Changing the standard download animation is one of the most popular ways to personalize the interface of a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone. When you press the on button, the Android operating system displays the manufacturer's logo, which can seem boring after prolonged use. Replacing this video with custom animation allows you to stand out and bring personality to the device.
However, the process of replacing bootanimation requires care and understanding the structure of the file system. Mistakes can cause the phone to stop loading or go into a cyclic rebuke. In this article, we will discuss in detail the safe replacement methods, necessary tools and steps to restore the system in case of errors.
It's worth noting that there are methods that are both Root-based and non-Root-based, although the latter have significant limitations, depending on your version of MIUI or HyperOS, and whether you have an unlocked bootloader, and prepare to work with files and command line to achieve the desired result.
Preparation of the device and necessary files
Before you start any manipulation of system files, it is critical to create a complete backup of the data. Even if you plan to change only the animations, an accidental copying error can affect other parts of the system, save all important photos, documents and contacts to the cloud or to the computer.
You'll need to download the animation file itself, which usually has the.zip extension. It's important to understand that this is not a regular data archive, but a special folder structure that the system reads at launch. You can find such files on specialized forums such as 4PDA or XDA Developers, where users share verified versions.
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Always check the screen resolution of your smartphone before downloading animations to avoid stretching or black bezels.
You also need to make sure that the device is enabled with USB debugging. Without this option, the computer will not be able to access the smartphone file system to transfer modified files, a basic requirement for most modification methods.
⚠️ Note: Using bootanimation files from other phone models may cause display malfunctions or full boot failure.Make sure the animation resolution matches your device's screen.
Replacement method without Root rights through ADB
The safest way to avoid super-user rights is to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit, which allows you to replace system files via a computer, but has limitations: on some versions of MIUI, the animation partition can only be readable without an unlocked bootloader.
To start, install Xiaomi USB Driver and SDK Platform Tools on your computer. Once you connect your smartphone with a cable, open the command line in the ADB tool folder. The first step is to check the connection to the device.
adb devicesIf a device with a serial number appears on the list, the connection is established. You need to go to shell mode to access the file system. The adb shell command will open the terminal inside your smartphone.
The next step is to move the downloaded animation archive to the system folder. The standard way to host the file is /data/local/bootanimation.zip. If you put the file here, it will take precedence over the system animation, but only if the system allows it to be read.
- 📂 Copy the file: Adb push bootanimation.zip /data/local/
- 🔒 Check the access rights: adb shell chmod 644 /data/local/bootanimation.zip
- 🔄 Reboot the device: adb reboot
In some cases, if the standard path doesn't work, copy the file directly to the system partition, but this will require an image reassembly or an unlocked bootloader. /data/local/ It is the most reversible and reversible.
Replace animation with Root rights and file manager
If your smartphone has an unlocked bootloader and installed Root rights (for example, through Magisk), the replacement process becomes much easier and more reliable.You get full access to the /system partition, which allows you to edit files directly through the file manager on the phone itself.
To work, you will need an advanced file manager that supports root rights, such as MT Manager, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer. Once you launch the application, grant him the necessary permissions of the superuser by confirming the request in the Magisk window.
☑️ Pre-replacement checks
Cross the path. /system/media/. This is where the original file is located. bootanimation.zip. Before any changes, make sure to create a copy of it in a convenient place, for example, at the root of internal memory, and rename it in a convenient place. bootanimation_backup.zip. This is your safety cable.
| Parameter | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| File name | It should be strictly bootanimation.zip | Critically. |
| Location. | /system/media/ or /data/local//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// | Tall. |
| Access rights | rw-r--r-- (644) | Tall. |
| Owner | root:root | Medium |
Once you delete or rename the original, move the new animation file to the same folder. Make sure the new file's Permissions match the original one. This is usually 644 (the owner reads and writes, the group and the rest just read).
⚠️ Note: Incorrect permissions to the file bootanimation.zip — The most common reason why new animations don’t start, even though the file seems to be in place.
Using Magisk modules to replace them safely
The most modern and recommended way for users with Root rights is to use Magisk modules. This method does not change the system partition directly (systemless), which makes it easy to roll back changes and increases the stability of the system when updating the firmware.
You need to find a module specifically designed to replace butanimation. Often, enthusiasts create pre-built modules for specific popular animations. Download the module's archive in.zip format and save it in your smartphone memory.
adb push custom_module.zip /sdcard/Open the Magisk app, go to Modules and click "Install from Storage" or select the downloaded file. Once the module is installed, the system will prompt you to restart. The next time you turn on, you will see a new animation.
Why is Magisk a better direct replacement?
The advantage of this method is that you can control the animation through the interface. You can turn off the module or delete it at any time, and the phone will return to the standard Xiaomi logo without having to flash or restore from a backup.
Structure of bootanimation.zip file and create your own animation
For those who want to create unique animations on their own, it is important to understand the internal structure of the archive.The bootanimation.zip file does not need to be compressed by Deflate (a normal zip archive); it must be stored in the "Store" format (without compression), otherwise the Android bootloader will not be able to read it.
Inside the archive, there must be two things: a desc.txt text file and folders with images (usually part0, part1). The desc.txt file contains parameters: width, height, frame rate and order of playback of parts.
- 📝 desc.txt: contains a string of the form w 600 1080 24 (width, height, FPS) and commands p 0 0 part0.
- 🖼️ part0: folder with the main animation frames (logo).
- 🔁 part1: Folder with Cyclical Animation Frames (Booting Process).
Images must be.png and called five-digit numbers (e.g., 00001.png, 00002.png) and the frame order is determined by the file name, and manually creating such a structure requires attention to detail.
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The main rule of creating animations: the archive should be without compression (Store), and the frames are called numbers with leading zeroes (00001.png).
There are online builders and PC software that automate the assembly of this archive from a video file, which makes it much easier to convert any short video into a compatible format for Android.
System Recovery for Booting Errors
If the animation has been replaced, the phone has stuck on the logo or gone into a cyclic bootloop, you don't need to panic. In most cases, the system simply can't read the new file correctly. First of all, try booting into Recovery mode.
To log in to Recovery on Xiaomi devices, you usually need to press the volume button and the power button at the same time. In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data (if you are ready to reset) or try to switch to Safe Mode if this option is available in your version of Recovery.
If you have access to the file system via Recovery (e.g., TWRP), you can connect to your PC and delete the bootanimation.zip file from the /system/media/ or /data/local/ folder. Once removed, the system will boot with or without standard animation.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn’t respond to buttons and isn’t included in Recovery, you may need to flash the device through the Mi Flash tool in mode EDL. This is an extreme measure requiring an authorized account.
In the case of nothing helps, only complete flashing of the device with saving or cleaning data, which is why having the original bootanimation.zip file in backup or on the computer is a prerequisite before starting experiments.