Some things in that port worked fine, while others didn’t. Stuff like VoLTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth–for example–are working okay. But, excessive battery drain remains a problem. And the way OK Google functions is choppy at best.

Still, the Android 9 Pie GSI installation offered improvements that impressed us.

New Android 9 Pie Features

You’d have to install the Android 9 port first to understand why we love it so much. All the same, here are the enhancements that we couldn’t get enough of.

Enhanced Messaging

The messaging experience is way better on the Android Pie than on previous releases. The most notable feature is the use of avatars. Messages now include both the name and picture of the sender. And notifications can even display thumbnails of attached images from the message body.

If you’re a coder, these are the methods that now help you exploit the new messaging features listed above.

Create a sender with an avatar:

Person sender = new Person()
.setName(name)
.setUri(uri)
.setIcon(null)
.build();

Create a message notification that includes an image:

Message message = new Message("Picture", time, sender)
.setData("image/", imageUri);

Lockable Rotation Modes

I know you’ll love this one: you can now set the rotation to not change. Say you’re viewing something on your display and you’ve rotated it to landscape mode. In previous OSes, that would change back to portrait mode when you turned the display again. And that was quite irksome if the change in orientation was unintentional.

But thanks to Android Pie, we now have a button that pins the orientation to the mode you’re using at any given moment.

Enhanced Battery Usage

The Mi A1 used to disappoint us with the way it squandered its battery charge. Thus, it forced us to look for ways to deal with its wakelocks, for example, in an attempt to remedy the problem.

The good thing with the Android 9 Pie GSI port is that it handles battery usage out of the box.

Its Adaptive Battery feature extends battery life by limiting errant, background apps. Using app standby buckets, it allows the active apps to work without interruption. But the idle ones face restrictions, which reduces their battery usage.

Brightness that Adapts to Ambient Lighting

It seems the Android Pie release seeks to solve all the problems the Mi A1 suffers from. And the lack of proper brightness control was one of the most bothersome among these. See, it cascaded into issues like image retention and screen burn-in. But with the Adaptive Brightness feature on Android 9, these may well be a thing of the past.

The enhancement works so well because it learns your brightness preferences. It learns how you set levels and combines that with sensors’ data to try to match the ambient lighting. This means that a user may spend less time tinkering with the display. And this could save the display from premature deterioration.

Installation Recap

Remember, if you followed the previous post on how to install Android 9 Pie GSI on Mi A1, these are the files you flashed:

Using these, the hardware below works as it should. (But, some bugs do creep in too.)

What Works

• 3.5mm audio jack
• Bluetooth
• SIM, mobile data, and voice calls (both incoming and outgoing)
• VoLTE
• Wi-Fi
• Fingerprint Reader

Still, the ones below do work but users have noted that they are not perfect:

• Camera: If you have installed the Xiaomi Mi A2, it may crash often
• Microphone: Mic recording seems to fail sometimes. Thus, it affects apps like OK Google.

Reported Bugs

With that said, you would have noted that the Android 9 Pie GSI installation has a few bugs. These may include:

• SELinux remains permissive
• Double tap to wake doesn’t work as expected
• Fingerprint and capacitive navigation keys may have very weak haptic feedback
• The Mi A2 camera (we prefer this over the one for Mi A1) crashes often

So, in a second we’ll see how you can fix most of these issues.

How to Fix an Installation of Android 9 Pie GSI on Xiaomi Mi A1

• Before you continue, you’ll need ADB that is compatible with your new installation.
  • So, flash this boot image ADB patcher using TWRP recovery: bootimage_adb_unsecure.zip. (Credits: XDA recognized developer, AdrianDC.)
• Make sure you have ADB drivers installed on your computer too.
• Remember to use the TWRP by, XDA senior member, CosmicDan.
  • TWRP installer: TWRP-Installer-3.2.1-with-Tissot-Manager-2.4.zip
• You’ll also need to have root access on your Mi A1.
  • For this, flash XDA recognized developer topjohnwu‘s Magisk v16.7: Magisk-v16.7.zip

With that out of the way, you can now start addressing the issues below.

Google Backup Stuck on “Waiting to Sync”

• Enable USB debugging on your Mi A1
• Connect the device to a computer using a USB cable
• Force device to sync to Google using these commands:

adb shell
bmgr run
bmgr backupnow --all

• Reboot

MTP not Working

• Turn on Developer settings (tap Build Number four times)
• Go to Default USB configuration
• Press File transfer

Want to use Substratum Themes

• Install Substratum theme engine:
  • Substratum by R3Ds: Substratum_998-Pie.apk
• Find a theme that supports Android 9 Pie. Examples include:
  • Outline for Substratum 

    Outline for Substratum (Free, Google Play) →

  • Compound for Substratum 

    Compound for Substratum (Android Pie/Oreo/Nougat) (1,69 €, Google Play) →

  • Ethereal for Substratum

    Ethereal for Substratum (Free, Google Play) →

• Choose the overlays that suit your purposes
• From the floating action bar, select Build & Enable

Experiencing Excessive Battery Drain

Android Pie promises better battery performance than previous OSes. So, if you still find that your battery discharges fast, you will have to disable USB debugging.

Mi A2 Camera Crashes: Use GCam Instead

• Install the Pixel 2 camera mod by XDA senior member Arnova8G2. Find the link below.
  • Pixel2Mod: GoogleCamera-Pixel2Mod-Arnova8G2-V8.2.apk
• But, if you want support for dual camera, install the camera mod by XDA senior member cstark27 instead. Find the link below.
  • Cstark27 GCam v5.1: cstark27_GCam_5.1.018_24_tele_v0.1a.apk
• You could also try out other GCam mods.
  • Find them here: Google Camera Port page

Don’t forget to share whether there is a mod that works better than the ones I’ve listed above. Head on to the comments section for that.

