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MIUI is not like other Android ROMs. It has a full UI overhaul and adds a bunch of extra customization. A lot of the really nice features that made Gingerbread MIUI nice have been incorporated into ICS, and even more incorporated into CM9/AOKP... but not all of them. This guide is going to gloss over the features that are now standard in ICS and focus mainly on MIUI specific features.
*These features are as of the most recent MIUI version, some may work in older versions, some may not*
Some things to start with, just some quick things that I do every first boot:
Enable root: Find the Permissions app, turn root switch to ON.
Turn off 3G download limit: Downloads app, menu > settings > turn off Data download prompt
Change battery display: Settings > Battery > Battery indicator style. My personal favorite is top-bar
Set long-press back button to kill app: Settings > Button > Long-press Back to kill app, and delay time underneath
Customize toggles: Settings > Status Bar: Choose full page/compact toggles, Customize position underneath.
There's some more cool features in those menus, I implore everyone to explore the settings app thoroughly.
MIUI Home
Where's the app drawer? Well, there isn't one. Installed applications are placed on your homescreen. There are some ways around this. One way is to put your apps in a folder and place that folder in your dock. Another way is to simply use another launcher such as Apex or Nova. Yet another way would be to use an app drawer app, such as AppDrawer.
Enough about what MIUI doesn't have, lets get into the cool aspects of the launcher:
The dock: You can have up to 6 icons in your dock, and as little as none, including folders. It auto-rearranges to fit your icons centered.
Two & Three finger pinch: Pinch the home screen with two fingers and you enter widget edit mode. Easily rearrange widgets and icons from page to page and customize MIUI widgets (more on that later). Pinch with three fingers and you enter the home page edit mode. Here you can add more screens, remove screens and rearrange them. One nice thing you can do when creating a new screen is to grab directly from the + logo to where you want that screen.
Multi-touch icon placement: Pick up an icon or widget with one finger, and you can slide pages with your other finger for easy page movement.
Widgets: MIUI has some really amazing looking widgets including 3 clocks, 3 picture frames, and a full size music widget. These widgets are made even more amazing by their ability to be themed. There's a bunch of widgets available for them through the theme manager. One really nice thing about these widgets is that they don't update when you're not on that homescreen. This saves battery life and RAM consumption.
Lockscreen
Custom MIUI lock screens can do almost anything. The stock lock screen can unlock normally, unlock to messaging, phone, or camera. You can double tap the lock icon to bring up music controls and a visualization, though this will be shown automatically if you have music playing. You can preview unread text messages and missed call callers by holding the lock icon.
Then there's two features that work regardless of what lockscreen you're using. You can hold the home button to turn on the flashlight if your phone has a flash, and you can hold the back button to unlock directly to camera (in recent builds this needs to be enabled in Settings > Button)
Theme Manager
Probably the best feature of MIUI is the Theme Manager.
You can apply themes like normal, or mix and match pieces of your themes together in the "Mix" section.
You can pick pieces of full themes to not apply picking the theme, then choosing the icon in the bottom left. Really like your icon pack? Uncheck "Icons" and hit apply, you get the rest of the theme, but keep whatever icons you had before.
You can save your mix & matched themes. From the Mix section, hit menu > Backup Theme
Themes go in /sdcard/MIUI/theme or you can select them from the File Explorer, or open Theme Manager and menu > Import from SD Card
Besides themes, the Theme Manager is also used to manage ringtones, notifications, and wallpapers.
Place ringtones and notification tones in /sdcard/MIUI/ringtone
Place wallpapers in /sdcard/MIUI/wallpaper
Permissions Manager
The Permissions Manager is split into three sections, root permissions, permissions, and auto-start
Upon installation of an apk off your sdcard, you get asked to grant individual permissions, set "I trust this app," or the default setting will ask you as the app asks for each permission.
The Autostart manager will stop apps from running when your phone boots.
Network Assistant
In the Network Assistant, you can set a maximum amount of traffic to be sent over 3G if you have a limited data plan. It will also tell you which apps are using the most data, and by pressing the button at the bottom of the Traffic Ranking screen, you can limit apps' internet usage. From there, you can also set the default settings of newly installed apps, useful if you want to set apps to only use data off wifi.
Visitor Mode & Access Control
These settings are hidden a little bit. To access them, go into Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy protection
Guarded mode is also known as visitor or guest mode. When visitor mode is on, call logs, notes, gallery data, and text messages are hidden and the launcher cannot enter edit mode. You can also set a password for leaving visitor mode.
Access control gives you the ability to password protect applications. The ability to hide the apps is currently missing but should show up in a later build.
Firewall (formerly Do Not Disturb)
Using the Firewall app, you can send unwanted callers directly to voicemail and reject text messages as well. It has a lot of customization including a whitelist or blacklist and keywords for blocking text messages.
App Killer
MIUI has a built in app killer. You can access it by holding the home icon. It looks similar to the stock ICS task switcher, but looks a little nicer. It functions the same way, you can slide apps away to remove them from memory. There's also a little brush icon in the bottom left for clearing all apps from memory. The little icon in the bottom right takes you to the Running Services settings menu for further control over your running apps.
Miscellaneous Features
A few scattered features between apps.
T9 Dialing: Using the keys on the dialer, you can spell out your contacts' name to find them. For instance, to find "John" you would dial 5646
Long press editing: In almost any MIUI app with a list, (dialer, messaging) you can long press an item to enter editing mode. Select as many items as you want and select one of the options that appears. These options vary from app to app, but all include a "delete" option.
Long press toggles: You can long-press any of the toggles to enter the settings menu for that toggle. For instance, if you long-press the wifi toggle, you go to wifi settings.
To be continued
I'll keep updating this as MIUI gets updated. Feel free to post some suggestions and features you think are cool.
A recent update to Nova Launcher added a new feature for Nova Launcher Prime users - swipe actions on Icons. What this means is that you can set any icon to perform a different behavior if you swipe up on it.
To configure an Icon:
Long Press on the Icon
Select "Edit"
Change the "Swipe Action" to whatever you want it to be (another app, an Activity, etc.)
For example, I just modified my dock in the following way:
Tapping the "Foursquare" icon in the dock opens Foursquare normally. Swiping up on the icon automatically takes me to the Check In activity
Tapping the "Dolphin Browser" icon in the dock opens Dolphin Browser. Swiping up on the icon opens Chrome.
Tapping the "Maps" icon in the dock opens Maps. Swiping up on the icon opens Navigation
I made a quick video to illustrate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifshfRetOsU
Those are just some ideas I had right out of the gate. Please feel free to share your own!
PS -
I also love Nova's new "Alphabetical List"-style app drawer. Good stuff!
loving this feature. i use it to swipe up on my xscope browser to open up floating browser
Great idea for the swipe. How to configure the size of the icon btw?
Aw man... this means I have to change all my Simple Text widgets into App shortcuts to use the new swipe feature. oh well...
Excellent feature, I love Nova Launcher. Question though are all apps available to link to, I would like to assign a swipe gesture to create a new text message but cannot see the Option, any ideas?
mikeparkie said:
Excellent feature, I love Nova Launcher. Question though are all apps available to link to, I would like to assign a swipe gesture to create a new text message but cannot see the Option, any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the closest thing you can do is set a swipe gesture to open the messaging app or set it to a direct message to someone in particular.
Use Nova Activities
mikeparkie said:
Excellent feature, I love Nova Launcher. Question though are all apps available to link to, I would like to assign a swipe gesture to create a new text message but cannot see the Option, any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When selecting a swipe action, choose the 'Shortcuts' tab, then under 'Activities' (which is at the top of the list with a Nova icon), then tap on Messaging to expand it and you should find an activity called 'Messaging ui.ConversationComposer' - this allows you to assign a swipe gesture to create a new text message.
There seems to be hundreds of activities under all of my various applications within this menu and I don't understand most of them. I would love to hear anybody else's experiences with these swipe gestures/activities..
