In MIUI, on Xiaomi phones, there is nothing familiar to all users Android menu. Instead, there is desktops, on which all installed applications are located. At first, it seems quite inconvenient. But, after a while, you no longer want to return to the previous menu.
To call up the desktop settings, you need to pinch the desktop with two fingers from the edges to the center. This movement is exactly the same as when you want to make an image smaller in a gallery.
1. Desktop menu
In desktop settings latest versions MIUI, there are 4 main points. Let's start in order, from left to right:
- Effects
Here we can choose a theme for your device. This menu duplicates the one located along the Settings—>Themes path. We will not dwell on it in detail. I think everything is clear.
A widget is a part of an application or a stand-alone application that can be placed on the desktop and contain any information. For example, weather, clocks, exchange rates, news, etc. They make it easier to access settings and switches.
To place a widget on your desktop, you need to go to “Widgets” and select the one we need.
For example, let's display a widget with which you can turn Wi-Fi on and off:
Now you can access it very quickly.
In this way, you can display any widget on your desktop. There are quite a lot of them even on a newly purchased phone. And after installing applications, there will be even more.
To remove a widget, simply long-press on it and then, without releasing it, drag it to the top of the screen, onto the trash can icon. In the same way, you can remove any icon from the desktop.
Naturally, you can always return it by going to the “Widgets” section.
Wallpaper
Here you can choose your desktop and lock screen wallpaper. The list is standard. However, you can open the “Online” tab and download what you like.
Effects
These are the effects that will occur when scrolling through desktops. For example, “rotate”, “cascade”, “rotation”, “3d cube”, etc. Try to select any of them and move from one table to another.
When the desktop is filled with application icons, a new desktop is automatically created. But, if we want to create it ourselves, then we need:
- Pinch with two fingers and scroll through all desktops to the end, left or right. And then, just click on the plus icon. So we created a new desktop.
There is another way to add a table. It will be discussed in the next paragraph. About how to add new MIUI9 desktop, can be read.
If you have several desktops, then when you press the Home button, by default, the first one always opens. But what if you need it to open, for example the second one or any other. To do this, you need to assign the main desktop:
By clicking on the desktop with “Plus”, we will add a new table in the same way as we did in step 2.
Here, we can change desktop locations. To do this, click on any of them and move to the desired location.
4. Sort desktop icons
There are 2 ways to sort icons:
- Within one table. To do this, simply press and hold your finger on the icon and then move it to the desired location.
- Move to another desktop. To do this:
There are also two ways to do this:
To rename a folder, go into it and click on the name. We ask any.
Folders are deleted in the same way as other icons.
That's all. I hope the article will be useful to beginners.
If you've been tired of it for a long time standard view home screen on your smartphone or tablet running Android, it can be easily changed. This will allow you to configure appearance and your phone's performance. There are many good options, which will offer you other icons, widgets, functions and features of your home screen.
Changing the launcher
Go to Settings > applications > Application settings > Application permissions. Of course, it's worth considering that the location of these options may vary depending on your device.
From here you can choose your launcher that comes with the device, or another one that you should download in advance from the Android library. Remember that you can always return to the previous launcher if you don't like the new one.
Finding Good Launchers
Now it's time to find launchers. The best ones are always paid, but there are interesting examples among the free options. Browse the PlayMarket library. The most popular ones are always at the top, so you don’t have to search for long. After downloading a couple of them, go to Personalization > Cool app launchers and select your favorite.
If you want to stay close to Google, there is always Google Now Launcher. However, the icons look a little larger on some big phones and don't offer as many customization options as other launchers.
When installing a new launcher, you can choose whether to use it just once to try it out or set it as your default.
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U operating system Android has a lot of advantages that make working with phones or tablets much more convenient. One of these advantages is the ability to use several desktops at the same time. This is very convenient because you can display all the widgets you need on them, so you don’t have to search for any information for a very long time. For example, on the screen of your device there is a clock and the necessary applications. Gesture to the right - and the weather is in front of you. One more flip, and listening to music becomes possible.
