How to make a notification curtain on Xiaomi as on iPhone: 5 working ways

Why Xiaomi users want an iPhone curtain – and whether it’s worth it

Xiaomi smartphone owners often compare MIUI to iOS — and not always in favor of Chinese firmware. One of the most noticeable differences is the design of the notification panel (or “curtain”). On the iPhone, it looks minimalist: a translucent background, neat icons, smooth animations. In MIUI, the default curtain is overloaded with elements, has bright colors and is not always convenient structure.

But the good news is that you can make a curtain on Xiaomi that looks like an iPhone without root rights and complicated manipulations. In this article, we'll look at 5 proven ways, from standard MIUI settings to third-party launchers and themes. It's important to understand that a full copy of iOS won't work (due to the limitations of Android), but visually the result will be close to the original. And we'll also explain what hidden features MIUI 14/15 allows you to customize the curtain without third-party applications.

Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If you have MIUI 12 or older, some methods may not work – upgrade to the latest version via Settings → System Update.

Method 1: Use of embedded MIUI themes (without installing applications)

The easiest and safest method is to use official themes from Xiaomi, stylized in iOS. There are several options in the MIUI theme store that change not only the wallpaper and icons, but also the design of the curtain.

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. In the search bar, enter iOS or iPhone.
3. Select a theme marked “Notification Panel” (e.g., “iOS 16 Style” or “Minimal iOS”).
4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.

⚠️ Note: Not all themes change the curtain completely - some only affect wallpaper or icons. Before using, read the description of the topic and user reviews. If the curtain starts to lay after applying the theme, return the standard one through the themes → Mine. → By default.

Here is a comparison of the standard MIUI curtain and after applying the theme "iOS 16 Style":

If you don’t like the result, the theme can be removed in the same Topic app by going to the My → Installed section and clicking on the cart next to the topic title.

Method 2: Launchers with support for iOS-style (Nova Launcher, Apex, iLauncher)

If the built-in themes don't work, try third-party launchers, which don't change the curtain itself (you can't do that without root), but they let you customize the look of your desktop and your iOS icons, which visually creates a single style.

• 📱 Nova Launcher is the most flexible launcher with icon pack support, allowing you to customize animations, gestures and even hide the search bar (like on iPhone).
• 🎨 iLauncher - a specialized launcher for iOS with ready presets for curtains (requires additional settings).
• ⚡ Apex Launcher - light launcher with the ability to fine tune transitions and appearance.

To set up the launcher for iOS:

1. Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. Download the icon pack for iOS (for example, “iOS 16 Icon Pack” or “Whicons”).
3. In the launcher settings, select the downloaded icon pack and turn off the search bar.
4. Install wallpaper for iOS (you can find Wallpaper from Xiaomi or download separately).

Install Nova Launcher from Google Play|

Download icon pack (for example, iOS 16 Icon Pack)|

Turn off the search bar in the settings |

Install wallpaper under iOS|

Set up a swipe up gesture to open the app menu-->

⚠️ Note: Launchers do not change the notification curtain itself, only the desktop. Complete transformation will require combining this method with others (for example, with a theme from the first method). MIUI, If you do that, try to roll back the settings or change the launcher.

Method 3: Magisk deep customization modules (root only)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can use Magisk modules to modify system files, which is only suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed. The advantage of the method is complete customization freedom, including:

• 🔄 Changes to the opening/closing of the curtain.
• 🎨 Replacement of icons of fast settings with the style of iOS.
• 📱 Set up transparency and background blur.
• 🔧 Removing unnecessary items (e.g., ads in the curtain).

The most popular modules for this task:

• iOS 16 Notification Panel – simulates the curtain of the iPhone with support for a dark theme.
• MIUI Bliss is a comprehensive module for customization of MIUI, including notification panel.
• QuickSwitch allows you to change the style of fast switches.

Installation instructions:

1. Install Magisk Manager from the official repository.


2. Download the module (e.g. iOS 16 Notification Panel) in.zip format.




3. Open Magisk → Modules → Install from storage.




4. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.




5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Using Magisk may disrupt some features (e.g. Google Pay or banking apps) due to the SafetyNet trigger. Also, improper installation of modules can lead to system failure.

Method 4: Notification Panel Customizer

If you don't have root access, but you want more flexibility than the themes, you can use specialized applications, and one of the best ones is the Notification Panel Customizer (available on Google Play).

• 🎨 Changes the color of the curtain background (including transparency).
• 🔄 Configures the location of icons of fast settings.
• 📱 Hiding unnecessary elements (such as brightness or media player).
• 🔧 Adds its own shortcuts to the notification panel.

How to set up a curtain for iOS using this application:

1. Install Notification Panel Customizer from Google Play.
2. Provide access to notifications (required for work!).
3. In the Background section, select a semi-transparent background with blur.
4. In Quick Settings, change the icons to monochrome (you can download the icon pack separately).
5. Turn off unnecessary items in Notification Header.

💡

If after setting up the curtain began to slow down, try to turn off animations in the application settings or reduce the transparency of the background.

The downside of this method is that not all of the curtain elements can be changed (such as opening animations or notification style), but it works without root and does not require complex manipulations.

Method 5: Manual editing of system files (for power users)

This is only for those who are Android-savvy and willing to risk the stability of the system, and it involves manually changing the framework-res.apk and SystemUI.apk files that are responsible for the design of the interface, and we warn you that one wrong step can bring the phone down.

What can be changed manually:

• 🎨 Colors and transparency of curtains (files) colors.xml).
• 📱 Quick settings icons (drawable folder in) SystemUI.apk).
• 🔧 Size and location of elements (files) dimens.xml).

The editing will require:

• 🖥️ APKTool Decompilation Program APK-file.
• 📁 Backup of original files (required!).
• 🔧 ADB for installing edited files.

⚠️ Note: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and may result in a loss of warranty. MIUI If you're not sure about your skills, you'd better use other methods.

💡

Manual editing of system files is the most powerful, but also the most dangerous method, and is only suitable for experienced users, ready for possible consequences (up to the "bricking" of the phone).

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

For most users, the best solution is a combination of an embedded theme (mode 1) and a launcher (mode 2), which will give a visual similarity to the iPhone without risk to the system. If you want maximum customization and you are willing to sacrifice stability, try Magisk modules.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up curtains on Xiaomi