How to turn off the curtain on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s MIUI and new HyperOS shell interface is famous for its deepest customization that allows users to change almost every aspect of visual design and control. However, sometimes over-functionality or random action leads to standard controls behaving incorrectly or simply interfering with comfortable smartphone use. The question of how to turn off the curtain on Xiaomi is often raised by those who want to restrict access to the notification panel for children, hide sensitive information on the lock screen or simply clean the interface from visual noise.

It is not possible to completely remove or make invisible the system curtain of the status without using complex modifications of the system (root-right, Xposed), since this is a critical element of Android navigation. However, the functionality of the curtain can be blocked, limited access to it or configured so that it will cease to be distracted and opened by accidental touches. In this article, we will discuss all legal and safe ways to control this element of the interface.

Different models of devices, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 14, may have minor differences in the location of menu items, but the logic of the system remains the same. We will consider the standard settings, parental controls, as well as specialized modes that allow you to achieve the desired result without the risk of turning the phone into a “brick”.

Configure the display of elements in the status curtain

The first step to managing the notification panel is to fine-tune what it displays. Often users want to “turn off the curtain,” meaning getting rid of unnecessary icons, network icons or batteries that clutter the top of the screen. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar, and there are many switches hiding the display of Internet speed, battery level or active application icons.

It's important to understand that hiding items doesn't block the ability to swipe a panel, but it makes it visually cleaner. If you want to be minimalist, removing those extra indicators is a great solution. In the new versions of HyperOS, this section has been slightly renamed and can now be simply called "Standbar".

• 📱 Go to the Settings menu of your Xiaomi device.
• 🔔 Select Notifications and Status bar (or Notifications»).
• 👁️ Find the section “Display Connection Speed” or “Signs in the Status Bar».
• ❌ Turn off all unnecessary indicators to simplify the interface.

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Before making changes to the status bar settings, remember their original state or take a screenshot to quickly return everything as it was if necessary.

Once all the extra elements are turned off, the curtain will become virtually empty, which visually can be perceived as lacking it, although technically it will remain functional.

Blocking the curtain on the lock screen

One of the most common requests is to restrict access to the notification panel on a locked screen, a popular security measure: if the phone is on the table with a screen up, outsiders will not be able to see text messages, missed calls or launch an application just by swiping the curtain down. Android, which runs MIUI, has a mechanism for blocking widgets and notifications on the lock screen.

To activate this feature, you will need to go to the security settings. The path may vary depending on the version of the shell, but most often it is in the Settings → Notifications and Status bar → On the lock screen. Here you need to find the option that allows or prohibits the use of the notification panel. Also pay attention to the settings for displaying the content of the notifications – they can be hidden completely, leaving only the name of the application.

⚠️ Warning: Once you lock the curtain on the lock screen, you won’t be able to quickly respond to a message or turn off the alarm by swipe without unlocking the device completely.

You should also check the settings for Pocket Mode or Random Touches. Sometimes the curtain opens on its own in your pocket because of the high sensitivity of the touchscreen. Enabling Pocket Mode (Settings → Lock Screen → Pocket Mode) will help prevent accidental panel openings.

Using the “Second Space” mode to delimit access

If your goal is not just to hide the curtain, but to create an environment where it is not available or limited (for example, to transfer the phone to a child or a guest), the best standard solution is the “Second Space” function, which is the analog of user profiles built directly into MIUI. You can create a separate desktop with a limited set of applications and its settings.

In Space Two, you can not turn off the curtain completely, but limit its functionality as much as possible without installing unnecessary applications that generate notifications, and the transition between spaces is carried out by fingerprint or password, which makes the main space with a full curtain inaccessible to the outside eye.

It only takes a couple of minutes to create this space. Go to Settings → Second Space → Enable Second Space. The system will suggest setting up a separate password or using a different thumb to log in. It's an effective way to isolate personal information.

• 🔒 Open Settings and find the Second Space section.
• 🆕 Click the “Enable” button and follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
• 👤 Set up a separate password or fingerprint to log in.
• 📲 Install only the necessary applications in the second profile.

Do Not Disturb and Focusing Attention

Often, by wanting to turn off the curtain, users mean removing all pop-up notifications and sounds that appear in that area, the perfect "Do Not Disturb" mode is in this mode, the phone will not make sounds when incoming calls and notifications, and the screen will not light up.

Newer versions of the shell have introduced Focus (or Digital Wellbeing) to create schedules, such as setting up a Job or School profile, where silence will automatically be activated and access to certain apps and notifications through the curtain will be limited, a software way to turn off curtain irritants.

Settings → Digital Well-Being → Focusing on Focus

When you activate this mode, you'll see that the notification icons will stop appearing in the status bar, and the panel itself will become "quiet," which does not hide it visually, but removes its information load, which is often what the user needs.

Restriction of access through the application "Access in the window"

If you need to temporarily hand over your phone to someone (like a child watching a video or a guest to call) and want to guarantee that you can block the ability to swipe the curtain or exit your current app, use the Pinning feature.

While the application is fixed, the navigation buttons (Home, Back) do not work in the usual mode, and an attempt to brush off the notification curtain or control panel is ignored by the system. To exit this mode, you must simultaneously press and hold the buttons “Back” and “Overview” (or swipe from the bottom up and hold, depending on the type of navigation), and enter PIN-unlock-code.

To enable this feature, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy → Secure in the window. Once activated, you can pin apps through the Recent menu (the menu button of running apps) by clicking on the app icon and selecting the appropriate lock icon.

⚠️ Warning: Remember to learn the exit combination of the anchoring mode (usually "Back") in advance» + «Menu or long swipe from the bottom, so as not to lock the phone in one application without the possibility of exit.

Third-party launchers and interface customization

For advanced users who are not comfortable with standard MIUI features, there is the option of installing third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Apex Launcher.These programs replace the standard desktop and often have their own notification panel settings or allow you to hide system elements more flexibly.

However, it is worth remembering that on Xiaomi, with their aggressive battery optimization, third-party launchers can run unstable, they can “fly out” by resetting settings, or they do not have full access to the system curtain, since it is part of the system framework, not the launcher.

Using custom control panels is a trade-off: you get the design and functionality you want, but you lose native integration, like the standard curtain Xiaomi can control a smart home, which third-party solutions often don't.

Frequent questions and troubleshooting

Despite the many settings, users often face problems when the curtain behaves unpredictably: it spontaneously opens, does not respond to touch, or disappears in certain applications. Here are the answers to the most popular questions that will help diagnose the problem.

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If the curtain stopped opening after the system update, try resetting the special access settings in the Developer Menu or resetting the settings of all applications.

In conclusion, the complete removal of the curtain on Xiaomi is impossible without deep intervention in the system, which is not recommended for ordinary users, but the combination of privacy settings, Do Not Disturb mode and application attachment functions allows you to effectively control this element of the interface, making it safe and comfortable to use.