The standard charging animation on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones gets boring after a few months of use. Fortunately, the manufacturer and the enthusiast community offer several ways to change it, from official themes to manually editing system files. But not all methods are equally safe: some require unlocking the bootloader, others work only on certain versions of MIUI, and still others can cause failures if you do something wrong.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to change the charging saver, including root-free options using ADB. You’ll learn which models support a particular technique, where to download secure themes, and how to get it back if something goes wrong. And why animations are reset on some devices after the update and how to avoid it.
⚠️ Note: Modifying system files through ADB or manual editing can lead to loss of warranty and unstable operation of the smartphone. → Additionally. → Backup.
1.Official way: change through MIUI themes
The easiest and safest method is to use a built-in themes gallery. MIUI. It works on most modern devices (Xiaomi). 11/12/13, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5) without the need to unlock or root-rights, the only condition is the presence of the latest firmware version (minimum). MIUI 12.5).
Algorithm of action:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
- 🔍 In the search bar, type a charge or battery request (in English, there are often more options).
- 🎨 Choose your favorite theme with charging animations. Pay attention to the rating and the number of downloads – this reduces the risk of running into low-quality content.
- 📥 Click Apply and Confirm Installation. The system will automatically replace the standard screensaver.
⚠️ Attention: Some themes may contain ads or hidden subscriptions. Check user reviews and developer ratings before installing. If the theme is slowing down, return the standard design to Settings → Registration → Reset to factory settings.
2. Use of third-party launchers (without root)
If the built-in themes don't work, you can try third-party launchers that support customization of the charging screen.
- 🌟 Nova Launcher – allows you to replace animation with a static image through the settings of Look & Feel → Charging Screen.
- 🖼️ Microsoft Launcher – offers several built-in charging styles (available in the premium version).
- 🎭 Action Launcher – supports custom.gif animations (manual file download required).
Method limitation: Launchers only change the screensaver when connected to the charger when it is on, and on the phone turned off or in Fastboot mode, the standard Xiaomi animation will be displayed.
🔹 How to install custom animations through Nova Launcher:
- Download the launcher from Google Play.
- Go to Settings Nova → Appearance → Charging screen.
- Select Castom image and download the prepared file (at least 1080×2340 resolution for Full HD+ displays).
- Save the changes and restart the smartphone.
💡
To create your animation, use services like EZGIF. The optimal format is.gif with a resolution of 30 FPS and weighing up to 5 MB.
3. Editing system files via ADB (for advanced)
This method is suitable for users who are ready to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), it allows you to replace standard animation with any custom, but requires on-line developer mode and debugging over USB. Works on most devices with MIUI 11-14, but can cause failures if executed incorrectly.
🔹 Step-by-step instruction:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC, install it ADB-Drivers and check the connection with the command: Adb devices (the name of your device should be displayed).
- Download the archive with custom animation (for example, with XDA Developers) and unpack it in a folder with platform-tools.
- Execute the commands for file replacement: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/Download/custom_bootanimation.zip /system/media/bootanimation.zip chmod 644 /system/media/bootanimation.zip reboot
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to a device "brick" (permanent download in Fastboot). If the smartphone does not turn on after rebooting, try returning the original file using the Mi Flash Tool.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
4. Replacement via TWRP (requires unlocking the bootloader)
For the most experienced users, there is a method of replacing animations through custom recovery TWRP. It gives full control over system files, but requires an unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP. Suitable for devices on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-13.
🔹 Conditions required:
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
- 📱 Established TWRP Recovery (version must match the smartphone model).
- 💾 Backup copy of section /system (backup in TWRP change).
🔹 Replacement:
- Download the archive with custom animation in.zip format (for example, bootanimation.zip).
- Reboot to TWRP (Put Power + Volume up when the phone is off).
- Go to Advanced → File Manager and find /system/media/.
- Delete the old bootanimation.zip file and download a new one.
- Go back to the main TWRP menu and select Reboot → System.
Once replaced via TWRP, the charging animation will be displayed even on the device turned off, unlike the launcher methods, but this method carries risks: the next MIUI update via OTA, your changes may be reset.
5. Specialized applications (with root rights)
If your smartphone has root access, you can use deep customization apps.
- 🛠️ BootAnimations (Play Market) – allows you to install animations in.zip or.gif format.
- 🎬 Charging Animation Changer – specializes in charging screens (requires Magisk).
- 🖥️ Substratum Theme Engine – an advanced tool for changing system elements (powered by Android 8.0)+).
🔹 How to install animations through BootAnimations:
- Download and install the app from Google Play.
- Provide root access when requested.
- Select your favorite animation from the gallery or upload your own (the file should be called bootanimation.zip).
- Press Apply and restart the device.
⚠️ Note: Root-access applications may conflict with MIUI Optimization (built-in Xiaomi feature to speed up the system). If after the changes there are lags - disable optimization in Settings → Special facilities → MIUI Optimization.
☑️ Preparation for changing charging animation
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To make the choice easier, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:
| Method | Difficulty | Need root? | Works on the off-phone? | Risk of failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI themes | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⭐ (low-key) |
| Third-party launchers | ⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⭐ (low-key) |
| ADB | ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ❌ No (but I need debugging) | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐ (high-end) |
| TWRP | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (high-pitched) |
| Root applications | ⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐ (high-end) |
🔹 Recommendations for selection:
- 🆕 If you have a new model (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12) — start with that MIUI launcher.
- 🔧 For older devices (Redmi) 5/6, POCO F1) fit ADB or TWRP (if the loader is already unlocked).
- 🛡️ If you are afraid of risks, use Nova Launcher (changes animations only when the screen is turned on).
💡
On devices with MIUI 14 and later, some methods (e.g., editing via ADB) may not work due to enhanced system partition protection.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even with the right instructions, sometimes errors occur, and let's look at typical situations and how to fix them:
🔸 Animation reset after update MIUI
This is the standard behavior of the system: OTA-The system's original files are restored:
- Save a backup of the modified bootanimation.zip on your PC.
- After the update, repeat the replacement procedure via ADB or TWRP.
- Turn off automatic updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⚙️ → Auto-update.
🔸 Black screen instead of animation
The reason is an incompatible file format or broken access rights.
- Check that the file is called bootanimation.zip (without unnecessary characters).
- Make sure that the file rights are 644 (can be changed by ADB with the command chmod 644 /system/media/bootanimation.zip).
- If you use TWRP, try reinstalling the original backup file.
🔸 Animation twitches or slows down
The problem is typical for heavy.gif files or unoptimized.zip archives.
- Use animations with a resolution not higher than 1080p and weighing up to 10 MB.
- Convert.gif to.zip via BootAnimations.net.
- Turn off background processes in Settings → Battery → Power saving mode.