Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a desire to personalize the interface beyond simply changing wallpaper. One of the most noticeable and enjoyable features of the system is the visual response when connecting the power cable. In the shell of MIUI 13, the company's engineers have updated graphic elements, but the standard options may seem boring or too familiar to users. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem allows you to make significant changes in the system visualization processes.
Changing the charging animation is not just an aesthetic whim, but also a way to make the interaction with the device more personal. There are several proven methods to replace the standard indicator with a unique visual effect. You can use built-in theme capabilities, specialized applications or even edit system files to achieve the desired result.
In this article, we will take a look at each method available, assess their safety and effectiveness. We will look at the work with the Themes application, the use of third-party software like AOD & Always On Amoled, and also touch on advanced methods for power users. It is important to understand that different models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO may have different implementations of these features.
Personalization capabilities in MIUI 13
The first place to look for new animations is the official Themes app, preinstalled on every device. In MIUI 13, developers have significantly expanded the themes functionality, allowing them to replace system icons, fonts and, importantly for us, lock and charge screens. When searching in the directory, you should use the keywords "Charge", "Battery" or "Animation" to filter out the extra ones.
However, not all themes support a complete replacement of charging animations. Some only change a static picture or battery icon. To make sure it is compatible, you need to read the description carefully or watch the preview. Often theme developers indicate Super Charge support in the title, which is a direct indicator of the presence of dynamic animation when connecting the cable.
⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from third-party sources or with a modified certificate may cause unstable launcher operation or the appearance of artifacts on the lock screen.
The installation process is standard: after you load the theme in the Profile section, select "Set up the theme" and here you will see a list of components that will be changed. Make sure that the tick is next to "Charge Screen" or "Lock Screen"; if there is no such item, then the theme does not contain the necessary graphics files to replace the animation.
Use of third-party applications for AOD and charging
If the built-in theme directory doesn’t offer anything suitable, specialized applications from Google Play come to the rescue, with AOD & Always On Amoled (often associated with Wiseasy), the leader in this niche, allowing you to create your own scenarios for displaying information on the off screen and when charging.
The main advantage of these programs is the flexibility of the setting. GIF-An animation, a video file, or even an interactive widget as a reaction to the charger being connected, the app intercepts the system start-charging event and displays its layer on top of the standard interface. Work requires permissions to display over other windows and access to battery status.
Consider that using third-party software for these purposes can slightly increase energy consumption in the background. Although modern Snapdragon and Dimensity processors easily cope with this load, on older models this can be noticeable, and some features may be paid or require viewing ads.
Compatible with Always On Display
Setting up the animation Super Charge
Owners of devices that support HyperCharge or Super Charge fast charging technologies have access to exclusive animations. In MIUI 13, when you connect the original cable and high-power power supply, characteristic animation with running percentage numbers and color speed indications appears on the screen.
This animation is part of the system framework and is tightly tied to charging protocols. You can't just replace it with standard settings. However, there are themes that mimic this effect or modify it by adding their own graphic elements on top of the system notification. To activate these effects, you often need to use a Black or Deep Dark theme in conjunction with special plugins.
If your phone shows standard animation but you are confident of fast charging support, check the cable.A damaged wire or using an unoriginal power supply can put the device into normal charging mode, which will prevent special animations from starting.
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For maximum charging speed and correct display of Super Charge animation, use only original USB-C cables and Xiaomi power supplies with support for the appropriate protocols.
Instructions for installing custom animations
For those who want to go beyond standard settings, there is a method of manually installing animations through the file system, which requires a deeper immersion into the MIUI structure. You will need a file manager with access to system folders, such as MT Manager or Solid Explorer (with root rights).
The main task is to find the file that renders the charge, which is usually a.mtz file or specific resources within the system APK.
- 📱 Download your favorite theme in.mtz format from a reliable source.
- 📂 Rename the file extension to.zip and unpack it with the archiver.
- 🔍 Find the charge folder or files with names that contain battery, charging.
- 📥 Replace existing graphics files with new ones, observing the original resolution and format.
⚠️ Warning: Modifying system files without backing up can result in a "boot loop" (cyclic reboot) of the device. Always back up before making changes!
Once you've replaced the files, you need to reassemble the theme back (if you've been working with an unpacked structure) and install it through the themes menu, and if you've replaced files directly on the system, you'll need to reboot it, which gives you complete control over the look, but requires technical literacy.
☑️ Checklist before system modification
Comparison of methods of changing the interface
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have developed a comparison table that will help you assess the risks and opportunities of each method, and remember that each user has a different balance between the beauty and stability of the system.
| Method | Difficulty | Security | Variability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official themes | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Third-party annexes | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Manual file editing | Tall. | Low. | Maximum |
| Modified firmware | Very high. | Risky. | Unlimited |
As you can see from the table, for most users, official themes or proven apps are the best choice: they provide a sufficient level of customization without risking damage to the smartphone software; manual methods are reserved for experiments on secondary devices.
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Official MIUI themes are the safest way to change animations, as they are tested for compatibility with the shell version.
Possible problems and solutions
You may encounter a number of difficulties in setting up the settings, such as when you install a new theme, the charging animation may not appear, or the screen may go out too quickly, often due to battery optimization, and MIUI aggressively unloads the background processes to save energy.
To fix this, go to Settings → Battery → Problem Search or find the animation app in the app list. In the app settings, select AutoStart and set No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from killing the animation rendering process.
Another common problem is screen resolution incompatibility: If you install custom animations designed for a 1080p screen on a 1440p device, the image can be stretched or cropped, in which case using converter apps or finding resources adapted to your particular Xiaomi model helps.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to heat up in standby mode after installing the animation, immediately delete the theme or app.This may indicate a process conflict or an error in the graphic element code.