Customization of the curtain on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all the features of the notification panel

Why is the curtain setting important for the Redmi Note 8 Pro?

The notification panel (or “curtain”) on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro isn’t just a way to see new messages; it’s the main smartphone control center that saves time and makes it easier to access key features. By default, MIUI offers a basic set of shortcuts, but 80% of users don’t even realize that the curtain can be fully customized, from the order of icons to hidden gestures and display modes.

For example, you can add a night switch to one tap, remove unnecessary switches (like NFC if you don't use it), or even activate "Badge Only" mode, where notifications are displayed without text, keeping privacy. And if you often use a flashlight or mobile hot spot, their shortcuts can be put first. In this article, we'll look at all the ways of setting up, from the obvious to those hidden in the engineering menu.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro features two different curtains: standard (with notifications and quick settings) and compact (like Android’s stock), which are custom-driven: the first is multitasking, the second is minimalist, and we’ll show you how to switch between them and what each option provides.

How to open the curtain settings: 3 ways

Before you customize a panel, you have to get into it, and in MIUI, it's done in a non-obvious way, through the lock screen menu, and here are all the working methods:

• 📱 Settings: Settings → Lock screen and password → Notification curtain settings. This is the most reliable way, but requires 3-4 taps.
• ⚡ Quick Access: Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the curtain, then tap the ⚙️ icon ("Settings") in the top right corner.
• 🔍 Search System: Open the search in the settings (a magnifier at the top) and type "curtain." The system will immediately suggest the desired partition.

If the ⚙️ icon is missing from the curtain, your Redmi Note 8 Pro has custom firmware installed or system prompts disabled, in which case use the first or third method, and check if the mode for children is activated, it blocks access to some settings.

Basic customization: order of icons and labels

The easiest thing to do is to change the order of the quick settings switches (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.).

1. Open the curtain with a swipe down.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ top-right.
3. Select the item Edit shortcuts.
4. Press the icon and drag it to the right place. The gray icons at the bottom are inactive shortcuts that you can add to the top panel.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro has up to 12 shortcuts in the main panel and another 10 in reserve, among useful but often hidden options:

• 🌙 Night mode - quick access to screen temperature settings.
• 📶 Exceptional flight mode allows you to leave Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on.
• 🔋 Charge saving – activates ultra-low consumption mode.
• 🎧 Sound effects – switching between sound profiles (e.g., for headphones).

If you lack standard shortcuts, you can add app shortcuts. To do this, tap Add App shortcuts in the editing menu and select the one you want (like Google Pay or screen recording). Limit to a maximum of 4 user shortcuts.

Advanced settings: color, transparency and animation

MIUI allows you to change the visual style of the curtain, but these options are hidden deeper. To start, check the shell version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If you have version 12.5 or newer, the following options are available:

For owners of Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 11 or older, some of these features may not be available. In this case, installing themes from Mi Theme Store — some of them change the design of the curtain globally. For example, the the theme "Pure Black" makes the panel completely black (useful for AMOLED- screens), and the "iOS Style" mimics the iPhone interface.

⚠️ Warning: If the curtain is slowing down after the transparency change, return the value by 80-90%. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with 6 GB of RAM, animation bugs appear when transparency is below 70%.

Another hidden trick is to change the color of the notifications.

1. Set a theme that supports color customization (e.g., Colorful).
2. Go to Settings → Themes → My Themes → Set up.
3. Choose the color for Accent Color – it will apply to the icons in the curtain.

Hidden functions: gestures and engineering menu

The MIUI hides some useful features that are not documented in the official guides. Here are the most valuable features for the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 👆 Double Swipe for Quick Settings: If you swipe twice from the top edge, only the switchbar (without notifications) opens. This works even if the "Notification First" mode is selected in the settings.
• 🔄 Reset icon position: In the shortcut editing menu, hold the icon outside the panel for 3 seconds - all shortcuts will return to factory settings.
• 📱 One-hand mode: Swipe down from the lower right corner of the screen – the curtain will open in a compact form, shifted to the left.
• 🔍 Search in notifications: In the extended curtain, swipe down the notification list and the search bar will appear.

For advanced users, there are settings through the engineering menu. Attention: incorrect changes here can cause system failures!

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Go to the Usage statistics section.
4. Slip the icon ⚙️ in the upper right corner and select Notification panel.

Here you can:

• Turn off the animation of the rolling curtain (Disable animation).
• Change the speed of the swipe (Swipe speed – values from 1 to 5).
• Activate debug notifications is useful for developers.

Solving problems: The curtain does not open, lays or drops

If the notification panel is not working properly, the reasons may be both software and hardware.

If the curtain completely stopped responding to swipes, try:

1. Run your phone in safe mode (hold the power button → Safe Mode) If the problem disappears, the third-party app is to blame.
2. Reset system settings: Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset all settings (does not delete data!).
3. Update MIUI to the latest version: Settings → About Phone → System Update.

⚠️ Warning: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with the unlocked boot loader, curtain failures may be associated with improperly installed TWRP or magisk modules. Check logs through adb logcat if the problem persists after reset.

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If notifications come but don’t appear in the curtain, try turning off the Hidden Notifications feature in the privacy settings (Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Notifications on the lock screen).

Alternative launchers and their impact on the curtain

Many Redmi Note 8 Pro users install third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair), but not everyone knows that they can break the curtain, because MIUI integrates the notification panel at the system level, and some launchers conflict with its display.

If you are using an alternative launcher and are experiencing problems, check out:

• 🔧 Gesture settings: In Nova Launcher, turn off the Swipe down to open notifications option (it duplicates the system swipe).
• 🎨 Panel transparency: Lawnchair 12+ has a Blur effect option that can conflict with transparency MIUI.
• 🔄 Reset to default: In the launcher settings, find Reset to default — this often solves display problems.

The best launchers for compatibility with the MIUI curtain:

If you decide to return to the standard MIUI launcher, but it disappeared after installing an alternative, do:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.home


adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

These commands will return the system launcher to its original state.

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Side launchers can improve the appearance of the system, but often break the integration with the MIUI curtain. Before installing, check the reviews about compatibility with the Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia model).

FAQ: Frequent questions about curtain settings