Almost all mobile device manufacturers use the Android operating system for their products (with the exception of Apple and Windows Phone). However, some smartphones run on a modified or enhanced Android OS. This applies to Xiaomi phones that use the MIUI shell as the main engine. You can find out more about what MIUI is below.
What is MIUI
MIUI is the user interface, or shell, of the Android operating system on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. As of April 2022, the newest version of this system is MIUI 12.
With each firmware, new features are added that make Xiaomi phones even more convenient.
MIUI has both pros and cons. Among the disadvantages, many users note the presence of advertising in the system, which pops up when performing certain tasks. But there are still more advantages. For example, MIUI is very convenient for customization: for example, it has special applications that change not only the wallpaper for the home page and lock screen, but also the design of the icons. And in addition to standard Android capabilities, Xiaomi phones can perform tasks that others cannot. For example, automatically record calls, scan documents and broadcast radio. All these applications are built right into the system. But MIUI is not only about applications. We’ll tell you what else now.
Gestures and optimization issues
Dozens of forums on the RuNet are littered with these problems. There have always been problems with optimization, but most of all users complain about laggy gestures:
The case has been going on since 2022 (in fact, since the advent of gesture control as such). But Xiaomi has still not managed to completely solve it. On the w3bsit3-dns.com forum I saw polls even for current smartphones - about half of the users vote that the gestures are flawed. The rest, apparently, simply do not notice this!
Calls
If you go to the calls section and select first the dial pad and then the three bars in the lower left corner, you will be taken to the advanced settings section. It has several hidden features that will make the call interface more convenient.
Ring volume increase
You set a certain level and the beep will gradually get louder during the call. If you are near the phone and can quickly pick up the phone, then you do not need a loud ringing and it will remain quiet. But if you are in another room and don’t hear a call (or your phone is in your bag), then the ringtone will become loud and you will definitely notice an incoming call.
Muting the ringer volume
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones equipped with a gyroscope can lower the ringing volume when the user picks them up. If you are unable to speak and cannot reset the call, but you do not want to disturb others with a noisy call, enable this feature. An alternative to this is the option to turn off the ringer when you turn the phone screen down.
Call settings and the path to the sound signal parameters using the example of
Redmi Note 5 . Author's screenshots
List of old and new unofficial MIUI firmwares
The number of firmware for smartphones is quite large. We list the main ones that are relevant for the Russian user:
1. Probably the most popular alternative firmware based on MIUI is from the developers of the site xiaomi.eu. From there you can download not only the firmware itself, but also find instructions, communicate with other users and developers.
2. Domestic alternative to the previous firmware - from the MiRoom portal.
3. RevolutionOS is another Western project based on MIUI.
4. LineageOS is a pure Android system without MIUI. Unfortunately, most of the latest devices from Xiaomi are not officially supported, but there are enthusiasts who post their builds based on this project.
Messages
Xiaomi has hidden a lot of convenient features in the application for receiving and sending messages.
Mark SMS message as “Read”
You don't have to scroll through the entire chat screen to mark messages as read. On Xiaomi phones, you can simply swipe from left to right with your finger. If you do this twice, the message will be deleted.
Enlarge SMS text
If you receive a long message and the font is too small, double-tap the message. It will expand to full screen, and everything will be larger.
Enlarging text in an SMS using the example of Redmi Note 5. Screenshots by the author
Pin a message
In some Xiaomi smartphone models, you can pin a message by pressing on it and holding your finger for a couple of seconds. Then a pop-up menu will appear with the “Pin” option.
Hide messages
If you want to hide messages from a specific user, you can do this in the SMS message window. Pull down on the screen and text will pop up asking you to set a password (pattern, numbers, or numbers and letters). Once you select the type of protection, you can specify the users whose messages you want to hide.
Delayed sending of SMS messages
You can write a message and delay sending until a specific time and date. This way you can never forget to congratulate someone on a holiday or remind them of something important.
To set up delayed sending, click the plus next to the message text and the “Timer” item, in which specify the exact time and day.
Sending a delayed message and other functions of the SMS menu: sending contacts, pictures and photos (using the example of Redmi Note 5). Author's screenshots
Music player and messages
Many years of experience prove that any audio player, except for the advanced ones, must have a modern design. Accordingly, Xiaomi developers paid attention to an important factor, so MIUI, in addition to additional options, provides a more progressive visual part of the music application. To make your own innovations, you can use backgrounds and images that will be used for playback recordings. As a result, compositions will be better visible on a locked display.
