After launching the Redmi Note 7 series in India, Xiaomi launched the budget-oriented Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 in India. Both handsets are very similar, with only some minor differences to cater to different types of audiences. The Redmi 7 is a budget all-rounder while the Redmi Y3 is a selfie-centric phone. Irrespective of which phone you have purchased though, check out some of the best tips and tricks for the handsets.
These tips and tricks will help you in discovering some hidden and little known features of the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3. Plus, you will also get to know how to use some of the popular features properly on the phones.
Best Hidden Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 Tips and Tricks
15. Screenshot Gesture
The method of holding down the Volume down and Power button simultaneously to take a screenshot is now old. In MIUI 10 on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3, you can quickly take a screenshot by simply swiping down with three fingers on the display. The gesture works anywhere across the OS including apps.
The feature is enabled by default but in case it is not working for you, check if it is enabled or not from Settings -> Additional Settings -> Button and gesture shortcuts.
14. Display RAM Usage
Want to keep a tab on the RAM usage of your Redmi 7 or Redmi Y3? MIUI used to show the RAM usage on the Recent Apps screen but Xiaomi turned that option off with an update. The feature is still present though so you can always enable it.
Just go to Settings -> Home screen & Recents and enable the Show memory status option. The RAM usage of your Redmi 7/Y3 will now be shown on the Recent Apps screen.
13. Disable Suggestions
In the Recent Apps screen, MIUI will show you four suggestions — Manage Apps, Security — at the top which it thinks are useful. If you find them an eyesore and just want to disable it, head over to Settings -> Home screen & Recents and disable the Show suggestions option.
12. Volume Buttons Wake
Don’t just rely on the power button of the Redmi 7/Redmi Y3 to wake the device up. Instead, you can also the volume buttons for the same purposes. Simply head over to Settings -> Lock screen & password and enable the Wake with volume buttons option.
11. Game Speed Booster
If you are a heavy gamer, you should take advantage of the Game Speed Booster option in MIUI 10 on Redmi 7 or Y3. It will help in improving the overall gaming experience by killing unnecessary background processes and apps thereby freeing up resources.
Once enabled, it will automatically clear background cache to free up memory for gaming, improve CPU performance, boost the game connection speed while limiting background download speed to reduce network latency, and also silence notifications, and turn off remove buttons to avoid accidental keypress.
You can find Game Speed Booster in the Security App.
10. Disable Glance
A recent introduction in MIUI 10 has been Glance in which news items are shown on the lock screen. The lock screen wallpaper is also changed automatically every time one goes to the lock screen. I am not really fond of this feature and find it a bit irritating. If you are on the same boat as me, head over to Settings -> Lock screen & password -> Wallpaper Carousel and turn it off.
9. Hide Apps
MIUI 10 on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 is packed with features. Among other things, it also comes with the handy option to hide your apps from prying eyes. The feature is a part of the native App Lock in MIUI 10.
All hidden apps are moved a hidden folder accessing which will require one to enter a pattern or confirm their identity using the fingerprint scanner. You will need to set up App Lock on your Redmi Y3/7 before you can hide apps.
8. Fingerprint Scanner as Shutter Button
Apart from unlocking the phone, you can use the rear fingerprint scanner on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 as a shutter button while in the camera app. A handy feature to have especially while taking selfies where it can be quite difficult to press the shutter button from one’s thumb. Make sure to enable the option from the settings menu of the Camera app.
7. Flip to Silence Incoming Calls
This handy tip will help you quickly silence incoming calls on your Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3. Simply put the phone face down on a table or flip it face down if it is on a flat surface already. The flip to silence gesture is not enabled by default so first enable it from Settings -> System Apps -> Call settings -> Incoming call settings. Just toggle the Flip to silence ringer option from here.
6. Full-Screen Gestures
The navigation bar is now a thing of the past. Everyone nowadays prefers to use navigation gesture as it allows one to maximize the screen real estate. While navigation gestures are also available on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3, it is disabled by default. If you want to switch to nav. gestures, go to Settings -> Full-screen display and tap the Full-screen gestures option.
Make sure to go through the tutorial to get an idea of how navigation gestures work on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3.
5. Uninstall Bloatware
With the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 coming with a paltry 32GB storage, one of the best things you can do is disable or uninstall all the bloatware to free up internal storage and resources. The number of bloatware and pre-installed apps has gone up dramatically over the last one year in Xiaomi phones. By uninstalling such apps, you will be able to make room for other apps and games on your Redmi 7 or Redmi Y3.
Head over to Settings -> Installed Apps and proceed to uninstall pre-loaded apps you don’t want to use. Some pre-loaded apps which cannot be uninstalled can still be disabled.
4. Dual Apps
With the dual-SIM capability on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3, many users would like to be active on two WhatsApp accounts or apps like Facebook/Instagram with their personal and work profile. With the Dual Apps feature in MIUI 10 on the Redmi 7 and Y3, one can easily create two copies of an app and use them independently of each other.
Head over to Settings -> Dual apps and enable the toggle for any of the installed apps which you’d like to have two separate copies installed.
3. Palm Shutter
While taking selfies, it can get pretty tough to hit the shutter button. You are already holding the phone in an awkward position and the stretch to press the shutter button might create undue movement leading to the selfie coming out all blurry.
To make taking selfies easier, Xiaomi includes a handy Palm Shutter option on the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3. Switch to the front camera and enable the Palm Shutter mode. Then, once you are in position, simply bring your palm in front to trigger the camera shutter. A 3-second timer will start after which the selfie will be taken.
2. Second Space
Want to keep your personal and work profiles separate on your Redmi 7 or Redmi Y3? Use the Second space feature in MIUI 10. As the name suggests, the feature creates a ‘second’ space for your apps and Google accounts. This way, you can essentially have two different workspaces on the same phone for your personal and work needs.
You can set up Second space from Settings -> Second space.
1. Mi Mover
If you are switching to the Redmi 7 or Redmi Y3 from another smartphone, you must be wondering how you can easily transfer your photos and other data from your old phone. With Xiaomi’s Mi Mover app, the whole process is relatively easy. Just download the app from the Play Store and open it on both phones to start the transfer process.
What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3? Drop a comment and let us know!
