Unlocking HyperOS Secrets: Critical Fixes Xiaomi Must Address

In October 2023, Xiaomi unveiled their latest Android-based operating system, often referred to as an "Android skin," which goes by the name HyperOS. This new system took over from MIUI. To be frank, HyperOS turned out to resemble MIUI closely; although it brought about several beneficial updates, it also came with certain drawbacks. Without doubt, HyperOS is highly functional, yet considerable enhancements are necessary. Despite having great promise, Xiaomi’s HyperOS needs significant adjustments before it can fully mature.

I’ve been using HyperOS across a number of Xiaomi and Redmi devices thus far. During my time with it, I’ve noticed quite a few things I’d change. Just to be clear, some of these things, or maybe all of them, may not be a problem for you. However, I do believe that HyperOS has great potential, and with only a couple of right moves by Xiaomi, it can get there. As per usual with such articles/editorials, personal opinion does shine, so keep that in mind. Opinions differ. With that being said, let’s unpack HyperOS’ flaws, shall we? I’ll do it in no particular order.

Blocked third-party launchers

One of my main complaints about HyperOS is that it’s the sole significant Android interface that entirely prohibits third-party launchers. Unlike other manufacturers, which permit their use despite potential problems with gesture navigation—issues stemming from Google blocking third-party developer access to certain APIs—it maintains this restriction. This problem persists and they have attempted to lobby Google for changes.

On the contrary, Xiaomi decided to entirely prohibit third-party launchers for unspecified reasons. This wasn’t always how things stood; previously, MIUI didn’t have this restriction. Historically, Xiaomi devices performed exceptionally well with third-party launchers when it came to smooth animations and overall functionality. However, once they imposed these restrictions, it marked quite a significant shift. Given that many tech enthusiasts favor Xiaomi phones, permitting third-party launchers could enhance user experience considerably.

Push notifications

Yes, believe it or not, push notifications are still an issue on HyperOS. Well, at least the way it’s set up out of the box. I’ve been having an issue with most apps. Apps are set to ‘Battery Saver’ by default, which is the recommended setting. But if you release them from their restrictions via the settings (every app separately), you won’t have such issues. Notifications will be able to arrive on time, as they should.

Basically, average users wouldn't realize this detail naturally. It’s not something they would typically consider changing within the settings. This situation leads to an issue though; these individuals won’t receive alerts immediately, causing considerable frustration among them. Consequently, this dissatisfaction turns into displeasure directed at the brand—specifically Xiaomi—in such instances. Honestly speaking, addressing this ought to be high up on Xiaomi's list. Notifications must function as expected right from the start without needing adjustments.

Lock screen notifications

Push notifications are not the only notifications-related issue that I wanted to point out there. Lock screen notifications present another issue, well, at least for some. The way they’re set up now, they function similarly to what you’re getting on iOS. Needless to say, that won’t sit well with a lot of people. What’s the issue? Well, when you reach the lock screen, you’ll see your new notifications. Even if you don’t read/open them, however, and lock the display, the next time you reach the lock screen, they won’t be there.

Yes, they’ll still sit in the notification shade, but if you’re using your lock screen frequently, this is an issue. The vast majority of other Android OEMs don’t do that. Notifications will sit on your lock screen until you either dismiss them or open them, same as they will in the notification shade. This differentiation between the notification shade and lock screen is utterly unnecessary, and I do hope Xiaomi will get rid of it in the near future.

Status bar icons

Xiaomi could enhance the status bar feature on HyperOS as well. Several issues arise concerning this aspect. Firstly, it pertains to how notification icons are displayed. Typically, Xiaomi restricts you to just one application notification icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. However, this limitation can be overcome; you may activate up to three app notification icons to show simultaneously. Should your device receive over three distinct notifications, only those from the latest three applications will display.

Essentially, most other Android manufacturers let you have as many app notification icons displayed as will fit. They don't restrict you in this regard, which makes sense. The issue with Xiaomi isn't just that they set the default limit to one icon; it also caps your ability to show more than three icons at once. This is an entirely superfluous alteration introduced by HyperOS, something that wasn't present when using MIUI.

Additionally, it would be great if HyperOS enabled users to hide certain status bar icons. The constant presence of the Bluetooth icon, for instance, seems redundant since many individuals leave Bluetooth activated continuously for their smartwatches, earbuds, or various peripherals. Since these devices typically maintain an active connection, having this icon persistently displayed isn’t necessary. It’d be preferable if we had the option to eliminate it entirely and avoid visual clutter.

Home screen customization

HyperOS certainly provides extensive personalization options, but there's definitely space for enhancement. My attention was particularly drawn to the home screen. Here’s why: There are multiple improvements Xiaomi could implement that would greatly assist users. Primarily, it would be beneficial if HyperOS supported downloading and using icon packs directly from the Google Play Store. Currently, since third-party launchers aren’t an option, integrating these custom icons isn’t possible. Other major Android manufacturers enable this feature within their default interfaces; thus, there’s no valid rationale preventing Xiaomi from doing the same.

Additionally, offering users a wider range of grid sizes to select from would be beneficial. Currently, the available choices are quite restricted. This limitation is common among most other Android Original Equipment Manufacturers as well. Another aspect is the application dock located at the bottom of the home screen. Many users prefer not using this feature, hence it would be advantageous if we had the option to eliminate it entirely, resulting in a single cohesive workspace on the home screen.

Quick toggles

Xiaomi might consider enhancing the Quick Toggles screen as well. While it bears some resemblance to iOS, this isn’t necessarily an issue. In contrast with many other Android interfaces, Xiaomi doesn’t provide a distinct Settings toggle here. Instead, there is just one combined toggle among others. Although you have flexibility to rearrange it according to your preference, integrating it without separating it out makes it less user-friendly for many. Given how accustomed folks are to accessing settings directly from this section, having a standalone option would likely be beneficial.

On top of that, there are only two large toggles there, and you can’t change that, unfortunately. The only large toggles you get are the ones for WiFi and Mobile data. You cannot set the screen rotation toggle to be large, or the one for Bluetooth, for example. It would be nice if Xiaomi enabled this and allowed users to properly customize the Quick Toggles screen.

An annoying 10-second countdown

A significant irritation related to HyperOS involves the forced waiting period imposed by Xiaomi on its users. Essentially, each time you adjust a sophisticated feature, such as an accessibility option, a warning message appears. While this might seem typical—since all manufacturers implement something similar—the unusual aspect here is the mandatory 10-second wait before allowing user interaction. Although intended to ensure ample reading time of the warnings, repeating this process can be quite bothersome since you likely understand the implications after seeing them initially. Ideally, displaying this notice just once post-setup would make sense; yet, within HyperOS, these timeouts recur whenever complex settings are modified.

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