How to change charging animation on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its standard charging animation can get tired after a couple of months of use. Fortunately, the manufacturer and the development community offer several ways to change it, from simple themes to deep customization through ADB or even installing alternative firmware.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including their pros and cons, you will learn how to safely change animations without the risk of “bricking” the device, what tools you will need to do this, and what to do if something goes wrong, and pay special attention to the official methods (through MIUI themes) and advanced (through modification of system files).

Important: Before any manipulation of the system, back up the data. Some methods require unlocking the bootloader, which will reset the smartphone to the factory settings.

1.Official way: change through MIUI themes

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in MIUI themes. It doesn’t require root rights or technical skills, but the choice of animations is limited to the Xiaomi collection.

How it works: In MIUI, charging animation is tied to a common theme of design. When you change the theme, icons, fonts, sounds — and often the style of display of the charging process — automatically change. Not all themes support custom animations, but some (for example, "Dark Mode" or "Ocean") include unique effects.

• 📱 Step 1. Open the Themes app on the home screen.
• 🔍 Step 2: In the search box, type "charging" or "battery".
• ⬇️ Step 3. Scroll through the list of themes marked "Charging animation" (usually in the category "Dynamic").
• 🎨 Step 4. Select your favorite theme and click "Apply".

Please note: some topics may be paid (from 10 to 50) ₽). Also, after applying the theme, it may be necessary to restart the device to update the animation.

⚠️ Note: If the animation hasn’t changed after the theme change, check if the theme supports custom charging effects.

2. Use of third-party launchers

If the built-in themes don't suit, you can try third-party launchers that offer advanced customization of the interface, including charging animations. Popular options are Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Microsoft Launcher.

However, there is a caveat: launchers only change the visual display on the lock screen or the home screen, but do not affect the system animation that appears when you connect the charger.

1. Install a launcher with support for animation plugins (e.g. Nova Launcher + KWGT Kustom Widget).
2. Download from the Play Market widget with custom charging animation (search for "battery animation widget").
3. Set up the widget so that it appears on top of standard animation.

The disadvantage of the method: the widget will only work on the lock screen or the home screen, but it will not replace the system animation completely.

💡

If you use KWGT, try the templates from the Redmi 9 community on the XDA-Developers forum, which often uploads free custom animation presets.

Modification of system files (requires root)

For advanced users willing to take risks, there is a way to replace animation by editing system files, which gives you complete freedom: you can install any GIF or video as a charging animation, but it requires root rights and an unlocked bootloader.

Algorithm of action:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
2. Install Magisk to obtain root rights.
3. Using a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer) go to /system/media/
4. Find the files. bootanimation.zip (inclusion animation) and charging_animation.zip (charging-animation).
5. Back up the original files, then replace them with your own (should match in resolution and format).
6. Reset the device.

Animation format: file charging_animation.zip should contain folders part0, part1 etc. with pictures in format PNG (permit 1080×2340 for Redmi 9). The frame rate is set in the desc.txt file.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop.Before replacing files, check them on another device or emulator. MIUI Your changes may be reset.

Make a backup through TWRP|Check the version. MIUI|Download the original animation files|Install Root Explorer|Disable the antivirus (can block changes)-->

4. Installation of custom firmware

If you are not satisfied with the limitations of standard MIUI, you can install custom firmware, such as LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc-OS. These firmware often include advanced animation settings, including charging.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Full control of the interface (including animations, icons, fonts).
• 🚀 Best performance (clean Android without unnecessary Xiaomi services).
• 🔄 Regular security updates.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
• 🔋 Possible battery problems (some custom firmwares are less optimized).
• 📱 Not all functions. MIUI The game will be a game turbo or second space).

Installation instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader (as in the previous method).
2. Install the custom TWRP recavator.
3. Download firmware (for example, with XDA) and GApps (if you need Google services).
4. Using TWRP, run Wipe → Format Data (this will delete all data!).
5. Install firmware and GApps, then restart.

Once custom firmware is installed, charging animations can be changed through system settings or additional Magisk modules (e.g., "Battery Animation Changer").

5.Use of ADB-commands without root)

If you don’t want to get root rights but are willing to dig a little deeper, try changing animations through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI, but sometimes allows you to replace standard resources.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-tool.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB Redmi 9 (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📁 Ready-made animation in format charging_animation.zip (can be downloaded from the forums).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line in the ADB folder and execute: Adb devices (you should display your device).
3. Copy the animation file to the system folder: adb push charging_animation.zip /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/charging_animation.zip /system/media/ chmod 644 /system/media/charging_animation.zip reboot

If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root rights, and it won't work, so try an alternative method using Magisk (described in the next section).

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 12/13 folder /system protected from recording even through ADB. In this case, only getting root or installing custom firmware will help.

Magisk Customization Modules

If you already have Magisk (root), the easiest way to change animations is to install a special module. For example, the Battery Animation Changer or MIUI Battery Styles module allows you to choose from dozens of options without manual file editing.

How to install the module:

1. Download the module in.zip format (for example, with Magisk Manager or XDA).
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click "Install from storage" and select the downloaded file.
4. Reset the device.

Once you reboot, you can select new animations in the Magisk settings or in the module app. Some modules also allow you to:

• 🎨 Customize the color and style of the charging indicator.
• ⚡ Change the speed of animation.
• 🔄 Return to standard animation in one click.

Popular modules for Redmi 9:

💡

Magisk modules are the safest way to customize for root users, and they don't directly affect system files, which means that the risk of bricking is minimal.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When changing the charging animation, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🚫 The animations didn't change after the files were replaced, because the resolution was wrong or the file format was wrong. charging_animation.zip Complies with the requirements (see table above) Also make sure the file has the correct access rights (chmod) 644).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Solution: Repeat the file replacement process or install the Magisk module, which automatically restores changes after updates.
• ⚡ The phone doesn't turn on after you've modified the system files. TWRP and restore the backup or re-flash the original MIUI via Fastboot.
• 🔌 The animation only works on the lock screen, not when you connect the charger. bootanimation.zip, not charging_animation.zip. These files are responsible for different types of animations.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• Version of MIUI (in some assemblies, the animation is rigidly "sewn" into system libraries).
• Updates for Magisk modules are available.
• Compatibility of custom firmware with your model (Redmi 9 has several modifications: lancelot, lancelotnfc, etc.).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions