12 MIUI 8 tips, tricks and hidden features

MIUI, the custom Android user interface used by Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi, recently received a major update in the form of MIUI 8. This popular Android variant has always offered more features than standard Android, and the latest version has expanded that list even more. release. So today we are going to list some of the best tips, tricks and hidden features of MIUI 8. Let’s get started!

1. Second space

One of the biggest and most unique features that MIUI 8 brings is Second Space . This feature allows you to configure a second workspace on your phone, similar to how user accounts work in Windows and macOS. Both spaces work independently with different sets of apps, photos, passcodes, files, themes, Mi Accounts, etc. One use case is to use one space as “Personal,” which includes Facebook, WhatsApp, and personal email, and another space as “Work,” which includes office-specific apps and work email accounts. is to be used as.

To enable it, go to Settings > Second Space > Turn on Second Space . You’ll then be asked to set a passcode, transfer apps, photos, and other data, and finally customize the second space to your liking.

2. Scrolling screenshots

Another useful new feature in MIUI 8 is “Scroll Screenshot”. This is useful when you need to capture screenshots of web pages or applications that span multiple pages of content. To do this, take a screenshot (press and hold Volume Down + Power button). In the upper right corner of the screen, you’ll see a small thumbnail of the screenshot you just took. Tap this thumbnail to open it. Here, you will see an icon called “Scroll” in the bottom left corner. Tap on it to start scrolling. If you want to stop, tap “Done” and the scrolling screenshot will be saved.

3.Video editing

The newly updated Gallery app brings a completely new interface and several new features to video editing, including the ability to trim videos, add filters, subtitles, and audio. Just tap the video in your default Gallery app and select Edit .

4.Dual app

Sometimes you may want to run two instances of the same application on your phone. For example, let’s say you have two SIM cards and want to run WhatsApp on both numbers. This isn’t possible with other ROMs unless you root or use third-party apps like Parallel Space, but it’s a built-in feature of MIUI 8. To enable this, go to Settings > Dual Apps . Here you can select which app you want to run two instances of. The original app is not affected and you will see another icon of the same app with a yellow symbol in the bottom left corner. This is a cloned app and runs independently from the original app.

5. Advanced calculations and conversions

The built-in calculator is now an all-in-one tool for advanced calculations and conversions. It includes a scientific mode , converters for various units such as length, area, temperature, velocity, and mass , a real-time currency converter , and even a mortgage calculator.

Memo app features

The Notes app built into MIUI 7 worked really well and had some useful features like reminders, checklists, and folder support. The MIUI 8 update has completely overhauled the interface and added new features. Here are two of our favorites.

6. Background template

You can now make all your notes look more beautiful by adding a template background. Choices include playful “Candy,” “Dark,” “Star,” and more.

7. Hide and lock notes

The default Notes app allows you to hide or lock your notes. Long press the note to select it, then tap the Hide button at the bottom. This will prevent the note from appearing with other notes and from being searchable using the search feature. To open a hidden note like this, press and hold the search bar and drag it down until you see a lock icon. Enter your lock pattern or passcode to gain access to your hidden notes.

8. Birthday alarm

You can set the Clock app to play “Happy Birthday” instead of the regular alarm on your birthday. To enable this, go to the Clock app, click the Menu button in the top right corner, and select More Settings . There you will find an option at the bottom to turn on the birthday alarm .

Other hidden MIUI features

The following features are also present in MIUI 7, so they are not limited to MIUI 8. However, many users do not know about these features because they are not so easy to access. Therefore, include them in the list.

9. Quick ball

Quick Ball is a transparent shortcut menu that sits above the apps on your screen. Tap this to choose from five shortcuts: Home, Menu, Lock, Screenshot, and Back. Shortcuts are customizable and all shortcuts can be remapped, including the possibility to use them as application shortcuts.

To enable Quick Ball, go to Settings > Additional Settings > Quick Ball and tap Turn on Quick Ball . There are also some customization options here, including options to auto-hide in selected apps, hide in full-screen mode, and hide on lock screen.

10. One-handed mode

While traveling on the bus or subway, you often have one hand occupied and still need to use your phone. The screen size of smartphones is getting larger year by year, making it difficult to operate them with one hand. To make things easier, slide your thumb to the left or right from the physical home button to turn on one-handed mode. The screen area will be reduced to 4-inch or 3.5-inch phone dimensions (customizable by clicking the gear icon in the dark area).

To turn off this mode, do the same thumb sliding gesture you used to turn it on, and the screen area will return to normal.

11. Child mode

If you have to hand over your phone to a child (or mischievous adult) and want to limit the applications they can access, you can turn on Child Mode . You can turn it on by going to Settings > Additional Settings > Child Mode . Just turn it on, choose which apps you want to enable in this mode, and you can hand it over without worrying about wallpapers being changed, photos being deleted, or other mischief.

12. Scheduled SMS

One of the great features of the default SMS app (Messaging) is the ability to schedule messages. For example, you may be late at night and want your friend to receive your messages in the morning without waking them up in the middle of the night. Another potential use is to wish your contacts on their birthday.

To do this, open a conversation in the Messages app, type your message, tap the plus sign (+) to the left of the message input field, and tap Schedule a Time in the bottom-right corner. You can then choose the date and time you want to send the message.

Related article: 10 Cool Android Apps You Didn’t Know About

Improve your MIUI 8 experience with these useful tips and tricks

That concludes our roundup of 12 great features of MIUI 8. Of course, there are other small and large details hidden within MIUI compared to standard Android, and the list continues to grow as it matures and improves. Do you know any MIUI tips and tricks that are not on the list? Let us know by writing in the comments section below.