GCam Settings Force Closes

• Use TWRP recovery to flash this Magisk mod:
  • GCam Magisk Fix by joeyhuab: Pie_GCamFix_Magisk_Tissot.zip
• Reboot

Need an Alternative to Google Photos

• Install a gallery app from LineageOS. Find the link below.
  • LineageOS gallery app: gallery_port_los.apk

Need a Boot Logo Alternative

• Using TWRP recovery, flash this file by joeyhuab:
  • Pixel 2 boot logo: Pixel2Bootlogo_tissot.zip
• Reboot

Need Nav Bar Gestures

• Flash this Magisk mod by joeyhaub using TWRP:
  • Enable nav bar: Pie_NavBarEnabler_Magisk_Tissot.zip
• Reboot
• Go to Settings, System, then Gestures
• Select Swipe Up on Home Button

Note: Your Mi A1’s capacitive keys will no longer work after this process.

Want to Tweak the Launcher

• If you want to use custom icon packs, change labels, and more then install the app below.
  • Pixel Launcher Mods by XDA recognized developer Quinny899: pixel_launcher_mods_v1.2.apk
  • You can also download the app from its official page. But, you’ll need XDA membership for that.

OK Google Does not Work as it Should

• Using TWRP recovery, flash the latest modem file by joeyhaub. Find the link below.
  • 8.1 July 1 Modem: Tissot_8.1_July_1_Modem.zip
• Reboot

With these tweaks, your Android Pie installation should work smoothly.

But, what if you want to go back to stock ROM? And you want to “un-trebelize” your Mi A1?

The steps below will show you how to remove this Android 9 Pie GSI port from your phone.

How to go back to Stock ROM from Android 9 Pie GSI

Note: The process below will wipe your device clean, so remember to make a backup of your files.

Prerequisites:

• Download the latest, stable ROM. Find the link below.
  • Stock ROM/firmware: tissot_images_V9.6.4.0.ODHMIFE_20180712.0000.00_8.0_735823083f.tgz
  • Save the file to a computer and decompress it. Rename the extracted file by adding a .zip suffix.
  • Decompress the renamed file. You should end up with a folder named: tissot_images_V9.6.4.0.ODHMIFE_8.0
• Download the MiFlash tool and install it. Find the link below.
  • MiFlash v7.4.25: MiFlashSetup_eng.msi

Steps:

1. Boot into TWRP recovery. For that, you should restart the phone by holding down the power and volume up buttons.
2. On the main TWRP screen press Advanced then Tissot Manager
3. TWRP will display a Disclaimer notice. Click Next after reading it.
4. On the Tissot Manager screen, press Repartition
5. The manager will present you with a Repartition for Treble notice. Select the option I wish to repartition this device after reading it. Then, press Repartition
6. The repartitioning may take a minute. Wait for it to finish then press Reboot TWRP.
   • Note: The repartitioning removes Treble support from your Mi A1–it “un-trebelizes” the phone.
7. Once TWRP restarts, press Reboot on the main screen.
8. Then press Bootloader on the Reboot screen
9. The device will switch to fastboot mode. Now, connect your Mi A1 to a computer.
10. Run MiFlash v7.4.25 as an administrator on the computer
11. Select the stock ROM by browsing to where you saved the firmware folder
12. Press refresh on the MiFlash tool. (Your Mi A1 should now show up on the flash tool.)
13. Select clean at the bottom of the flash tool’s screen if you want to remain with an unlocked bootloader. Otherwise, choose: clean all.
14. Press flash at the top of the flash tool’s screen to start the installation of the stock ROM
15. Wait for the flashing process to finish. Your phone will then reboot into stock ROM

Final Thoughts

Android Pie is Google’s most advanced mobile OS. And we got a chance to try out an Android 9 Pie GSI port on Xiaomi Mi A1. But, the installation had a few issues. So, in this post, I suggested a few tweaks. Using these, Android Pie should be usable smoothly.

Still, for those who would want to go back to stock ROM, I added a guide on how to do so. The process removes Treble support on the Mi A1 completely.

Well, I know this might have been a bit of lengthy post. But, I hope that you got some useful tips from it.

If you have any suggestions or need further help, don’t hesitate to share in the comments section.

The post Android 9 Pie GSI on Xiaomi Mi A1: Workarounds appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

When you use an app for long on the Xiaomi Mi A1 or Redmi Note 4, for example, the screen retains images even after you exit.

True, this doesn’t affect the phone’s usage in a significant way. But it definitely makes the experience less enjoyable.

The debate is on whether screen burn-in is a software- or hardware-related issue. Well, it can’t be a hardware issue. See, many devices use LCD screens. But not all suffer from image retention. Plus, modders have come up with ways of reducing the problem using software tweaks. It thus shows that the issue is a matter of how manufacturers calibrate their screens.

The Mi A1s featuring Tianma LCD screens are susceptible to ghosting. By contrast, it is rare to hear of the same from those using BOE panels.

How would you know the LCD variant your phone uses?

1. Open Settings then About phone
2. Tap Kernel version five times
3. Choose option 1

If you see something like mdss_dsi_nt35532, then your phone uses a BOE LCD. Those reading mdss_dsi_nt35596 are by Tianma.

If you have the guts, there’s also a way of identifying LCD variants by opening up a phone’s internals.

All the same, the problem seems to mostly affect the notification area.

See the shot below.

Screen ghosting isn’t limited to Xiaomi devices alone. Google’s own Pixel phones have been displaying these issues too. Pixel 2 XL users, for instance, have reported that their devices suffer from ghosting.

What Causes Screen Burn-in?

Leaving an image displaying on the panel for an extended period of time is usually the main cause. Yet that’s unavoidable in some cases. Take the notification area, for example. This element shows regardless of what app you’ve opened. So it’s hard to avoid having this area burning-in to the display.

Granted, Android has ways of changing the hue of the notification area. Still, if you ask users, the OS’ approach hasn’t made the problem go away.

Static UI elements continue to be a common feature in both the pure Android experience and MIUI. These increase the possibility of services leaving ghost images on the screen.

