The update to Android 12 was one of the most significant events in the history of Google's mobile ecosystem, bringing a radical interface redesign known as Material You. For owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, this update has become a double challenge, as they receive changes through a proprietary add-on (or a new one, depending on the model). Understanding what exactly has changed in the system is critical to properly customizing the device for yourself. MIUI (or new HyperOS depending on model). Understanding what exactly has changed in the system is critical for properly customizing the device for yourself.
In this article we will examine in detail not only visual improvements, but also deep-seated changes in the security architecture, permission management and hidden settings that are often overlooked. You will learn how to adapt the good old MIUI to the philosophy of the new Android and what functions now work differently.
Many users notice that the behavior of the system has become smoother, but at the same time the logic of some system applications has changed. Control Center and the notification panel now functions according to different rules, borrowed from pure Android, which at first may cause discomfort for those who are accustomed to the classic structure of MIUI.
Visual revolution Material You and adaptation of MIUI
The main innovation of Android 12 is the concept Material Youwhich allows the system to automatically adjust the color palette of the interface to the wallpaper on the desktop. In pure Android this works flawlessly, changing the colors of icons, widgets and settings menus. However, the MIUI implementation of this function has its own characteristics, since Xiaomi developers sought to preserve the recognizable style of their shell.
The system analyzes the dominant colors of your image and generates several themes to choose from. This applies not only to the background, but also to accent elements in the notification shade and volume menu. It is important to understand that not all third-party applications support this function immediately, although Xiaomi system utilities have already been adapted.
⚠️ Attention: The dynamic color changing function may not work correctly on devices with older generation AMOLED screens when using specific dark wallpapers. If you notice increased battery consumption or artifacts on the screen, try changing the wallpaper to a static one.
To access the palette settings, you need to go to Settings → Wallpaper and personalization. Here you will find a switch that activates the generation of colors. If you prefer a classic blue or green accent color, this option can be easily disabled, returning the system to its usual look.
Interface adaptation also affects animations. Transitions between windows have become more natural, simulating real-world physics. T MIUI hese animations have been refined to match the high refresh rate of your screen if your smartphone supports 90Hz or 120Hz. This creates a feeling of premium even on mid-price devices.
Redesigned Control Center and notification panel
One of the most controversial changes for Xiaomi fans was the separation of the notification panel and control center, which came with Android 12. Previously, MIUI swipe down any part of the screen opened everything at once. Now, following Google standards, a swipe on the right opens the curtain with notifications, and a swipe on the left opens the control center with toggles.
This separation allows you to avoid accidentally pressing the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons when you just want to read a message or delete a notification. However, for many users this has caused inconvenience, requiring changes in the motor skills of using a smartphone. Fortunately, in some firmware versions this setting can be changed.
- 🔹 Swipe right down: displays a list of all notifications from applications.
- 🔹 Swipe left down: opens quick settings, brightness and volume sliders.
- 🔹 Long press on the icon: opens advanced settings menu for a specific module.
To return the usual behavior, if your version MIUI allows it, you need to go to Settings → Notifications and Control Center → Control Center style. Here you can select the "Old" option, which combines both elements into one panel, as was the case in Android 10 and 11. If there is no such option, you will have to get used to the new logic for dividing zones.
If you often use the flashlight or screen recording, add these buttons to the first four slots Control Center for quick access without searching.
The design of the volume sliders has also undergone changes. Now they have become more compact and are located vertically on the right when you press the volume control buttons. This frees up screen space for viewing content, which is especially important when watching a video or playing a game.
Enhanced security and a new privacy indicator
In Android 12, Google has placed a huge emphasis on transparency in the operation of applications. A new one has appeared - a small green dot in the upper right corner of the screen that lights up when an application is using the camera or microphone. This is a critical feature for protection against spying. Privacy indicator - a small green dot in the upper right corner of the screen that lights up when an application is using the camera or microphone. This is a critical anti-spying feature.
B MIUI this feature is integrated into the control panel. If you see a green indicator, you can swipe down and see which app is actively using your data at the moment. This allows you to instantly identify suspicious activity and close the application or revoke its permissions.
| Access type | Indicator | Where to check | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | Green dot | Status bar / Control Center | Revoke permission |
| Microphone | Green dot | Status bar / Control Center | Disable access |
| Clipboard | Pop-up window | Notification at the bottom of the screen | Deny access |
| Geolocation | Gray icon | Quick settings panel | Turn off GPS |
Another important innovation was Approximate geodata access. Previously, apps either had full access to your location or none at all. You can now allow an app to only see the approximate area of your location (within a few kilometers), which is ideal for weather widgets or news aggregators that don't need to know your exact address.
⚠️ Warning: Failure to provide accurate geolocation may break navigation apps. (Yandex.Maps, Google Maps) and taxi services. Make sure that the "Precise location" mode is selected for such apps.
Also there is a function Dashboard or "Privacy Control Panel", where you can view the history of access of all applications to data over the last 24 hours. This helps you understand which apps are monitoring your background activity too actively.
Test mode and hidden features for enthusiasts
For advanced users, Android 12 has opened up access to new debugging and testing capabilities that were previously hidden or required root access. In MIUI these functions are often hidden deep in the "For Developers" menu, but they allow you to fine-tune the behavior of the system.
One of the key functions is Test Wi-Fi mode (Wi-Fi Verbose Logging). It allows you to obtain detailed information about connections to wireless networks, which is indispensable when diagnosing communication problems. You can activate it through the developer menu, but you should do this with caution, since the logs can take up a lot of space.
How to enable extended Wi-Fi logs?
Go to Settings → About phone → Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI". Then go to Advanced settings → For developers → Network → Detailed Wi-Fi logging.
Another interesting option is the ability to emulate screens with a cutout (camera) of various shapes. This is useful for app developers, but regular users may also be interested in seeing how the interface adapts to different screen types. To do this, use a command through ADB or special testing applications.
adb shell wm size 1080x2340
adb shell wm density 440
Using such commands allows you to temporarily change the screen resolution and pixel density, which can help launch games or applications that are not optimized for your display. However, remember that incorrect values can make the interface unreadable.
- 🔸 Secondary display emulation: allows you to test applications on a second screen.
- 🔸 Disable overlays: speeds up the system by disabling color filters for colorblind people.
- 🔸 Bluetooth logging: helps diagnose problems with connecting headphones and watches.
Using developer functions may lead to system instability. Return settings to default values after tests are completed.
Performance optimization and background processes
Android 12 has brought improvements to memory management algorithms and background processes. The system has become more aggressive in freezing apps you don't use to save battery power. In MIUI this is superimposed on its own energy saving algorithms, which in total gives an excellent result of autonomy.
The new system App Hibernation (Application Hibernation) automatically frees resources from apps that you have not used for several weeks. The next time you launch the application, it loads like the first time, but all your data is saved. This is especially useful for devices with a small amount of RAM.
It is also worth noting the improved performance Core Runtime. Many system components are now updated via the Google Play Store, regardless of updating the entire firmware. This means that security fixes and new features arrive on your smartphone faster, without waiting for the release of a new version MIUI from Xiaomi.
⚠️ Warning: Aggressively closing background processes may interfere with the operation of instant messengers. If you're not receiving notifications on time, add important apps to the No Limits list in Battery Settings.
You can use the built-in battery monitor to check which apps are consuming the most resources in the background. More detailed statistics are now displayed there, including time spent in active mode and in the background. This helps to identify the “culprits” of rapid discharge.
Frequently asked questions about the update
Why did the phone start to heat up after updating to Android 12?
In the first days after a major update, the system indexes files and optimizes applications in the background. This is a normal process and is usually completed within 2-3 days. If the heating persists longer, check if any application has frozen during the update process.
Is it possible to roll back to Android 11?
Technically it is possible, but the procedure is complicated and requires unlocking the bootloader, which will completely erase all data from the device. In addition, rolling back the Android version often causes errors in banking applications and system instability. It is recommended to adapt to the new version.
Where did the "Close all" button in the task menu go?
In new versions of MIUI based on Android 12, the location of the memory clear button may have changed. It is usually located at the bottom of the task switching screen. If it is not there, check the gesture settings or try updating the Security application.
How can I get the old icons back if I don’t like the new ones?
You can download a third-party launcher from the Play Market (for example, Nova Launcher) or use a theme from the MIUI theme store, which replaces the system icons with classic ones. You cannot change the style of system icons without changing the theme in the settings.
Why do some applications crash after updating?
This is due to the fact that the application has not yet been optimized for the new security requirements and Android 12 API. Wait for the application itself to be updated in Google Play. As a last resort, you can try clearing the cache of the problematic application in the settings.