How to change charging animations to Xiaomi MIUI 12: Deep customization

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI 12 often face a desire to personalize the interface, going far beyond just changing the wallpaper. One of the most noticeable but hidden from the average user features is the visual display of the process of charging the battery. Standard animation, which is a running strip or static indicator, can seem boring after several months of using the device.

Changing this interface element not only makes it easier to stand out from other users, but also provides more accurate visual information about the battery status. Unlike previous firmware versions, MIUI 12 has implemented more sophisticated system file protection mechanisms, making the process of replacing animations a little more time-consuming, but quite feasible without root rights in most cases.

There are several proven methods for doing this, from using an integrated theme store to manually replacing system resources through a computer. The choice of the specific method depends on your smartphone model, Android version and your level of technical training. Below we will discuss in detail each of the available options so you can choose the best one.

Built-in personalization capabilities of MIUI 12

The first and safest way to change the visual charging style is using the Themes store. Xiaomi developers have envisioned the ability to create themes that modify system animations, including the lock screen and the process of connecting to the power supply. However, not all themes support this feature, and finding the right one can take time.

To get started, you need to open the Themes app on your device. In the search bar, you are recommended to enter queries in English, such as "Charging animation", "Battery style" or "Custom charging". It is important to pay attention to the preview of the topic: if the screenshots show the charging process with non-standard graphics, then the theme contains the necessary modifications.

• 🔍 Open the Topics app and go to the search section.
• 📥 Enter the keywords “Charging animation” and filter the results by ranking.
• 👁️ Carefully study the preview of the selected theme, making sure there is an animation charging.
• ⚙️ Apply the theme in full or select the “Set up theme” option if partial installation is available.

It’s worth noting that some themes can only change the battery icon, but not the animation itself of the occurrence of interest or lightning. MIUI 12 has strict moderation rules for themes, so really high-quality and safe animations are often found in paid content or the works of famous authors.

⚠️ Warning: When installing themes from third-party sources or unofficial stores, always check the permissions the theme requests. avoid those requiring access to contacts or microphone as this could be a sign of malicious code.

Use of specialized launcher applications

If you think the system's built-in capabilities are limited, third-party apps come to the rescue from the Google Play store. There are a number of utilities specifically designed to emulate advanced charging animations on top of the system interface.

One of the popular solutions is to use applications like Battery Charging Animation or Custom Charging Screen, which is to intercept the charger's connection event and run your own video sequence or graphics effect. GIF-Animation or video file as a charge indicator.

To make these applications work properly, you'll need to give them a number of special permissions, including allowing you to display over other windows and access the battery status, and without these permissions, the program won't be able to activate when you connect the cable.

• 📲 Download the selected charging customization application from a verified source.
• 🔐 Provide all permissions requested, including “Mapping on top of other applications".
• 🎬 Download or select from the gallery the video/animation you want to see when charging.
• 🔌 Connect the power cable and check the new animation.

The main advantage of this method is complete freedom of creativity. You can put animations from your favorite movie, the game logo or abstract graphics. However, using third-party overlays can slightly increase energy consumption, since the processor will have to process additional video stream even in the background.

Manual replacement of system files via PC

For advanced users who want to gain full control of MIUI 12, there is a method of manually swapping system resources, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit, which allows you to insert your own graphics files directly into the system partition, replacing the standard animation.

Before you start manipulating, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After the notification “You became a developer”, a new item will appear in the settings menu “Advanced Settings” or “Additional”, where you need to enable debugging over USB.

The next step is to find the right animation file. Usually, system charging animations in Android and MIUI are a sequence of images or a single video file located in the /system/media/ directory or inside the system interface apk file. Often, enthusiasts create modified versions of system applications that already contain the desired edits.

⚠️ Warning: Manual editing of system files risks turning the device into a brick.Be sure to make a full backup of the data through the system before starting any work. MIUI Cloud or local storage on your computer.

The replacement process is as follows: the animation file is renamed according to the original system name (e.g., the system name, battery_charge_anim.mp4 or similar, depending on the model) and copied to the appropriate directory with root rights or through ADB superuser.

adb root


adb remount




adb push battery_charge_anim.mp4 /system/media/




adb reboot

It is important to understand that file structure may differ on different Xiaomi models, such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro or Mi 11. MIUI 12 actively uses partition encryption, so direct access to the file system without an unlocked bootloader may be limited or impossible.

Comparison of methods of customization of the interface

To help you decide how to change animations, we have prepared a comparison table that highlights the key differences in complexity, safety and functionality of each of the methods we've examined.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal balance between security and visuals is with overlay apps or high-quality themes from the store. Manual methods should only be considered if you know exactly what you are doing and have experience with the command line.

Typical problems and ways to solve them

While setting up charging animations on Xiaomi MIUI 12, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is file format incompatibility. The system may simply ignore the animation if it doesn't meet the required resolution or bitrate parameters.

It is also common for animations to display correctly but overlap with system time or date widgets, rendering the image unreadable, especially for methods using third-party applications that do not fit properly into notch or dynamic islets of the interface.

• ❌ Animation does not start: Check the app permissions and try to restart the device.
• 🎨 Color distortion: Make sure the color profile of the image matches the screen (usually sRGB).
• 🔋 Fast discharge: Turn off animation if you notice a significant decrease in autonomy.
• 📱 Black Screen When Charging: Return to Standard Theme Through Safe Mode.

If you use the theme method and the interface is unstable after applying the theme, try resetting the theme settings. Go to the Themes → Profile → Settings app and select Reset Themes, which will return the visual style to factory status without deleting personal data.

Optimization and Impact on Productivity

An important aspect of custom animation adoption is its impact on smartphone performance. MIUI 12 is known for its heaviness and resource-intensiveness, so adding extra graphics effects can be noticeable on mid- and budget-sized devices.

Complex animations, especially those that use high-resolution video stream, load the GPU and video decoder, which can lead to micro-latency in the interface or heating the case when the phone is connected to charging and in use at the same time.

To minimize the impact on the system, it is recommended to use low-resolution animations or static images with simple glow effects. GIF-Files with a limited color palette (256 colors) often look quite clear on the screen of the smartphone, but weigh many times less than a full-fledged video.

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Use animations with a resolution of no more than 720p to save resources. On a smartphone screen, the difference from 1080p or 4K is almost invisible, and the load on the system is reduced significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Charging animation customization is a safe way to personalize the Xiaomi MIUI 12 by using proven themes and apps, avoiding deep interference with system files without proper preparation.