Set up the curtain on Xiaomi: a complete guide to the notification panel in MIUI

The notification panel (or “curtain”) on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a way to view alerts; it is a powerful device management tool that many users use less than full force. Depending on the version of MIUI (the shell of Android from Xiaomi), the functionality of the curtain may differ, but the basic principles of customization remain similar for most models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

In this article, we will analyze not only standard parameters (for example, the order of icons of fast settings), but also hidden opportunities: how to change the transparency of the curtain, configure gestures to call it, disable unnecessary notifications from system applications and even return the classic view of the panel on new versions of MIUI. If you want to make work with a smartphone more convenient - read on.

What is a curtain on Xiaomi and why set it up

The curtain (or notification bar) is a drop-down menu that appears when you swipe from top to bottom across the screen, and it's divided into two parts:

• 📱 The top part is quick settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.).
• 🔔 The bottom part is a list of notifications from applications and system.

By default, MIUI offers a standard set of features, but many users do not know that the curtain can be customized to their needs.

• 🔧 Change the order of the fast setting icons.
• 🎨 Set up transparency or background color.
• 🚫 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.
• ⚡ Add shortcuts for frequently used features (e.g. Game Mode or Charge Savings).

Without the right setup, the curtain can turn into a chaos of dozens of notifications and useless switches, especially for users who are actively using instant messengers, social networks and system alerts (for example, low battery power or updates).

How to open the curtain settings on Xiaomi

To start setting up, first find the appropriate section in the Xiaomi menu.The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the general scheme is as follows:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to the Notification Panel and Status bar (some versions may call Notifications or Status String).
3. Select the Notification Panel or Quick Settings option – here are the main parameters.

If you have a MIUI 14 or newer, the path may look like this:

Settings → Applications → Notifications → Notification Panel

On older versions (e.g. MIUI 12), the section could be called System Applications → Notification Panel. If you don't find the right item, search in the settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

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On some models (e.g. POCO F5), the curtain settings section may be hidden. To open it, tap on the status bar (top bar with time and icons) and hold for 2-3 seconds, the customization menu will open.

Configure the fast parameters (top of the curtain)

The top of the curtain contains quick-setting icons, which are switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, airplane mode and other features, and by default, only basic options are displayed here, but you can change them.

How to Add or Remove Badges

To edit a set of quick settings:

1. Open the curtain with a swipe from top to bottom.
2. Press the badge. ⚙️ Settings (or Edit) in the upper right corner of the panel.
3. In the menu you will see two sections: 🔝 Active icons (the ones that are currently displayed). 📦 Inactive icons (available for addition).

Drag icons between sections to add or remove them from the curtain.

For example, if you use Read Mode or Charge Savings frequently, you can take them to the top for quick access, and you can remove unnecessary switches (like NFC if you don’t use it) to keep the panel from cluttering.

Changing the order of the icons

The order of the icons in the curtain can be changed in the same way as on the main screen:

1. Press your finger on any icon in editing mode.
2. Drag him to a new location.
3. Release your finger to hold the position.

This is done through prioritization and filtering.

How to Disable Unnecessary Notifications

To prevent notifications from a particular application from appearing in the curtain:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Facebook or AliExpress).
3. Slip on the Notification item.
4. Turn off the Display Notifications switch or select which alerts to show (e.g., only messages, not ads).

For system notifications (such as low battery charge), the path is different:

Settings → Notifications → System Notifications

Setting notification priorities

MIUI has a notification categorization feature that allows you to divide alerts by importance, for example, messages from messengers can be made “priority” and notifications from games can be made “important”.

To set priorities:

1. Open Settings → Notifications → Notification Categories.
2. Select an app (such as WhatsApp).
3. Assign a category: 🔴 Priority – displayed from above and accompanied by sound/vibration. 🟡 Ordinary – displayed without sound. 🔵 Unimportant - fold and do not interfere.

This will help keep the curtain in order and not miss important messages.

Additional settings: transparency, gestures, animation

In addition to the basic parameters, MIUI has hidden settings that allow you to fine-tune the appearance and behavior of the curtain.

Changing the transparency of the curtain

If you don’t like the standard semi-transparent background curtain, you can make it more or less transparent:

1. Open Settings → Design → Additional settings.
2. Find the Notification Panel Transparency item (some firmware may call blur effects).
3. Move the slider to change the level of transparency.

If you are uncomfortable with these gestures, you can change them:

Settings → Additional settings → Gestures → Notification panel gestures

Shutting down the curtain animation

Not everyone likes smooth animations when opening/closing the curtains.

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Go to Settings → Additional settings → For developers.
3. Find options: Windows animation - set Responsive. or 0.5x. Transition animation - similarly disable.

This will make the curtain opening instantaneous, which is convenient for older or weaker devices (e.g. Redmi 9A).

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Transparency and curtain animation settings are not available on all Xiaomi models. On budget devices (such as the POCO M5), these options may be limited.

The problems with the curtain on Xiaomi and their solution

Sometimes the curtain may not work properly, like opening, braking, or displaying latency notifications, and consider typical problems and ways to solve them.

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the curtain settings to the standard:

Settings → Notification Panel → Resetting settings

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global) resetting the curtain settings can return it to factory appearance, but does not affect notifications from applications - they will have to be configured separately.

Hidden Curtain Functions You Didn't Know About

MIUI hides some useful curtain-related chips, some of which are:

• 🔍 Search by notifications: swipe down the curtain and tap on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner – you can search for notifications by keywords.
• 📌 Notifications: Hold your finger on an important notification and select Secure – it will always appear on top.
• 🔄 Quick answer: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13) can respond to messages directly from the curtain without opening the app.
• 🌙 Night mode for curtain: if you turn on a dark theme, the curtain will also become dark, which reduces the load on the eyes in the evening.

Another little-known feature is the one-handed curtain mode, and if you have a big smartphone (like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra), you can enable a simplified control:

Settings → Additional settings → One-handed mode → Enable for the notification panel

After that, the curtain will open in a compact form, which is convenient for use with one hand.

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If you use the curtain horizontally often (e.g. while watching a video), turn on the auto-turn curtain option in the notification settings, and then the panel will adapt to the orientation of the screen.

FAQ: Frequent questions about curtains on Xiaomi