Set edit Xiaomi. 10 Essential MIUI 13 Tips and Tricks • ROYAN-GLISSE.COM

Ways to Improve MIUI Privacy- Stop Xiaomi From Collecting Data

Invicti Web Application Security Scanner – the only solution that delivers automatic verification of vulnerabilities with Proof-Based Scanning™.

Xiaomi’s MIUI is a heavily modified Android skin. Now that Xiaomi is the second-largest smartphone manufacturer after Samsung, the userbase of MIUI has significantly expanded.

MIUI is popularly known for its customization and theming options.

Unlike stock Android, it may not offer the best performance, but it is often a usable experience depending on the configuration of your smartphone.

However, it does have a concerning reputation with regards to its privacy practices and data collection techniques.

So, in this article, we will FOCUS on taking control of your MIUI-powered device and discuss how you can improve privacy or security.

Is it Android, or Is it MIUI?

Is MIUI the culprit for privacy concerns, or does Android (as it is) has the same issues?

Well, Android 12 introduced several privacy controls that Android 11 (or older) did not have.

While Android 10 already made it easy to manage permissions, it did not offer fine-grained controls.

Android, as it is, has been laser-focused to improve privacy tweaks available in a smartphone. However, MIUI’s FOCUS was not so much on privacy in its early days.

Now that Xiaomi is targeting western countries more than ever, it is gradually working towards introducing more privacy controls starting with MIUI 12.5.

So, it is safe to say that MIUI is to blame for most privacy concerns.

Ways to Protect Your Privacy in MIUI

Even though MIUI may not be the most privacy-friendly Android skin out there, you can enhance your device’s privacy.

Fret not; you do not need to be a privacy expert to achieve this. Also, you do not need to flash a new ROM.

Of course, if you hate MIUI, you can replace it with a custom ROM supported for your device. But that is totally up to you, and we will not be discussing that here.

Here, let me highlight some of the easiest steps to let you use MIUI while keeping your information private.

#1. Set Up Your Device Carefully

When you get a new device (or factory reset it), you need to carefully check what you agree to and what you enable/disable when setting up the device.

Most of the essential options that include data collection can be disabled from the get-go. Some of the options that you may want to look for are:

User experience program
Usage and diagnostic data
Glance (Lockscreen)
Advertisement
Privacy Policy

Fret not; if you have already set up your device, you can still disable the options by following the rest of the tips.

#2. Avoid Using Mi Apps

For starters, MIUI uses Google’s default phone and message app, which is a good thing.

However, in addition to that, there are several Mi apps in MIUI like Mi Pay, Mi Remote, GetApps, and more.

And most users often start using Mi applications that come pre-installed with it without thinking about privacy concerns.

To ensure that you have minimal interaction with any of their services, you may avoid using Mi apps (as much as possible).

over, you can find impressive alternatives for most of them, and we will address those in some of the points below.

#3. Switch to a Privacy-Friendly Keyboard App

The keyboard app is what you will interact with the most.

Hence, to keep your information private and the credentials secure, choose an alternative keyboard app that is potentially privacy-focused.

One of my personal recommendations would include AnySoftKeyboard, an open-source and privacy-focused keyboard app for Android.

You can also go through our list of mobile keyboard apps to explore more options.

#4. Do Not Agree to Privacy Policies

You may encounter several instances where you have to access a Mi app to get things done conveniently.

edit, xiaomi, essential, miui, tips, tricks

To prevent those apps from tracking your data, you can simply choose to disagree with the privacy policy prompt that pops up when you first launch the app.

It is worth noting that some of the features for specific applications may not work because you disagreed with the privacy policy. But, as per my usage, most of the applications work just fine.

#5. Manage Permissions

Managing app permissions is the best way to ensure that none of the applications have any unauthorized/unnecessary access to your data.

Not just limited to MIUI phones, you should always do this for every Android smartphone.

And with MIUI, you can head to the “Privacy Protection” option from the Settings and get to manage all kinds of permission settings.

Fortunately, MIUI highlights the sensitive permissions separately, which you can get right into. And also, find other special permissions as you scroll down.

There is also a “High-risk permissions” option that lets you control restricted actions like a service sending you a push notification.

MIUI also offers a “Permission Notifications” feature with MIUI 12, which was only recently introduced by Google’s Android 12. Unfortunately, the option seems to be available only for Chinese users.

But, you may want to keep an eye on it. It will notify you in the status bar when an app uses certain permission access.

You will get a colorful icon in the status bar whenever an app tries to access your contacts, location, or record audio.

#6. Revoke Authorisation

A few default apps like Mi Security, Services Feedback, and GetApps (Mi app store) could prove useful at times.

While some of these apps are tightly integrated with MIUI, they have certain default permissions that you cannot disable.

However, there is an option to revoke authorization for some of the system apps to stop them from collecting any data and delete any related data stored in their servers.

To do that, you just have to head to “Passwords Security” and then click on the “Authorisation revocation” option to find the ability to toggle the authorization.

#7. Deactivate Glance (Lockscreen)

Glance is a feature that automatically cycles through new images in your lock screen while notifying you of trending stories or news.

Simply head to the “Always-on display Lockscreen” menu in the settings and then scroll down to find “Glance for Mi“.

Turn off the feature to get rid of it.

#8. Opt-Out of User Experience Program and Diagnostic Data Collection

If enabled, Xiaomi can collect how you use your device to improve its future services.

You can disable the data collection of your device usage by heading to “Password Security” → “Privacy“. And then, you can find the toggle to opt-out of the UX program and data usage collection.

#9. Use Better Alternatives to Mi Apps

While I have already mentioned using a different keyboard app, you should also consider alternatives to file manager, gallery, wallpaper, and launcher.

For instance, you can use Google Photos instead of the default gallery app, Files by Google replacing the Mi File Manager.

Similarly, you can also choose to replace the default MIUI launcher with the Nova launcher or any other Android launcher of your choice.

Sure, the alternatives also collect some form of data, but if you do not trust Mi applications, these alternatives should do the job.

#10. Do Not Login with Mi Account or Sync with Mi Cloud

Everything else that you opted out will simply go in vain if you start syncing your data with Mi Cloud for added convenience.

It is best to stick to your Google account for sync and backup.

If needed, you can opt for applications like Truecaller to backup/sync your messages, contacts, and call logs.

#11. Disable Ads

When enabled, your data/activity will be recorded and used to serve relevant advertisements that promote applications/services that you may like.

Even if you disable it, advertisements are supposed to be displayed no matter what (but irrelevant to your activities and no tracking).

I did not notice any advertisements popping up in my case (with MIUI 12.5 on board), but it is better to disable it.

#12. Use NextDNS App

NextDNS is a free and powerful solution to block trackers and advertisements. Unlike some security extensions that you find for your desktop, NextDNS can even block device-level trackers for various phones that include Xiaomi, Samsung, and others.

So, you do not need any adblocker extension for your mobile web browser if you use this.

You can directly install the NextDNS Android app and use it as a VPN connection. Or, you can set it up using the Private DNS feature on Android. You can find the instructions on their official website.

Do note that NextDNS is an effective blocking tool to improve your privacy; it is not replacing a VPN.

#13. Apply System Updates

No matter what device you use, it is important to make sure that you apply the latest updates available.

Many users tend to skip the update or wait for a long time, fearing potential bugs. While that is understandable, you need to do it as soon as possible.

In case you did not know, Mi branded devices usually offer two Android upgrades and four MIUI upgrades. And the Redmi devices offer one Android upgrade and two MIUI upgrades.

So, if you want updates for a longer time, the Mi series of smartphones should be your preferred choice.

Android Gives Great Control for Privacy

It is totally possible to tweak the settings of your MIUI device to stop Xiaomi from collecting data by following a few easy tips. If you do not care a lot about the specifications of a phone but privacy, Xiaomi phones may not be the best option.

However, if you want to go for an MIUI-powered device for its value for money, you may want to consider following the tips mentioned above.

After all, privacy is one of the biggest concerns regarding gadgets used as daily drivers. MIUI may not offer a privacy-friendly experience out of the box, but it does let you control every aspect of your smartphone, which is a good thing.

