We explain the best tricks for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO mobiles so that you can get the most out of your device with MIUI.
We are going to explain to you what are the best tricks for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO mobiles . We show you MIUI 14 features and settings that you should know about, as well as tips to get more out of your phone. To write this guide, we have used a Xiaomi 11T , a mid-range terminal updated to the latest available version.
Therefore, in the event that you have a Redmi or POCO device, you may find yourself with some different options. Without going any further, the POCO brand has its own application launcher, something that could alter some of the procedures. Now, beyond small slight changes in the interface, the tricks are valid for any of the devices launched by Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO.
Index of contents
- Open the camera with the volume down button
- Activate the floating ball
- Turn on navigation gestures
- Turn the screen on and off with two taps when the device is locked
- Add an animation for notifications
- Uninstall multiple apps in one go
- Have the gaps filled in when you delete an app
- Change the size of the grid
- Share a Wi-Fi network
- Record screen without apps
- Expand RAM
- Increase autonomy with extreme battery saving
- See how many milliamps the apps consume
- Receive notifications when an application uses the clipboard
- Know the specifications of your phone
- Make a local backup on the computer
- Find out what’s new in an update
- Disable Google Discover on your Xiaomi, POCO or Redmi
- Change the size of the icons
- Enable Lite mode
- Prevent an application from connecting to the Internet
- Enter secret diagnostic mode
- Modify the boot image with Themes
- Customize the always-on screen
- Change the appearance of the recent apps screen
- Blur app content
- Remove suggestions from the recent apps section
- Remove text from app icons
- Increase the speed of animations
- Remove gesture suggestion to see everything full screen
- Bring back the app drawer
- Unlock the device when you connect a bluetooth accessory
- Modify the transition effect between pages
- Scan documents without apps
- Make the screen turn off while recording a video
- Use the volume buttons to zoom
- Change the color of the interface elements in the camera
- Add your photos to a private album
- Schedule dark mode activation
- Make a folder a private item
- Scan QR codes with the camera…
- … or with the Scanner app
- Check out downloads with a single tap
- Free up space with the Security app
- Enable dual apps
- Hide any app
- Check your Internet connection with your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO mobile
- Are there bugs in your phone? Use the troubleshooter
- Remove battery optimization in an app
- Prevent others from making changes to your home screen
Open the camera with the volume down button
Opening the camera quickly with the volume down button is possible if you activate the following setting:
- Settings > Additional settings > Gesture shortcuts > Double press the volume down button when the screen is locked
If you want this option to always be available and not just on the locked screen, select the power button instead of the volume down button.
Activate the floating ball
The floating ball is a function of the Xiaomi, Redme and POCO that includes MIUI 14. It is an element that appears on the screen and that allows you to quickly access functions. This is how you activate it and configure it to your liking:
- Settings > Additional Settings > Floating Ball
Turn on navigation gestures
Navigation gestures are highly recommended. The problem is that, by default, the Xiaomi come with the classic button bar. How to access navigation gestures?
- Settings > Home screen > System navigation > Gestures
In the section Demonstrations of gestures you can practice a little how it works.
Turn the screen on and off with two taps when the device is locked
We’re still talking about quick gesture shortcuts . Now let’s see how to activate double tap to lock the device:
- Settings > Always-on screen and Lock screen > Double-tap to turn the screen on or off when the device is locked
Add an animation for notifications
Setting an animation for when a notification arrives is very easy. Go here:
- Settings ª Always-on display and Lock screen > Animation
Then, select the design that you like the most.
Uninstall multiple apps in one go
Did you know that you can delete several applications at once on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO? It is done as follows:
- Settings > Apps > Manage apps > Uninstall
Then, select all the apps you want to delete and tap on Uninstall .
Have the gaps filled in when you delete an app
Isn’t it annoying that a free space remains when removing an app from the home screen? No problem, you can ask your phone to cover that space by rearranging the icons . Do it by activating this parameter:
- Settings > Home screen > Fill gaps in uninstalled apps
Change the size of the grid
Another trick that interests you to customize the home screen is the one that allows you to change the size of the grid. It is that simple to modify this value:
- Settings > Home Screen > Home Screen Layout > Choose between 4×6 and 5×6
Share a Wi-Fi network
If you are already connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can share it with anyone else thanks to a QR code . Do you already know how to get it?
