Buying a new gadget is always a thrill, especially if it is a modern smartphone from Xiaomi. However, before enjoying the capabilities of the Android operating system and the shell MIUI or HyperOS, the device must be activated correctly. Many users face a misunderstanding why the device does not respond to the press immediately after unpacking, or get lost in the menu of the primary configuration.
In this article, we will discuss the process of first turning on your Redmi, not only the standard activation procedure, but also solve typical problems, such as no reaction to the power button or endless boot.
It’s worth noting that the security algorithms of modern smartphones often require a connection to a power source on the first run. If you take your phone out of the box and it’s silent, don’t panic ahead of time. Xiaomi’s new smartphones often come with a discharged battery for fire safety purposes during transportation.
Preparation of the device for the first start
Before you try to turn on the gadget, you need to make sure that it is physically ready for work. Factory packaging usually contains a protective film on the screen and the case, which is recommended to be removed for better heat exchange and ergonomics. However, the main element of preparation is to provide power. Even if the charge indicator shows the presence of energy, it is better to put the device on charge for at least 15-20 minutes.
Use the original cable and power supply included in the supply. USB-C connectors of modern Redmi models support fast charging, but only when using certified accessories. Attempting to start the phone from a weak current source can cause the screen to go out immediately after the logo appears.
- 🔋 Connect the original cable USB Type-C connector on the lower edge of the smartphone.
- ⚡ Insert the other end of the cable into the network adapter and connect it to the 220V outlet.
- 📱 Make sure that the lightning image or battery indicator appears on the screen.
- 🛡️ Remove all transport stickers from the display and back cover.
⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone starts to get hot or the screen flashes, turn off the power immediately.This may indicate a defect in the battery or charge controller.
Once you've made sure you're getting power, you can move to mechanical activation. The power button on Xiaomi smartphones is usually on the right side of the button, and in some models, it's combined with a fingerprint scanner, which requires more confident, but not excessive, pressing.
☑️ Ready to be included
Mechanical Initiation and System Reaction
The process of launching the operating system begins with a long press of the power button. Unlike older push-button phones, you need to hold the button from 3 to 5 seconds. You need to feel a slight vibration or see the logo of the Redmi or Mi brand on the display. If this does not happen, try extending the pressing time to 10 seconds.
Sometimes the system may not respond because of a software failure that occurred during pre-marketing, and then the forced reboot procedure helps, because it's safe for data because the new device doesn't have any, so you have to hold the power button down and hold it for a long time until the screen blinks.
What to do if the screen is still black?
The appearance of the logo means that the bootloader has successfully passed the check and transfers control to the kernel of the system. From this moment, the interface starts to load. Do not interrupt the process, even if it seems long. Modern processors and bulky files of the system take time to initialize all services.
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If the phone is on, but immediately started to heat up and brake, let it lie on the table for 10-15 minutes. background optimization after the first turn on creates a high load on the processor.
Language selection and network connection
Once you have finished downloading, you will see a welcome screen. The first step in the settings menu is to choose the interface language. The default can be English or Chinese, so check the list carefully. For Russian-speaking users, you should find Russian or Russian.
The next critical step is to connect to the Internet. MIUI requires a network to activate the device and check the lock status. You can use your home Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet via the inserted SIM-It is recommended to use Wi-Fi for more stable connections and traffic savings, as initial synchronization may require downloading hundreds of megabytes of data.
| Parameter | Recommendation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Type of network | Wi-Fi 5 GHz | Provides maximum loading speed |
| Mobile data | 4G / LTE | Make sure that data transfer is enabled |
| Time and date | Automatically. | Synchronized through the network |
| Update of the PO | Recommended | It is better to update the system immediately. |
If the connection to the network fails, check the correctness of the password from Wi-Fi. If using mobile Internet, make sure that the user is not connected to the Internet. SIM-The card has a balance and no data transfer is blocked. Without the Internet, you can't move to the next step: login.
Authorization in the Mi and Google account
Xiaomi's ecosystem is based on Mi Account, which is a feature that works with Find Device, synchronize contacts, notes, and cloud storage, and if you already have an account, just type in your username and password, and if you don't, it will prompt you to create a new one right in the process of setting up.
And you also log in to Google, which is a requirement for Android, and without a Google account, you can't download apps from Play Market, you can't use navigation, you can use YouTube, you can use Gmail, and you can log in, and you can log in, and you can type in your email address and password.
- 🔐 Enter your existing Mi Account or click “Create an Account".
- 📧 Sign in to Google Play to access apps.
- ☁️ Accept the terms of use of cloud services for backup.
- 🛡️ Create a strong password and link your phone number to recover.
⚠️ Warning: Never buy phones with someone else’s Mi Account already activated. This can result in the account owner locking the device, and unlocking it without a password will be almost impossible.
Some users prefer to skip this step to set up everything manually later, but for full use of the smartphone, especially security features, login to accounts is better done immediately, the system may suggest recovering data from the old backup if you have it on another Android device.
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Mi Account is your device's digital passport, and without it, you can't have important security and sync functions.
Setup of biometrics and security parameters
Modern Redmis offer several ways to protect personal data, the most convenient is a fingerprint scanner, depending on the model, it can be built into the on button or placed on the back, the system will ask you to put your finger several times to the sensor to create a digital cast.
It also has a face ID setup, which scans facial features and unlocks the phone when you look at the screen, and while it's convenient, it's worth remembering that a fingerprint scanner is considered a more reliable method of biometric protection, especially in the dark or in bright sun.
And at this point, you also set up a method to lock the screen in case the biometrics don't work, PIN-A pattern lock is easy to enter quickly, but a 6-character digital code provides a higher level of cryptographic data protection.
Settings → Passwords and security → Device protection → Add passwordDon’t forget to set up Smart Lock if it’s available in your firmware version.It lets you keep your phone unlocked in secure places, like your home or when it’s connected to a car headset.It eliminates the need to constantly enter a password in a trusted environment.
Completion of installation and system update
The final stage of the initial launch is to install updates, and even if the phone is just out of the factory, the firmware version may not be the most up-to-date version on it, and the system will prompt you to download and install a MIUI or HyperOS service pack, which can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, during which time the phone can restart several times.
Once the update is complete, the system will perform the final optimization of the applications, you will see the desktop with pre-installed applications, now the smartphone is ready for operation, it is recommended to immediately check the operation of the main modules: the camera, speakers, microphone and screen sensor to make sure that there is no factory defect.
- 🔄 Wait for the system updates to be installed.
- 📲 Remove unnecessary pre-installed applications (if possible).
- 🎨 Set up design themes and fonts in the application "Themes".
- 📸 Take a test photo and video to check the camera.
Should I remove Chinese apps immediately?
Frequent problems at the first start
Despite the fact that processes are fine, sometimes there are failures. The phone can hang on the logo, endlessly reboot (bootloop) or not see. SIM-Most of the time, it's a simple reboot or a wait, but if the phone is warm and doesn't turn on for more than an hour, you need a diagnosis.
If the device is in a reboot cycle, try re-entering Recovery mode. Turn off the phone (if possible) and press the volume buttons (or volume up + power) at the same time. You can select Wipe Data from the reset menu, but on a new phone this is equivalent to a complete reset.
⚠️ Note: Entering Recovery and Wipe Data removes all information from the internal drive, and only use this option if the phone is new or the data is stored in the cloud.
In the case of software errors that cannot be eliminated by restarting, it may be necessary to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility. But for the average user, at the first start, it is enough to make sure that the battery is charged and give the phone time to update.