Dark or Light Theme for Messages App
If the Messages app on your Xiaomi phone still shows a bright white background while the rest of your system runs in dark mode, the app theme is set independently. Calls, Contacts and Messages each carry their own display setting in MIUI, so a system-wide dark mode switch does not always carry over automatically.
Scan QR Codes Automatically with the Camera App
If your Xiaomi camera does not react to a QR code on a package or shipping label, the Scan QR codes function is likely switched off. Without it, the camera behaves like a normal photo app and shows no scan prompt at all, forcing you to search for a separate scanner app.
Change the Default Browser
Tapping a link on your Xiaomi phone always opens Mi Browser, even though you installed Chrome or another app from the Play Store? This happens because Android keeps using the browser you confirmed as default the first time you opened a link. The new app stays installed but is simply never called until you switch the default setting yourself.
Block Calls from Unknown Numbers
When a caller shows up as Unknown or Private, your Xiaomi phone has no caller ID to check against a blocklist entry. Instead of rejecting these calls by hand every single time, you can have the Phone app reject them automatically before they ring through.
Manage App Permissions
If you tapped Deny when an app first asked for camera or contacts access, that app stays locked out until you change the setting yourself. MIUI does not repeat the prompt later, so features like document scanning or contact sync can quietly stop working. The permission is not deleted, it just needs to be switched back on in the app settings.
Turn Off Screen Lock
Want to skip entering a pattern, PIN, or password every time you wake your Xiaomi phone? Removing the screen lock only asks for your current unlock method once, but afterward the device stays open to anyone who picks it up. That trade-off matters if the phone holds banking apps, messages, or saved logins.
Change Keyboard Height
If the on-screen keyboard on your Xiaomi phone feels cramped for typing or covers too much of the screen, the Keyboard height setting is usually the cause. MIUI offers seven size presets from extra short to extra tall, and picking the wrong one makes typos more likely or blocks content you need to see while typing.
Import Contacts from VCF, SIM or Account
If your contacts are stuck on a SIM card, an old VCF backup, or a different account, your Xiaomi phone won't just pick them up automatically. Contacts app import options are easy to miss inside Settings, so people end up re-typing numbers by hand instead of pulling them in from an existing file or account.
Empty the Gallery Trash Bin
Deleted photos and videos in Xiaomi's Gallery app sit in the trash bin for up to 30 days before MIUI deletes them automatically. Until that happens, they still count against your storage, even though you already deleted them. If you want that space back right away, you can clear the trash bin manually instead of waiting.
Set Up Face Unlock
Xiaomi phones store a 2D scan of your face and use the front camera to unlock the screen without a fingerprint or PIN. Before you turn it on, MIUI itself warns that a photo of your face or someone who looks similar could sometimes trigger the same unlock. That trade-off between convenience and security is worth understanding before you register your face.
Set Up Fingerprint Unlock
Setting up fingerprint unlock on a Xiaomi phone only works if you already have a Pattern, PIN, or Password configured, and MIUI asks for it before it lets you enroll a finger. If you cannot remember that unlock code, the fingerprint menu will not let you proceed at all. Many users also get confused about how many fingerprints they can add and what each one can be used for.
Change Default Messaging App
Texts land in one app while replies keep opening in another, or a new SMS app you downloaded from the Play Store never becomes the one that actually launches. This happens because MIUI keeps a fixed default assignment for messaging that does not update automatically when you install a new app. Until that assignment is changed manually, notifications and quick replies keep routing to the wrong app.
Show or Hide Carrier Name on Lock Screen
If your Xiaomi lock screen shows the SIM carrier name under the clock, a MIUI status bar setting is behind it. Some people want that text gone for a cleaner lock screen or extra privacy, while others lose it after a reset and want it back. Either way, the toggle sits in one specific settings screen and is easy to miss.
Turn MIUI Optimization On or Off
If your Xiaomi phone feels sluggish after enabling developer options, or certain apps crash or render oddly, the 'Turn on MIUI optimization' toggle inside developer options might be the cause. This setting controls how MIUI's custom interface layer interacts with the underlying Android rendering engine. Switching it off can fix app compatibility problems but also changes how some system apps look and behave.
Turn Auto-correction On or Off
If your Xiaomi keyboard keeps swapping in a word you never typed, MIUI auto-correction is stepping in before you finish a sentence. It usually helps, but on names, slang or foreign words it can turn a normal message into something embarrassing. The feature sits in the keyboard settings and you can switch it on or off depending on how you type.
Forget Saved Wi-Fi Networks
If your phone keeps reconnecting to a slow or wrong Wi-Fi network instead of your home connection, an outdated saved entry is usually the cause. This often happens after a router password change or when two networks share the same name. Removing the old entry forces your Xiaomi phone to ask for the current password the next time it connects.
Turn Vibration on Tap On or Off
Every tap on your Xiaomi screen can trigger a short buzz, and if that feels too strong or barely noticeable, the haptic feedback setting is usually the cause. MIUI lets you switch this tap vibration off completely or pick between three intensity levels. The same control also affects the buzz you feel while typing on the keyboard.
Route a Contact Straight to Voicemail
When a specific contact keeps calling at bad times, you do not have to reject the call manually every time. MIUI lets you route calls from a single contact straight to voicemail while everyone else still gets through as normal.
How to Turn on/off Airplane mode
If your Xiaomi phone suddenly stops receiving calls, texts, or mobile data, Airplane mode is often the reason. Turning it on shuts down the mobile network, mobile data, WLAN, and Bluetooth at the same time. On some Xiaomi phones you can still switch WLAN or Bluetooth back on manually while Airplane mode stays active, which causes confusion when connectivity only half works.
Filter Call History
When your Xiaomi call log fills up with dozens of entries, finding a specific missed or outgoing call turns into scrolling work. The Phone app on MIUI stores every call in one long list without separating calls by type or SIM card by default. A built-in filter option sorts the log so you only see the calls that matter.
Set Up a VPN Connection
If a website, streaming service, or company network blocks your current connection, a VPN reroutes your traffic through an encrypted server and hides your real location. Without one, your provider and any public Wi-Fi you join can log everything you send. MIUI does not create VPN profiles on its own, so you need a working server address and login details ready before you connect.
Adjust Screen Timeout Duration
If your Xiaomi display turns off after a few seconds or stays lit far longer than you expect, the sleep timer is set to the wrong value. This setting decides how long the screen stays active before it locks, and it has a direct effect on battery drain and how often you have to unlock the phone.
Auto-answer for Incoming Calls
If calls on your Xiaomi phone connect themselves before you even touch the screen, Auto-answer is likely switched on in the background. This MIUI feature can pick up every call after a set delay, or only when a Bluetooth headset is connected. Missing that toggle means you lose the chance to reject a call while it is still ringing.
Turn Auto-capitalization On or Off
If your Xiaomi keyboard keeps capitalizing letters you want lowercase - like usernames, code snippets, or crypto addresses - auto-capitalization is likely running in the background. It automatically capitalizes the first letter after a period or new sentence, which speeds up regular typing but gets in the way for technical text. The setting sits inside the keyboard's text correction options, not the main system settings.