are not in the official guides – for example, how to turn on the left-handed mode or set up a double-touch to launch the camera.

First Entry and Initial Setup

When you first turn on Xiaomi, it suggests you go through Quick Setup, where you can easily miss important things like choosing a region or turning off unnecessary services.

• 🌍 Language and region choice: Specify “Russia” or “Ukraine” (depending on firmware) to avoid app localization problems. If you choose India, for example, some features (like Google Pay) may not work.
• 🔄 Transfer data. It'll offer you to copy contacts, photos and apps from your old phone through Mi Mover. OTG The alternative is to use a Google Account (but it takes longer).
• 🔒 Set up the lock. We recommend you to install it immediately. PIN-code or pattern lock – a fingerprint or facial recognition can be added later to Settings → Screen locking.
• 📱 Mi Account. Without it, you will not be able to use cloud storage, device search and some functions MIUI. Registration takes 2 minutes – link phone number or email.

After you have completed the setup wizard, check Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If the firmware version is outdated (for example, MIUI 12 on a new phone), immediately update the system via Settings → Software Update. This will fix the bugs and add new features.

⚠️ Note: If you bought Xiaomi in China or on AliExpress, your phone may have global firmware installed for another region. 4G (Not all ranges are supported, Google services and localization. Check the firmware model in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — It should end in RU (Russia) or EU (Europe).

Gestures and screen control

Xiaomi uses two types of navigation: classic buttons (bottom of the screen) and gestures, which save space on the display and speed up the work.

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Choose MIUI Gestures (recommended) or Android Gestures (if you’re used to standard navigation).
3. Turn on the “Hide the gesture indicator” option for the cleanest screen possible.

The main gestures in Xiaomi:

• 👆 Swipe up – return to the main screen (analogue of the home button»).
• 👈 Swipe from left to right – switch back (like the back button»).
• 🔄 Swipe Up and Hold – Opening a list of recent apps.
• ⚡ Double touch on the screen – wake up the phone (configured in Settings) → Display. → Awakening with a double touch).

If gestures are unstable (for example, a backup accidentally triggers), calibrate the sensor:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Special Options → Touch and Hold Lag.
2. Select “Sensor Calibration” and follow the instructions on the screen.

💡

To quickly start the camera from the locked screen, double-press the volume button. This function works even if the phone is turned off (on most Xiaomi and Redmi models).

Battery setting: why it goes down quickly and how to fix it

One of the most common complaints about new Xiaomis is that the battery runs out quickly in the first few days of use. This is normal: the system indexes files, updates apps, and adapts to your habits.

Another useful trick is to turn on the energy saving mode:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Energy saving mode.
2. Choose Balanced (recommended) or Super Energy Saving (limits background processes).
3. Activate the “Automatic Turn on” option at a charge level of 15-20%.

⚠️ Warning: If your phone is running 10-15% off in an hour on standby, check it for viruses (via Security) → Antivirus) or reset to factory settings. Sometimes the problem lies in "broken" updates. MIUI — In this case, the re-flashing will help.

Disable Auto-Update Apps in Play Market|Set screen timeout for 15-30 seconds|Turn off vibration when touching|Check the list of high-consumption apps in Settings → Battery.|Turn on a dark theme (saves up to 10% charge on the device) AMOLED-screen)-->

Camera: Hidden functions and professional modes

Xiaomi’s cameras (especially the flagships of the Xiaomi 13/14 series or the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) support dozens of features that users often don’t know about.

• 📸 Document Mode – automatically straightens photos of pages of books or papers (useful for students).
• 🌃 «Supermoon - improves the shooting of the moon (available on flagships with a telephoto lens).
• 🎥 «Moving Photos – Creates a short video from a static frame (similar to Live Photos in iPhone).
• 🔍 «Magic of cloning – allows you to duplicate objects in the photo (for example, to make the effect of a “double»).

To open professional mode (manual shutter speed setting, ISO, white balance), swipe your finger across the camera screen to the left.

• Shoot in RAW format (for later processing in Lightroom).
• Use a long shutter speed (up to 32 seconds) to capture the sky.
• Customize focus manually (useful for macro photography).