You can listen to detailed music through an appropriate application that resembles iTunes Radio. We are talking about Baidu Music, however, before you can start using it fully, you need to set the necessary parameters. Due to the presence of the “Sleep Timer” function, all lovers of audio recordings have the opportunity to listen to tracks before going to sleep. In this case, you only need to set the timer correctly.
Users also note an option that refers to the verbal part of the music, used at the user’s command. As a result, you can train singing using high-quality audio recordings as an example, understand the meaning, and also train your knowledge of a foreign language.
Regarding messaging programs, there have been few innovations. However, it is worth paying attention to the entertaining factor associated with a quick response to an incoming SMS. In particular, when a message is received, the notification is displayed on the display in an abbreviated format, so to write a response text you need to go to the appropriate section. To make things easier, the amount of characters that can be reproduced has been increased, and printing and sending can be done directly without leaving other pages, for example in an application.
Control and interface
It is not always convenient for us to manage the large phone screen. We'll tell you how to do it easier.
Operate with one hand
The advanced settings of Xiaomi smartphones have a function for convenient one-handed operation. Since the phones themselves are large, sometimes it is difficult to reach the top corners with your finger - you can turn on this feature and pull the application closer to one or the other edge.
Split desktop
The larger a phone's display gets, the more options it has. On phablets, you can split the screen into two halves and run two applications simultaneously. This feature appeared in version 9 of MIUI. Open applications, long-press the desired window and wait for the pop-up menu. It has a button with a lock, two rectangles and a diamond. We need the middle one: click on it and the application will appear in the upper half of the screen. At the bottom you can select the second one (both should already be running). To exit to normal mode, open all active applications and click the Exit button at the top.
Functions of one-handed control and split screen using the example of Redmi Note 5. Screenshots by the author
Sensory assistant
This is a whole system to make it more convenient to operate the phone with one hand. You can find the assistant through Settings > Advanced Settings > Touch Assistant. Turn it on and a small icon will appear in the right corner of the screen that you can tap or drag to open a pop-up menu. From it you can go to the home screen, to the menu, lock the phone, take a screenshot or go back. This is much more convenient than reaching your finger to the corner of the screen.
How MIUI led Xiaomi to success
In fact, first Xiaomi had its own operating system, and only then the smartphones that conquered the world.
Once upon a time, the company specialized in software development. To promote their own resources, including the newly developed shell based on Android 2.2.x, the creators of Xiaomi decided to release their own smartphone.
The decision turned out to be correct. Of course, Xiaomi did not plan to make money from smartphone sales. Therefore, devices sold at cost quickly gained popularity in the budget segment.
Together with them, the company distributed its services and operating system. And she organized fans into a powerful community of modders and beta testers who receive a certain profit for their work (I will talk about this in the next article).
Deep market penetration has allowed Xiaomi to experiment in other areas. First came the TV, then the Mi Home smart home application, and then the first smart devices that can be found at every turn today. All of them are united by a smartphone based on MIUI into a single ecosystem.
Due to the huge community and large staff of developers, today the company releases MIUI updates weekly . Faster, any other brand, be it Samsung, HTC, Moto or Huawei. Therefore, Xiaomi's proprietary shell sometimes works better than Android options from A-brands.
Moreover, unlike them, Xiaomi updates the operating systems for all its smartphones. Almost all of the company's devices received MIUI 9, with the exception of several early models from 2013. That is, the budget Xiaomi Redmi 5a (review) for 6 thousand rubles, the huge Xiaomi Mi Max 2 (review), and the flagship Xiaomi Mi 6 (review) run the same version of the system. With the same capabilities.
Thanks to active work, MIUI acquired not only fans, but also its own, sometimes unique solutions. This is why I love this version of Android. And not just me.
Data protection and passwords
Many manufacturers are now focusing on protecting the user’s personal data, and Xiaomi has approached this with special attention.
Protect the application
If you don't want any of the applications to be opened by other users, you can protect it with a password. This is done through Settings > Applications > Application Protection. Next, you can select the ones you want to protect and the type of password: pattern, numeric code or standard alphanumeric.
The path to setting up application password protection using the example of Redmi Note 5. Screenshots by the author
Hide photos
If someone is viewing your photo gallery, you can protect certain photos with a password. This is done in almost the same way as hiding messages: you scroll up all the way and a pop-up message appears asking you to protect your data. First enter your password, and then select the pictures you want to protect. This function only works if you have a Mi account.
