Everything You Need to Know About MIUI 12

If you own a Xiaomi device, you’ve probably heard about MIUI 12. It’s the skin that sits on top of Android and gives your phone a fresh look, better privacy, and smoother performance. In this guide we’ll break down the main features, show you how to update, and share a few tips to keep things running fast.

Top Features of MIUI 12

MIUI 12 rolls out several upgrades that you’ll notice right away. First, the new lock screen lets you add shortcuts, weather info, and a quick‑launch for the camera. Swiping left shows you recent notifications, so you can reply without unlocking the whole phone.

The Super Wallpaper feature animates your background based on the time of day. It uses low‑power animation, so the battery hit is minimal. Speaking of battery, MIUI 12 introduces an “Ultra Power Saving Mode” that cuts background processes and extends screen‑off time.

Privacy gets a boost too. You can see which apps accessed your microphone or camera in the last 24 hours. There’s a new permission manager that lets you grant one‑time access, which is handy if you only need an app to use the mic for a single call.

How to Update to MIUI 12

Updating is straightforward. Open the Settings app, scroll to “About phone,” and tap “System update.” If MIUI 12 is available for your model, you’ll see a download button. Make sure you’re on Wi‑Fi and have at least 30 % battery before you start.

Once the download finishes, the phone will ask you to install. The process can take a few minutes, and the screen will reboot a couple of times. After the update, go back to Settings → About phone to confirm the MIUI version.

If you don’t see the update, you can manually flash the ROM from Xiaomi’s official website. Download the correct ROM for your exact model, enable “Developer options” → “USB debugging,” and use the MiFlash tool on a PC. This method is a bit technical, so only try it if you’re comfortable with connecting your phone to a computer.

Tips to Keep MIUI 12 Running Smoothly

1. **Clear cache regularly** – Go to Settings → Storage → Cached data and tap to clear. This frees up space and helps apps load faster.

2. **Limit background apps** – Swipe up on the recent‑apps screen, pull down to “Clear all,” or use the built‑in “Battery saver” to stop apps you don’t need.

3. **Use “Second Space” wisely** – MIUI 12 lets you create a separate user profile. Keep work apps in one space and personal apps in another to reduce clutter.

4. **Turn off auto‑sync for rarely used accounts** – Head to Settings → Accounts and disable sync for apps you rarely check. Less sync means less battery drain.

5. **Enable “AI performance boost”** – This feature learns your usage patterns and allocates resources where you need them most, especially during gaming or video playback.

By following these steps, you’ll get the most out of MIUI 12 without feeling bogged down by extra features. Remember, the main goal of the skin is to make your phone easier to use, not harder.

If you run into any hiccups, the community forums and Xiaomi’s support page are good places to look for solutions. Happy exploring!