Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the limitations of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. Standard system settings do not always allow you to get to the deep features that are hidden by developers for the sake of “simplification” of the interface or marketing reasons. This is where the Activity Launcher utility comes to the rescue, allowing you to see and run all possible actions available in installed applications and the system itself.
Using this tool opens up hidden engineering menus, diagnostic screens and features that are not normally available through a regular launcher, a powerful tool for advanced users who want to fully customize their device and gain control over each process. However, working with system components requires caution and understanding the consequences of running unknown processes.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at how to properly install, configure, and safely use Activity Launcher on Xiaomi devices.You’ll learn to find the necessary activities, create desktop shortcuts, and avoid common bugs that can lead to unstable gadget performance.
What is Activity Launcher and Why You Need It on MIUI
Activity Launcher is a dedicated Android app that scans the system for all registered “Activities.” In an Android context, activity is a single screen or specific action that an app can perform. The standard launcher shows only the main icons, while Activity Launcher displays a complete list, including those hidden from the eyes of the average user.
This is especially true on Xiaomi smartphones, as the company often hides useful features deep in the system settings, such as accessing a full hardware test, reset menus, or hidden interface settings without having to get a Root right, making it indispensable for enthusiasts who want to make the most of their device.
⚠️ Warning: Running system activities for engineers may cause resets or interface malfunctions. Do not run processes that you do not know the purpose of.
The tool's main value lies in its ability to bypass the limitations of the shell. If the standard About Phone menu doesn't have a button to check a specific sensor, Activity Launcher will help you find a separate test activity for that component, which makes your smartphone a powerful diagnostic tool.
Installation and initial configuration of the application
The process of installing Activity Launcher on Xiaomi is as simple as possible and does not require complex manipulations. The application is available in the official Google Play Market store, which guarantees its security and relevance. Once downloaded and installed, the program does not require the provision of advanced permissions for the basic functionality, which is a big plus for privacy.
When it first starts, the app will automatically start scanning all the packages installed. On the powerful Snapdragon or MediaTek processors that modern Xiaomi models are equipped with, this process takes a few seconds. However, if you have a heavy theme or a lot of widgets installed, the initial indexing can take a little longer.
- 📲 Download the official version from Google Play to avoid modified code.
- 🔍 Wait for the scanning of all Android packages to finish.
- 📂 If necessary, allow storage access to save backup copies of settings.
- 🛡️ Check for updates in the launcher settings before starting work.
☑️ Ready to work with Activity Launcher
The interface is Material Design-style and fully Russification-based, with newly launched activities at the top of the list, which greatly speeds up re-access to frequently used features, and all items found are sorted by the packet names they belong to, making it easier to navigate system services.
Interface and navigation on the list of activities
The main screen of Activity Launcher is a structured list of all the apps installed on your Xiaomi. Each line corresponds to a specific package (for example, com.android.settings for system settings). When you click on the name of the package, it opens, showing all the activities available inside it, which makes it easy to navigate even a huge number of system processes.
To find a specific function, use the built-in search bar, you can search by activity name or packet name, for example, by typing the word "battery", you will find all battery-related activities, even if they are hidden in the standard menu, which is especially useful when looking for diagnostic tools.
Color indications help to quickly identify activity type: Standard screens that are run are usually marked in black, while non-interface or dialog boxes may have other markers, and understanding these markers helps to avoid triggering processes that do not have a visible interface and can cause an “Action not supported” error.
Navigation is done by a simple tap. If the activity has a graphical interface, it will open as a normal window. If it is a background process, the system may give a notification or simply perform an action silently. It is important to read the names of the activities carefully, as they often contain technical terms in English.
Search for hidden features and engineering menus Xiaomi
One of the main reasons for using Activity Launcher on Redmi and Poco devices is access to hidden engineering menus. Unlike other brands, Xiaomi hides many diagnostic tools deep in the system. With our tool, you can find the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu, which allows you to check the operation of each sensor, screen, vibration and communication module.
It also provides energy-saving activities. MIUI is known for its aggressive background process policies, and sometimes standard methods can't add the right application to exceptions. Activity Launcher allows you to find hidden battery management menus for specific system services.
| Name of activity | Package | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware Test | com.xiaomi.cit | Complete diagnosis of iron |
| Power Center | com.miui.powerkeeper | Energy saving settings |
| Notification Manager | com.miui.notification | Management of notifications |
| Security Scan | com.miui.securitycenter | Launching the security scanner |
Another useful finding is activities related to Mi Account and cloud services, sometimes the standard interface does not allow you to untie the device or view full sync information, Activity Launcher can find direct links to these screens, which solves many account problems.
⚠️ Note: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu CIT, If you're not sure what you're doing, resetting the screen or sensor calibration may require a visit to a service center.
Creating shortcuts and customizing the desktop
The convenience of Activity Launcher is not only to search, but also to create direct shortcuts on the desktop. Find a useful hidden feature? Click on it and select the shortcut option, which allows you to display a button to run any system activity on the home screen, without long searches in the settings.
This is especially true for features you rarely use but regularly, such as a shortcut to quickly turn on Do Not Disturb mode, run a voice recorder in the background, or go straight to the application permissions management menu, and you can create a whole quick access bar to hidden MIUI features.
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Create shortcuts with clear names. Standard activity names often contain technical code that is difficult to remember. Rename the shortcut when created to Diagnostics or Battery.
When you create a shortcut, the system can request installation confirmation. On newer versions of HyperOS, it's a security requirement to ensure that apps don't clog the desktop without the user's knowledge. Just confirm the action, and a new icon will appear among your applications.
You can also combine Activity Launcher shortcuts with third-party launcher widgets like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which gives you almost limitless customization options, allowing you to create a unique environment that is fully tailored to your needs.
Problem Solving and Safe Use
While useful, working with system activities carries risks. The most common problem is running an activity that doesn't have a user interface. In this case, you'll see an error message or just a return to the launcher. This is normal and doesn't indicate a phone breakage. It's just that the activity is designed to be called by other programs.
Sometimes, after a MIUI or HyperOS update, some activities may change their names or stop working. If the previously running shortcut stops opening, delete it and scan the system again.
What to do if the phone freezes after the start of activity?
It's important to understand the difference between Activity Launcher and task managers. Our tool is not designed to kill processes or clean up memory. It's designed to start. Attempting to use it to stop system services can lead to instability for Xiaomi.
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The security of using Activity Launcher depends on the user’s care, and avoid running activities with the prefixes “Factory”, “Test” or “Debug” unless you are diagnosing specifically.
Alternatives and Comparisons with ADB
For those who don’t have the ability to Activity Launcher, there is a more powerful tool — ADB (Android Debug Bridge. Command line ADB It allows you not only to run activities, but also to remove system applications, change permissions and make profound changes to the system. ADB Requires computer connection and basic technical knowledge.
Activity Launcher is a graphical shell for some of the ADB features, but with a focus on the visual interface. If you just need to find a hidden menu or create a shortcut, Activity Launcher will be faster and more convenient. If you plan to deepen the firmware, then it is worth studying the ADB commands.
- 🚀 Activity Launcher works directly on a PC-free phone.
- 💻 ADB Requires connection to the computer and installation of drivers.
- 🛡️ Activity Launcher is safer for inexperienced users.
- ⚙️ ADB Gives full control over the file system and settings.
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, these tools are often used in conjunction, first through Activity Launcher, finding the exact name of the package and activity, and then using ADB to automate actions with these components, which is a professional approach to customizing Android.