This function is very useful for those who do not want to go to different sites or go into different applications to find out any information. This opportunity is provided to Android owners, because all this information can be added in the form of widgets and shortcuts to the smartphone screen. But, naturally, it is worth remembering that space is limited and needs to be increased in some way. But sometimes, on the contrary, there is too much space. There is a need to reduce it.
Some people have a question: how can they add a new workspace on a phone or tablet or remove it (for many inexperienced users, they appear unnoticed, and the owners of phones and tablets simply do not know how to delete them)? We'll figure it out.
How to remove excess desktop
All smartphones are different, so the methods will be different, but one of them will definitely work:
- On many devices, you can remove the extra desktop in literally two movements. To do this, put two fingers at opposite ends of the screen and bring them together(the same gesture you perform to make a picture smaller). All the tables that are there will appear in front of you. To remove an unnecessary one, long press on it and drag it to the trash icon with the inscription “delete” (sometimes the inscription may be missing).
- The second method differs from the first only in the first action. We go to the main screen, press the “Home” button, and then repeat all the steps from step 1.
- Some smartphones do not allow you to add or remove workspaces. But we shouldn’t despair; launchers, of which there are a great many in the world, can come to our aid with this. Play Store. Install them and add as many desktops as you like.
In four years, Android has transformed from a small but ambitious project into perhaps the most complex and feature-packed mobile OS of our time. Android supports a huge number of technologies and functions, many of which are hidden from the user or hidden in places you wouldn't even think to look at. This article is a collection of tips and tricks that can be applied to any Android device without the need to root.
01. DISABLE THE AUTOMATIC CREATION OF ICONS ON THE DESKTOP
I think I’m not the only one who is annoyed by the way the market behaves when installing an application. For some reason he thinks that for any more or less software or the next game I definitely need an icon on the desktop, and he successfully creates it. And I have to delete it. And then another one. And so every time.
Fortunately, this behavior is easy to disable - just open Google settings Play (in the left panel) and uncheck the “Add icons” option. There you can also disable the forced password request every 30 minutes when purchasing applications, as well as the hated auto-update of applications.
02. DISABLE GOOGLE SEARCH AND OTHER USELESS SOFTWARE
Standard firmware for Android smartphones includes huge amount useless software, starting from a heap Google applications(do you know that Google requires manufacturing companies to include almost all the software it develops in the firmware of their devices?) and ending with all sorts of junk from the smartphone manufacturer. All of this (or at least most) can be disabled.
Go to “Settings → Applications → All”, tap on the desired software and click “Disable” (of course, you will be warned how “dangerous” this is). By the way, when disconnecting Google search Google Now will also disappear, as well as the search bar from the desktop (after a reboot), instead of which there will be an empty area.
03. RESET TO SAFE MODE
Few people know, but Android, like many other operating systems, has a so-called Safe mode. This is a mode in which the operating system boots with disabled third party applications. Malware that is not very skillfully written (one that is not registered in the system partition) then falls off, like any software that interferes with the normal operation of the system. Safe mode can be used to bypass screen blockers, applications that cause the smartphone to freeze, or, alternatively, to identify who is actually eating up the battery - the next firmware or software update.
The mode is turned on in a rather simple, but not at all obvious way: by holding down the power button and then holding your finger on the “Turn off power” item. After rebooting, the culprit of the problem can be removed through “Settings → Applications”.
04. GET RID OF INSTRUCTIVE NOTIFICATIONS
“The construction of the castle is finished!” - how did you get these notifications? Everyone who is not too lazy is trying to notify me about all possible and impossible events: “Vasya Dzhubga replied to you on Twitter,” “You have 100,500 new messages,” “You won surgery to enlarge your right leg.” You swipe away one notification, and three new ones appear in its place.