Wi-Fi network password
Xiaomi and Redmi phone users can send their Wi-Fi network password via QR code. This is convenient if you have forgotten your password or it is long. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and select the network you're using. A QR code will appear on the screen that you can share with the guest (of course, their phone must be able to scan QR codes).
Chinese, global and regional - official versions of MIUI firmware
The Chinese MIUI firmware is, of course, tailored for China and has an appropriate set of services. As a rule, it contains a large number of Chinese applications and advertising. In Russia, the NFC module will not work in this firmware. The only languages available are English and Chinese dialects. It is not very interesting to the average user (unless, of course, you live in China).
Global MIUI ROM is the main firmware that is relevant for the rest of the world. Generally does not contain applications intended for China. Ads can be turned off, the NFC module will work. Most languages of the world are available, as in any Android device.
Regional MIUI firmware is special firmware for a specific country. For example, for Poco X3 NFC, in addition to global and Chinese, Indian, Russian and European versions are available. They differ little from each other and from the global version (mainly in the set of applications), so they can be considered together with it.
In terms of reliability, official firmware is available in two versions:
Stable is the best option for people who don’t like all sorts of errors popping up here and there. The name of the firmware speaks for itself. They are released quite rarely: usually no more than once every two months.
Current (beta, weekly, current) / Developer - firmware that contains all the latest changes and is released, as a rule, once a week. Even if it contains errors, they do not greatly affect the overall functionality of the firmware, although there may be serious bugs that appear for some users. These firmwares are intended for enthusiasts, people who like to stay on top of the latest solutions, and creators of custom firmwares. In order to switch from stable firmware to weekly (or vice versa), select the appropriate option in the phone settings.
Calculator
The calculator application has some non-obvious functions. For example, there you can convert currency, manage a budget, and calculate your body mass index.
Advanced calculator settings using the example of Redmi Note 5. Screenshots by the author
Unit converter
If you click on the second icon in the top row of the calculator application, a list of converters will open, including data volume conversion, age calculation, discounts, dates, body mass index counter and much more.
Financial instruments
Also, through the calculator you can calculate income from investments, monitor loans and transfer currencies from one to another.
Engineering calculator
If you need an advanced format of the calculator, there is a button in the lower left corner with two squares and arrows. It converts the calculator into an engineering format, and functions such as calculating sine, cosine, square root, etc. become available to you.
Gallery and screenshots
And the Xiaomi gallery is not without little tricks that significantly simplify the life of a smartphone user.
Rotate a photo
In the gallery, you can rotate any photo or image by grabbing it with two fingers: move it as needed. The picture is not fixed in rotation, you can just see how it will look or try to frame it.
Taking a screenshot
Starting from version 8 of MIUI, on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones you can choose exactly how to take a screenshot. For example, through the “curtain” of additional options, through simultaneous pressing of the menu and volume down buttons or volume down and power buttons, or through a three-finger swipe across the screen.
In MIUI 9, you can also choose other options in the settings menu: Buttons & Gestures > Screenshot.
How to take a screenshot of the full screen (using the example of Redmi Note 5). Author's screenshots
Screenshot with scrolling
If you take a screenshot of the screen, a small window appears in the upper right corner from which you can select the Scroll option. The phone will automatically scroll the page to the end and then record the entire screenshot. This is convenient if you need to take a screenshot, but all the text or image does not fit into it.
Do you need another (or latest) MIUI firmware?
Flashing a smartphone has long ceased to be the province of geek enthusiasts and developers. However, this is still more difficult to do than poking two buttons in the menu, but it has become clearly easier than ever before.
If you are not satisfied with the appearance of your smartphone or are tired of unnecessary applications or advertising, then you can easily install another version of the operating system from Google on your gadget using our recommendations. The main thing is to be careful and careful so as not to turn your smartphone into a “brick”.
Tips for MIUI 11
Some features are not available in all firmware versions. We will tell you further what options appear in MIUI 11.
Dynamically changing text size
MIUI 11 became the first operating system with a new feature for dynamically changing font size. It's called Milan Pro: the text changes depending on its quantity and volume on the page. Letters and numbers may become brighter, richer, or larger.
