What your Xiaomi phone can do: From basic features to hidden chips MIUI

Xiaomi smartphones have long ceased to be just “cheap Chinese phones”; today they are full-fledged flagship devices with unique software. MIUI, It's a little bit of a sleeve that hides dozens of useful features, but even the owners of Redmi, POCO Or Mi often only uses 30 percent of the power of their gadgets. Why? Because the manufacturer doesn't always advertise all the chips, and some of them are hidden deep in the settings.

In this article, we will not list the obvious, like calls or instant messengers, but instead will look at 15 really useful features that make Xiaomi stand out from the competition. From advanced photography to smart home integration, let's see what your phone can do, even if it was Released 2-3 years ago. And yes, some features work even on budget models like the Redmi. 12C or POCO M6 Pro.

1. Advanced photography: from manual settings to AI retouch

Xiaomi's cameras are often underrated, but they can shoot as well as Samsung's or Google's flagships, and it's all about the right settings and hidden modes. For example, the Camera app has:

• 📸 Professional mode with manual shutter speed setting, ISO White balance (available even on public sector workers).
• 🌃 Night mode 2.0 – automatically combines several frames for bright photos in low light.
• 🎭 Real-time AI retouch (included in Camera Settings) → Beauty).
• 📽️ Moving photos (similar to Apple Live Photos) – saves 1-2 seconds of video before and after the photo.

What few people know is that Xiaomi has a hidden Document mode that automatically straightens photos of pages of books or checks, removes shadows, and improves readability. To turn it on, open the Camera. → More. → It's a good thing to scan your passport or receipt without a scanner.

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If your model supports you 8K-Video (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mi 11), try to shoot a video in this resolution and then manually crop it to the top of the screen. 4K — This way you will get a perfectly clear video without loss of quality.

Another thing is you double-press the volume button to start the camera quickly, and it works even on a locked screen. AMOLED-display (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) There is a night filter for the camera that automatically adjusts the white balance to street lighting.

2. Performance: How to overclock a phone without a root

Xiaomi is famous for its “iron” smartphones, but even they eventually begin to slow down. MIUI. Fortunately, there are legal ways to speed up work:

• ⚡ Ultra Battery Saver Mode (in Settings) → Battery – disables all unnecessary services, leaving only calls and SMS.
• 🔄 Cleaning the cache manually through Settings → Memory. → Clean (do it once a week).
• 🎯 Disable animation: turn on For developers (7 times tap on the version) MIUI "About the phone" and then in the settings. → Additionally. → For developers, install Windows animation = 0.5x.
• 🔋 Optimization of charging: in Settings → Battery → Battery settings turn on Adaptive Charging – this will prolong the life of the battery.

If your Xiaomi supports virtualization RAM (for example, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+), Do not be lazy to activate it in Settings. → The phone. → Memory. → Expansion RAM. This will add 2-3 GB of RAM to the internal memory, which gives a 15-20% increase in multitasking in tests, especially in games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.

Another life hack - forced activation GPU Turbo. This technology speeds up rendering of graphics in games:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Accelerate Graphics.
2. Choose. GPU Turbo and add the games to the list.
3. Reboot the phone.

3.Smart Home: How to Turn Xiaomi into a Control Center

One of Xiaomi's key advantages is its deep integration with the Mi Home ecosystem, which can be a remote for lights, robot vacuum cleaners, smart sockets, even air conditioners, but most users are limited to basic scenarios.

Here's what you can automate:

• 💡 Geolocation triggers: Yeelight light bulbs turn on when you drive up to the house (configured in Mi Home) → Automation).
• 🔊 Voice control via Alice or Google Assistant (supported commands such as “turn on the vacuum cleaner in the living room»).
• 🌡️ Smart notifications: the phone will warn if the temperature in the nursery rises above 25°C (Mi Temperature and Humidity Sensor).
• 🚪 Security: Mi Home Security Camera will start recording if the motion sensor is triggered at night.

Few people know, but Xiaomi has a built-in infrared port (in models with an upper frame, for example, the Redmi Note 11 or the Redmi Note). POCO X3 It can be used as a remote for a TV, air conditioner or music center to set up:

1. Download the Mi Remote app (pre-installed on most devices).
2. Select the type of device (TV, AC etc.).
3. Follow the instructions for selecting the code.

If you have a Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch, the phone can unlock automatically when a smartwatch approaches, a feature called Smart Unlock and is included in Settings. → Security → Advanced settings → Smart Unlock.

4. Battery: How to prolong battery life

Batteries at Xiaomi are often criticized for their rapid wear and tear, but the problem is not the hardware, but the misuse. Here are 5 rules to help your battery live longer:

1. Don't discharge to 0%. Optimal range is 20% to 80%. Xiaomi has an integrated Optimized Charging feature (in Settings). → Battery that automatically limits the charge to 80%.
2. Avoid overheating. Don't play heavy games while charging, which reduces battery life by 30 to 40 percent.
3. Use the original charging.Fast charging Xiaomi (33W, 67W, 120W) It is only safe with proprietary adapters.
4. Turn it off. 5G/LTE, If you don't need it, the modem consumes up to 15% charge per hour at weak signal.
5. Calibrate the battery once every 3 months: completely discharge the phone, then charge to 100% without interruptions.