But as the points below show, there are ways of preventing the issue in the first place.

How to Prevent Screen Burn-in

Preventing screen ghosting boils down to reducing the time any UI element displays. Reducing the brightness of the entire panel also seems to help.

1. Deal with Brightness

Mi A1 users have the Adaptive Brightness option for setting auto brightness. And the Redmi Note 4 has the Automatic mode in the display settings.

These two promise to change panel brightness according to ambient lighting. Yet, some users have found them ineffective at best.

So, a viable option would be to install apps to replace the native offerings. See examples below.

• Lux Lite: com.vitocassisi.luxlite.apk or from Play Store link
• Velis Auto Brightness: com.velis.auto.brightness.apk or from Play Store link

2. Reduce Screen Timeout

It is even better to make the screen stay on for as short a time as possible. When you use this option with the auto brightness feature, you reduce the stress on the device’s panel considerably.

The option is somewhat straightforward on the Mi A1. But, as you’ll see in a second, it takes a bit more work on the Redmi Note 4.

On the Redmi Note 4 (MIUI)

1. Go to  Settings, System & Device, then Lock screen & password
2. Press Sleep
3. Change it to a faster timeout value, say, sleep after 2 minutes

On the Mi A1 (Android One)

1. Go to Display, then Sleep
2. Change the Sleep setting to the desired value

But what if you want to get the Screen timeout option on the quick tiles?

You’d have to install an app that exposes Quick Settings Tile API. One such app is Quick Settings. Download or find it in the links below.

• Quick Settings: it.simonesestito.ntiles.apk or from its Play Store link

3. Disable Navigation Bar on Redmi Note 4

Whereas the navigation bar on the Mi A1 is physical, the one on the Redmi Note 4 shows on the screen.

So, since the bar is prone to leaving artifacts on the panel, you’d have to make it show when you want it to. Here’s how to do it:

First, find the Buttons option on the quick settings/toggle panel.

What if it’s not on that panel already?

1. Go to Settings, Notifications & status bar, then Toggle positions
2. Drag the Buttons toggle button to the quick settings bar

Otherwise, you can also set when you want the navigation buttons to show. For this you’ll need to:

• Go to Additional settings, Buttons, then Automatically disable navigation buttons

Once there, you can set the apps you’d want the navigation bar to show.

Well, these tips work when your screen doesn’t have burn-in showing in the first place. But what if you’re LCD has image retention issues already? Read on to see how you can fix it.

How to Fix Screen Burn-in

Users have reported varying levels of success when remedying screen burn-in. It all depends on how bad the problem is on your device. If it’s a trivial matter, apps could reduce ghosting for you.

But, when the issue is persistent you may have to consider installing a custom ROM. The good thing about this approach is that it gives you more control over how your screen behaves.

Using Apps

Using apps is only a matter of installing a given option and testing it out on your device. Here are some options:

• LCD Burn-in Wiper: appinventor.ai_avaworks00.LCDBurnInWiper.apk or from its Play Store link
• Display Tester: com.gombosdev.displaytester.apk or from its Play Store link

Using Custom ROMs

Custom ROMs are excellent at using tweaks to deal with issues that users complain about.

Take LineageOS, for example. It has inbuilt protection against screen burn-in. See the pertinent code below.

<dimen name="burnin_protection_horizontal_shift">3dp</dimen>
<dimen name="burnin_protection_vertical_shift">1dp</dimen>

So, if you have LineageOS running on your device, you’re in luck.

When the problem is nonetheless evident, you may have to resort to color calibration.

How to Calibrate Color on the LineageOS ROM (and other AOSP-based ROMs)

1. Go to Settings, then Color calibration
2. Increase the RGB values to a value higher than 90%. See the screenshot below.

How to Calibrate Color on the Resurrection Remix ROM

1. Go to Settings then Display

2. Press LiveDisplay, then Color calibration3. Set the all the RGB values to anything higher than 90%

Thanks: Reddit user IuliusDeBlobbis

Using a kernel tweaking tool

If your Mi A1 or Redmi Note 4 has root access, this method may work for you.

Related: [Guide] How to Root Xiaomi Mi A1

1. Install a kernel tweak tool. An excellent app is the Kernel Adiutor. (And yes, “Adiutor” is the correct spelling.) See links below.
   • Kernel Adiutor: com.grarak.kerneladiutor.apk or from its Play Store link
2. After installation, open the app and navigate to Screen (Color Calibration [RGB])
3. Set the RGB values to something higher than 230. (This is equal to 90% of the max RGB value of 255—see screenshot below.)
4. Reboot to apply the changes

Final Thoughts

Screen burn-in affects how you enjoy a device’s usage. Some people may not be as keen to note it. But, in a high-res panel, ghost images are usually annoying.

Luckily, there are ways of reducing the chances of a screen ever showing ghosting. They include reducing the brightness and making screens to timeout faster.

If your device suffers from screen burn-in already, some apps may help you solve such an issue.

But, it’s recommended to install a custom ROM if you want greater control over how a panel behaves. And for those with root access, kernel auditors may remedy ghosting issues better.

Over to you: What steps are you taking to prevent screen burn-in? Have these tips worked for you? Share your experiences and suggestions in the comments below.

The post Screen Burn-in Fixes: Xiaomi Mi A1 and Redmi Note 4 appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

Is excessive battery drain on Xiaomi Mi A1 such an issue?

Many people are displeased about how fast their Mi A1s are losing battery power.

For example, XDA member felipovicc complained that his device didn’t go into deep sleep when it was idle. As the screenshot below shows, a kernel service named 7000000.ssusb used up to 59% of the battery power.

MIUI senior member Kintsugi also complained about 7000000.ssusb. He found out that it used about half of his Mi A1’s idle battery power. See the screenshot below.

XDA member AkCullen tried out a few things to reduce the excessive battery drain. Yet, despite stopping background apps and calibrating the battery his device lost about 80% of its power while in idle mode.