Essential MIUI 13 Tips and Tricks

So you finally got your hands on your brand new shiny Xiaomi phone – or maybe it’s even a Redmi or POCO-branded device – whatever the case, we’re pretty sure that you’re excited to try it out, set it up, and have fun exploring what Android has to offer, with a hint of Xiaomi-flavoured goodness so to speak.

We say “Xiaomi-flavoured” because as some might be aware, Xiaomi puts its own spin on Android through “MIUI,” its signature Android skin. Simply put, Xiaomi customizes Android to work with its own set of apps and software features, giving it a distinct look from what most people would call “stock” Android. Already in its 13th iteration, MIUI comes with some unique features that add to the overall Xiaomi user experience.

With that said, you might be a newcomer to MIUI, or maybe you just want a quick refresher on stuff that you might have missed in setting up your phone. Well, this is where we come in – we’ve compiled a quick list of tips and tricks that you’ll want to check out, while handling your Xiaomi-powered smartphone. Let’s get started!

Modify your Gesture Controls

One of the main points of interaction that we have with our smartphones is by using gesture controls and navigation. If you’re not sure what they are, they’re the tiny triangle, circle, and square buttons at the bottom of most phone homescreens.

With Xiaomi phones, however, it’s a bit different. Contrary to most phones, the Back and Multitask Buttons are usually swapped. If you want to change this, you can simply head into the Settings Additional Settings Full Screen Display to access the full list of options for the navigation buttons.

You can even change if you want to get rid of the buttons entirely, and instead use full screen gestures for a more “modern” Android experience.

Change Your Wallpaper and Icons

It goes without saying that one of Android’s biggest appeals is its ability to be customizable in nearly every way possible, and most people usually change up their wallpapers to keep things feeling fresh.

The easiest way to do this would be to go back to your main homescreen tap and hold on an empty spot for a couple of seconds, which should bring up a number of customization options, including a Square icon in the lower left corner. Tapping on this will bring you to a menu that will then let you browse a number of themes, wallpapers, ringtones, and even fonts. You can use these to add a bit of personalization to your phone.

Check for Software Updates

Moving on, it’s also important for Android phones to get regular software updates, as they come with much-needed fixes for any issues with security and performance.

To access this in MIUI 13, simply open your Settings About Phone tap on the large MIUI 13 logo on the upper left section of the menu, which should then automatically check for updates and let you download them.

Access the Control Center

Similar to what other smartphone manufacturers are doing, MIUI 13 comes with the Control Center, a modified version of the default drop-down Settings Menu found in Android. Usually, MIUI will allow you to swipe down from the top left-hand side of the screen to view notifications, while swiping down from the top right will let you view your toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and such.

If you want to customize this, you can easily access it by heading once again into Settings Notifications Control Center. where you can then find an in-depth selection of settings for notifications, and the Control Center itself. There are certainly a lot of options to work with, and we suggest taking your time to familiarize yourself with these.

Use Game Turbo

Now, Xiaomi has always put a special emphasis on gaming in most of its smartphones, and they’ve actually included a special tool to add a bit of spice to your gaming experience. Known as “Game Turbo,” this special feature optimizes your phone’s performance by devoting all the hardware resources to running your game.

The easiest way to access Game Turbo will be to head into Settings Search Bar type “Game Turbo” into the search bar to instantly open it. Once there, it will list all the installed games on your device, although you’ll sometimes need to add them individually in case it doesn’t automatically detect them. You can then proceed to toggle any performance settings that you think you’ll need to get the best gaming experience on your phone.

Modify Accessibility Menu

If you want instantaneous access to certain toggles, you can opt to activate the Accessibility Menu shortcut on your phone. Sometimes known as Quick Ball. this can be easily accessed by heading into Settings Additional Settings Accessibility Accessibility Menu. This will let you activate a floating button which is usually located on the lower right-hand side of the display, which gives you quick access to the Power Menu, Lock screen, Volume, and more.

Change Your Status Bar

You can also change the status bar at the very top of your display to show or hide notification icons, connection speeds, and even change the appearance of the battery indicator. To do this, simply open Settings Notification Control Center Status Bar where you can then access the aforementioned settings options and give your phone even a bit more customization.

Hide the Notch

Some Xiaomi phones come with waterdrop notches or hole-punch displays, and while they do add screen real estate, they can sometimes prove to be distracting for some users. As such, MIUI 13 lets you “hide” the notch so to speak, by adding a black border to the top of your display.

To do this, you’ll need to access Settings Notification Control Center Status Bar Hide Notch where you can then choose to activate a black overlay on the front-facing camera. you can even hide the notch in individual apps, if you want to prevent certain apps from stretching away from their natural aspect ratio.

Change the Always-on Display

If your phone has an AMOLED screen, it most likely has support for Always-on Display (AOD). Essentially, AOD lets you view notifications, reminders, and other important info without the need to lift your phone or open your screen – it’s information that you can view instantly.

To access it, open Settings Always-on display Lock Screen Always-on display to get a full view of the themes and designs that you can use to customize your AOD.

Modify the Screen’s Refresh Rate

Like a lot of other Android manufacturers, Xiaomi does allow you to change the refresh rate on compatible smartphones. With that said, you might want to lower it to save more battery, or set it to the maximum available setting to achieve that “buttery smooth” look. Simply head to Settings Display Refresh rate. and from there you can choose to set it to 60, 90, or even 120Hz if supported by your phone.

Final Thoughts

That does it for our quick little tutorial session – we hope these tips help you as you continue to explore and enjoy your new Xiaomi smartphone. Keep in mind that there might be some minute differences in certain Settings configurations, but MIUI 13 should be a uniform experience across a majority of Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices for the most part.

Check out more tips and tricks:

[2023 Updated] How to Mock Location on Xiaomi

Xiaomi is a Chinese phone manufacturer based out of Beijing. Their phones are widely available in China and other Asian countries, but can also be purchased online from various retailers. The company has recently started expanding into the western market, with Europe and America as their next two destinations for further expansion. Xiaomi has produced its own system based on Android called MIUI.

Today we’re going to talk about how you can mock location on Xiaomi. This is an excellent way to avoid tracking, protect privacy and improve user experience. In this article, we’ll explore why mocking location on Xiaomi is so valuable, how it works, and what’s the best application for it. Let’s go! Beside, if you are using Huawei, you can check this guide for mocking location on Huawei.

Part 1. Location Services on Xiaomi

When it comes to the location services on Xiaomi, you might wonder what it is all about. Well, the location services on Xiaomi rely on the connection between the hardware and the internet. Such services allow you to be located on demand by third parties who request this information through some app installed on the phone. There are both good and bad aspects of the location services.

One good aspect of Xiaomi location services is the ability to set a specific location so you can navigate yourself to a place without using GPS. The user-set locations on your Xiaomi phone will be used as ‘points of interest’ so navigation can initiate from wherever you are right now. This is an excellent feature for those who might not have a steady data connection, since maps won’t need to load.

However, this can also be a massive problem if you’re looking to avoid any unwanted location tracking or surveillance. Due to these reasons, it’s essential to be able to spoof your location if you want to keep an extra layer of privacy.

People want to fake location on Xiaomi for many different reasons; however, the core principle is the same. you want to prevent third parties from geo-locating your phone and tracking your movements. Some of the reasons are:

To play location-based games without actually moving

Part 2. How to Mock Location on Xiaomi Phone

There are different methods to mock location on Xiaomi phone. Some ways are complicated, and some are easy and more reliable. In this section, we’ll go through several of these methods and give a detailed explanation of how they work.

Step 1: Get a Mock Location App

Many people use this method, but it is usually challenging to find a high-quality, working application. If you search on the internet for a mock location app, there are many applications out there. that will supposedly do this for your phone. However, to improve the success rate, proper background research is necessary.

Based on your research results and the availability of the applications, you can select one mocking app that you want and download it to your mobile.

Step 2: Set a Mock Location App

After downloading the application, open it up and grant it the necessary access it requires to connect with your phone’s location services. This will be different for each application, so make sure to check the requirements carefully. Most apps will require you to sign up using an email address and password, name, age, etc.

Next you need to set the downloaded app as your preferred mock location app on your mobile. Most of the Xiaomi phones have a different process than other Android devices. To do this, follow these steps:

1 Go to Settings and then click on My device All specs.

Step 3: Mock Your Location on Xiaomi Now!