- Settings > Wi-Fi > Tap on current network > Show QR code
Record screen without apps
No need to install any app on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone to record screen. You have a quick adjustment in the control center. Getting to it is as easy as doing that:
- Swipe down from the top right corner
- Scroll right to see more settings.
- Select Screen Recording.
Expand RAM
To expand the RAM of your Xiaomi go here:
- Settings > Additional settings > Memory extension > Select an amount of additional memory
Increase autonomy with extreme battery saving
Extreme battery saving mode limits most of the phone’s functions to extend battery life for several days. It is ideal for situations in which you will not be able to connect the mobile to the current time for a long time. It is available here:
- Settings > Battery > Extreme battery saver
See how many milliamps the apps consume
If you’ve navigated to Settings > Battery , take a look at the exact milliamps the apps have drawn. This information will help you uninstall the one that consumes the most.
Receive notifications when an application uses the clipboard
You can ask the system to notify you if any app uses the content of the clipboard . This is information that improves your privacy. Do it from here:
- Settings > Privacy > Show clipboard access
Know the specifications of your phone
You can know the complete specifications of your device if you go to the following section:
- Settings > About phone > Android security information
Make a local backup on the computer
Surely you already have everything well stored in the cloud. All in all, your Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO mobile include a function to make local copies on the computer:
- Settings > About phone > Backup & restore > Computer
From here it is also possible to restore previously copied information.
Find out what’s new in an update
You may update your phone without knowing very well what new features are incorporated into the system. Next time, before installing anything, tap here:
- Settings > About phone > MIUI version > Discover what’s new
Disable Google Discover on your Xiaomi, POCO or Redmi
Think Google Discover is a bummer? The Google news space that is located on the left page of the home screen is deactivated like this:
- Settings > Home screen > Google Discover
Change the size of the icons
From the same settings section, you can modify the size of the icons to enlarge or reduce them. The option is here:
- Settings > Home screen > Icon size
Enable Lite mode
Lite mode simplifies the appearance of the home screen to adapt it to users with little knowledge of the mobile world, with the elderly. Just go here to configure it:
- Settings > Home screen > Home screen > Lite mode
Prevent an application from connecting to the Internet
Blocking an app from connecting to the network is a good idea if you want to significantly improve your privacy. In that case, all you have to do is the following:
- Long press on the application icon.
- Choose App info.
- Tap on Restrict data usage.
- Turn off both Wi-Fi and mobile data.
This setting is also ideal for preventing apps from consuming data from your rate and only connecting via Wi-Fi.
Enter secret diagnostic mode
Secret Diagnostic Mode (CIT) is a tool for customer service technicians. It is used to perform hardware tests on the device and verify if everything is in order. The fact is that you can access it very easily like this:
- Settings > About phone > Size information and specifications > Kernel version (press several times until the test menu opens)
Modify the boot image with Themes
Among the many things that you can customize with the Themes app is a very curious one: the boot animation of the device . Just go here:
- Themes > User Icon > Customize Theme > Boot Image
For multiple options to appear in this listing, you need to install a theme that includes a bootable image . In XDA Developers you can see a list .
Customize the always-on screen
You can customize the always-on display (AOD) layout very simply from here:
- Settings > Always-on screen and Lock screen > Always-on screen > Turn on Always-on screen and choose a theme.
Change the appearance of the recent apps screen
You have several options to customize the recent apps screen. But there is one that allows you to change its appearance completely and it is here:
- Settings > Home screen > Organize items in Recent > Select layout
Blur app content
From this same menu, the Home screen , it is possible to ask the phone to hide the content in the recent applications area of specific applications. Tap on Blur App Previews , and then select the one you prefer.
Remove suggestions from the recent apps section
On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO there are some suggested items in the recent apps area. Touching here they are disabled:
- Settings > Home screen > Show suggestions
Remove text from app icons
We continue in the Home screen area of the settings to look at the Do not show text control . If you activate it, the labels of the applications on the home screen will disappear. You will only see the icons.