What are wakelocks?

Smartphones have smaller battery sizes than, say, laptops or PCs. Battery life is thus a key concern for most phone users. Besides, most manufacturers market their devices by claiming that they can last a full day on a single charge.

Android 7 introduced the Doze mode to force devices to go into deep sleep. So, in ideal situations, a Xiaomi Mi A1 phone should activate Doze when its screen is off and a user has not touched it for some time.

Still, at times, apps need to wake up the CPU or screen to complete some tasks. These apps use wakelocks, which prevent devices from going into deep sleep fully.

Android power management

Android’s PowerManager APIs expose wakelocks to apps. Using wakelocks, apps can then prevent devices from entering suspend mode. These APIs assume that wakelocks would work for short periods of time. So, once background services have completed their tasks, they are supposed to release them. Otherwise, wakelocks that linger on may drain battery power quickly.

Examples wakelocks’ states

The Android PowerManager API defines several wakelock states. See below.

• PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK:
  • Wakes up the CPU
• SCREEN_DIM_WAKE_LOCK:
  • Wakes up the CPU
  • Activates the screen in dim mode
• SCREEN_BRIGHT_WAKE_LOCK:
  • Wakes up the CPU
  • Activates the screen in bright mode
• FULL_WAKE_LOCK:
  • Wakes up the CPU
  • Activates the screen in bright mode
  • Lights up the keyboard

Power management on Android 9 pie

Android Pie has introduced new ways of improving battery performance. The OS tries to give resources to those apps that need them the most. It uses two major features:

1. Restricting resource usage when battery saver is on: It applies the limits on all apps.
2. App standby buckets: The system monitors app usage patterns. Then, it limits the use of resources, like CPU, depending on the apps’ needs.

Thus, a simple method of improving the battery performance on Xiaomi Mi A1 is to install Android Pie.

Related: Install Android 9 Pie on Xiaomi Mi A1

Wakelocks vs. wakeups

Some apps can wake up devices at a specific time. They use the AlarmManager API to force a device to come out of sleep mode. Using the PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK flag, they can run given tasks by activating the AlarmManager API.

Yet, poor app design causes some services to make excessive wakeup calls. Such applications may lead to quick battery drainage.

How to deal with rogue wakelocks on Xiaomi Mi A1

An earlier post shared tips on how to make the Xiaomi Mi A1’s last longer. It listed tactics like turning off Google Sync and disabling unused services. It also advised users to install apps like Greenify, BetterBatteryStats, and GSam Battery Monitor.

Likewise, today I’ll share three working methods of dealing with excessive battery drain on Xiaomi Mi A1. The first one requires root while the last two don’t.

How to stop wakelocks on Xiaomi Mi A1 with root

This method uses the Amplify app.

It also needs two things to work:

1. Root access: See the guide on how to root Xiaomi Mi A1
2. Xposed Framework: See steps for installation below

Installing the Xposed Framework on Xiaomi Mi A1

• Download the Xposed Framework for your OS’s variant below:
  • Android 7.1: xposed-v89-sdk25-arm64.zip
  • Android 8.0: xposed-v90-sdk26-arm64-beta3.zip
  • Android 8.1: xposed-v90-sdk27-arm64-beta3.zip
• Flash the right .zip file using, say, TWRP custom recovery

Related: Download TWRP custom recovery for Xiaomi Mi A1

• Install the Xposed installer. Using the .apk file below
  • Xposed installer: xposed-installer-3-1-5.apk

With that out of the way, go ahead and install the Amplify app. Find the Play Store link above.

Use the app’s recommended defaults if you’re unsure of how to proceed. Otherwise, the app has ways of customizing the behavior of all services, alarms, and wakelocks running on your device.

How to stop wakelocks on Xiaomi Mi A1 without root

Wakelock Detector Lite and BetterBatteryStats do not require root access to manage wakelocks. Still, you’ll need to set up ADB drivers for the two to work.

Related:

How to install ADB/Fastboot drivers on PC
How to install ADB and Fastboot Drivers on Mac OS
How to flash recovery.img and install ADB on Linux OS

Using the Wakelock Detector

You can use the Wakelock Detector method in two ways. One, where you install a chrome extension. And two, where you pass permissions to the app using the terminal/command line.

Using a chrome browser extension

The app’s browser extension works on Google Chrome only. Thus, you’ll have to install the browser if you don’t have it on your PC already.

Prerequisites:

1. Download and install Wakelock Detector Lite on your Mi A1
2. Install the Google Chrome extension for Wakelock Detector: Unlocker for WakeLockDetector
3. Enable USB debugging mode on your device

Steps:

1. Connect your device to PC using USB
2. Connect the phone’s as a media device. Go to Storage/USB computer connection, then, select connect as Media device (MTP).
3. Run the Wakelock Detector Lite app on your phone
4. Run the Unlocker for WakelockDetector extension on Chrome browser. You should get a screen like the one below.
5. Press the USB icon named Connection mode on the extension
6. The extension will make your phone to bring up a dialog asking for RSA confirmation. Select Allow from this computer, then press OK
7. As another option, the Grant Battery stats button may turn to a thumbs up icon. If this happens, press it instead of the USB icon to give the app the required permissions

Using the terminal/command line

1. Connect your device to a computer using a USB cable
2. Type the commands below on the terminal or command line

$ adb tcpip 5555

$ adb shell pm grant com.uzumapps.wakelockdetector.noroot android.permission.BATTERY_STATS

After that, you may use the app to stop rogue wakelocks by:

1. Charging your device to full charge
2. Disconnecting the charger and using the phone for about one to two hours
3. Opening the app and noting the services or apps showing excessive wakelock usage
4. Stopping the offending apps from draining your device’s battery

Using BetterBatteryStats

The BetterBatteryStats method is very similar to the one by the Wakelock Detector app. The key difference is that with BetterBatteryStats, you will use the command line alone.

