Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS offer a flexible alert system that allows users to instantly respond to incoming messages, calls and system events. However, often device owners face a situation where important notifications are lost in the curtain, and unnecessary banner ads are constantly looming before their eyes.
In this article, we’ll look at how to manage pop-ups across different firmware versions, how to get apps to show banners over other windows, and what to do if notifications stop coming. Understanding the logic behind Android’s Redmi and Poco add-ons will help you customize your gadget exactly the way you want it to work, rather than the way the power-saving algorithm intended.
Before we get to the specific menu, there are several levels of display in Xiaomi’s ecosystem: classic banners, floating windows, and notifications on a locked screen. Each of these elements is customized separately, and confusion in them often leads to users not being able to find the right switch.
Difference Between Banners, Floating Windows and Notifications
Many users mistakenly believe that all kinds of alerts work the same way, but in reality Android and MIUI divide them into categories with different access rights. Standard notification just appears in the curtain and possibly makes a sound. Banner (or pop-up notification) is a short-term appearance of a plaque from the top of the screen that disappears after a few seconds, even if the phone is unlocked and you are working in another application.
There's also a third type, floating windows, which don't disappear by themselves and require interaction, which is often used in instant messengers for video calls or games. It's important to understand that for any of these types of applications to work, you need permission to display over other windows. Without this permission, the security system will simply not let the program pop on the screen when you're watching a video or reading an article.
- 🔔 Banners: short-term messages from the top of the screen that do not interrupt the current task.
- 📱 Floating windows: interactive blocks that remain on the screen until the user closes.
- 🔒 Screen notifications: displaying the contents of the message on the locked device.
Each type of configuration occurs in different menu sections, although they are logically related. If you want an important email from your boss to appear on top of the game, you need to set up banners and allow the mail app to work in the background without restrictions.
Global Notification Configuration in MIUI and HyperOS
You have to go to the central control menu, and the path to that may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the basic structure remains the same. You have to go to Settings and find the Notifications and Status bar, and that's where the global switches are, which affect the behavior of all applications at once.
In this menu, look at the Notification Format. In new versions of HyperOS, the company has introduced a visual separation: notifications can be displayed as app icons (like iOS) or a classic list. To enable pop-ups, it is important that the tick be placed opposite to the item "Allow pop-up notifications".
⚠️ Warning: If you turn on Do Not Disturb mode, all pop-up banners will be blocked by the system forcefully, regardless of the settings of individual applications.
Also in this section is the Lock Screen setting, where you can allow or disallow message content when the phone is up, and this is critical for privacy: if you want to see only the sender's name, not the text of the message, select the appropriate item on the menu.
💡
Use Pocket mode in lock screen settings so that the phone does not respond to notifications while in your bag or pocket, preventing accidental screen switching on.
Individual setting for each application
The most important step is fine-tuning the behavior of specific programs. System settings can allow notifications in general, but each application (WhatsApp, Telegram, Banks, Games) has its own priority. To get to them, go to Settings → Notifications → Application Notifications.
In the list that opens, you will see all the programs installed. By clicking on a specific application (e.g. Telegram), you will be taken to a detailed menu. Here you are interested in the Notification Categories section. Often users see just a list of message types (Personal, Groups, Channels), but if you click on a gear or arrow next to the type, you will open advanced settings.
This is where the key pop-up notification switch is located. Make sure it's activated. You can set the sound, vibration and light indication separately for different chats or events, so that messages from loved ones are accompanied by sound and banner, and news from channels comes quietly and only in the curtain.
☑️ Set up a priority application
It's worth noting that some apps, especially instant messengers, have internal settings that override the system. If everything is on but there are no banners, go to the settings of the app itself, look for the Notifications section and see if there is a restriction on pop-ups.
Working with floating windows and second space
Xiaomi’s functionality allows you to turn a regular notification into a full-fledged floating window, which is especially convenient for video calls or watching videos in multitasking mode.
To adjust the behavior of windows, go to Settings → Special Features → Floating Windows. Here you can allow applications to float automatically when you receive a notification. For example, incoming video calls to WhatsApp can immediately open in a small window on top of the desktop.
If you use Second Space (a desktop cloning function for different profiles), remember that the notification settings are independent there. You will have to reset the pop-ups after switching the profile, which often becomes the reason why notifications come in one profile and silence in another.
| Type of window | Behavior | Where to set up |
|---|---|---|
| Banner | Disappears in 3-5 seconds. | Application settings |
| Floating. | Demands closure | Special opportunities |
| Curtain. | Only in the notification center | Global settings |
| Locked-in | Only on the lock screen. | Lock screen |
Floating windows are controlled by swipes: swipe the window down to roll it into a small icon, or up to unfold it to the full screen. These gestures only work if the corresponding function is activated in the special features menu.
Problems with energy saving and background work
One of the most common reasons for the lack of pop-up notifications is MIUI’s aggressive energy saving policy.The system can “kill” the application process to save battery power, which means the program simply can’t send a signal about a new message until you open it.
To fix this, find the app you want in the installed list (long-click on the icon → About the app). Go to the Battery section and select No restrictions. This will prevent the system from limiting the background activity of the program.
⚠️ Warning: Setting “No Limits” mode for a large number of applications can significantly reduce the battery life of your smartphone. Use this option only for important messengers and email clients.
Also check if the curtain energy saving mode is enabled, in which the system automatically restricts background processes and synchronization, which often leads to a delay in the arrival of notifications or their complete absence until the screen is unlocked.
What is Autostart and how does it affect notifications?
Solving typical problems and resetting settings
If you went through all the settings, but the pop-up notifications never appeared, there may have been a software failure in the notification service.First of all, try to clear the cache of the system application "Settings" and "Notification Center." This will not delete your data, but will reset temporary files that may have been corrupted.
Sometimes the problem is third-party launchers or design themes. If you installed a theme from Themes that changes the way you're notified, try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme. Some modified themes don't properly handle system calls to display banners.
In extreme cases, you can reset notification settings. To do this, in the Settings menu → Applications → All applications, find an application that does not work, click Clear → All data. This action will reset all the settings of a particular application to the factory, including the logins and passwords inside it, so make sure you remember the login data.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone after changing your battery settings.
- 🛡️ Check antivirus and ad blockers for filters.
- 📲 Update the problem app via Google Play or GetApps.
If nothing helps, check for updates to the MIUI/HyperOS system itself. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that fix notification bugs, especially after major Android updates.
💡
90% of the problems with pop-up notifications on Xiaomi are solved by removing the battery restrictions and enabling permission to display on top of other windows.