Hi this is my first post i already love this forum
And the Nova launcher was a great idea
Also I love the feature that you can choose to tap to open an app and swipe to open the folder. I use for the various cam apps folder, and when tapped it's just sense camera, awesome
Sent from my HTC One X
They scored this from the Motorola Atrix HD. Glad I can now put this feature on my One X as well
Silellak said:
For example, I just modified my dock in the following way:
Tapping the "Foursquare" icon in the dock opens Foursquare normally. Swiping up on the icon automatically takes me to the Check In activity
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How were you able to get it to the check in activity?
tehcypress said:
How were you able to get it to the check in activity?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shortcuts -> Activities -> Foursquare -> CheckinActivityAlt
Thanks. I completely missed the activities option
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
I've been loving this. here are mine
App > Swipe app
G+ > g messenger
Facebook > FB Messenger
Foursquare > FS Check in
Reddit > Chant
Twitter > Twitter search
Dragon > soundhound
Phone > contacts
Messaging > snapchat
camera > gallery
Gmail > compose
Browser > downloads
Music player > Music downloader
these are all in my dock and usually i do something with my fantasy hockey app swiping to pull up another fantasy app or soemthing
This is awesome! The are so many similar apps and actions that you'd launch differently..this makes so much sense like
Camera - Quickpic
Gmail - Talk
Maps - Nav
Fb - fb messenger (already mentioned)
Walkman - songza
Etc.
Thanks for the heads up!
This post was created and transmitted completely in analog.
gr8! i was exactly looking for this! thx.
is there a list of actions existing? would love to have a direct redial of last number via swiping the phone button...
How did you do it?
How do you make a shortcut open a folder on swipe?
marsyeti said:
Also I love the feature that you can choose to tap to open an app and swipe to open the folder. I use for the various cam apps folder, and when tapped it's just sense camera, awesome
Sent from my HTC One X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That "direct messaging" option seems to have been removed. I have NL Prime and tried to have that option again but it's not even available. Just Direct Call.
What version are you using if you still have it?
Hi,
The Halo multiwindow feature from ParanoidAndroid allows the System to open up any app in a floating window. However there are few alternative ways to launch an app in the multiwindow except for the original Halo bubble.
For people using tools like sidebars or similar applications, there's no option to do that.
That's why I developed the app HaloShortcut. My app allows you to create a shortcut that opens every app in the floating window provided by the Halo feature.
There's an app with similar functions called HaloShortcuts, which you should definitely try out. It comes with an additional search feature and most importantly, it's open source,
HaloShortcuts:
Provides a shortcut for every app/activity that will then start in a multiwindow
The Blacklist feature allows you to control whether an app starts in multi window depending on the currently used app
Doesn't appear in your home launcher nor does it run in the background at any moment
NEW Feature:
(Also works with the XHaloFloatingWindow XPosed extension)
Further information about the Halo project:
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/paranoid-android-team-open-sources-halo/
Changelog;
Version 3.2: Fixed Blacklist
Version 3.0: Complete new UI and added Blacklist Feature
Version 2.1: Shortcut labels now show correct name
Version 2.0: Shortcut support
Version 1.0: First release
Screenshot:
Very cool, very handy. Thank you.
Good good , thanks
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
Is it possible to update this app to create shortcuts that point to "Shortcuts" in Android as well instead of just app shortcuts?
You know, the screen when u long press on the launcher and you get this page to create direct shortcuts to contacts, bookmarks, gmail labels etc.
Because it would be handy to create shortcuts that link to specific functions inside apps instead of having to launch the apps in windows mode and then navigating to the required functions i.e. shortcut to a specific whatsapp contact, specific settings screen.
Do consider it, or if anyone has a solution do let me know, thanks!
kenkiller said:
Is it possible to update this app to create shortcuts that point to "Shortcuts" in Android as well instead of just app shortcuts?
You know, the screen when u long press on the launcher and you get this page to create direct shortcuts to contacts, bookmarks, gmail labels etc.
Because it would be handy to create shortcuts that link to specific functions inside apps instead of having to launch the apps in windows mode and then navigating to the required functions i.e. shortcut to a specific whatsapp contact, specific settings screen.
Do consider it, or if anyone has a solution do let me know, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I implemented the requested feature, thanks for the support :good:
Hi , this app somehow is not working on my Xperia Z, running android 4.3
i cant see the app icon ANYWHERE in the phone, so cannot create a halo shortcut.
i tried the other halo shortcut you suggested at #1, that one only creates a shortcut on the home screen, so that's not too useful (i want to create a halo shortcut on notification bar)
Thanks
Works great! Thank you!
I like it! Great app
moonset said:
Hi , this app somehow is not working on my Xperia Z, running android 4.3
i cant see the app icon ANYWHERE in the phone, so cannot create a halo shortcut.
i tried the other halo shortcut you suggested at #1, that one only creates a shortcut on the home screen, so that's not too useful (i want to create a halo shortcut on notification bar)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, this app won't show up in any launcher, because that wouldn't make sense at all. But you should be able to access it from a popup dialog whenever you want to add a shortcut to something.