If you have the ADB drivers all set up, you should thus start managing wakelocks using the steps below.

1. Download and install the Package Name Viewer app from Play Store. You’ll see in a second how the application comes in handy when you need to stop specific wakelocks.
2. Enable USB debugging on your device
3. Connect it to a computer using a USB cable
4. Run the command: adb devices
5. If the terminal responds with the name of your device (or, if using Linux, it returns: no permissions), you can proceed to the next step. If this step fails, it means that your ADB drivers’ installation has a problem.
6. Give the BATTERY_STATS permission to the BetterBatteryStats app using the commands below:

$ adb -d shell pm grant com.asksven.betterbatterystats android.permission.BATTERY_STATS

$ adb -d shell pm grant com.asksven.betterbatterystats android.permission.DUMP

$ adb -d shell pm grant com.asksven.betterbatterystats android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS

After that, you may run the app on your phone to see which services are running excessive wakelocks.

If you’ve noticed an offending app/service or two, use the steps below to stop their wakelocks.

1. Run Package Name Viewer to find out the package name of the culprit. Note that package name somewhere. So, let’s say the app draining your battery is Facebook Lite. Its package name is com.facebook.lite
2. Then, connect your phone to a computer using USB, then run the adb devices command
3. If successful, run the command: adb shell
4. Then: cmd appops set com.facebook.lite WAKE_LOCK ignore

That’s it! You’ve managed to force your device to turn down all unruly wakelock requests.

Over to you

In this post, we’ve seen that wakelocks may cause your smartphone to drain its battery power quickly. Remember, some Xiaomi Mi A1 users claim that the problem is so bad that they lose up to 80% of their charge in only two hours of idle time.

Remember, wakelock requests are not bad things per se. Still, if your device seems to lose its battery power without reason, you may have to install apps like the ones we’ve seen above. These will help you kill services or apps that misbehave.

So, these are just but some of the ways that may deal with wakelocks on an Android device. If you’ve tried them out, please share your experience in the comments section. Also, don’t hesitate to point out new, better ways of handling excessive battery drain.

The post Excessive Battery Drain on Xiaomi Mi A1? Deal with Wakelocks appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

Despite promising a stock-like Android Oreo experience, the Mi A2 favors a custom camera app over Google Camera. And for good reason too. The Mi A2 camera contains a few software tricks. It shoots in portrait mode, for example, using an intelligent system for choosing sensors. Its shots are some of the best for midrange devices.

The Mi A2 camera app is thus an excellent addition to any Xiaomi device. So, it was a welcome development to hear that ports of the app have made their way to the Xiaomi Mi A1 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Thanks to XDA member Dipesh17, you can now try out the Mi A2 camera on the Mi A1. Also, XDA senior member carlosggb has created a port of the camera for the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

How to use Xiaomi Mi A2 camera app on other models

You’ll need to do a few things first before you can install the Mi A2 camera. See below.

Prerequisites:

• Root permissions

Related: How to root Xiaomi Mi A1

• Install TWRP custom recovery

Related: Download TWRP custom recovery for Xiaomi Mi A1

If you’ve done the above, you may now proceed with the installation.

Installation:

• Download these two files first:
  • Mi A2 Camera for Mi A1 by Dipesh17: MiA2Cam-v10.zip
  • Camera A2 Experimental by Dipesh17: Camera_A2_Experimental2.zip
• Boot into TWRP and flash the Mi A2 Camera for Mi A1 zip file.
• Restart the device
• Boot into TWRP again and flash the Camera A2 Experimental zip file
• Restart the device to test out the Mi A2 camera on your Mi A1

Troubleshooting

• Some users have reported ending up with an app named 60 in place of the Mi A2 camera. This app crashes on opening. If you face such a problem try out this mod by XDA senior member joeyhuab:
  • Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera: Xiaomi-Mi-A2-Stock-Camera-v8.zip
• Download and flash it to replace the Mi A2 Camera by Dipesh17
• Also, if you’re using an Android Pie ROM, use this mod by joeyhaub instead:
  • Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera for Pie GSI: Pie_MiA2Cam_Magisk_Tissot_v3_INSTALL_IN_TWRP.zip

How to install Xiaomi Mi A2 camera on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

Before you consider this mod, you should note that:

The Mi A2 camera port for Redmi Note 5 Pro doesn’t work on MIUI-based ROMs.

Prerequisites:

• TWRP custom recovery for Redmi Note 5 Pro
  • TWRP 3.2.3: twrp-3.2.3-0-whyred.img
• Remove/uninstall Google Camera (if you have it on your Redmi Note 5 Pro, that is). It may cause some conflicts with the Mi A2 camera
• Enable Camera2API
  • Flash this file using TWRP to enable Camera2API: Camera_2API.zip

Installation:

• Download the Mi A2 camera for Redmi Note 5 Pro by carlosggb: MiA2Cam-v10.zip
• Flash the camera mod using TWRP
• Restart device

Possible bugs:

• The Mi A2 camera may crash when you activate slow motion
• HD (1080p) video lacks image stabilization
• Auto HDR mode doesn’t work
• You may see some lag when switching between the front and back camera

These aside, the Mi A2 camera produces beautiful shots.

The post Install Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera App on Xiaomi Mi A1 and Redmi Note 5 Pro appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

• Enhanced notifications
• Support for several, physical cameras
• Enhanced forms autofill

But officially, the Mi A1 doesn’t support project Treble. Yet thanks to senior XDA member joeyhuab, you can “Treble-ize” the Android One device.

How to install Android 9 on Mi A1 (tissot)

Related:

Check if your device supports Treble using a terminal app, like Termux.

Download, install, and open the app.

Run the command: getprop ro.treble.enabled

You’ll get either true or false

If you get true, then your device supports Treble.

How to Install Android Pie on Xiaomi Mi A1

You’ll need to note a few, important things first:

• The Android 9 Pie GSI (Generic System Image) ROM is unstable/experimental. Don’t expect to use it as a daily driver.
• This guide will repartition your device’s userdata partition. So, remember to backup your files.
• You’ll need an unlocked bootloader.

