How to change charging animation on Xiaomi MIUI: a step-by-step guide

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the desire to personalize their device, going beyond the standard capabilities of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. One of the most noticeable interface elements that users see every day several times is the lock screen and, in particular, the animation displayed while connecting the charger. The standard options provided by the manufacturer can seem boring or outdated, especially if you are used to custom firmware or just like aesthetics. Fortunately, the ecosystem allows you to interfere with system processes and replace graphic elements with more attractive ones.

The process of changing the charging animation on Xiaomi is not trivial, like installing a regular theme from the store. System files are protected from accidental change, which requires the user to either have root rights or use specific methods that do not require deep interference with the structure of the OS. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from simple thematic settings to advanced methods using Magisk and replacing system resources. You will learn how to safely modify the interface without risking turning your gadget into a “brick”.

It’s worth noting that the methods may differ depending on the Android version and the specific version of the MIUI shell. What worked on Android 10 may require adjustments to Android 13 or 14. We’ll look at the universal approaches and point out the nuances for different firmware versions. If you’re willing to experiment with the look of your Xiaomi, be patient and follow the instructions carefully to avoid errors when working with system files.

Features of charging animation in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS

The MIUI shell, and now the successor to HyperOS, is built on Android, but has profound modifications to system services. Charging animation is not just a video file that plays on top of a black screen. It's a complex mechanism tied to SystemUI and specific framework resources. When you plug in a cable, the system reads the charge level, connection type (fast charging, conventional, wireless) and runs the appropriate graphical scenario.

As standard, Xiaomi uses static images or simple vector animations that are encoded into system resource files. These files have the.arsc or.png extension depending on the OS version and implementation method. In newer versions of MIUI 13 and 14, the company has implemented “super wallpaper” and complex unlock animations, but the animation of the charging process often remains basic if you do not use third-party themes.

⚠️ Warning: Any manipulation of system files, even with the thematics, carries minimal risk.Be sure to create a full backup of data to the cloud service or computer before starting any action.

Understanding how this works is important for choosing the right replacement method. If you just want to change the color of the indicator or the battery icon, you can do this through the theme settings. But if the goal is to completely replace the video row when the screen lights up when the cable is connected, a deeper approach is required. The system checks the integrity of resources, and simply replacing the image in the folder without the appropriate access rights will lead to the change not applied or the system goes into a cyclical reboot.

• 🔋 Standard animation depends on the charge level (less than 20%, more than 80%).
• ⚡ Different types of charging (Mi Turbo Charge, Quick Charge) have unique visuals.
• 🎨 Themes may override system resources, but not always completely.
• 🛡️ System protection prevents direct entry into the section /system rootless.

Replacement method by installing themes in the “Themes” app

The safest and easiest way to avoid rooting or unlocking the bootloader is to use the official Theme app. There are thousands of designs in the MIUI catalog, many of which include redesigned lock screens and charging animations. However, finding a quality theme with good animation can be difficult, as the store is full of low-quality content.

To find the right topic, use a keyword search. Type in the search box applications "Charging", "Charge Animation" or "Charge Animation". Often authors name their work in English, even if the description is Russified. After installing the topic, take your time to rejoice: first apply it fully, check the lock screen, and then, if you liked only the animation, try using only the "lock screen" or "System" component in the the theme settings.

Some themes may not work properly on your version of MIUI due to changes in file structure. If the animation hasn't changed after installing the theme, it's possible that the theme developer didn't take into account your version of Android, then it's worth looking for an alternative or using third-party theme stores, although this requires additional region customization.

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Try to change the region in the phone settings to “India” or “Indonesia” – in these regions the catalog is often richer and contains exclusive designs that are not available for Russia or Europe.

It's important to understand that the theme method doesn't give you complete freedom. You're limited to what the theme writer drew. If you want a specific animation from a game or a movie, you can only find it if someone has already done that theme. For full customization, where you choose a video or a gif, this is not the right method.

Magisk modules to replace system resources

For users who have an unlocked bootloader and an installed Magisk rights manager, there are much more opportunities, as Magisk modules allow you to implement changes to the system partition virtually without affecting the original firmware files, which makes the process reversible: removing the module returns everything to its place.

There are dedicated modules developed by enthusiasts that replace standard charging resources with custom ones. Often called Custom Charging Animation, or contain the names of popular anime series and games. Installation takes place through the Magisk app: you download the module archive (zip), go to the Modules section, click on Device Install, and select a file. After the reboot, the system will load new resources.

adb reboot

Once the module is installed and the reboot is reset, the changes should take effect. But there's an important caveat: charging resources are tightly tied to screen resolution and pixel density. If you install a module made for a FullHD+ screen on a device with HD+ resolution, the animations may not display correctly, be stretched or cropped.

⚠️ Note: Install only those Magisk modules that are marked as compatible with your version of Android.The Android 11 module can cause a bootloop (cyclic reboot) on Android 13.

If the phone stopped turning on after installing the module, you will need to boot into Recovery or Fastboot mode and clear the data partition (which will delete the data) or delete the module via ADB if recovery allows access to the file system.

Manual file replacement via Root-wires

The most flexible, but also the most difficult, method is to manually replace resource files, and you'll need root rights and an advanced file manager like Root Explorer, Solid Explorer, or MT Manager, and the idea is to find the system file that controls the charging schedule and replace it with a modified one.

Paths to files may differ depending on the version MIUI. Most often, the files are located in the directory. /system/framework/framework-res.apk or /system/product/overlay. Inside these archives (apk or zip) are resources stored. You will need to unpack the apk, find the desired images (often called the images). stat_charge.png, stat_battery charging.png or have digital identifiers, replace them with your own and pack back with the structure and alignment.

It is critical to respect the file format and size if the original image is sized. 100x100 If you have pixels, yours must be exactly the same, otherwise the system may ignore the file or give a graphical failure. PNG After replacing files, the permissions to access the original (usually rw-r) must be changed.--r-- or 644).

To work safely with files, use the "Mount R/W" feature in root conductor, which allows you to mount the system partition in write mode. Remember to make a copy of the original file before replacing it and put it in the same folder with a name, such as framework-res.apk.bak. This will allow you to quickly recover in the event of a crash.

Configuring indicators and LED-notice

In addition to the screen, many users pay attention to the LED indicator (if there is one in the model) or the Always On Display (AOD) screen. In modern Xiaomi smartphones, the LED is often hidden under the screen or absent, replacing the light effects on the display.

Go to Settings → Lock screen → Notification indicator (the path may vary). Here you can choose the color of the glow for different events, including charging. However, you can not change the blink sequence itself or color during charging at the system level without root rights. Some topics can override these values, but this works unstable.

For models with AMOLED screens and AOD support, charging animations can be displayed on the display turned off. This is configured in Settings → Lock screen → Always-on display and lock screen → Style. Here you can choose different options for displaying the watch and battery during charging, which creates a live animation effect without turning on the main screen.

• 🌈 The color of the indicator depends on the percentage of charge (red - small, green - full).
• 💡 On some models, you can turn off blinking when fully charged.
• ⏱️ AOD-Animations consume less energy than screen activation.
• 🔌 When using original charging, animation can be more dynamic.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

You may encounter a number of challenges in customization, and the most common problem is that the animations don't change after all the manipulations you've done, and this is often linked to the system cache, and try to clear the Themes and SystemUI app cache through the app settings menu, and then reboot the device.

Another common mistake is a black screen when charging, which means that the system can't find the resource file or it's corrupted, in which case you need to return the original file from the backup. If you used the Magisk module, just delete it through the Magisk app in Safe Mode.

⚠️ Warning: If after installing a custom theme or module, the phone begins to discharge quickly or warm up in standby mode, immediately remove the installed component.

Also, consider that over-the-air firmware updates (OTAs) can reset all your changes, as system files will be overwritten with the original. After each major MIUI update, you will have to repeat the installation procedure of the animation. Use Magisk to save modifications, as it knows how to survive updates if the modules are written correctly.

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The most stable way to get unique animations without risk to the system is to use proven themes from the official store, rather than manually editing system files.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)