Xiaomi Sidebar: A Complete Guide to Setup and Use

If you own a Xiaomi TV or smartphone, you've probably noticed a small translucent panel on the screen that appears when you swipe from the edge of the display. MIUI And PatchWall, which many users either ignore or use at a low capacity, but why do you need it, what features it hides, and how to set it up properly?

The sidebar (or Quick Panel in smartphones, Side Toolbar in TVs) is a versatile tool for quick access to frequently used options. Depending on the device, it can contain application shortcuts, audio settings, smart home management, fast switches. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth It's a mini-player for music, but not everyone knows that it can be customized by adding or removing elements to suit their needs. In this article, we'll look at everything from basic features to hidden features.

What is a sidebar on Xiaomi devices?

The sidebar is a context menu that appears when swiping from the right or left edge of the screen, and Xiaomi implements it differently depending on the type of device:

• 📱 Smartphones (MIUI): Quick Panel or Control Center, opens from top to bottom (on some models - side).
• 📺 PatchWall TVs: called the Side Toolbar, activated by wiring from the right edge of the screen to the center.
• 🖥️ Tablets (MIUI For Pad: Combined version with elements from smartphones and TV.

The main difference from standard Android curtains is the flexibility of the settings. TV or Redmi Smart TV side panel may contain:

• 🔊 Volume controller and sound mode switch (Movie, Game, Music).
• 📶 Quick Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Mi Home settings (smart home).
• 🎮 Shortcuts for running games or streaming services (Netflix, YouTube).
• ⚡ Energy saving modes and lighting settings.

On smartphones, the sidebar is more commonly used to control multimedia, respond quickly to messages or turn on a flashlight. But there is a unique feature: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro).+) It can be configured to open even on a locked screen – it is convenient for controlling music without unlocking it.

How to turn on and off the sidebar

By default, the sidebar is active on most Xiaomi devices, but if it suddenly disappeared or you accidentally turned it off, it is easy to restore it.

📺 On Xiaomi TVs (PatchWall)

1. Open the Settings (cog in the upper right corner).

2. Go to the System → Sidebar.

3. Activate the switch Enable the sidebar.

4.Tune the swipe sensitivity (Gestural Sensitivity option).

Insert the sidebar in the settings|Check the swipe sensitivity|Add the right labels|Reset TV to apply changes-->

📱 On Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI)

1. Go to Settings. → Screen. → Sidebar (or Control Panel on new versions).

2. Enable the option Quick Access or Side Curtain.

3. Select the side of the screen to activate (left or right).

4.In the section Setup of elements add or remove shortcuts.

⚠️ Note: On some smartphones (for example, POCO F5) The default sidebar is disabled due to the firmware features, in which case it can be activated via Settings. → Additionally. → Special facilities → Gestures.

Customization of the side panel: add and remove elements

The standard feature set in the sidebar might not be good — you don't need a shortcut for Mi Browser, for example, but you want to add Google Assistant or a Dark Theme switch, and let's look at how to do that across devices.

📺 On Xiaomi TVs

1. Open the sidebar with a swipe on the right edge.

2.Push the icon. ⚙️ Set up (usually at the bottom of the panel).

3.In the list of available items, tick the ones you want to see:

• 🎵 Mini-player (playback control without opening the application).
• 🏠 Smart home (fast access to Mi Home devices).
• 📡 Network (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile Internet on hybrid models).
• 🔋 Power (power saving modes, shutdown timer).

4. Drag elements in the desired order (drag-and-drop).

💡

On Xiaomi TVs, you can add shortcuts to the sidebar for Kodi or SPMC, If you use them to view them IPTV. To do this, install the app, then add it through the panel settings menu.

📱 On Xiaomi smartphones

The customization process is more flexible:

1. Open Settings. → Control panel.

2. Press the Elements Configuration.

3. At the top of the screen you'll see active elements, at the bottom you'll see available elements. Drag them between the zones.

4. For certain elements (e.g., a flashlight or NFC) You can configure a long press - this will allow, for example, to immediately turn on the mobile hotspot.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI 14+ Some of the controls are tied to system services, and if you delete Airplane Mode, you can't quickly turn it on through the curtain, you'll have to go through the settings.

Smart home label|Fast music management|Dark theme switch|Shortcut for your favorite app|Nothing added.-->

Hidden sidebar features you didn’t know about

Many users use the sidebar only for basic activities, but it hides a few useful chips that can simplify the interaction with the device.

🔍 1.Fast management of a smart home

If you have Mi Home devices (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners), they can be controlled directly from the sidebar:

• 💡 On TVs: swipe the panel and click on the icon Smart home – will open a list of devices with fast commands (on/off, change the brightness).
• 📱 On smartphones: Add the Mi Home widget to the control panel to control gadgets without opening the app.

🎮 2. Gamer mode

On Xiaomi TVs, there is a hidden Game Mode option in the sidebar that:

• 🔥 Reduces input delay (useful for shooting or racing).
• 📊 Optimizes performance by disabling background processes.
• 🔇 Disable notifications during play.

To activate it, swipe the panel during the game and select the icon with the gamepad.

📱 3. Quick notes and screenshots

On smartphones in the side panel you can add:

• 📝 Quick notes: swipe → click on the Notes icon → Instant text input without unlocking.
• 📸 Scrolling Screenshot: Hold the Screenshot icon in the panel to capture the long page.

Sidebar Problems and Their Solutions

Sometimes the sidebar doesn't work properly, it doesn't open, it slows down, it resets, and we'll look at the typical problems and how to fix them.

❌ The panel doesn't swipe open.

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🤳 Incorrect gesture: on TVs, swipe should start strictly at the edge of the screen (not from the center.
• 🔧 Disabled Option: Check the settings as described in the section above.
• 🛠️ Software failure: restart the device. If it doesn't work, reset the launcher settings (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data).

⚙️ Panel elements are reset after updating

This is a common problem after major updates. MIUI Or PatchWall. To avoid losing your settings:

1. Before updating, take a screenshot of the current panel configuration.
2. After updating manually restore the items (the list of available items may change).
3. If the options are gone completely, wait for the patch (usually Xiaomi fixes such bugs within 1-2 weeks).

🐢 The panel brakes or hangs.

Slowing down the sidebar is usually associated with:

• 🗑️ Overloaded cache: clear the cache of system applications (Settings) → Warehouse → Application data → Kesh).
• 🧩 Cover conflict: If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher), return to the standard launcher. MIUI Launcher.
• 🔄 Background Processes: Close all applications and restart the device.

💡

If the sidebar on the Xiaomi TV is delayed, check the load on the processor. → About the device → System status and see if the TV is overheating.°C productivity is declining.

Sidebar vs. Standard Android Curtain: Which is Better?

Many users ask, why do you need a sidebar when you have a regular notification curtain?

Bottom Line: Xiaomi’s sidebar benefits in flexibility and functionality, but the standard Android curtain is more stable (less likely to glitch after updates).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi sidebar