Since you are through with the tricky part, now it’s pretty simple to mock your location on your Xiaomi device:

1 Open up the downloaded mock location app on your device.
2 Now you can either use the latitude and longitude of your preferred place to set a new location or just drag the screen to the area you want and press the play button.
3 Your new location will be set, and you can now use any apps that require GPS location without worry as the apps will believe that you are at the fake spot.

[Easy] A One-Stop Solution. UnicTool TailorGo

In this method, you don’t need to worry about all the long and complex steps mentioned above to spoof location on Xiaomi device. Here you have a one-stop solution for all your needs. UnicTool TailorGo.

TailorGo is a reliable and easy-to-use application that provides location spoofing facilities to all Android users without requiring them to go through any trouble. It is a much better solution for mocking location than any other applications on the market as it is not just easier but also safer and more secure. TailorGo is powerful enough to help you change location on Xiaomi phone to any place you want. This enables you to achieve many objectives such as hiding your real location from your friends and your employer, faking your location for fun while playing location-based games and finding more matches on dating apps.

Spoof location based on exact coordinates or name of your required place.
Simulate GPS movement in a natural and authentic way along customized routes.
Fake location on various platforms:. WhatsApp, Grindr, Pokémon GO, etc.
Provide simple instructions for all users to navigate.
Perfectly compatible with Xiaomi devices running on Android 5-12.
Support all iOS devices running on iOS 7-16.
Free trial is available for everyone.

A beginner’s guide to the Xiaomi camera app: Here’s what those settings and modes do

From the viewfinder to settings and camera modes, here’s everything you need to know about the Xiaomi camera app.

The Xiaomi camera app isn’t the worst app around, but plenty of users find its iOS-style interface a little obtuse. If you ever wondered about the app’s more advanced options, or even its basic functions, we’ve got some advice for you.

The basic viewfinder options

When you launch the Xiaomi camera app on most phones, you’ll be greeted by the viewfinder, with several icons dotted around the window.

The large white button at the bottom is the shutter key. The icon to the left (holding the phone in portrait) takes you to your previously taken shots. The icon with two arrows to the right of the shutter button lets you switch between the selfie camera and rear shooters.

Just above those main buttons sits a carousel of modes, namely pro, video, portrait, and more. You can either swipe across these options to switch between them or tap on the relevant mode you’d like to enter.

You’ll find the controls to switch zoom levels right above this carousel of modes. Your main or 1x camera is the middle dot (represented by “1x” when active), while tapping the left dot will activate the ultrawide camera and the right dot will give you a zoom option. Phones without dedicated telephoto zoom cameras default to a 2x digital crop from the main camera.

Finally, you’ve got six icons at the top of the camera app. From left to right, these icons are for the camera flash, HDR toggle, AI mode, beautification/filters, Google Lens, and an overflow settings menu. This overflow menu lets you change the aspect ratio in photos, video resolution, set a timer, toggle macro mode, enable tilt-shift mode, activate the grid in the viewfinder, and more.

Digging into the various modes

Tapping the “more” button in the mode carousel will bring up a list of all the Xiaomi camera modes. You might need to hop in here if you want to take panorama shots, long exposure snaps, and more.

Many Xiaomi phones have these modes:

48MP/50MP/64MP/108MP/200MP: You can shoot a picture in full-resolution with the main camera via this mode. Your phone needs to have a 48MP/50MP/64MP/108MP/200MP main camera.
Documents: Switch to this mode if you want to scan a document. The mode also gives you options like black-and-white scanning and watermarks.
Dual-video: This lets you record simultaneous video via both the front and back cameras.
Long exposure: Xiaomi also includes a long exposure option on some phones which actually houses several modes within it. These modes include astrophotography, neon trails, moving crowds, oil painting, light painting, and starry trails.
Night: This mode allows you to take better low-light images by combining multiple short exposures to reduce noise and improve brightness.
Panorama: This is handy if you’re taking shots of landscapes or the city.
Short video: Activate this mode to record short clips, letting you add background music, change the speed, and more.
Slow motion: This lets you film a slow-motion video. Slow-mo speed and quality varies by smartphone.
Time-lapse: Activate this mode and you can film a time-lapse video. You can also adjust the speed of the effect and a duration for the recording.

expensive Xiaomi phones usually have a few more modes, too:

Clone mode: This is a suite of options to create clone effects, such as making duplicate instances of your subject in the same frame.
Movie effects: This is a suite of several movie effect modes, such as Magic Zoom (Hitchcock zoom) and night timelapse.
Multicam: This feature lets you simultaneously shoot photos or video with several cameras.
Supermoon: Want to take a photo of the moon? Then you’ll need to switch to this mode first.

What other settings are available?

Tap the settings icon in the overflow settings menu to visit the camera settings menu. This will present you with a slew of options, with the most notable ones being a watermark toggle, automatic detection for QR codes/documents, a toggle to fix distortion in ultrawide shots, and a picture quality option.

Other options here include changing what the volume button does when pressed (e.g. shutter, zoom, or a shutter countdown), a toggle to save location info, and more.

Top 5 Hidden MIUI Settings That You Should Use in 2023

The market for Android smartphones is as big as the seven seas when it comes to having a choice. Amidst these seas is Xiaomi, which has made its mark worldwide with its wide range of devices. over, Xiaomi has always added its own unique flavor to the Android market with its custom Android interface – MIUI.

While MIUI is already known for the wide range of features available, it has even cooler ones hidden somewhere deep in the menus or locked under Developer Options. For example, you can play YouTube videos in the background without being a YT Premium user. These hidden features are easy to find, and all you need to do is look for them and change them if they are not to your liking.

Before we get started, these hidden MIUI settings are present on Xiaomi, Redmi, Mi, and POCO devices running on MIUI 12 and above. However, some features may not be present on certain Xiaomi phones due to hardware limitations. We have tried our best to sort out the hidden settings that are compatible with maximum devices.

Top 5 Hidden Settings in MIUI

If you are an MIUI user from the 300 million userbase of Xiaomi smartphones, here are the Top 5 Hidden Settings in MIUI that will help you make the most of your Xiaomi device running on MIUI.

FPS Meter

MIUI has a fully functional FPS meter built-in, but it’s baked far inside the settings. So here’s a simple way to access the hidden FPS meter in MIUI. For this, you will need to have Developer Options enabled on your device.

To access Developer Options in MIUI, open Settings About phone and tap on MIUI version 7 times.

Now to access the FPS meter, open Settings Additional Settings Developer Options Scroll Down till you find Power Monitor.

Now, tap on start in the Frame Rate Monitor Tools box.

This will enable the FPS meter on your screen, along with an FPS graph. For a better view of the screen, you can hide the graph by tapping once on the green text, then tap on the small white arrow below the graph.

Your hidden FPS meter is now visible, and it stays on screen until you decide to close it manually by tapping on the cross icon. The FPS meter also shows the device’s internal temperature, along with refresh rate and screen resolution.

Using this FPS meter, you can monitor the performance of your device while playing games, or keep an active eye on the device temperature, so you know when it’s time to stop and take a break.

Camera App UI Change

MIUI camera application offers a lot of camera modes, such as Vlog, Dual Video, and more, but switching between those modes can become confusing. Usually, the app requires you to scroll through the entire menu rightwards until you hit the tab, which again covers the entire viewfinder. What if we told you that there’s a better way to do it?

Open Camera App Tap on three horizontal lines button Settings Customise Camera Modes Select Panel option.

Now all the different camera modes supported on your Xiaomi device can be viewed by simply swiping up in the camera app. This also keeps 50% of the viewfinder visible so that you can keep an eye on the subject in FOCUS while switching between modes.

Remapping Navigation Buttons

If you still prefer using Navigation Buttons over Gestures, you will surely like this! You can customize navigations on your MIUI device by adding gestures to trigger an action and get a few regularly used options handy.

To remap Navigation Keys, open Settings Additional Settings Button Shortcuts

For instance, you can disable the activation of Google Assistant on the long pressing the home button or toggle the split screen by long-pressing any navigation key of your choice. There are also options to toggle the flashlight, take a screenshot, and more just using the navigation keys.