Increase the speed of animations
Increasing the speed of the animations is a good way to have a smoother experience with your Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. This is how it’s done:
- Settings > Home screen > Animation speed > Fast
Remove gesture suggestion to see everything full screen
Let’s go back to navigation gestures . Are you bothered by that bottom bar that takes up space on the screen? Don’t worry, this is how to remove it:
- Settings > Home screen > System navigation > Gesture confirmation
Bring back the app drawer
The application drawer is an element that, by default, is not activated on Xiaomi mobiles. But now you can get it back if you go here:
- Settings > Home screen > Home screen > With the app drawer
Unlock the device when you connect a bluetooth accessory
Your device does not need to be locked if it is in a secure environment. For this reason, you can ask it to automatically deactivate the code when connecting to a Bluetooth accessory :
- Settings > Passwords and security > Unlock with bluetooth device
Modify the transition effect between pages
The transition between home screen pages is changed from here:
- Press on a blank space on the screen
- Tap on the cogwheel button.
- Modify the value under Transition Effects.
Scan documents without apps
You can scan a document from the camera app . Just select the Document option and focus. Then press the shutter. The copy is saved in JPG, although you can easily convert it to PDF.
Make the screen turn off while recording a video
If you go here, you can make the screen turn off while recording a video to save battery:
- Camera > Video > Settings > Record with screen off
Use the volume buttons to zoom
The volume buttons are not only used to activate the shutter. Your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO mobile allows you to change its function from here:
- Camera > Volume Button Actions
For example, you can select them to zoom.
Change the color of the interface elements in the camera
Customize the color of the camera interface as follows:
- Camera > Settings > Personalize > Colors.
Add your photos to a private album
Speaking of photos. Did you know that you can send your private images to a protected area? It’s called a private album and it works like this:
- Open the Gallery
- Select one or more items.
- Tap Add to album.
- Click on Private album.
Schedule dark mode activation
Ask the system to turn on dark mode automatically when night falls or at a time that suits you. This parameter is found here:
- Settings > Display > Schedule dark mode
Make a folder a private item
The Xiaomi file application allows you to create private folders. This is how you can add yours to the protected area:
- Click on an item to select it.
- Tap More.
- In the menu, click on Make private.
Scan QR codes with the camera…
If you open the camera in photo mode and focus on a QR code, an icon overlay appears that allows you to read the content of the code. But there is another way to do this same thing.
… or with the Scanner app
In addition to the camera, your mobile comes with an application called Scanner . You just have to go to it to capture any QR or bar code.
Check out downloads with a single tap
The file explorer is not the only one that helps you consult the downloaded files. You have a dedicated application that serves precisely for that. It helps you save time.
Free up space with the Security app
A Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO mobile includes the Security application . What does it allow you to do? One of its most interesting functions is to free up space. After opening it, click on Cleaner .
Enable dual apps
If you go here, you can have the same repeated application to configure two independent accounts:
- Security > Dual Apps
Hide any app
We continue in the security application. Going here you will be able to hide any application that you do not want to be seen:
- Security > Hide apps
Check your Internet connection with your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO mobile
Another possibility offered by the security application is to check the status of the network . You just have to tap on the button that appears in the image and then on Check the network .
Are there bugs in your phone? Use the troubleshooter
If you go here, you will find a wizard to resolve common errors on mobile devices:
- Security > Troubleshoot
Remove battery optimization in an app
MIUI includes a battery optimizer that plays a trick on more than one application. When it starts up, it stops any activity in the background, preventing it from working properly. You can turn off this function like this:
- Long press on an app icon.
- Tap on App info.
- Tap on Battery Saver.
- Select No restrictions.
Prevent others from making changes to your home screen
Are you annoyed when others change your home screen items? With this last trick you prevent it:
- Long tap on a blank space on the home screen.
- Click on the settings icon.
- Turn on the Lock Home screen layoutfeature .
Is there anything you want to correct from this article? Did we miss out on any interesting features that you know well? Leave your opinions in the comments and participate in our community. We read you!