Xiaomi smartphone users are often confused about the terminology when it comes to the top of the screen, some calling it a “curtain”, others “notification panel”, and still others looking for a “status bar”. Understanding the exact names of interface elements is critical if you want to properly configure the device or find the desired function in the instructions.
In the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS, the top area of the screen is divided into several functional areas, each of which has its own technical name, and in this article we will take a detailed look at what the top of your smartphone’s display is made of and learn how to manage these elements with maximum efficiency.
Name differences arise for a reason: Xiaomi engineers and Android developers have different meanings for notification, quick settings, and status strings. Let's get this clear.
Status Bar: What is displayed there
The uppermost narrow band, which is visible almost always when the screen is on, is technically called the Status Bar, and this is where the clock, the battery indicator, the signal level of the cellular network, and the icons of active connections such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are located.
This zone is informational and not designed for direct finger interaction, except for swipe down. Depending on your Xiaomi model, whether it is a budget Redmi or flagship Mi, the appearance of the status bar may differ. For example, on devices with a cutout in the screen ("bangs"), the watch can move along the sides of the camera.
It's important to understand that the status bar is an Android system element that the MIUI shell only visually modifies. You can't completely delete it without getting superuser rights (root), but you can hide individual icons through settings.
⚠️ Note: If the status bar has disappeared completely and does not appear even when unlocked, it is possible that the Full-screen application mode is turned on or the SystemUI system interface has failed.
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To change the size of the clock font in the status bar on some Xiaomi models, you need to install third-party themes through the Themes app.
Some users mistakenly believe that the status bar is the menu, but it's just an indicator, and the actual control is hidden just below or is called by a swipe.
Notification Panel and Control Center: What is the Difference
When you swipe from top to bottom, you see what is commonly referred to as a “curtain” in the screen, but in modern versions of Xiaomi firmware, this element has undergone major changes and has split into two conceptual parts.
In classic Android and older versions of MIUI, a swipe down would open a single dashboard, where app notifications were on top and quick customization buttons on the bottom, which is logical and familiar to many, but since MIUI 12, the company has introduced a new style to separate these features.
- 📱 Left: Swipe on the left half of the screen opens the list of notifications from instant messengers, mail and games.
- 🎛️ Right: Swipe on the right (or from the upper right corner) opens the Control Center with brightness sliders and switch buttons.
This separation was introduced for the convenience of one-handed control on large screens, and now you don't have to reach across the entire display to turn the brightness down if the notifications are left-handed.
To return to the classic view, where notifications and buttons are in the same list, you can use the settings. To do this, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Control Center and select the “Old version” option.
MIUI Control Center: Structure and Opportunities
The control center is the menu that many people are looking for called the quick access panel, and it's a functional hub that allows you to instantly change the settings of the device without going deep into the settings.
There are sliders at the top of the Control Center, usually two to adjust the brightness of the screen and to control the volume of the media, and in some themes or versions of HyperOS, these sliders can merge or change position.
Below are the toggle buttons, which allow you to turn on and off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Internet, Do Not Disturb mode and flashlight, and a long press on many of these buttons opens up an extended settings menu for the corresponding module.
| Interface element | Location. | Action (short press) | Action (long press) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi icon | Centre for control | On/off module | Choice of network |
| Bluetooth icon | Centre for control | On/off module | List of devices |
| Brightness slider | Upper part | Adjustment of light | Including autobrightness |
| Flight mode | Centre for control | Shutdown. | Switching to settings |
The thing about MIUI is that you can edit a set of these buttons, and you can add new ones, delete those that are superfluous, and change the order of those buttons, creating a personalized menu that you want to use.
☑️ Setting up the Control Centre
How to set up the top menu and curtain on Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s shell flexibility allows you to customize the top menu beyond recognition.You can change not only the style (split or classic), but also the appearance of elements, fonts and behavior when blocked.
To get started with settings, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar, and here is the key switch "Use Control Center," and if you turn it off, you'll return the good old notification list with the buttons at the bottom.
You can also set up frame rate, internet speed and battery power as a percentage in the status bar in this section, and these little details make it much easier to use your smartphone in your everyday life.
⚠️ Note: When you turn on the display of Internet speed in the status bar on some models with AMOLED-The screens may experience a minimal but noticeable increase in standby energy consumption.
If you don't have the standard features, you can use the Themes app, and there are thousands of designs in the MIUI Themes catalog that completely change the design of the curtain, making it transparent, colorful or minimalist.
Hidden settings through ADB
Problems with displaying the top panel and their solution
Despite the stability of the system, Xiaomi users sometimes encounter bugs: the menu on top may stop leaving, hanging or displaying incorrectly (for example, a black background instead of a transparent one).
Most often, the problem is a crowded cache of a SystemUI system application or a conflict of the theme that you have installed, and if the curtain doesn't open, you should try to restart the device first, which is a trivial action that solves 90 percent of software failures.
If the reboot didn’t work, check to see if Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode is enabled, which may limit notifications, and switch to the standard “No Limits” or “Classic” theme temporarily to eliminate the impact of third-party design.
- 🔄 Reboot: Completely switching off and turning on the smartphone.
- 🎨 Change of theme: Return to standard system design.
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing: Through the application settings, find the System Interface and clear the cache.
In rare cases, especially after a firmware update, you may need to reset your interface settings, only if other methods have not worked, as you will have to reconfigure the widgets and icon layouts.
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Most of the problems with the “curtain” on Xiaomi are software in nature and are solved by resetting the theme or rebooting, without requiring a call to the service.