In the models with MIUI 14+ We've got a smart battery that analyzes your habits and optimizes your charge consumption, for example, if you normally charge your phone at night, it'll keep your charge at 80 percent until morning, and then refuel it to 100 percent when you wake up.

If your Xiaomi suddenly started to run out in a few hours, check the background consumption in Settings → Battery → Battery use: Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or social networks that constantly sync data are often to blame. → Annexes → Auto-start.

5.Security: Data protection and anti-theft functions

Xiaomi is often accused of “espionage,” but in fact, it is not. MIUI There are many tools to protect personal data, and the key is to set them up properly.

First, the encryption of the device. → Security → Encryption and credentials → Encrypt your phone. It protects your data even if it falls into the wrong hands. It takes 30 to 60 minutes, and then all the files are encrypted.

Second, hidden albums, where you can hide photos with your password or fingerprint in the Xiaomi gallery:

1. Open the gallery.
2. Select a photo, click More → Hide.
3. Install. PIN-code or use biometrics.

Third, anti-theft functions:

• 🔒 Blocking in case of theft: if SIM-The card will be replaced, the phone will be locked (includes in Settings). → Google → Security → Find the device).
• 📍 Tracking by IMEI: Even if the phone is turned off, it can be found through the Mi Cloud service (you need to turn on Settings). → Xiaomi account → Find the device).
• 🚨 Anxious button: press the power button three times and the phone will send SOS with your geolocation contacts (configured in Settings) → Security → SOS).

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If you sell or give away your phone, be sure to make a full reset via Settings. → The phone. → Reset settings and untie your Xiaomi account in Settings → Xiaomi account → Otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover your data!

Another little-known feature is anti-essay protection, and Xiaomi has a built-in microphone activity monitor, and if an app tries to access a microphone without you knowing it, there's a green dot in the upper right corner. → Confidentiality → Permits → Microphone.

6. Hidden settings and chips MIUI

MIUI — It's not just an Android shell, it's an ecosystem with dozens of hidden features:

Another interesting thing is that it's smooth scrolling, and Xiaomi can make it easier to scrolle the pages, and it's smoother.

1. Enable Developers (7 taps according to Version) MIUI).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the option Animation transitions = 0.5x and Duration animation = 0.5x.

If you are tired of the standard icons, MIUI There's an embedded Icon Packs theme. Go to Themes. → Icons and choose from hundreds of free packs, and if you want to change the interface completely, install Xiaomi. EU ROM — This is firmware without Chinese restrictions with advanced settings.

7. Communication and Networking: How to Speed Up Internet and Calls

Communication problems are one of the most common complaints against Xiaomi, but often the fault is not the hardware, but the wrong settings.

• 📶 Manual network selection: if the phone is constantly switching between 4G and 3G, Set the network in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Type of network → Only LTE.
• 📞 VoLTE and VoWiFi: Improve call quality. Include in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Wi-Fi Call and Call by 4G.
• 🌐 DNS from Google or Cloudflare: speeds up the loading of sites. DNS In Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Settings IP → Static → DNS 1: 8.8.8.8, DNS 2: 1.1.1.1.
• 🔄 Network Reset: If the Internet is slowing down, try Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

If you have Xiaomi with support 5G (for example, Xiaomi 13T Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ 5G), But the speed leaves much to be desired, check it out:

1. Availability 5G In your area (not all operators have fully covered the network).
2. Settings APN: Sometimes operators require manual input of parameters (check them on the provider's website).
3. Energy saving mode: in Settings → Battery disable Background Limitation for Mobile Data.

Few people know, but Xiaomi has a built-in network analyzer that shows signal strength, download/return speeds, and even neighboring towers. To open it, type in the phone dialer code:

##4636##

Then select Network Information, which will help you understand why the connection is bad — maybe your carrier just doesn't cover your area very well.

8 Repair and Diagnostics: How to Check Your Phone Without a Service Center

If your Xiaomi is starting to glittle, don’t rush to carry it for repair. First check the hardware and software with built-in tests.

Start the screen diagnostics:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the kernel version (or Version) MIUI in some models).
3. Select Screen Test – check if there are any broken pixels or sensor issues.

To check the remaining components, use the hidden test menu. Type in the dialer:

##6484##

A test menu will open:

• 🔋 Battery - will show the real capacity and temperature.
• 📱 Sensor – check the responsiveness of the screen.
• 🎤 Microphone – Record and play your voice for quality check.
• 🔊 Speakers – Tests sound at different frequencies.

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If you see a battery test below 80%, it’s time to change the battery, and in official Xiaomi service centers, it costs 1,500-3,000 rubles depending on the model.

If the phone is getting too hot, check the thermal-throttling.

1. Install the Throttling Test CPU from Google Play.
2. Run the test – if the performance drops by 30% or more, then the heat paste is dry or the radiator has gone.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 12 or Xiao) POCO F4) You can burn out pixels over time. To check the screen for broken or dead pixels, download the Screen Test app and select a color uniformity test. If you notice colored spots, that's a sign of wear and tear on the matrix.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone stopped turning on after the fall, but vibrates when charging, do not try to disassemble it yourself.In 90% of cases, the problem is in the departed battery or display plume, and without a special tool you risk damaging the board.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions