The MIUI 12 interface was a landmark upgrade for Xiaomi’s ecosystem, bringing not only a new design but also enhanced customization capabilities. One of the most notable changes was the transformation of the control center and notification curtains, which are now visually separated or combined depending on the style chosen. Many users who are switching from older versions of firmware or from pure Android are looking to adapt the interface to their habits, changing the appearance of the top menu.
The ability to change the notification curtain on Xiaomi makes smartphone usage more ergonomic and convenient. You can choose between the classic notification list and the modern tile interface that was introduced in global versions of the shell. Understanding how these elements work will help you customize the gadget to look exactly the way you want it to look, not the way the default engineers intended it to look.
In this article, we will take a look at all the customization methods available, including the hidden features and subtleties of working with system elements. We will look at how to switch between styles, what limitations exist, and how to solve common problems with displaying controls. A deep dive into the settings of the MIUI interface will open up new horizons of personalization.
The main styles of notification curtain in MIUI 12
The MIUI 12 shell offers two fundamentally different approaches to organizing space at the top of the screen. The first style, often called "Android 10," is a single panel where notifications and switches are listed. The second style, "Android 11," separates these elements: on the left, there are application notifications, and on the right, there is a control center with brightness, sound sliders and buttons of communication modules.
Choosing a particular style affects not only visual perception, but also the speed of access to features. For those who are used to the logic of the iPhone or the pure Android of the latest versions, a separate interface may seem more intuitive, while a single list is convenient for quickly scrolling through a large number of incoming messages without having to switch between tabs.
It is important to note that the availability of certain styles may depend on the regional version of the firmware (Global, China, EEA).In some cases, developers implement interface changes gradually, so on one device the option may be available, and on another - hidden until the system update.
How to Switch to Android 11 Style
To change the appearance of the curtain to a modern style, you need to refer to the system settings of notifications. This process does not require root rights or install additional software, since the function is built into the basic functionality of MIUI 12.
To activate the new design, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the Settings app and go to Notifications and Status bar».
- 🔍 Find the item “Notification style” or “Notification format».
- ✅ Select the “New” or “Android 11” option to activate the separate curtain.
After the changes are applied, the system may require rebooting the interface or the device itself to correctly display all the elements. If the menu item is missing, this may mean that for your model or region this feature has not yet been activated by the developers, in which case it is worth checking for system updates in the About Phone section.
☑️ Checking before changing style
Now, if you look at the new style, you change the logic of swipes, so you swipe down from the top right corner to open the control center, and you swipe down from the left to view notifications, and it takes a little bit of time to get used to, especially if you've been using the old pattern for years.
Customization of controls and sliders
Once you change the style of the curtain, you can fine-tune the controls themselves. In MIUI 12, the control center became more interactive: brightness and sound sliders received visual improvements, and quick access buttons became larger and more informative.
You can edit a set of buttons that appear in a rolled-up and unfolded form, and you just click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or three dots) in the corner of the control center, and you can add commonly used features like Screen Recording, Read Mode, or Translation, and remove those that you don't use.
⚠️ Warning: Do not remove systemically important items such as Flight Mode or Bluetooth unless you are sure of the consequences. their absence may make it difficult to restore communication at a critical moment when the screen is locked.
Also, in the MIUI settings, you can change the font size and interface scale, which directly affects the display of elements in the curtain. Increased system scale will make buttons more convenient to press, but reduce the number of visible lines with notifications.
Hiding icons and system indicators
One of the common problems with MIUI 12 is that the status bar is congested with running app icons, and the many icons at the top can be distracting and confusing, and fortunately, it allows you to flexibly manage the visibility of these indicators.
To remove the badges:
- 🛠 Go to Settings. → Notifications and status bar.
- 👁 Select the item "Display of notification icons».
- ❌ Turn off switches for apps you don’t want to see in the status bar.
Here you can configure the display of Internet connection speed, charge level in percentage and time. that hiding the icon does not turn off the notifications themselves – you will still receive messages, just they will not callouse your eyes at the top of the screen while the device is unlocked.
Why do icons come back after the update?
For those who want to achieve maximum minimalism, there is an opportunity to hide even the cutout under the camera (bangs), turning it into a black stripe. This is done in the section Additional → Hiding the cutout, which visually expands the black area at the top of the screen.
Comparison of functionality of different versions of the interface
The differences between the old and new curtain styles are not limited to the appearance, but also to the functional content and the gestures available, and understanding these differences will help you choose the best option for your smartphone use scenario.
| Characteristics | Android 10 Style (Classical) | Android 11 Style (New) |
|---|---|---|
| Location. | Single list | Separate panels |
| Access to music | In the notification list | A separate widget in the control center |
| Brightness and sound | Vertical sliders | Horizontal or individual blocks |
| Gestures | Swipe top down the center. | Swipe left (notifications) and right (center) |
As you can see from the table, the new style offers a more structured approach, separating information flow (notifications) and control tools (control center), which reduces cognitive load and allows you to find the right switches faster.
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The new style of curtain in MIUI 12 focuses on the ergonomics of large screens, allowing you to control functions with one hand through swipes from the right edge.
However, the classic style remains preferred for users who often ignore notifications, as in the new interface they can be hidden behind a swipe, which increases the risk of missing an important message from the bank or messenger.
Addressing common problems
Users may experience a number of problems during the setup process, such as when the curtain does not open, freezes or displays incorrectly, often due to conflicts in the System UI system process or a crowded cache.
If you notice that after changing the style of the curtain stopped responding to touch, try clearing the cache of the Security app and the system interface. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the relevant system processes and select Clear Cache.
In some cases, the problem may be in third-party themes. Themes not optimized for MIUI 12 can break the layout of system elements. If you have installed a new theme and then glitches have appeared, return the standard theme through the Themes app.
⚠️ Warning: If the notification curtain stops opening completely after installing questionable software, reboot in Safe Mode to determine if the problem is hardware or caused by a third-party application.
It's also worth mentioning that devices with screen cutouts (hole camera) sometimes have brightness sliders shifting, a well-known software bug in some versions of MIUI that usually fixes with security patches. Before the fix comes out, you can try resizing the font to move the interface elements.
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If the curtain is slow, reduce the number of widgets in the control center, and the fewer active elements, the faster the interface responds.
Additional Customization Opportunities
For advanced users who don’t have enough standard settings, there are ways to deepen interface modification. Using applications to change system fonts or install Substratum modules (requires root) allows you to change the colors of icons in the curtain, making them completely transparent or changing their shape.
However, with Xiaomi’s standard tools, you can change the accent color that will apply to the curtain sliders, through the Wallpaper and Personalization menu → System Colors, and the choice of palette will automatically repaint the controls into the appropriate tones, harmonizing the appearance.
Remember that over-customization can lead to unstable system performance. Always back up your data before making deep changes to system files or installing modified themes.