So in your app that makes the notification bar shortcuts, you have to select shortcuts and than select "HaloShortcut".
If you still have problems, tell me the name of the app that you are using and i'll see how to get it done
MainstreamStereotype said:
Hey, this app won't show up in any launcher, because that wouldn't make sense at all. But you should be able to access it from a popup dialog whenever you want to add a shortcut to something.
So in your app that makes the notification bar shortcuts, you have to select shortcuts and than select "HaloShortcut".
If you still have problems, tell me the name of the app that you are using and i'll see how to get it done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,I've finally found the option, it is under "Bookmark" (not "App") when creating the halo shortcuts.
It is working if i create a desktop shortcut to open app with halo, but currently it doesn't work with this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dk.nicolai.buch.andersen.ns&hl=en
which i try to add the halo shortcut to the notification bar, the app opens as normal.
Thanks
sorry
moonset said:
Hi,I've finally found the option, it is under "Bookmark" (not "App") when creating the halo shortcuts.
It is working if i create a desktop shortcut to open app with halo, but currently it doesn't work with this app: ...
which i try to add the halo shortcut to the notification bar, the app opens as normal.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I tried the app and for me it worked flawlessly, so I can't tell you what the problem is
(I use the xposed halo module)
great work:good::good::good::good:
Works good for me so far with xHalo. All the possibilities are great. Thanks for the app.
Thanks fot your app.
But it doesnt work with XHFW3. (Xhalofloating window 3.16)
http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.zst.xposed.halo.floatingwindow3
XHFW3 works with Android6.
Could you make it suitable with XHFW3?
Thank you.
If you have enabled the toolbox feature, from editing the settings database, and want to add more apps but having the settings force closed, simply tap and hold the app which will enable to add upto 5 apps. If it doesn't work, click and drag to top of screen.
AppLock
☞ AppLock can lock SMS, Contacts, Gmail, Facebook, Gallery, Market, Settings, Calls and any app you choose, with abundant options, protecting your privacy.
☞ With the help of App Lock, you may:
Never worry about a friend borrow your phone to play games again!
Never worry about a workmates get your phone to have a look again!
Never worry about private data in some apps may be read by someone again!
Never worry about your kids may changing phone's Settings, paying games, messing up it again!
-----------FAQ---------
1) How to change password?
Open AppLock, Protect, Edit Password
2) I hide AppLock icon, how to open AppLock now?
enter *#12345#* in your dial pad, and tap call button to open AppLock.
3) How to stop other people uninstall AppLock?
Please enable Package Installer lock
4) I forgot my password，How to find it?
Tap AppLock icon to start AppLock.
If you are using pattern lock, please change to number lock.
Tap the 'forgot password' or '?' .
If you remember security answer, you can reset your password by security answer.
Enter your security answer.
Reset your password.
---- Features ---
• Protects any apps using password or pattern
• Themes
• Random keyboard
• Locks incoming or outgoing calls
• Lock system Settings
• Lock Google Play Store
• Quick lock switcher on status bar
• Re-lock policy: allow short exit, no need to unlock again
• Prevent apps from being uninstalled
• Hide AppLock's icon from launcher
• AppLock can be prevented from being uninstall
• AppLock cannot be killed by task killers
• Automatic sleep on Screen Lock
• Little memory footprint and power-saving
Feel free to send your feedback to us! at [email protected]
Have a Feature request just ping me if it is fair request i will add it
AppLock will Protect Your Privacy without Comprimising your Battery.
Upcoming Features:-
• Custom Theme (Open For all to Make, make your own theme and seamlessly integrate with my app)
• Lock switch(WiFi,BT,3G/4G Data...)(coming soon)
• Widget for quick locking/unlocking(coming soon)
• Automatic lock at given time(coming soon)
• Automatic lock at given location(coming soon)
• Photo Vault, hide pictures(coming soon)
• Video Vault, hide videos(coming soon)
• Customize background, set your favorite photo(coming soon)
XDA:DevDB Information
AppLocker Material, App for all devices (see above for details)
Contributors
AndroidRockers
Version Information
Status: Alpha
Created 2016-02-27
Last Updated 2016-02-27
Reserved
Reserved
Apk is attached on the download tabs