MIUI

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MIUI
New color logo of MIUI.png
Developer Xiaomi
Written in C, C++, Java[citation needed]
OS family Android 5-10 (Unix-Like)
Working state Current
Source model Open source (Android Base and Main Framework) with Proprietary
components (Miui Apps and Kits)
Initial release 0.8.16 / 16 August 2010; 10 years ago
Latest release 12.2.2.0 (Mainland China)
12.1.2.0 (Global market)
Latest preview 12 November 2020; 1 day ago / [12] 20.11.12 (Mainland China)
Marketing target Alternative OS replacement for Android devices;
Stock firmware for Xiaomi mobile devices
Available in 77 languages (varies by country)
Package manager Google Play
Mi GetApps
.APK files
Platforms 32-bit ARM, MIPS, x86, x64
Kernel type Monolithic (modified Linux kernel)
License Apache License 2.0
GNU General Public License v3
Proprietary
Official website en.miui.com
MIUI (pronunciation: Me You I),[1] is an Android-based operating system[2] for
smartphones and tablet computers developed by Chinese electronics manufacturer
Xiaomi. This is a fork of the Android OS.[3] MIUI includes various features such as
theme support.[4]

Xiaomi has released some smartphones with Android One while others have MIUI, based
on the current version of Android. Xiaomi devices usually get one Android version
update, but get MIUI updates for four years.[5]

The first MIUI ROM was based on Android 2.2.x Froyo and was initially developed in
the Chinese language by Chinese startup Xiaomi Tech.[6] Xiaomi added a number of
apps to the basic framework, including their Notes, Backup, Music, and Gallery
apps.[7]

Contents
1 MIUI and Google Play services
2 Comparison of all MIUI variants
3 MIUI vs Android
4 Issues
4.1 India
5 Version history
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
MIUI and Google Play services
Google has had disagreements with the Chinese government, and access to many Google
services is blocked. MIUI does not ship with Google Play Services in mainland
China. However, Xiaomi has expanded its operations outside China; MIUI releases for
Android devices outside mainland China have Google Play Services and Google Apps
such as Gmail, Google Maps, Google Play Store pre-installed and functioning as on
any other Android device. MIUI global versions are certified by Google.[8]

Comparison of all MIUI variants

China Global Xiaomi.eu
Languages available Few, including Chinese and English Wide selection
Selection of downloadable themes All Some
Drag up search Yes
with international Bing and selection of Chinese search engines

Google Yes
Smart Assistant App vault
Default source of apps GetApps Google Play
Additionally in India: Mi Picks (renamed to Apps)[9]

Google Play
Mi Cloud services All Some All
Updates Developer Stable Beta Stable Dev/Beta Stable
Highest priority.
Updated every Thursday

Usually updated every two months[10] No longer available Usually updated

every two months Updated every Friday Usually updated every two months
OTA Yes Yes; patches are not supported, so a complete new ROM is downloaded
each time
Official Yes
(made by Xiaomi) Approved by the official distribution in the European Union.
Use on devices from the EU distribution does not void warranty.[11]

Made by fans gathered on Xiaomi.EU website.

Custom recovery requirement No Yes

Additional features
Optional access to various Chinese online services
built-in root support (unlocked bootloader is required)
Optional access to various Chinese online services N/A
Additional icons for some third party apps
Unlocked some hardware features on selected devices
Supported Xiaomi devices All
excluding Redmi Note 3SE and Mi 4i (dropped)

Older devices may not be updated

Majority
excluding devices never released outside PRC

MIUI vs Android
Although the MIUI is built on the Android platform, the default user interface of
its earlier iterations resembled iOS due to the absence of the application tray,
[12] with a grid of icons arrayed in the home panels. Other iOS similarities
include the app icons being in a uniform shape, the dialer and in-call interface,
the organization of the Settings app, and the visual appearance of toggles in the
UI. This prompted some observers to cite how the devices running on MIUI could
appeal to iOS users wanting to switch to the Android platform.[12] By 2018, MIUI
was increasingly shifting towards a design aesthetic more similar to the stock
Android. For instance, several elements in the MIUI 10 build resemble Android Pie
features such as the multitasking menu and gesture controls.[13] This change was
first seen in the MIUI 9 (ver. 8.5.11) that shipped with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S. The
MIUI firmware already looked like stock Android P.[14]

Another difference from Android is the MIUI's support for themes and custom fonts.
Users can download theme packs and fonts, which can change the user interface of
the device once installed from the Mi Themes Store. It allows advanced users to
tweak the hard-coded firmware of their handsets.[15]

Issues
MIUI's kernel was proprietary, and in breach of Linux kernel's GPL.[16][17] Source
code for certain components was released to GitHub on 25 October 2013.[18] Kernel
sources for a few devices, including the Mi3, Mi4, MiNote, and Redmi 1S, were
released in March 2015.[19]

In order to raise funds for the company, MIUI has its own online services from
Xiaomi, including cloud services, paid themes and games. Payments are transacted
using the MiCredit digital currency.[20]

India
As a result of the government of India banning 59 Chinese apps they worked on
rebuilding MIUI.[21][22]