Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Setup Step By Step

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro

After 6 years of using the LG Nexus 5, today I bought the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro. Detailed comparison of features you can find in GSMArena: Nexus specsXiaomi specs.

Nexus 5 was a flagship in its day. Redmi Note 9 Pro is a mid-range smartphone in 2020. Nevertheless, the comparison is dizzying!

Detailed review and unboxing is available in the Appendix.

Below I describe the setup process according to my personal preferences. Actually, I don’t save any data locally. I mainly use cloud services like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Contacts, Google Photos, and Dropbox.

First boot

This is the usual procedure for basic device setup:

  • Language
  • Location
  • WiFi
  • Phone Lock (password, pattern, etc)
  • Google Account
  • MI Account
  • Default apps are also installed

You may skip some steps and complete them later.

Sample video in Appendix.

Preinstalled Apps

At the bottom of the screen always available:

First screen contains:

Second screen contains:

  • Settings
  • Weather
  • group Tools
  • MI Browser
  • group More Apps
  • group Games
  • and more

There are four “groups”

  • Google (Google app, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Youtube, Google Photos and more)
  • Tools (Clock, Calculator, Recorder, Screen Recorder, Compass, Radio, Scanner and more)
  • More Apps (Facebook, Netflix and more)
  • Games

At this time

  • MI PDF viewer or Google Drive PDF viewer opens pdf
  • MI Music plays mp3
  • MI Video or Google Photos plays mp4
  • MI photo viewer or Google Photos opens images (jpg, png)
  • MI file manager can extract zip files

Top Menu

Swipe down the top of the phone to display the Top Menu. Swipe more and full Menu will appear. It contains the most important tools for everyday use

  • Switch Mobile Data,
  • Switch WiFi
  • FlashLight
  • Mute
  • ScreenShot
  • Switch Bluetooth
  • Auto Brightness
  • Airplane mode
  • Lock screen
  • Switch Location
  • Switch Auto Rotate
  • Reading Mode

You can also set the Brightness of the Screen quite easily.

Various notifications are displayed below the Menu.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Top Menu
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Top Menu

Connect to WiFi

Connect to local WiFi. It will be detected automatically.

Basic Settings

Text Size

Settings → Display→ System Font → Text Size

Local Keyboard

Settings → Additional Settings → Input Methods → Manage Keyboards → Gboard→ Settings → Languages Settings → Add Keyboard

Screen Lock

Go to Settings β†’ Passwords & Security and select a screen lock method:

  • Pattern
  • Password
  • Fingerprint unlock
  • Face unlock

Smart Lock

It seems that Google Smart Lock does not work. You may go to

Settings → Additional settings → Privacy→ Trust agents → Smart Lock (Google)

but nothing happens.

Perform System Update (MIUI)

Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ System Update

Reboot required! Wait for updates to be applied.

System Apps Update

Settings β†’ System Apps Updater

Google Account Connect

Tap Google app and connect your Google account.

If you use 2FA (2-Step Verification), your username and password are not enough. In my case (see second image) I did 2FA with my old phone.

After you connect to Google, all Google Apps and Data will become available:

  • Chrome Bookmarks
  • Contacts will be available from Phone app
  • Google Drive files
  • Google Photos
  • and more

Moreover, the new phone is eligible to perform 2FA in Google Account. Go to Google Account β†’ Security β†’ 2-Step Verification:

Google 2FA
Google 2FA

Google Assistant

Google Assistant is available by long pressing Home Button.

You can enable “OK Google” to launch Assistant:

  • Go to Google App
  • Tap More at the bottom right
  • Then Settings β†’ Voice β†’ Voice match

More about Google Assistant here.

Find or Remotely Reset Your Phone

After you cennected to your Google Account, Find My Device is automatically turned on.

To find your phone go to:

https://myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone or https://android.com/find

Details here.

Find my Device is also available from Xiaomi, providing you have a MI account.

Perform the first Apps Update

From Google Play select “My Apps and Games” and apply all available updates as usual.

It is very interesting that in the Library tab, they are available all apps you have set up in other devices. This will make apps setup easier.

Google Play - Apps in other devices
Google Play – Apps in other devices

MI Account

MI account for Xiaomi users is something like Google account for Android users πŸ™‚ However, it is optional. Read more here and in this Reddit thread.

Apps

Common Apps and Tools

Security

  • Keepass2Android
    Password manager based on KeePass. This app can be connected with various cloud accounts (Dropbox, Google Drive etc), so passwords database can be synchronized between desktop workstation and mobile devices. KeepassXC can store 2FA codes and it can also generate TOTPs. But, please remember that having passwords and 2FA codes in the same database is a risk.
  • Twilio Authy 2FA
    2FA code generator. What is great with Authy is that your 2FA credentials are stored in their cloud, so you can restore them when you buy a new mobile device. Valuable app especially in case your device is stolen or destroyed. You don’t need the old device to restore your accounts, only the Backup password.
  • Google Authenticator
    Similar to Authy 2FA code generator. You need the old device to restore your accounts.
  • Microsoft Authenticator
    Basically for secure login to Microsoft Account. You need the old device to restore your accounts.
  • Lastpass
    Another password manager. It is the ideal solution when you need to share passwords with your team over the Internet.

Tools

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro - My device
My device

Multimedia

Social Media

e-Banking

Developer apps

  • Firefox Browser
  • Termux
    Amazing app, which combines powerful terminal emulation with an extensive Linux package collection. Read details in this post.

Health Apps

Fitness

Music

Sailing & Boating

Uninstall Apps

Customize the phone

  • Raise to wake
    Settings β†’ Lock Screen β†’ Raise to wake ON
  • Remove Camera Watermark
    Settings β†’ Apps β†’ System app settings β†’ Camera β†’ Watermark Off
  • Percentage in Battery indicator
  • Settings β†’ Display β†’ Notch & Status Bar β†’ Battery Indicator β†’ Percentage (next to the icon)
  • Website shortcuts
    “Add to home screen” for some favorites websites

Physical keyboard

Read details in this post.

Adding an SD Card

Adding an SD card in a very fast phone with 128 GB memory is an unnecessary surplus and it is not recommended.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro - SIM & SD card
SIM & SD card

However, if you attach an SD card (in my case SanDisk Extreme 32GB), Redmi will recognize it and will format it for portable storage.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro - SD card files
SD card files

If you want to format (again) the SD card (for portable storage), go to

Settings β†’ About phone β†’ Storage

Find SC CARD and tap Erase USB storage

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro - Format SD card
Format SD card

There is not an easy way to format an SD card for internal storage. See this Reddit thread for details.

Appendix

Unboxing and Review

Detailed review and unboxing is available here.

First Boot Proccess

SIM and SD card Installation

MI account features

https://youtu.be/CDBKSx-UJRU

Customize

Remove Camera Watermark

How to take screenshots

  • Press Volume Down and Power at the same time OR
  • Use Top menu

Find screenshots in Gallery

Mice, keyboards, gamepads

Read here. See the following video. See also a tutorial for Bluetooth keyboards.

Fastboot mode

To start in Fastboot mode, press the Power button together with Volume down. See this video.

Reset phone – Wipe data

To reset the phone, press the Power button together with Volume up. See this video.