How to make a strip of activity on Xiaomi like on the iPhone: a step-by-step guide with a photo

The thin horizontal bar at the top of the iPhone screen is one of the most recognizable elements of the iOS interface. It shows the activity of the microphone, camera, geolocation or other functions, giving the user an additional level of control over privacy. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often wonder: can I implement a similar indicator on MIUI? The answer is yes, but with nuances.

In this article, we’ll look at 3 proven ways to add activity strips to Xiaomi, including root-free and with-the-root methods. You’ll learn which models support out-of-the-box functionality, how to bypass the limitations of MIUI 12-14, and why some apps can block display of the indicator. We’ll also compare the functionality of the strips on iPhone and Xiaomi so you understand what to expect from each solution.

⚠️ Note: Not all methods are compatible with the latest versions MIUI 14 Android-based 13/14. Before making changes, check the firmware version in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

1.What is the activity strip on the iPhone and why you need it on Xiaomi

The Activity Band (or Sensor Usage Indicator) in iOS came out in 2020 with iOS 14.It is a small color dot or horizontal line at the top of the screen that lights up when the app uses:

• 🎤 Microphone (orange dot)
• 📷 Cameroo (green dot)
• 📍 Geolocation (blue stripe in status bar)
• 🔄 Background activity (gray indicator)

Xiaomi has no default counterpart to this feature, which is a concern for privacy users, for example, attackers can secretly record conversations through a microphone and you won't even know it. The activity strip solves this problem by visualizing how sensors work.

In addition to safety, the indicator is useful for:

• 🔋 Tracking background activity of apps (such as Facebook or TikTok, which often use a microphone without the user’s knowledge).
• 📱 Quickly determine which application is currently consuming the most resources.
• 🛡️ Protection against spyware that may disguise itself as system processes.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ or Xiaomi 13 Ultra in MIUI 14, there's a hidden camera usage indicator -- a little green circle in the top right corner -- but it's unstable and doesn't cover all the sensors.

Method 2: Incorporating a hidden indicator into MIUI (without root)

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi's firmware has a hidden mechanism for displaying the activity indicator, but it is disabled by default. ADB-commands (does not require root rights, but needs debugging by USB).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell settings put global privacy_indicator 1

After the reboot, a thin stripe similar to the iPhone should appear at the top of the screen, but there are limitations:

🔹 How to disable: run the command adb shell settings put global privacy_indicator 0.

Enable the developer mode

Activate debugging over USB

Install ADB Tools on PC

Connect your phone to the original cable

Check the connection of the adb device team

-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F4 GT, Redmi K50 Pro) after activation of the indicator, graphic artifacts may appear in the status bar, in which case resetting the settings through Settings will help. → System system → Resetting settings (without data loss).

3. Method 2: Indicator apps from Google Play

If ADB-It didn't work, or you don't want to mess with teams, you can install third-party apps that mimic a band of activity:

• 🔍 Privacy Indicator - shows the use of a camera, microphone and geolocation with a customizable design.
• 🛡️ Access Dots is an analogue of the iOS indicator with support for color schemes. Requires Android 10+.
• 📱 Sensor Indicator – displays sensor activity in real time, but may conflict with the sensors. MIUI Optimization.

🔹 How to Set Up a Privacy Indicator:

1. Install the application and provide all the permissions requested (including Special Access).
2. In the application settings, select the indicator Type → Strip (like on iPhone).
3. Activate the option to Show in the status bar.
4. Adjust the colors for each sensor (e.g. green for the camera, orange for the microphone).

📌 Challenges and solutions:

• 🎨 Not like the design: in Privacy Indicator you can choose the style Minimalist or iOS-like.

💡

If the indicator disappears after locking the screen, turn on the option in the settings of the application to Work in the background and turn off battery optimization for it.

⚠️ Note: Indicator applications consume an additional battery (up to the current battery). 3-5% On Xiaomi, on the day. MIUI 13/14 They can conflict with system services, causing hang-ups. Before installing, check the reviews for your model.

Method 3: Modification of system files (requires root)

The most reliable, but also the most risky, method is to edit MIUI system files through root access, which allows you to add a full-fledged indicator similar to iOS, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 📱 Installed by Magisk or other root manager.
• 🛠️ Backup of the system (required!).

🔹 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Install Magisk and Xiaomi Privacy Indicator from the XDA Developers repository.
2. Download the file. privacy_indicator.zip And then you can run it through Magisk Manager.
3. Reset the device.
4. In Magisk, activate the module and adjust the color of the indicators in the file. /system/privacy/indicator_config.xml (Use Root Explorer).

📊 Comparison with other methods:

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop ( looped reboot).Before making changes, back up through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery, on Dynamic models. RAM Expansion (Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K60) After modification, you may need to disable this function in Settings → Additionally. → Memory.

5.Why Xiaomi doesn't have a strip like the default iPhone

Xiaomi does not add an activity indicator to MIUI for several reasons:

• 📱 Device fragmentation: Xiaomi has more than 200+ Smartphone models, and unify the interface for all difficult.
• 🔋 Performance optimization: additional indicators increase the load on the processor, which is critical for low-end devices (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3).
• 🛡️ Privacy Policy: China (Major Xiaomi Market) has less stringent data protection requirements than the EU or the US.
• 🎨 Design differences: MIUI Historically focused on maximum customization, not minimalism iOS.

Important: Starting with MIUI 14 Global, in firmware for the European market (EEA) There's a hidden flag privacy_indicator_enabled, activatable ADB. But Chinese (CN) Indian (IN) The flag is not in the version of the flag.

🔹 How to find out the firmware version:

Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If there is EEA or Global at the end of the name, the ADB method will work. If CN or IN, you need firmware through Fastboot.

💡

Even if you manage to activate the indicator, it will not work in Safe Mode (Safe Mode) and when using some system applications (Mi Video, Mi Browser).

6. Alternative methods of monitoring sensor activity

If none of these methods work, consider alternative monitoring options:

• 📊 Built-in monitor MIUI: Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → App permissions. Choose Camera, Microphone or Geolocation. See which apps have recently used these sensors.

Bouncer

:

Reference

NetGuard

AFWall+

:

root

📌 Advantages of Alternative Methods: