Feeling Limited by Your Xiaomi? Unlock Its True Potential
Xiaomi phones, with their powerful MIUI operating system, are packed with a vast array of features and customisation options. However, many of the most useful and interesting functionalities are not always obvious or enabled by default. If you feel like you're only scratching the surface of what your device can do, this guide is for you.
We'll explore how to uncover hidden settings and utilise special features that can transform your user experience, improve productivity, and make your Xiaomi device truly your own.
## Beyond the Basics: Unlocking Special Features
MIUI has a dedicated section for some of its most innovative tools. Many users overlook these, but they can significantly enhance how you use your phone.
- Navigate to Settings > Special features.
Here you will find several powerful options:
1. Game Turbo If you're a gamer, this is essential. Game Turbo optimises your device's performance for gaming by allocating more resources to the game, blocking intrusive notifications, and providing quick access to tools like screen recording and messaging apps in-game.
2. Second Space This is one of MIUI's most powerful privacy features. Second Space creates a brand-new, separate partition on your phone. It's like having two phones in one. You can have different apps, accounts, files, and a different lock screen password for each space. It's perfect for separating your work and personal data, or for creating a private space for sensitive information.
3. Floating Windows Multitasking on a phone can be clumsy, but Floating Windows makes it easy. This feature allows you to open an app in a small, resizable window that floats over other apps. You can reply to a message without leaving the video you're watching or keep a calculator open while browsing.
## Become a Power User: Enabling Developer Options
The 'Developer options' menu contains a wealth of advanced settings that give you deeper control over your device. While you should be cautious when changing settings here, there are several safe and useful ones to try.
### How to Enable Developer Options
- Go to Settings > About phone.
- Find the ‘MIUI version’ box.
- Tap on it repeatedly (around 7-10 times).
- You will see a small pop-up message saying, "You are now a developer!"
- Now, go to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options to find the new menu.
### Useful Settings in Developer Options
- Animation Speed Control: You can change the 'Window animation scale', 'Transition animation scale', and 'Animator duration scale' from 1x to 0.5x. This will make your phone feel significantly faster and more responsive as windows and menus will open and close more quickly.
- Default USB Configuration: If you frequently transfer files to a computer, you can change this setting to 'File Transfer' so you don't have to manually select it every time you connect your phone.
- Force Dark Mode: This option attempts to apply a dark theme to apps that don't have their own native dark mode, helping to create a more consistent look and save battery on AMOLED screens.
## Customise Everything with the Themes App
One of the best features of MIUI is the deep level of customisation available through the built-in 'Themes' app. This goes far beyond just changing your wallpaper.
- Open the Themes app.
- You can browse and download thousands of complete themes that change your icons, lock screen, fonts, and system UI colours.
- You can also mix and match elements from different themes. Apply the icons from one theme and the lock screen from another to create a truly unique and personal setup.
By exploring these hidden menus and powerful built-in apps, you can break free from the default configuration and unlock the extensive capabilities that make Xiaomi and MIUI so popular with tech enthusiasts.