Where is the notification panel on Xiaomi: 5 ways to open the curtain on any smartphone

You just bought a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but you can't find out where the notification bar is hiding? Or after the MIUI update, the curtain suddenly disappeared from the screen? This problem is familiar to many users - especially those who have switched from other brands or received a device with custom firmware. Unlike "pure" Android, where a top-down swipe always opens notifications, in the MIUI shell, the logic of the work can differ depending on the version of the system and the phone model.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can call the notification bar on Xiaomi devices, including hidden chips for old and new MIUI versions (12 to 14), as well as Android One phones (such as Mi A1/A2/A3). You’ll learn why the curtain may not open, how to return it to its place and what to do if notifications disappear after locking the screen. For convenience, we’ve compiled instructions for different scenarios – from basic to advanced – and added a compatibility table for popular models.

1. Standard method: swipe from top to bottom

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the notification bar opens with a classic gesture, which is to swipe your finger from the top edge of the screen down.

• 📱 One finger opens the quick settings panel (brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).
• 👆 Two fingers – reveals the full list of notifications (on some models).
• ⚡ Swipe from the corner – on devices with a cutout for the front camera (for example, Redmi Note 10) the gesture can only work from the right or left upper corner.

If the swipe is not working, check:

1. Is Full-screen display activated in the settings (can block gestures).
2. Is there a third-party app installed to control the curtain (for example, Power Shade or Quick Settings).
3. Whether it’s Child Mode or Guest Mode, they restrict access to notifications.

2.Alternative gestures for MIUI 13/14

In the latest versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14, developers have added additional ways to call the notification panel to make it easier to interact with larger screens.

• 🔄 Double swipe – quickly swipe down twice in a row (on some models this opens an extended curtain).
• 🖐️ Tick gesture – squeeze the top of the screen with two fingers (works on Xiaomi) 12/13 Pro).
• 🎯 Tap on status bar – twice touch the area next to the clock / indicators (you need to include in Settings) → Special facilities → Gesture management).

Important: On smartphones with AMOLED-Screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) gestures may not work if Always On Display is enabled – try turning it off temporarily.

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If you don’t have a swipe on top, try swiping your finger from the top edge diagonally down-left – this sometimes helps on devices with a curved display (such as the Mi Mix 4).

3.What to do if the notification panel has disappeared

If the curtain doesn't open at all, the reasons can be both software and hardware.

If none of these methods helped, try resetting your gesture settings:

1. Open the settings → System → Gestures.
2. Select Reset Gestures (may be called Restore by Default).
3. Reset the device.

4. Features for devices with Android One

Xiaomi smartphones on the Android One platform (for example, Mi A1/A2/A3) use “pure” Android without a MIUI shell.

• 📲 One swipe opens notifications.
• 🔧 Two swipes or swipes with a press - reveals quick settings.
• ⚙️ Tiles editing - clamping the pencil icon in the upper right corner of the curtain.

These devices also have a Smart Response feature that allows you to quickly respond to messages directly from notifications, to enable it:

1. Open Settings → Applications and notifications → Notifications.
2. Select Notification Settings → Smart Answers.
3. Activate the switch for the desired messengers.

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On Android One, there is no separation between “quick settings” and “notifications” like in MIUI – everything is managed through a single curtain, but with different levels of disclosure.

5. Hidden settings of the notification panel in MIUI

The MIUI shell offers advanced curtain customization capabilities that many users don't notice. Here's what you can customize:

• 🎨 Transparency – change the background dimming level in Settings → Screen. → Notification panel.
• 📌 Fixed notifications – hold your finger on the notification and select Secure.
• 🔒 Block Notifications – Hide Confidential Notifications on the Lock Screen in Settings → Screen locking → Notifications.
• 🔄 Auto-curl – set the timer for automatic curtain closure in Settings → Special facilities → Retention time.

For advanced users, settings are available via ADB. For example, to turn off animation when opening the curtain, follow the command:

adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0.5


adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0.5

Warning: Changing system settings through ADB can cause the device to run unstable. Before experimenting, back up your data.

Make sure notifications are enabled for the app | Check Do Not Disturb mode | Update your firmware to the latest version |Reboot your phone |Reset your gesture settings-->

6. Solving problems in specific models

Some Xiaomi smartphones have unique bugs with a notification panel, and we have collected solutions for the most popular devices:

If your model is not in the table, check the official Xiaomi forum or MIUI knowledge base for your firmware. Often problems are solved by installing the latest update or rolling back to a stable version.

7. How to return notifications after resetting or firmware

Once reset to factory settings or flashed, the notification panel may not work properly. Here's a step-by-step recovery plan:

1. Sign in to your Mi Account – without this, some system functions may be blocked.

If notifications still do not arrive:

• 🔧 Reset the settings. MIUI (Don’t confuse it with a full reset! → The phone. → Resetting settings.

Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the notification bar may work differently, in which case check the settings in the System UI Tuner menu (available after holding the gear in the curtain for 5 seconds).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's notification panel