Explore the Cave of Hidden MIUI Settings with the MIUI Hidden Settings App

Until now, the list had settings that were moderately hidden inside the settings menu. But if you are looking for truly hidden MIUI settings, which Xiaomi hides in a way that these just cannot be accessed normally in the Settings app, here’s where the Hidden Settings for MIUI app lends us a helping hand. The application is available to download for free on the Google Play Store.

Here are some hidden feature settings that you can access by opening the Hidden Settings for the MIUI app:

If you wish to disable certain system applications, like YouTube, the usual way of going to app info and trying to hit the disable option will not work.

Play YouTube Videos and YouTube Music with Screen Off

You can play YouTube Videos and YouTube Music in MIUI while your screen is turned off without a YouTube Premium subscription. While Xiaomi does not market this functionality for YouTube playbacks, you can use the Video Toolbox option to play YouTube content while your screen is off.

Open Settings Special Features Video Toolbox Manage Video Apps and add YouTube and YouTube Music applications to the list.

You can add any application to this list.

While the selected app is active, you will see an icon at the edge of your screen. Swipe it, and tap on the Play Video Sound with Screen Off option. YouTube Videos and Music will continue to play in the background while your phone screen remains off.

Note that this does enable true background playback of YouTube content, meaning you cannot push the YouTube YouTube Music app to the background and use any other app using this setting. Doing so will stop the playback, and this functionality requires a YouTube Premium subscription.

Why are these MIUI settings hidden by Xiaomi?

Well, there’s no clear answer to why these settings are kept hidden by Xiaomi in MIUI or why these features are not much discussed. However, these hidden settings are actively present on almost every Xiaomi device running on MIUI. They were either kept deep inside menus, making them hard to explore, or placed completely behind the curtains. Xiaomi may still have some hidden cards up its sleeve, so we will continue updating this list as we encounter more hidden settings in MIUI.

Frequently Asked Questions about MIUI Hidden Settings

1. Is It Safe to Access these Hidden MIUI Settings? Does It Void Your Warranty?

Be assured, it is completely safe to use the hidden MIUI settings we have listed down in this article. We have a member in our team who is a long-term Xiaomi user and has tried these settings. Also, using any hidden MIUI setting does not affect your warranty in any way.

2. How to clear cache in MIUI 12 using hidden settings?

Xiaomi revoked the ability to clear cache in MIUI 12 from storage settings, However, the settings can still be accessed by using the Activity Launcher app on the Google Play Store. Download and install Activity Launcher, and search for Storage Settings Storage, now tap on Cached Data and clear it. This way, you will be able to clear the cache in MIUI 12 using hidden settings.

3. How to disable system apps in MIUI 12 using hidden settings?

System applications can be disabled in MIUI using the Hidden Settings for MIUI app. Open the app, and select Manage Applications. Now choose the application you wish to disable. This method allows you to disable certain system apps in MIUI that have the disable app greyed out in App Info.

4. Where is the MIUI optimization setting?

Xiaomi has hidden the MIUI optimization toggle in Android Developer Options with recent updates. You can still access MIUI optimization setting by going to Developer Options scroll down to the bottom and rapidly keep tapping on Reset to default values. This will make the MIUI optimization toggle visible again.

5. How to hide apps in MIUI?

You can hide apps in MIUI on Xiaomi phones by going to Settings Apps App Lock Hidden Apps. Select the app you wish to hide, and enable the toggle beside it. This will hide that app from your device. To access hidden apps, on your home screen, use the pinch out or zoom out gesture using two fingers, and enter your privacy password or unlock using your fingerprint.

6. Why are these MIUI settings hidden by Xiaomi?

In summary, it is not clear why Xiaomi keeps these settings hidden in MIUI, or why these features are not discussed much. Xiaomi devices running on MIUI do however have these hidden settings at their disposal. They are either stored deep inside menus, making them hard to explore, or placed completely behind the curtain. There may still be some hidden features in MIUI, so we will continue to update this list as we find them.

Sources:

https://geekflare.com/improve-miui-privacy/
https://phandroid.com/2022/09/11/10-essential-miui-13-tips-and-tricks/amp/
https://www.unictool.com/change-location/mock-location-Xiaomi/
https://www.androidauthority.com/Xiaomi-camera-app-guide-896004/
https://techpp.com/2022/01/29/hidden-miui-settings/