If the camera is slowing down or gives an error “I failed to connect”, try:

1. Clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → Camera → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Turn off the option «AI-camera in the application settings (sometimes it overloads the processor).
3. Update the firmware of the camera through Settings → About the phone → Software update.

Connection: Wi-Fi, mobile internet and communication problems

Internet problems on Xiaomi are often associated with incorrect network settings or firmware conflict with the operator. 4G/5G or permanently lose contact:

• 📶 Check the supported ranges. For example, the Redmi Note 11 does not work with the 5G Xiaomi 13 Pro supports all ranges.
• 🔄 Reset network settings in Settings → Connections → Mobile network → Resetting settings.
• 📡 Enable “Modern Mobile Data Mode” (for stable data) 4G) In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → name SIM → Improved regime.

If Wi-Fi is connected but the internet is not working:

1. Forget the network in Settings → Wi-Fi, then connect again.
2. Check your IP settings: go to Settings → Wi-Fi → network name → Additional → IP settings and select DHCP (automatically).
3. Turn off the Smart Switch function in Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally, it sometimes interferes with a stable connection.

To speed up the mobile Internet, you can manually select the type of network:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → name SIM → Type of network.
2. Select LTE Only (if 5G is not required) or LTE/3G/2G (auto).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (especially the Chinese build) may not support VoLTE, the technology of voice calls through the phone. 4G. Because of this, the calls will be made 2G/3G, Which degrades the quality of the communication. Check for VoLTE in Settings → SIM-map → name SIM → Challenges through 4G. If there is no option, you need to reflash to the global version. MIUI.

Security: How to protect data and avoid hacking

Xiaomi offers several layers of protection, but by default many features are disabled.

• 🔐 Encrypt your device. Encrypt your data in Settings. → Additionally. → Security → Encryption. It'll protect files if the phone falls into the wrong hands.
• 🚫 Block installation from unknown sources. Disable this option in Settings → Annexes → Special access → Install unknown applications for unnecessary browsers.
• 📍 Find the device. Enable it in Settings. → Mi Account → Finding the device will allow you to find the phone if it gets lost or lock it remotely.
• 🛡️ Run a virus scanner, run a security check. → Antivirus. MIUI It uses Avast databases, so the scanning is quite reliable.

If you are selling or transferring the phone to another person, be sure to reset to factory settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase all data” and confirm the action.
3. Once reset, the phone will ask you to enter the Mi Account that was previously linked, which is anti-theft protection — if you forget your account details, you can't unlock your phone!

To avoid data leakage, turn off personalized ads:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Services → Advertising.
2. Turn off the options “Personalized Advertising” and “Use Analytics”.

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Never disable Device Search in your Mi Account, which is the only way to find or lock your phone when you steal, and even after resetting your settings, your device will be linked to your account.

Hidden MIUI features you didn’t know about

MIUI hides dozens of useful features that are not obvious at first glance.

• 🔊 Left-handed Mode: Turns the interface over for easy one-handed control. Enables in Settings. → Additionally. → Special facilities → Left-handed regime.
• 📱 Double app: Allows you to create a second messaging account (like two WhatsApp or Telegram) → Annexes → Dual annexes.
• 🎵 The screen is always on, shows time, notifications and battery on the locked screen (only works on the screen). AMOLED-Path: Settings → Display. → Lock screen → Always-on screen.
• 🔋 Fast charging: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) can enable ultrafast charging 120W, But it shortens the life of the battery. → Battery. → Fast charging.
• 📡 On the plane mode with Wi-Fi. You can turn on Flight Mode, but leave Wi-Fi or Bluetooth active. To do this, after activation, return to the notification panel and manually turn on the desired modules.

Another useful feature is Second Space, which is a separate desktop with its own apps, settings, and even wallpaper, ideally if multiple people use the phone, to enable:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
2. Create a new space and set a password for it.
3. Switch between spaces can be swiped by fingerprint (if configured) or through the notification panel.

If you lack standard features, install the POCO Launcher (available in the Play Market).

• Categorization of applications by folder.
• Gestures for quick start of programs.
• Dark theme with extended settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions