Pop-ups on Xiaomi smartphones are not just notifications, but a full-fledged tool for quickly interacting with applications. They allow you to respond to messages, control music playback or even view incoming calls without opening the application itself. However, many users are faced with the fact that these windows either do not appear at all or do not work correctly, the reason most often lies in the settings of MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which actively optimizes the background activity of applications.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can configure pop-ups, from basic options in the notification menu to hidden features for power users, and focus on common bugs that may keep windows off the table, and how to fix them on different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).
Before you go into settings, make sure that the problem is not related to the app itself. For example, WhatsApp or Telegram can block pop-ups if they have notifications disabled in their account settings. Also check if the phone is not enabled Do Not Disturb or Save Battery – they often turn off background activity.
1. Basic pop-up settings in MIUI
Let’s start with the simplest one: turn pop-up notifications on the standard menu, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the model (be it Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13T).
Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notifications. Here you will see a list of all installed applications. Select the one you want to configure pop-ups for (for example, Viber or SberBank Online). Inside the app menu, find the pop-up notifications item and activate it.
Pay attention to additional parameters:
- 🔔 Type of pop-up: You can choose between Banner (a small window at the top of the screen) and Pop-up (a full dialog box).
- 📛 Priority: sets out how “intrusive” the notification will be (a high priority will show the window even on a locked screen).
- 🔕 Sound and vibration: set up notification accompaniment to avoid missing an important message.
If there is no pop-up notification, then the app does not support this feature, in which case, try updating it through Google Play or the official Xiaomi store (GetApps).
2. Permissions for application background operation
One of the most common reasons pop-ups don't work is that MIUI's background activity is limited, and the default system blocks applications that it thinks are "using too much battery" to fix this:
Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select the app you want (like Instagram or Tinkoff) and open the Permissions section.
- 🔄 Auto-Run – allows the app to start automatically after the phone restarts.
- 📱 Background activity - allows work in the background.
- 🔋 Battery Optimization – Disable this item if it is active (otherwise the system will force the application to close).
Some apps (like instant messengers) will also need to enable Show on top of other windows, which is in the same permissions menu and allows windows to be displayed even when you’re using another app.
Auto-start application | enabled
Background activity allowed |
Battery optimization disabled |
Activated "Show over other windows" (if any)
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3. Exceptions for saving charge and sleep
MIUI aggressively optimizes energy consumption, which often leads to notification blocking.If you notice pop-ups disappearing after a phone is inactive or when battery power is low, check the following settings:
Open Settings → Battery and performance → Battery savings. Here you can:
- 🔋 Turn off battery saving completely (not recommended for long-term autonomy).
- ⚡ Add the app to exceptions: click Charge Savings Settings → Exceptions and select the right programs.
Another important setting is sleep mode, which is activated when the phone is lying still for a long time, and can block notifications.
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management by Apps.
- Find your app and select a No Limits mode for it.
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If pop-ups go missing at night, check the Do Not Disturb settings in the Sound and Vibration section. It may be possible to automatically turn off notifications at certain times.
4.Special settings for MIUI 14 and HyperOS
Recent firmware versions (MIUI 14 and later, and HyperOS) have added additional options to manage notifications, for example, you can now adjust the priority of displaying pop-ups depending on the scenario of using the phone.
To access the advanced settings:
- Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar → More.
- Select Notification Style and activate the option to Allow pop-ups in full screen mode.
- In the Notification Priority section, add apps that you want to see windows on top of all others (like navigators or banking apps).
HyperOS also has Smart Notifications, which analyzes your habits and automatically adjusts window priority, so that it works correctly, allow the system to access Usage Data in privacy settings.
Important: In MIUI 14 and HyperOS, pop-ups are disabled by default for new applications. Once you install any messenger or social network, be sure to check your notification settings!
5 Problems and Solutions: Why Windows Don't Appear
If you have completed all the settings but the pop-ups still don’t work, the reasons may be as follows:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The windows appear, but disappear immediately. | Too short display time in settings | Increase the time in Settings → Notifications → Duration of the banner |
| Windows are not shown on a locked screen. | Disabled display of confidential content | Enable the contents of notifications in the lock settings |
| Windows only work for certain applications | MIUI Limitations for Background Processes | Add the app to battery exclusions (see Section 3) |
| Windows appear with a delay | Slow Internet connection or traffic optimization | Turn off Data Transfer Optimization in Settings SIM-map |
Another common problem is conflict with third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher). If you use an alternative shell, try temporarily returning the standard MIUI launcher and check if windows appear. If so, the problem is with the third-party launcher settings (usually you need to enable the option to Allow notifications over windows).
What if the windows don’t work in the game?
6.Alternative methods: ADB and third-party utilities
If standard settings don't work, you can use USB debugging (ADB) to force pop-ups to turn on, a method that is suitable for power users and requires connecting the phone to a computer.
Instructions for using ADB:
- Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC, open the command line and enter: adb shell pm grant [application package app] android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW Replace [app package] with the package name (e.g. com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).
To simplify the process, you can use utilities like Notification History (available on Google Play), which allow you to track all notifications, including those that did not appear in pop-ups.
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Note: Using ADB can disrupt the stability of the system if you change the settings incorrectly. Before executing commands, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
7. Setup of pop-up windows for specific applications
Some applications require a personalized approach, and consider settings for the most popular ones:
WhatsApp and Telegram:
- 📱 Enable Pop-up Notifications in the chat settings (in addition to system settings).
- 🔊 Activate Notification Sounds and Vibration in the Messenger Notification Menu.
- 🌐 Allow background data transfer in mobile network settings.
Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB):
- 🏦 Add the app to Battery Optimization Excludions (see Section 3).
- 🔒 Enable the notification display on the locked screen in the security settings.
- 📱 Update the app to the latest version – older versions may not support pop-ups in newer versions MIUI.
Social networks (Instagram, VK, Facebook):
- 📸 In your account settings, check if Push notifications are enabled.
- 🔄 Turn off Traffic Optimization for these apps in Settings SIM-map.
- 📵 If windows don’t appear in mobile data, try connecting to Wi-Fi – some social networks restrict notifications on the mobile Internet.
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For banking applications and instant messengers, always turn off battery optimization, otherwise the system may block payment or important messages notifications.