Xiaomi smartphone owners often seek to personalize the interface to make the device unique. The standard charge indicator in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS may seem boring or not informative enough. Fortunately, the system offers flexible tools to change the appearance of the status bar without obtaining superuser rights.
Changing the style of displaying energy is not just aesthetic pampering, but also a way to better control the state of the battery. The company's built-in algorithms allow you to introduce new visual elements that can be more noticeable or, conversely, minimalistic. Let's take a look at all the available methods, from simple settings to the use of third-party applications.
It is worth noting that the availability of some features depends on the version of the operating system and the firmware region. Global versions of Global ROM may differ from Chinese counterparts in a set of pre-installed themes. However, the basic principles of working with visualization remain similar on most modern models, whether it is Redmi Note or flagship Mi.
Standard Charge Display Settings
The first and most obvious step is to check system limitations and capabilities, and the Android settings menu, adapted by Xiaomi engineers, has hidden basic switches that change the appearance of numbers and stripes, usually in the notification and status bar section.
To access these settings, you need to follow the Settings path → Notifications and Status Bar → Battery Indicator. Here you will see several options: the percentage value inside the icon, next to it, or the complete concealment of the numbers. The choice of a particular option affects how the entire composition will look in the upper corner of the screen.
⚠️ Attention: On some models with a cutout in the screen (camera hole), the system automatically forcibly changes the location of the percentages so that they do not overlap with the lens.
If standard options don't meet the demands, you can try to activate hidden features through the developer menu, although this rarely changes the shape of the icon. Most often, such manipulations affect the color or the appearance of additional savings indicators. It is important to understand the difference between system settings and thematic design.
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Before changing the system settings, take a screenshot of the current look so that you can always return to the usual version if the new one is uncomfortable for perception.
Using the Themes app to change style
The most effective way to radically change the look of the indicator is to use the built-in theme store Themes Store contains millions of designs, where authors redraw system icons, including battery, Wi-Fi and network signal.
The installation process is simple: you open the application, search for it, and type in keywords like “Battery icon” or “Minimal status bar.” Once the theme is loaded, the system will suggest that you use it either fully or selectively. For our task, you just need to select the System Style or Icon component if the the theme supports modular installation.
- 🎨 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Enter the search for “Battery style” or “Icons bar status».
- 📥 Download your favorite topic and click "Apply».
- ⚙️ In the application menu, select only “System style” so as not to change the wallpaper and fonts.
Not all topics change the shape of the battery. Some authors leave a standard icon, changing only the color of the percentages. So before downloading, you should carefully study the screenshots in the description of the topic, paying attention to the upper right corner of the screen. Often the description indicates which interface elements are being modified.
Setting up through the “Always on the Screen” menu
The feature is always on display (AOD). While it doesn't change the icon in the active interface, it transforms the perception of charge when the screen is off. AMOLED-screens can configure the display of the battery in the form of a large graphic element.
To adjust, go to Settings → The screen is always on and locking. There are different styles of watches available, many of which integrate the energy indicator into the overall design. You can choose a dial where the battery is represented as a circle, a vertical stripe or even an animated character.
| Screen type | Availability of AOD | Effect on charge | Possibility of customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMOLED | Complete. | Low (about 1% per hour) | Tall. |
| IPS / LCD | Limited. | High (not recommended) | Low. |
| Super AMOLED | Complete. | Minimum | Maximum |
Keep in mind that even a single point display is still power-consuming, and if you want to maximize autonomy, you'd better use the classic lock mode, but for visual pleasure and a quick look at charge, AOD is perfect.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with IPS-The function “Always on the screen” may be absent or work in a reduced mode (only by tapping), since the backlight technology does not allow individual pixels to burn economically.
How to extend the life of the AMOLED screen when using AOD?
Application of desktop widgets
If changing the system icon is impossible or not suitable, the alternative is desktop widgets, which can be huge, color, animated and contain additional information such as the temperature of the processor or the time to fully charge.
To add a widget, you need to pinch the empty space on your desktop and select "Widgets." In the list, find a standard battery widget or download a third-party from Google Play. Popular launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher also offer their power monitoring plugins.
Third-party widgets often allow you to change color depending on the level of charge: green at full, red at critical. This makes the control much more visual. In addition, they can occupy a significant part of the screen, becoming the central element of the design of the home screen.
- 🔋 Standard widget MIUI — simple and concise.
- 🌡️ Widgets with temperature - show the heating of the device.
- ⏱️ Charging timers – display time to 100%.
- 🎨 Castom widgets KWGT — They require a separate setup but give full control.
Third-party applications for deep customization
For advanced users who lack standard tools, there are specialized applications that allow you to insert your own icons into the status bar, change their size, transparency and position, and one of the most famous tools is Battery Widget Reborn or Power Battery.
Installing these programs requires permissions, allowing the application to access surfaces on top of other windows and allowing the use of usage data so that it can display information correctly, and without these rights, the widget will show incorrect data or not start.
Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Application Name] → Permissions → Display on top of other applications → VSLUsing third-party software can lead to increased resource consumption, as the background process is constantly polling the power controller. On older smartphones, this can cause noticeable slowdowns in the interface.