How to change charging animation on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Standard charging animations on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can seem boring after years of use. Fortunately, the manufacturer and the development community offer several ways to change it, from simple themes to deep system modifications. In this article, we will discuss all current methods, including those that work without root rights, and those that require unlocking the bootloader.

It's important to understand that not all methods are equally safe. For example, changing animations through ADB or editing system files can cause a download failure if you do something wrong. So we'll detail each step, point out the possible risks and suggest alternatives for users with different levels of training. If you're a beginner, start with that from the Mi Theme Store; if you're ready for experiments, try customization via bootanimation.zip.

1.The way for beginners: using themes from the Mi Theme Store

The easiest and safest method is to install themes with alternative charging animations. Xiaomi allows you to change not only wallpaper and icons, but also system elements, including the lock and charge screen.

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush) on your smartphone.
• 🔍 In the search box, enter the query: charging animation or charging animation.
• 🎨 View available themes (e.g. Neon Charging, Pixel Charge, or "AOD Charging").
• 📥 Click Apply – The animation will change automatically after the next recharge.

The advantage of this method is that there are no risks to the system, but the choice of animations is limited to what the store offers, and if you want unique effects (like animations like iOS or Samsung), you have to use other methods.

⚠️ Note: Some topics may contain ads or require a paid subscription.Before installing, read reviews from other users to help avoid hidden fees.

2. Change animations through the engineering menu (no root)

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO F3), you can change the charging animation via a hidden engineering menu.This method does not require root rights, but does not work on all devices.

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Battery Information (or Battery Information).
3. Scroll down and find the Charging Animation option (may be called Charging Animation).
4. Choose one of the animations offered (usually 2-3 options are available).

If this item is missing, then your model does not support this method, in which case move on to the following methods.

3. Modification via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can change the charging animation using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that works for most Xiaomi models, but requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (in Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).
• 📁 File with new animation in format bootanimation.zip (can be downloaded from the forums XDA Developers or 4PDA).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).


2. Check the connection by the command:




adb devices




(The name of your device should appear).




3. Copy the animation file into the system folder:




adb push bootanimation.zip /data/local/




4. Change access rights:




adb shell chmod 644 /data/local/bootanimation.zip




5. Reset the device:




adb reboot

After the reboot, the new animation should show up when you connect the charging. If this does not happen, check that the bootanimation.zip file is compatible with the screen resolution of your smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly changing system files can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot).Before experimenting, back up your data via adb backup or Mi Cloud.

Install ADB Tools on PC| Enable USB debugging on your smartphone | Download compatible bootanimation.zip| Backup data | Check ADB-->

4. Installation of custom firmware with unique animation

If you’re willing to go further than standard settings, you can install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience, LineageOS, or HavocOS) that already integrates alternative charging animations.

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 📥 Established custom recaveri (TWRP Or OrangeFox).
• 🛠️ Knowledge about the firmware of smartphones (the risk of “bricking” the device).

Advantages of custom firmware:

• 🎨 Full freedom of customization (including animations, fonts, sounds).
• 🚀 Optimized performance (no extra bloatware from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Regular security updates.

Of the popular firmware with unique charging animations, you can distinguish:

Before installing custom firmware, be sure to check its compatibility with your model on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum. The firmware process may vary depending on the device.

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If you want to keep MIUI functionality but only change animations, try MIUI-based firmware with modifications (e.g. MIUI Mix or Xiaomi.eu) that offer advanced settings without completely abandoning the branded shell.

5 Manual editing of system files (root only)

If you have root rights, you can manually replace the animation files in the system folders, which gives you maximum freedom, but also maximum risk.

• 📁 Root Explorer (e.g., Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 🔧 Backup of original files (in case of failure).
• 🎬 New animation files in.zip or.qmg format (for MIUI).

Where are the charging animation files stored:

/system/media/bootanimation.zip – basic download animation


/system/media/charging_anim.zip Charging animation (on some devices)




/system/media/bootmiui.qmg – MIUI logo when charging (for older models)

Instructions for replacement:

1. Copy the original files to a secure location (e.g., on a PC).
2. Place new files in the appropriate folders (names must match!).
3. Change the access rights to 644 (read for all, write for root only).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12/13/14 Animation files can be protected by dm-verity, and changing them without disabling the check will lead to a download error. To avoid this, after replacing the files, follow the command: adb shell su -c "Disable-verity" or "patch Magisk" to disable dm-verity.

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If your smartphone doesn't turn on after you replace the files, download to TWRP and restore the original files from the backup, which will return the device to working condition.

6.Alternative solutions: Always-On Display (AOD) and Live Wallpapers

If you are not happy with standard charging animation, but do not want to risk system files, consider alternative options:

• 🌃 Always-On Display (AOD): On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 or Redmi) K50) You can turn on the time and charge level display when you connect to the network. It's not going to replace animation, but it's going to add visuals. → Screen. → Always-On Display.
• 🎨 Live Wallpapers: Install “live wallpaper” with charging effect (for example, “Battery Live Wallpaper” from Google Play.
• 🔄 Change of lock wallpaper: Some themes allow you to install dynamic wallpaper that responds to the charger connection.

These methods don't change the charging animation itself, but they visually diversify the process, and the main advantage is that there are no risks to the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing charging animations on Xiaomi