Related: how to unlock bootloader on Xiaomi Mi A1.

• This guide works for only Mi A1 devices that run stock ROM.

Required files:

You’ll need a few files for the exercise. Download these first. See links below.

• TWRP with Tissot Manager installer by XDA senior member CosmicDan: TWRP-Installer-3.2.1-with-Tissot-Manager-2.4.zip
• Vendor image by XDA senior member ghpranav: vendor-20180705.img
• Android 9 GSI:
  • A/B system: by XDA-recognized developer erfanoabdi: P-PR1-sGSI-AB.zip. Extract the .zip archive to get the .img file named P_PR1_AB.img.
  • POST-sGSI 1 by joeyhuab: POST-sGSI_1_v0.14_Pie_Tissot.zip
  • POST-sGSI 2 by joeyhuab: POST-sGSI_2_v0.17_Pie_Tissot.zip

  Hint:

  Collect these three files in a new folder. Give the folder a simple name like “android9.” Avoid any spaces in the filename.

• A treble-compatible kernel (any among these three would do):
  • Moun Kernel 5.4 by XDA-recognized developer mountaser halak: Moun_Kernel_V5.4-TissotTreble.zip
  • ProjectK r17 by XDA senior member khusika: ProjectK-r17.zip
  • Velocity r8 by XDA senior member kdragon: velocity_kernel-tissot-r8-20180619.zip
• Magisk v16.7 by XDA-recognized developer topjohnwu: Magisk-v16.7.zip

After collecting these files, install Android Pie on your Xiaomi Mi A1 with these steps.

• Allow USB debugging in Settings/System/Developer options
• Flash the TWRP with Tissot Manager installer using fastboot.
  

  Related: How to flash TWRP custom recovery on Xiaomi Mi A1

• Boot into TWRP custom recovery
• Format userdata partition
  • Go to Wipe/Advanced Wipe
  • Press Format Data, then Yes
• After formatting, enable Treble support:
  • On the main TWRP screen, go to Advanced/Tissot Manager
  • After reading the disclaimer, press Next, then Repartition/Shrink Userdata
  • After this, the custom recovery will bring up the dual boot options screen. Choose Single-boot
  • Enable Treble support by selecting the Repartition option
  • After repartition, press Reboot TWRP
• Then, flash the vendor image:
  • Choose Mount/Enable MTP in TWRP
  • Connect your Mi A1 to a computer using USB and copy the vendor image to the phone’s internal memory
  • Install the file by choosing Install Image from the Install option in TWRP
  • Then, locate the vendor image file in memory and select it for installation
  • Select the target partition.
    • In the Select Partition to Flash Image option, choose Vendor Image
    • Then swipe to confirm flash
• After flashing the vendor image, you can finally install Android Pie:
  • In TWRP, choose Mount then Vendor partition
  • Choose Mount/Enable MTP
  • Connect your device to PC, then copy the Android 9 GSI files (from the folder you named android9 earlier) to the device’s internal storage
  • In TWRP, go to Install/Install Image
  • Then, install the A/B system image file named P_PR1_AB.img to the System partition
  • Go to the Install menu again in TWRP then flash Post-sGSI 1 and Post-sGSI 2 files.
  • Flash a treble-compatible kernel of your choice. (Use Moun Kernel 5.4, ProjectK r17, or Velocity r8.)
  • Enable root by flashing Magisk v16.7
  • Reboot your device

Hope this tutorial worked for you! Share your experience and thoughts in the comments below.

The post [Unofficial] Android 9 Pie GSI on Xiaomi Mi A1 appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

A few Xiaomi phone models feature in the list of devices that ARCore supports officially. These include the Xiaomi Mi 8, Mi 8 SE, and Mi Mix 2S.

What is ARCore and how to install it?

The three benefit from ARCore’s key functions, such as:

• Tracking motion. The API can place virtual objects in real-life images with great accuracy. It uses a phones’ internal sensors and camera.
• Estimating light conditions. The API exploits ambient lighting to make virtual objects more life-like.
• Understanding the environment. ARCore detects planes (i.e., the inclination of surfaces). It helps devices plot virtual objects with precision.

Want to see ARCore in action? See how the virtual Tin Man blends into the traffic in the attached image, for example.

The ARCore API helps other mobile apps to decorate scenes with virtual objects. So, there’s a simple way of checking if your Xiaomi supports the feature. First, install the ARCore by Google app from Play Store. Then, install an app like Just a Line – Draw Anywhere to check if the API works.

Well, using this tactic, ARCore didn’t work as expected on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.

But, two senior XDA members—Stampyron and Arnova8G2—have solutions for this.

The Stampyron workaround involves modifying some configuration files, using root access. The Arnova8G2 method will need you to use TWRP recovery.

How to install ARCore on Redmi 5 Plus with root access

1. Download this file: device_profile_vince.textproto.
2. Install ARCore by Google from Play Store—see link above.
3. Install Just a Line from Play Store—see link above. (Apps like Pottery Barn 3D Room View, ARuler, and Ikea Place will also work as well with ARCore. You could try them out too.)
4. Open the ARCore-related app you installed in the step above. The app will crash, or fail to open. That’s expected. It only shows that your device isn’t ARCore-ready yet. But, the app will do something useful, all the same. It will create the files and folders that you’ll need later on.
5. Using a file explorer with root access, move device_profile_vince.textproto to this location:

   /data/data/com.google.ar.core/files/device_profile_database/
   

6. Access device_profile_vince.textproto‘s SELinux context. Press the hamburger menu () that shows when you select the file using your root file explorer. Select Restore default context.
7. Reboot. You can now run the ARCore-related app you installed in step 3.

How to install ARCore on the Redmi 5 Plus using TWRP

1. Install ARCore by Google and an ARCore-related app. (See step 2 and 3 in the workaround above that requires root.)
2. Restart your Redmi 5 Plus into TWRP recovery.
3. Flash this file: twrp-Patch-ARcore-for-all-device.zip
4. Reboot to enjoy ARCore capability.

If any of these methods worked for you, share your augmented-reality shots with us in the comments. We would also love to hear suggestions, if you have any.

The post How to Install ARCore on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

Make no mistake, Fortnite mobile is very demanding on GPUs. Still, powerful chipsets such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 will handle the game just fine.

Can you run Fortnite on Xiaomi smartphones?

The game aims to offer a consistent experience across platforms. So, Epic Games listed some specs ahead of the launch for Android. It listed the requirements below as basic. (If your Xiaomi features these, you may play Fortnite mobile at some point in the future.)

Requirements:

• Oldest supported OS version: Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
• Minimum RAM: 3GB
• CPU architecture: ARM64 (64-bit)
• Minimum OpenGL version: 3.1

Another important point is to check your device for Vulkan support. Using this API, mobile devices tend to offer better gaming performance. (See tutorial on how to install Vulkan on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X.)

Need to browse your device specs in detail? Install DevCheck Hardware and System Info from Google Play.

For example, here’s a summary of a DevCheck report on the Xiaomi Mi 8.

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
• Hardware: SDM845
• GPU: Adreno 630
• OpenGL: Open GL ES 3.2
• Architecture: aarch64 (64-bit)
• Ram size: 6 GB
• Android version: Android 8.1 (Oreo)

See, these specs mean that the Xiaomi Mi 8 is set to run Fortnite mobile with ease.

In the same vein, I analyzed other Xiaomi phones to check whether Fortnite mobile may run on them. See summary below.

This list may confuse you, somewhat. See, you’d expect the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro to support Fortnite mobile, for example. Well, according to code in a leaked configuration file, the game should run on Adreno 530, 540, and 640 GPUs only—see the code snippet below. (Thus, Mi Note Pro’s Adreno 430 will not support the title.)

//allow Adreno 530, 540, 630 only
condition: ((SourceType=SRC_GPUFamily, CompareType=CMP_Regex, MatchString="^Adreno \(TM\) 530")),, (unsupportedAdreno)
condition: ((SourceType=SRC_GPUFamily, CompareType=CMP_Regex, MatchString="^Adreno \(TM\) 540")),, (unsupportedAdreno)
condition: ((SourceType=SRC_GPUFamily, CompareType=CMP_Regex, MatchString="^Adreno \(TM\) 630")),, (unsupportedAdreno)
condition: ((SourceType=gpu, CompareType=CMP_Equal, MatchString="Adreno (TM) 530")),, (unsupportedAdreno)
condition: ((SourceType=gpu, CompareType=CMP_Regex, MatchString="Adreno (TM) 540")),, (unsupportedAdreno)
condition: ((SourceType=gpu, CompareType=CMP_Regex, MatchString="Adreno (TM) 630")),, (unsupportedAdreno)
    
condition: ((SourceType=unsupportedAdreno, CompareType=CMP_Equal, MatchString="true")), (error="CR_Info_unsupportedGPU")  

If you’re not a programmer, the code above could seem all but gibberish. But, there’s a line that you should pay particular attention to. It’s the first line starting with “//”. It says plainly that only the listed GPUs will support Fortnite mobile.

In summary, the Xiaomi Mi 8, Mi 6, Mi 5/5s, may handle Fortnite mobile hardware demands when it becomes available for more Android devices.

The post [News] Fortnite Mobile on Xiaomi? appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

Yet, users have struggled with a myriad of issues like GCams that don’t open and some that crash often.

As luck would have it, dedicated modders continue to give us ever better GCam ports. But, the issue with these fast developments is that it’s hard to keep track of what works best. That’s why today, I’ve collected all the ports renowned for their performance in Xiaomi devices in one post. I’ll even throw in ARCore mods that work for the Xiaomi Mi A1 and Mi 5S.

Download latest GCam Ports for Xiaomi devices

Gcam for Xiaomi Mi A1

As you’ll see, there’s a lot going on for the Mi A1. From running the basic GCam mods to handling augmented reality, this phone shows that it can punch above its weight. See the best ports below.

• Most GCam ports work without little to no issues on the Mi A1. But, the Arnova8G2 version 1.4 port is the undeniable favorite. Get it: GCam5.1.018-Arnova8G2-V1.4.apk
• A GCam with wide, telephoto capabilities is also available. It’s the Cstark27 version 3.3 port. Get it cstark27_GCam_5.1.018_24_wide_v3.3.apk. Still, you’ll need a few mods to help Cstark’s port to use the zoom camera and to solve WhatsApp’s crashing.
  • Flash the zoom mod found here.
  • And fix WhatsApp by flashing this mod.
• Give your GCam some ARCore functions using the mods below. (Flash both files.)
  • ARCore basic mod
  • ARCore module
• Add some AR Stickers functionality to your GCam by installing the .apk files found here.

Google Camera Mod for Xiaomi Mi 5/5S

• The Arnova8G2 version 4 GCam port works best for the Xiaomi Mi 5. Get it here.
• Get the excellent Arnova8G2 version 1.5 port for your Xiaomi Mi 5S here.
• Flash this mod: arcore_apps-signed.zip. Then, install these mods (for Android 8.0: calibration_cad_Mi5s-signed.zip or 8.1: arcore_mod_mi5s-signed.zip) to get ARCore and AR Stickers working on your Mi 5S.

Other Xiaomi’s

Find recommended GCam .apk file for you Xiaomi variant below.

• Xiaomi Mi 6 and Mi 8: MGC_5.2.022 1.0.apk
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: GCam-Pixel2Mod-Arnova8G2-V7beta-test-9.apk
• Xiaomi Mi Mix, Redmi 4 Prime, and Redmi Note 3: GCam5.1.018-Arnova8G2-V1.5Beta2.apk (This is the port that works for the Xiaomi Mi 5S too—see above.)
• Xiaomi Mi Note 3: GCam5.1.018-Arnova8G2-V1.7Beta2.apk
• Xiaomi Redmi 3S: GCam-Pixel2Mod-Arnova8G2-V2.apk
• Xiaomi Redmi 4X and Redmi Note 4: GCam5.1.018-Arnova8G2-V1.4.apk (Works for the Xiaomi Mi A1 too—see above.)
• Xiaomi Redmi 5A: GCam-Pixel2Mod-Arnova8G2-V8.apk
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 5/5+: GCam_5.3.015-Pixel3Mod-Arnova8G2-v4Beta2.apk
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: GoogleCamera_5.2.025-Minimal-Beta-Final.apk

For this post, I’ve assumed that you’re already familiar with flashing using TWRP or the Magisk Manager. I also take it that you’ve tried out porting GCam to your Xiaomi before.

What other ports work as good as these I’ve listed above? Have you encountered any problems with these recommended mods? We would love to know. Share your experiences or suggestions by commenting below.

The post Ultimate Collection of the Best Google Camera Ports appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

Some of the new features Android P promises include:

• Enhanced security: Background apps will not access a phone’s camera or microphone. Also, the OS will prevent apps from reading call logs unless you explicitly allow them to.
• Improved call features: Call blocking will become a default, better integrated feature in the OS. Phones will produce a tone when you activate call recording to support lawful call recording.
• Better management of non-responsive apps: Apps that become non-responsive will quit silently. They will no longer interrupt your usage with invasive dialogs.
• Other notable improvements: Screenshot editing, gesture controls, and support for emoji 11.0

Despite participating in Project Treble, Xiaomi has hesitated to release the latest Android version over the air (OTA). Because the P beta firmware for Mi Mix 2S is available online, however, you can test it by using the fastboot method.

So, to install Android P, you need to grab these files first.

1. Android P beta firmware: global_image_8.5.3.tgz
2. MIUI Flashing tool: MiFlashTool

You’ll also need to unlock the Mi Mix 2S bootloader. If you’ve not done it yet, apply for unlock permissions here.

Flash Android P beta on Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

You’ll need a PC for this exercise. So, turn it on and follow the steps below.

1. Extract the Andoid firmware file (with the suffix: .tgz) you downloaded earlier and save it on the PC.
2. Extract the flash tool and install it on the computer.
3. Run the flash tool’s executable file called MiFlash.exe
4. Go back to the folder where you extracted the firmware file and note its address path
5. Enter this path in the flash tool’s address bar
6. Reboot your phone in fastboot mode. First, switch off the phone. Then, press the power button while pressing the volume buttons to enter this mode.
7. Connect your Mi Mix 2S to the computer using a USB cable
8. Refresh the flash tool by clicking on its yellow button
9. If the tool recognizes your phone, start flashing by pressing the tool’s red button
10. Wait for the flash tool to finish installing the Android P firmware. You should see a green bar run to show the installation progress.
11. When the flashing concludes, your phone should reboot

You may have noticed that I didn’t suggest the recovery method for installing Android P beta. The primary reason why the recovery approach may fail is because MIUI’s recovery mechanism needs zip files to update the ROM. Yet, the Android P firmware is in a .tgz format.

With that said, you need to note that Android P is still in development. You should thus not expect to use the beta OS as a daily driver. Functions like photo editing, voice search, and voicemail are buggy or unusable at times.

If you’ve managed to install Android P beta on your Mi Mix 2S, share your experiences in the comments section. What would you like to see improvements on? Which features please you the most?

The post How to fastboot Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S with Android P beta appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

This guide will show you how to root these two devices. But, as always, the steps that I’ll list may damage your phone beyond repair. So, you’ll should proceed if you’re willing to assume full responsibility for all eventualities.

Flash TWRP recovery on Mi 8

Step 1: Grab the TWRP file for your Mi 8 type from one of the following links. Choose either the Mi 8 SE TWRP or Mi 8 TWRP image file.

Step 2: Because the recovery file will need an unlocked bootloader, apply for unlocking permissions first.

You may, however, have to wait up to 360 hours to get the go ahead to unlock your phone.

Step 3: Copy the correct TWRP variant to your phone. Keep another copy on your PC.

Step 4: Activate USB debug mode.

Enable USB debugging by going to:

Settings → About phone → MIUI version → Additional settings → Developer options → USB debugging

Step 5: Connect your Mi 8 or Mi 8 SE to the PC using a USB cable.

Step 6: Open a command window (if using a Windows PC) or the terminal (if using Linux).

Step 7: Point the command to the directory to where you kept the copy of the TWRP recovery file in the computer.

Step 8: Use the ADB driver in your PC to boot your phone into fastboot mode. (See guides for installing ADB and Fastboot drivers in PC, Linux, or Mac OS.) Run the command below on the computer:

adb reboot bootloader

Step 9: Flash TWRP recovery by running the command below — where, twrp-name stands for the name of the file you downloaded in Step 1:

fastboot boot <twrp-name>.img

Step 10: Press your phone’s power button while holding down the volume keys to boot into recovery mode.

Step 11: Choose and install the recovery file from the TWRP recovery screen.

Step 12: Restart your phone to make the changes effective.

Root Mi 8 or Mi 8 SE

After installing TWRP recovery, the rooting process is easy. It will take just two steps.

Step 1: Download this Magisk root file.

Step 2: Copy the Magisk file to your phone.

Step 3: Reboot into recovery mode (see Step 10 in the TWRP flashing section).

Step 4: Choose and install the Magisk file from the TWRP recovery home screen.

Step 5: Reboot your phone.

With that, you should have root access. You could verify using an app like Root Checker.

Did you get root access on your Mi 8 or Mi 8 SE using these steps? Or, did you encounter any problems? Share your questions or suggestions in the comments section below

The post How to flash TWRP and root the Xiaomi Mi 8/Mi 8 SE appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.