How to get rid of all this slag: hold your finger on the notification for a long time and uncheck the “Stop” button. This is the recipe for KitKat. In Lollipop, everything is a little different, but the essence is the same: hold down, then the i button, in the window that opens, put a checkmark on “Block”. There you can also force the notification to be a priority so that it is always at the very top.
05. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE SERVICE MENU
Another not at all obvious function is service menu. It can be opened by dialing *#*#4636#*#*. Basically there are different technical information like IMEI numbers, signal strength, current location, or network type. But there is also a very useful function for some situations to force the smartphone to switch to the desired type of network (2G, 3G, LTE).
In conditions of poor 3G/LTE signal levels, the device tends to reset to 2G in order to save battery power and ensure subscriber availability. This behavior can be disabled. Open the service menu and in the “Set up preferred network type” item, select WCDMA only or LTE only. In the same way, you can switch your smartphone to 2G - GSM only. It will help if you need to save battery power and the Internet is rarely used. By the way, you can also disable the radio module there altogether (until the next reboot, of course). 
Smartphones based on Chinese MTK chips have their own and much more sophisticated service menu. His number is *#*#3646633#*#*. There is various system information and a huge number of tests, among which you can find several useful settings, such as adjusting the volume level during a call or, for example, changing GPS/AGPS settings. The menu itself is terribly illogical and contains so much varied information that I don’t even dare to describe it, but will simply send the reader to three letters - XDA.
06. USE A STANDARD BROWSER
I don't know why users don't like the built-in one so much Android browser. In my opinion, he is wonderful. Lightweight, fast, based on the Chromium engine, can synchronize with Google account(that is, it immediately includes all bookmarks and passwords from Chrome), but most importantly, it has a very convenient and almost ingenious navigation method. This is the so-called radial menu, which can be activated in the settings (only in Android 4.0–4.4).
07. MANAGE YOUR CONTACTS FROM YOUR COMPUTER
Google has web services not only for remotely installing software, blocking and searching for a smartphone, but also for managing contacts. All people's contacts ever saved and synchronized when connecting a new smartphone can always be found on the page google.com/contacts. They can be viewed, edited, added and deleted. Moreover, oddly enough, it is essentially part of Gmail.
08. MONITOR YOUR PROCESSOR LOAD
Android has a built-in display feature current download processor and active at the moment processes on top of the screen. In theory, it is intended for application and firmware developers and is hidden from ordinary users, but no one is stopping us from activating it. But first you will have to reach the “For Developers” settings section, which by default does not exist at all.
Go to settings, then “About phone”, find the line “Build number” and tap on it seven times in a row. The message “You have become a developer!” should appear on the screen. This means that the “For Developers” item is now open, and we go to it. We rewind almost to the very bottom of the screen and in the “Monitoring” section we find the “Show CPU load” switch.
Turn it on and see a list in the upper right part of the screen. The first line is the so-called loadavg, which shows the number of processes that had to run or wait their turn to run in the last minute, five and ten minutes. To put it very roughly: if these values, divided by the number of processor cores, are above one, this means 100% processor load in the last minute, five or ten minutes, respectively. Below is a list of the most power-hungry processes (essentially, an analogue of the top command from Linux).
09. USE ADB TO BACKUP SOFTWARE ON YOUR COMPUTER
We have already written more than once about a wonderful tool called ADB, which can significantly simplify managing a device from a computer for a person who is familiar with the console (here we are mainly talking about Linux, of course). In addition to the ability to install software, transfer files to a smartphone, view logs and other useful things, ADB has recently made it possible to backup all smartphone settings and applications.
To use this functionality, install the universal ADB driver (goo.gl/AzZrjR), then download ADB itself (goo.gl/3P7klM), install the driver, then expand the archive with ADB, connect the smartphone to the computer with a USB cable, launch command line and execute the command
A message will appear on the smartphone screen asking you to specify the encryption password for the backup - you can safely press “Next”. The application backup process will begin, which will affect both the APK packages themselves (the -apk flag in the command) and their settings. All applications from the memory card will also be included in the backup. You can restore a backup using the following command:
$ adb restore backup . ab |
10. DISABLE BACKGROUND DATA TRANSFER IN APPLICATIONS
Working in the background, applications can actively use the Internet for a variety of purposes, from updating their content to leaking information about your location. In addition, such activity in any case leads to increased battery consumption. 
Android has the ability to selectively restrict applications from transferring data in the background, but it is located in a place where most users would hardly ever look. To prevent any application from using the Internet in the background, you need to go to settings, then “Data transfer”, scroll down the screen to the list of applications actively using the network (for some it will be a surprise that it is there at all) and tap on the desired software. At the bottom there will be an option “Limit background mode" It is worth keeping in mind that the option will disable data transfer only via mobile network, so data will continue to flow over Wi-Fi.
11. USE THE SEARCH BAR
Often, smartphone owners Android based neglected search bar at the top of the main screen. This is really logical, given the ability to search by typing a query into address bar any mobile browser.
Meanwhile, the search bar on your desktop does much more than just redirect your request to google.com. It allows you to search contacts, applications, calendar events, bookmarks and web browser history in automatic mode. At normal use smartphone, it may not be so useful, but when connected external keyboard This indispensable tool. Just click
12. USE SMART LOCK
Smart Lock is one of those features that you don’t think about, but once you try it, you can’t live without it. This is one of the most notable new Android Lollipop products and one of the most useful functions, added to Android recently. The idea of Smart Lock is extremely simple - it disables the PIN code or other lock screen protection if there is a specific Bluetooth device or map location nearby.
By default, Smart Lock is “sort of” disabled. That is, it does not light up anywhere, but after pairing with a new Bluetooth device (of any type), it will definitely offer to add it to your whitelist. After this you will forget about her again. But only until you enable lock screen protection in the “Security” section of the settings. Now it will work as it should.
Sami Smart settings Lock are in the same section, and, in addition to adding new Bluetooth devices, you can specify “safe places” there, and immediately with a list of options based on Google Now “observations”. By the way, if you disable it, as described in the first tip, then this functionality will also be lost.
13. SAVE ENERGY RIGHT
Another notable innovation from Lollipop is its power saving mode. IN standard Android it migrated from the firmware of smartphone manufacturers, who previously sold it independently. Now the function is in pure Android- you use your smartphone to the fullest, and when you reach 15% of the battery charge, the system suggests turning on the power saving mode, which turns off background data transfer, reduces the brightness to a minimum, turns off some sensors and reduces the FPS of screen rendering to a couple of tens of frames per second. For clarity, the status bar and on-screen buttons at the bottom of the screen turn red - so you don’t forget.
To save battery life on a smartphone with an AMOLED screen, you can set black wallpapers and use apps with black backgrounds.
The energy saving mode is customizable. Go to “Settings → Battery → menu → Power saving mode.” Here you can specify a condition automatic switching on mode (though the choice is meager: 5%, 15% or never) and, most importantly, turn on the mode right now. Very convenient if you have a long trip ahead without the possibility of recharging.
14. MONITOR TRAFFIC
Most likely, smartphone manufacturers, as usual, will shovel the standard Android interface 5.0 and everything will change (hello Samsung - the biggest fan of breaking interfaces), but in the standard Lollipop curtain, or rather, in the “second curtain” with 
flasks quick settings There is one highlight. The data transfer button in the center does not switch data transfer at all, but expands into an interface that allows you not only to view the current traffic consumption, but also to disable data transfer using the switch on top.
15. SHARE NOT YOUR PHONE, BUT THE APPLICATION
Especially for those who like to give their phone to other people, Lollipop has a Screen pinning feature that allows you to lock your smartphone on one application without the ability to close it or switch to another. Like many other useful features, it is completely invisible and hidden quite deep in the settings. To activate, go to “Settings → Security”, scroll almost to the very end and turn on the “Block in application” option.
Now if you click the view button running applications(“Browse”), an pushbutton will appear at the bottom of the current application’s thumbnail. Once you tap the icon, the screen will be locked on the selected app and you will need to hold the Back and Overview buttons simultaneously to go back. In this case, you will have to enter a PIN code if it is set for the lock screen.
XX. USE ACITIVITY LAUNCHER
Any graphic Android application includes one or more so-called “activities”. Each of them is an application window (screen), for example the main screen or the settings screen, maybe even a file selection window. By default, you can open directly (from the desktop) only those activities that the application developer marks as main; the rest are accessible only through the application itself and only if the developer himself allows this.
However, having the right tool at hand, you can reach any other activity of any application and even create a shortcut for it on the desktop. Activity Launcher does just that. Just install the application, select “All actions” in the menu at the top and find the software you need. All of her activities will appear on the screen, and any of them can be opened with a simple tap or placed on the desktop by holding your finger for a long time.
An example of useful “internal” activities is the Chrome bookmarks window (Chrome →Bookmark), access to the hidden AppOps mechanism in Android< 4.4.2 (Настройки → AppOps), запуск поиска в TuneIn Radio (tunein.ui.activities.TuneInSearchActivity). Очень много активностей имеет в себе ES Проводник, включая редактор, music player, image viewer and much more. Any of them can be launched directly from the desktop. In the same way, you can open any section of the settings and gain access to some OS functions that are difficult to reach. This is completely legal functionality and does not require root.
Android has a large set of hotkeys for connected keyboards. You can use Arrow, Tab, and Enter to navigate the desktop and various menus. In addition, the following key combinations are available:
Esc - “Back” button;
Win + Esc - Home button;
Ctrl + Esc - “Menu” button;
Alt + Tab - switch between applications;
Ctrl + Space - switch layout;
Ctrl + P - open settings;
Ctrl + M - control installed applications;
Ctrl + W - change wallpaper;
Win + E - write a letter;
Win + P - music player;
Win + A - calculator;
Win + S - write SMS;
Win + L - calendar;
Win + C - contacts;
Win + B - browser;
Win + M - google maps;
Win + Space - search;To find out your MAC and IP address, go to “Settings → Wi-Fi → menu → Advanced
new functions.” MAC and IP will be at the very bottom.Lollipop has a built-in Flappy Bird style game. Go to “Settings → About phone”,
tap several times on the item “ Android version“, then hold your finger on the “lollipop” that appears. Let's play.Google Now supports a large number of Russian-language voice commands. All of them can be divided into two groups: voice search and the voice commands themselves. Voice search allows you to perform an intelligent search on Google, when the system displays a specific answer on the screen instead of a list of links, and voice commands allow you to perform certain actions, for example, send an SMS or set an alarm. The list of commands is shown in the image " Voice commands Google Now." Voice search includes more than a dozen various types questions:
Weather. What will the weather be like tomorrow morning?
Addresses. Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Flight information. When does Aeroflot flight number 2336 depart?
Time. What time is it in London?
Events. When is sunset today?
Computing. What is the square root of 2209?
Translation. How do you say "cucumber" in Spanish?
Sport. When does Spartak play?
Finance. What is the S&P 500 index today?
Facts. What is the height of the tallest building in the world?
Exchange rates. Convert 2600 rupees to US dollars.
Images. Show photos of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Interestingly, Google Now understands a large number of much less obvious questions in English. As an example we can give:
Should I wear a jacket today?
How much tip for 420 rubles?
Where is my package?
This, of course, is not all that could be talked about, but it will not be possible to lengthen the article, and many of the other possibilities are already known. Don't forget about these tricks, and your smartphone will become
a little more convenient. at January 26, 2017.
