New Control Center on Xiaomi: a full guide to functions and settings

With the exit. MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 Xiaomi radically redesigned the interface, and one of the most notable changes was the new Control Center, which now replaces the usual curtain with switches with a unified panel that combines notifications, quick settings and smart home elements. But not all users immediately figured out how to use it β€” and some even try to return the old version.

In this article, we will analyze in detail what the updated Control Center on Xiaomi, Redmi and the other is. POCO, How it differs from previous versions and why it can’t be completely disabled MIUI 15 no root rights. You'll also find step-by-step instructions for setting up, hidden features, and problem-solving, from missing icons to gesture bugs.

What is the new Control Center and why was it introduced?

The new Control Center (or Control Center in English) is a single panel that replaces:

  • πŸ“± Old notification curtain (swipe down from the top edge)
  • ⚑ Quick settings panel (swipe down from top right corner in older versions)
  • 🏠 Smart home elements (previously included in a separate menu)

The main purpose of the changes is to unify the interface for Android 12+ And it's a step closer to the design of the Google Pixel, and it's now more minimalist, with adaptive elements and support for a dark theme. MIUI 15 The control center automatically adjusts to the wallpaper: if the desktop is light background, the panel will be semi-transparent, and on dark wallpaper - darkened.

It's important to understand that this is not just a cosmetic change.

  • πŸ”„ Combine notifications and switches in one place (they were previously separated)
  • 🎯 Supports customization – you can change the order of icons and add new ones
  • πŸ€– Integrated with Xiao voice assistant AI (china-fixed)
  • πŸ”§ It has hidden functions that are not written in official guides.
πŸ“Š You’ve already tried out the new control center on Xiaomi?
Yeah, I like it.
Yeah, I don't like it.
Not updated yet.
I don't know what it is.

Differences from the old control center: what has changed

If you are updated with MIUI 12 or earlier versions, the difference is obvious:

ParameterOld Centre (MIUI 12 and below)New Centre (MIUI 14/15)
πŸ“² Calling the panelSwipe down from any place on the top edgeSwipe down from the top left corner - notifications, from the right - quick settings
⚑ Fast switches.A separate panel with a fixed set of iconsIntegrated into a single menu, support drag and drop
πŸ”” NotificationsDisplayed in a separate block, without groupingGrouped by application, there are priority notifications
🎨 DesignDense arrangement of elements, bright colorsMinimalism, adaptive transparency, rounded icons
πŸ”§ SettingsLimited customization (Icon Order Only)Flexible customization of displayed elements, including smart home

One of the most controversial changes is the separation of notification calls and quick settings, where the swipe down from the top left opens notifications and the switchbar opens from the right, which has caused discontent among users with large screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi). K60 Pros that are uncomfortable reaching corners.

πŸ’‘

If you have a large screen, turn on the One-Hand feature in Settings. β†’ Special facilities β†’ Convenience. It'll reduce the swipe area to the bottom of the screen.

How to turn on or off a new control center

Unlike many functions MIUI, You can't shut down the new Control Center completely without root rights or custom firmware, but you can revert some of the old behavior or customize the current panel to suit you.

Method 1: Tweaking gestures (partial return of old behavior)

If you are uncomfortable reaching the corners of the screen, you can reassign gestures:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Screen. β†’ Control gestures.
  2. Select Control Panel.
  3. Activate the Swipe Down option anywhere (not available on all devices).

Method 2: Customization of the panel

To add or remove the Quick Settings icons:

  1. Open the Control Center (swipe down from the upper right corner).
  2. Slap the icon. βš™οΈ Settings (or ✏️ Edit).
  3. Drag the necessary switches to the active zone, and the unnecessary switches to the inactive zone.

Check the version. MIUI (It should be 14 or 15)

Make a backup of settings in Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Backup >

Turn it off. VPN (Some settings are blocked when active VPN)

Reboot the device after changes-->

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) post-update MIUI 15 may miss the edit button:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management.
  2. Find System Settings and clear the cache.
  3. Reboot the phone.

Hidden functions of the new control center

Many users are unaware that the new Control Center has hidden capabilities, and here are some of the most useful ones:

1. Quick access to smart home settings

If you have Xiaomi Smart Home devices (like Yeelight light bulbs or Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner), you can add them directly to the control panel:

  1. Open the editing of the Control Center (icon) βš™οΈ).
  2. Scroll down to the Smart Home section.
  3. Add the right devices to the active area.

Now you can control them directly from the curtain without opening the Mi Home app.

2. β€œNotifications only” regime

If you are hindered by quick settings, you can leave only notifications:

  1. Make a swipe down from the top left corner.
  2. Hold your finger on the panel and pull to the right – the mode will open without switches.

3. Hidden switches

The list of available icons has elements that are not displayed by default, but can be useful:

  • πŸ” Search – Quick access to system search
  • πŸ“‘ Mobile access point – inclusion of hotspot in one tap
  • πŸ”‹ Saving charge - a separate switch for the battery
  • 🎧 Sound effects – Quick change of sound profiles
How to return an old control panel without root rights?
Unfortunately, you can't completely reclaim the old panel without root rights, but you can install alternative launchers like Nova Launcher or HyperOS Launcher (for HyperOS devices) that emulate old behavior. MIUI 12 via Fastboot, but it's fraught with data loss and security issues.

Typical problems and their solutions

Despite the convenience, the new Control Center sometimes malfunctions, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1. Quick setting icons are missing

If the switches have disappeared after the update (for example, NFC Or Airplane Mode):

  1. Open Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management.
  2. Find System Settings and clear the cache.
  3. Reset the device.
  4. If it doesn’t help, reset the Control Center settings in Settings. β†’ Additionally. β†’ Resetting settings β†’ Reset the control panel settings.

2. the control centre does not open or brakes

This is most often related to:

  • 🐌 System Overload – Close Background Applications.
  • πŸ”„ Conflict with the shell - try to change the launcher.
  • πŸ“± Broken firmware files – check system integrity in Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Updating the system β†’ Threefold β†’ Verification of updates.

⚠️ Note: If the Control Center has ceased to open after installing the custom recavérie (for example, TWRP), This may indicate damage to the section. /system. In this case, only flashing through Fastboot will help.

3.Gesturals don't work to call the panel

If the swipe down does not open the Control Center:

  1. Check if the Child Mode or Safe Mode is activated.
  2. Disable all apps that block gestures (such as Second Space or App Lock).
  3. Reset your gesture settings in Settings β†’ Screen. β†’ Control gestures β†’ Reset.

πŸ’‘

If the problem arises after the update OTA, Try to install the firmware manually again through Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Updating the system β†’ Threefold β†’ Select the update file. Often, this is solved by interface bugs.

How to set up the Control Center for yourself: a step-by-step guide

To make the panel as comfortable as possible, follow this instruction:

Step 1: Editing Quick Settings

Add the most important switches:

  1. Open the Swipe Control Center down from the upper right corner.
  2. Slap the icon. βš™οΈ (Settings).
  3. Hold the icon and drag it to the active zone (top of the screen).
  4. To remove the unnecessary icon, drag it down.

Step 2: Set up notifications

Filter unnecessary alerts:

  1. Make a swipe down from the top left corner.
  2. Hold the notification and select Notification Settings.
  3. Turn off unnecessary channels (such as push notifications from Mi Browser).

Step 3: Adding Smart Home Elements

If you have a Xiaomi Smart Home device:

  1. Open the editing of the Control Center.
  2. Scroll to the Smart Home section.
  3. Add the right devices (such as Mi Air Purifier or Mi Smart Socket).

Step 4: Set up transparency and appearance

V MIUI 15: Change the style of the panel:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Screen. β†’ Control panel style.
  2. Choose Transparent, Blurred or Colored.
  3. Activate the option Adaptive color so that the panel adjusts to the wallpaper.

πŸ’‘

On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) It is recommended to use a dark style of the panel with blurring - this reduces the load on the battery and reduces pixel burnout.

Comparison with Management Centers of Other Brands

Xiaomi’s new Control Center is often compared to Samsung, Google, and Apple, and here are the key differences:

FunctionXiaomi (MIUI 14/15)Samsung (One UI 5/6)Google (Pixel, Android 13/14)Apple (iOS 16/17)
πŸ“± Calling the panelSwipe from corners (left - notifications, right - settings)Swipe down from anywhere.Swipe down from anywhere.Swipe from the upper right corner (settings), from the center (notifications)
πŸ”§ CustomizationFull (dragging icons, adding a smart home)Limited (Icon Order Only)Minimum (basic switches only)A fixed set, you can only change the order
🏠 Smart home.Integration with Mi Home directly into the panelRequires SmartThingsSupport for Google Home but no quick accessIntegration with HomeKit in a separate widget
🎨 DesignAdaptive transparency, rounded iconsMaterial design with an emphasis on whiteMinimalism, monochrome iconsFixed style with blur

Xiaomi’s main advantage is deep customization and integration with the smart home ecosystem, while Samsung and Google have more stable gestures, and Apple has better optimization for tablets (like the iPad).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

πŸ”Ή Can I return the old control center to the MIUI 15?
You can't completely reclaim an old panel without root rights, but you can: Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that emulates old behavior. MIUI 12 via Fastboot, but it's not recommended due to security issues.Use apps like Power Shade (requires) ADB On some devices (e.g., Xposed, POCO X5 Pro) in gesture settings, you can turn the swipe down anywhere, which partially returns the old behavior.
πŸ”Ή Why there is no icon in the control center NFC?
This is a typical problem after the update. So, open the Control Center editing (icon). βš™οΈ). Scroll down the list of available icons β€” NFC If it's not there, clear the System Settings cache in Settings. β†’ If it doesn't work, check if it's on. NFC In Settings β†’ Connections β†’ NFC. On some models (for example, Redmi Note 12) NFC It only appears after the first use (for example, payment via Mi Pay).
πŸ”Ή How to remove advertising from the Control Center?
In some regional firmware (for example, for India or China), banner ads may appear at the Control Center. β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI and tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings. β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers, find the option to disable ads in MIUI If you don't have an option, patch it with Magisk (requires root rights). EEA (Europe – no advertising in it.
πŸ”Ή Control is slowing down after the upgrade?
Causes and solutions: πŸ”„ Cash Systems: Clear the cache in Settings β†’ Memory. β†’ Clear the cache. πŸ“± shell conflict: Try changing the launcher to a standard one (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ By default. β†’ Launcher). πŸ”‹ Lack of memory: Close background apps or restart your phone. πŸ“² Broken firmware: Reinstall the update manually through Settings β†’ Updating the system β†’ Threefold β†’ Select the update file. If the brakes only appear when you swipe from the right corner, try turning off animations in Settings. β†’ For developers β†’ Window animation = Off..
πŸ”Ή Can I add my own switches?
Standard means, no. But there are workarounds: πŸ“± Add-on apps: QuickTile or TileShortcut (requires) ADB). πŸ”§ Tasker + AutoNotification: Allows you to create custom tiles for any action. πŸ“² Root access: With Xposed Edge or GravityBox, you can add your own elements, for example, you can create a tile to quickly start Google Assistant or switch audio profiles.