Xiaomi: Difference between revisions

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Most of the data is sent to servers in Singapore which belong to Chinese tech giant Alibaba Cloud. Users can verify themselves which connections are made by using the connection log feature in an app such as No Root Firewall, NetGuard or [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control]. This shows the phones sometimes suddenly getting really "chatty", at times in the middle of the night.

The only way to mitigate this is to use a custom ROM such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.

The only way to mitigate this is to [[Bootloader unlocking|use a custom ROM]] such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.

===Links to the Chinese government===

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===Preinstalled bloat on smartphones===

Xiaomi smartphones out of the box run on their custom version of Android known as HyperOS (formerly MIUI) which comes bundled with a plethora of preinstalled first and third party apps. The preinstalled third party apps can be easily uninstalled with a few clicks whereas the same is not applicable for the preinstalled first party apps. The option to uninstall them is either greyed out or just outright missing, requiring advanced methods such as ADB to uninstall.

===Xiaomi Home===

Xiaomi's ecosystem of smart home devices is primarily managed through the '''Xiaomi Home''' (formerly Mi Home) application. Xiaomi does not provide a browser-based control panel for managing devices. Users must install the proprietary Xiaomi Home app on their smartphones. For desktop usage, the only workaround is to run an Android emulator, as there is no official native application for Windows, Linux, or macOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Sam |date=29 Aug 2025 |title=Which platforms does the Mi Home/Xiaomi Home APP support? |url=https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-515616/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref>

===Xiaomi Fitness bands===

Xiaomi has a series of smart watches and fitness bands. While watches are expected to be used alongside a phone, requiring Bluetooth synchronization therefore activation, fitness bands such as the Mi Band series or Redmi Band series could be expected not being used with a phone for sports functions such as heart rate monitoring, steps counting and more. But they need pairing to be first turned on. Pairing requires installing the Mi Fitness app, agreeing to its terms and services and creating an account in order to use the device.

==References==

[[Category:Xiaomi]]

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 Most of the data is sent to servers in Singapore which belong to Chinese tech giant Alibaba Cloud. Users can verify themselves which connections are made by using the connection log feature in an app such as No Root Firewall, NetGuard or [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control]. This shows the phones sometimes suddenly getting really "chatty", at times in the middle of the night.
-The only way to mitigate this is to use a custom ROM such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.
+The only way to mitigate this is to [[Bootloader unlocking|use a custom ROM]] such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [https://www.lineageos.org LineageOS]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as Firefox (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible.
 ===Links to the Chinese government===
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 ===Preinstalled bloat on smartphones===
 Xiaomi smartphones out of the box run on their custom version of Android known as HyperOS (formerly MIUI) which comes bundled with a plethora of preinstalled first and third party apps. The preinstalled third party apps can be easily uninstalled with a few clicks whereas the same is not applicable for the preinstalled first party apps. The option to uninstall them is either greyed out or just outright missing, requiring advanced methods such as ADB to uninstall.
+===Xiaomi Home===
+Xiaomi's ecosystem of smart home devices is primarily managed through the '''Xiaomi Home''' (formerly Mi Home) application. Xiaomi does not provide a browser-based control panel for managing devices. Users must install the proprietary Xiaomi Home app on their smartphones. For desktop usage, the only workaround is to run an Android emulator, as there is no official native application for Windows, Linux, or macOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Sam |date=29 Aug 2025 |title=Which platforms does the Mi Home/Xiaomi Home APP support? |url=https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-515616/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref>
+===Xiaomi Fitness bands===
+Xiaomi has a series of smart watches and fitness bands. While watches are expected to be used alongside a phone, requiring Bluetooth synchronization therefore activation, fitness bands such as the Mi Band series or Redmi Band series could be expected not being used with a phone for sports functions such as heart rate monitoring, steps counting and more. But they need pairing to be first turned on. Pairing requires installing the Mi Fitness app, agreeing to its terms and services and creating an account in order to use the device.
 ==References==
 <references />
 [[Category:Xiaomi]]