Always active screen
Since many MIUI 11 phones support the always-on screen technology, the makers of the updated Xiaomi firmware have added different designs for the display. They don't drain battery and look completely different. There are bright patterns, kaleidoscopes, and very calm, modest analog dials.
Your phone may display notifications with a pulsating symbol in the corner of the screen. This pleasure is available to owners of Mi 9 and Redmi K20 series smartphones.
Focus mode
This is a special option for those who are distracted by messages or notifications on their phone. You can now turn on focus mode for 20–180 minutes. And at this time no one will disturb you, so you can concentrate on work or relaxation.
Screen broadcast
The 11th version of the interface also introduced the option to broadcast content from the phone screen to a TV or PC. In this case, you can minimize the window from which the broadcast is being broadcast, turn off the screen, hide all messages and notifications so that they are not displayed on an external monitor.
The service is called Miracast, and almost all Xiaomi models support it, but screen optimization is only available from firmware version 11. To enable the option, go to Settings > Connection & Sharing > Casting.
The path to setting up broadcasting to an external screen using the example of Redmi Note 5. Screenshots by the author
Shell functionality
When you first turn on a device with the MIUI shell, the user may find the large number of settings and pre-installed applications unusual. But due to the fact that the controls on all Xiaomi smartphones are the same, it’s easy to get used to.
MIUI Features Overview:
- built-in antivirus;
- “smart” memory cleaning;
- manual control of program autorun;
- blocking SMS, calls and advertising;
- copying applications;
- the ability to make a copy of data for recovery;
- recording telephone conversations.
These are not all functions, there are many more. In Android without a shell, to get each of them you would have to install and run a separate application, which is not always created by the OS developers, and therefore may not work correctly. In addition, installing so many applications is impossible due to memory fullness.
In MIUI, all features are located inside the shell; to activate them, just go to the settings (for example, ad blocking). Some (for example, antivirus) start working by default from the moment the device starts.
Changing the interface
The appearance of the user interface can be changed by downloading themes from a free branded catalog. You can change the desktop wallpaper or menu icons separately, or the entire design, including fonts. The catalog contains several hundred topics. Among them there are those that copy iOS and Android - this is convenient for users who do not want to get out of the habit of the usual design.
The MIUI shell allows you to change the interface, fonts and icons.
Built-in music player
It features advanced capabilities and appearance. There are many playback control functions, the ability to download covers for songs and albums, and display synchronized lyrics. If the text is not found and you need to enable the karaoke option, you can download the text yourself. There is a function to sort tracks by number of plays so you can listen only to your favorite music.
Functions of icons on the screen
Application icons in most modern smartphones are just shortcuts for quickly launching a program. MIUI has a smart icons feature. When you swipe a shortcut, a control window for the program to which the icon refers will appear.
For example:
- when you move your finger over the notepad icon, a window will appear in which you can immediately create a new note;
- when you scroll through the SMS shortcut, a message set opens;
- When you swipe the player, the last song and the playback menu appear.
Some icons display information in advance. The calendar icon displays the current date, and the weather forecast application shortcut shows the temperature.
Icons on the desktop can be quickly sorted by simply shaking the smartphone in hidden menu mode.
Flashlight MIUI
To turn on the built-in flashlight, just press and hold the Home button on the main lock screen. You can also activate the backlight from a special capabilities panel. The first function is especially convenient: if you have to turn on the light in the dark, the user will quickly find the Home button.
The Home button in MIUI is responsible not only for returning to the home screen, but also turns on the flashlight when the smartphone is locked.
Blocking calls, SMS and advertisements
SMS notifications irritate smartphone owners. The blocking function allows you to add a mailing number to the blacklist with one click. This is done not through the mobile operator (they have paid blacklists), but through the shell. You can do the same with unwanted calls - add the subscriber to the blacklist. Then messages and calls from him will not be displayed, and the system will automatically reset and delete them.
MIUI has a built-in ad blocker. It works in the browser and applications. It does not need to be installed or configured. By default, advertising banners are not displayed. The blocker does not always work correctly and may skip an advertising banner, but it reliably protects against pop-ups.
Traffic monitoring function
Needed by those users who have restrictions in their tariff plan. The application allows you to track how many gigabytes have already been spent and warn you that your Internet package will soon end. You can configure your Internet connection to automatically block after a specified amount of traffic has ended. The application calculates according to its algorithms and may be mistaken by 10-20 MB in comparison with the consumption taken into account by the mobile operator.
Features of the Nutrition program
The Power app allows you to optimize battery consumption. This is a necessary utility for a device with several dozen constantly running programs. The energy saving profile switches automatically depending on the time of day and remaining charge.
Availability of antivirus
The MIUI shell has its own antivirus. It works automatically, checking programs and sites. This is not the most necessary function, given that there are no dangerous viruses for the Android OS yet. But the very fact of the presence of such a program is intended to give users peace of mind about their data stored on the device.
Backup system
And if the advisability of having an antivirus is questionable for many, then no one doubts the need for backup. In MIUI, it is implemented on the basis of its own cloud storage and can save all your data: from contacts, call and message logs to installed applications and their settings.
Clearing cache
The accumulation of temporary files leads to application failures, reduces browser speed and system performance. MIUI has built-in cache clearing software. It recognizes unnecessary files and deletes them automatically.
Recording telephone conversations
The fact that this feature is needed by users is evidenced by the large number of recording applications that have appeared in the Google Market. Smartphones with the MIUI shell have their own program for generating an audio file with a call recording. Official Android developers are against such applications that do not comply with the rules in the field of privacy and storage of personal data. But MIUI was created in Asia, and its manufacturers were guided by the rules of their company.
Call recording is available only in MIUI and is included in the smartphone menu.
Private SMS
If you want to save your correspondence, but so that no one can see it, you should use the private part of the MIUI SMS client. To hide a conversation, just add the selected contact to the closed section. And in the future, all messages from him will be displayed only in a separate menu. They will not appear in the notification block. Disclaimers for such messages will not be visible on the screen. This contact will also not be in the list of all incoming SMS messages.
Data transfer speed and battery status on screen
The user needs to constantly see these 2 indicators. Otherwise, you may not see indicators of battery discharge or disconnection from the network. This information is displayed in the status bar and is always available for viewing from the main screen.
MIUI updates
New shell builds are released frequently. They differ little from each other, sometimes Xiaomi is completely limited to interface changes. Users like the fact that there are many versions of MIUI and, if necessary, they can download updates several times a year.
MIUI updates are released approximately once a year and do not change the basic functionality of the device much.
Secrets of MIUI 12
The 12th version of MIUI brought with it several more new features.
Virtual identity
This feature protects your personal data from apps and websites by hiding information. That is, MIUI will send real or modified data to developers and analytics systems, depending on your instructions.
Text recognition from photos
The Android MIUI 12 shell has built-in character recognition through the camera. That is, you can, for example, take a photograph of a document and convert it into text format. If earlier you needed an external application for this, now the phone will do everything on its own.
Picture in Picture
While you are using one application, you can freely launch another one. All this thanks to the Picture in Picture, or PiP, feature. It is available to users of Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12. Both applications will be active: for example, you can continue watching videos on YouTube while scrolling through text or chatting with friends.
Animation settings
MIUI 12 is much “freer” than other versions of the interface. In it you can customize not only the design of the entire system, but also the animation that accompanies the actions. When you close or open an application, or use gestures, the animation can be almost anything, and you can select it through the settings.
Are unofficial versions of MIUI firmware safe for Xiaomi?
With unofficial firmware from Xiaomi, the situation is a little more complicated. There are a great many of them, and the degree of gradation of firmware stability is assessed for each in its own way.
Although flashing a smartphone to a custom version of the OS shell has recently become quite simple, and getting a “brick” from a smartphone is less likely, we should warn you that you perform all further actions at your own peril and risk! In addition, before each flashing to a different version of MIUI or firmware from another developer, it is recommended to “reset” your smartphone, that is, erase all data from it.
Custom firmware can be divided into four types:
| Type of custom firmware | Key Features |
| Regular custom firmware from the development team | They are distinguished by regular output and relative stability. As a rule, they are posted on their own websites |
| Custom firmware from a forum developer | Firmwares are not released regularly and are created for a small number of devices. As a rule, they are posted on forum sites (for example, 4pda.ru, xda-developers.ru) |
| "Homemade" firmware from China | The name speaks for itself. Often, “homemade” is found on new phones from China and contains a large amount of adware and outright spyware. A smartphone with such firmware must be flashed immediately |
| Firmware released for specific devices with a specific set of functions | Quite a rare animal. Typically, such firmware takes into account the operating features of some individual smartphone modules for different regions of the world. For example, these are firmwares that support the features of WCDMA technology in 3G networks in China |
