Xiaomi’s modern smartphones offer users incredible flexibility in customizing the interface, allowing them to turn the standard look of the system into something unique. Often enthusiasts are looking for a way to change the appearance of the top panel, known as the status bar, to add personality or improve readability. Changing this area of the screen affects not only aesthetics, but also the ergonomics of using the device, since this is where critical data: time, battery charge and notifications are displayed.
Unlike many other manufacturers, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide built-in deep customization tools without the need for super-user rights. You can change the time font, its color, the position of elements and even the shape of indicators using standard Themes and Settings apps, making the personalization process accessible even to inexperienced users who want to refresh the look of their Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO.
However, the process of changing visual style can have its own nuances depending on the version of the operating system and regional firmware. Some features can be hidden or renamed, which raises questions among device owners. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for transforming the top panel of the screen, from simple settings to advanced manipulation of the themes of the design.
Built-in time and date display settings
The easiest and safest way to change the appearance of the bar status is to use the regular features of the system. Xiaomi allows users to choose between different styles of display of time, which dramatically changes the perception of the top of the screen. To access these options, you need to go to the Settings → Lock screen and password (or just Lock screen in new versions of HyperOS).
The system offers several preset options, from the classic digital format to minimalist lines or large fonts with seconds. Choosing a particular style will automatically apply the appropriate font and location of elements not only on the lock screen, but often affects the time widget in the notification curtain. It is important to note that the color of the time in the status of the bar is usually adapted by the system for wallpaper, but in some topics it can be rigidly specified by the developer.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the style of time through lock screen settings may not affect the time font in the upper right corner of the desktop if the active theme takes precedence over system settings.
To make things more subtle, you should look at the "Advanced" section inside the lock screen menu, where you can activate the date display under time or change the format to a 12-hour one, which makes the interface more informative, but it's worth remembering that overloading with details can visually clutter the status of the bar, especially on screens with a cutout for the camera.
💡
Use dark wallpaper with bright elements to better appreciate the contrast of the chosen time style in the status bar before the final approval.
Using the Topics app to change style
The most radical way to change the status of a bar on Xiaomi is to install a third-party theme. Themes is a central hub for customization, where millions of designers create their own versions of the interface. When you install a new theme, not only a set of icons is replaced, but also system fonts, sounds, lock screen and, of course, the design of the status of the bar. It is the only way to change the shape of the battery indicator, the color of the network icons and Wi-Fi on a global level.
The process of finding the right theme can take time, as the directory contains thousands of options. It is recommended to use search queries like “Minimal”, “iOS style”, “Neon” or “Transparent” to find the desired visual style. After loading the theme, the system will suggest selecting components for use: make sure that the “System” and “Status Bar” points are marked, if this choice is available in your version of the application.
- 🎨 Icon Design: Complete replacement of graphic elements of the network, Bluetooth and alarm clock with stylized.
- 🔋 Battery shape: Change in the shape of the charge indicator (circle, square, capsule) and color at low charge.
- ⏱ Time Font: Installation of unique numerical markings that cannot be obtained by standard means.
It is worth considering that some bar status elements, such as an NFC icon or VPN, can remain standard system if the theme does not contain a graphical replacement. In such cases, the system will automatically substitute the standard icon, which can create visual dissonance.
Fantasy settings and their impact on the interface
Font is one of the key elements that determine the readability and style of the status of the bar. Xiaomi has a separate application “Fonts”, which is integrated with the theme store. Replacing the system font affects all text elements of the interface, including the time in the upper right corner, the name of the operator and text notifications in the curtain. It is a powerful tool for those who want to achieve uniqueness without changing the whole theme of the design.
When choosing a new font, it is important to pay attention to support for Cyrillic if you use a Russian-language interface. Many beautiful design fonts contain only Latin characters, which will lead to the appearance of “quarats” or standard system symbols instead of Russian letters in the network name or notifications. Before using, always check the preview with Russian text, which is usually available in the font card.
Other than aesthetics, fonts affect the space they occupy, and some bold or broad fonts can cause time to take up too much space or even crop on narrow-cut screens, in which case it is better to choose more compact designs or go back to the standard Roboto or MI Sans font.
How do you get back the standard font?
Some users have noted that when you change the font, the layouts in some apps may “go” or the status of the bar will look disproportionate, due to differences in character height, in which case it is recommended to reduce the font size in the screen settings (Settings → Screen → Text Size) to compensate for visual distortion.
Control of the visibility of elements and icons
The cleanliness of the bar is key to making your smartphone more user-friendly. Xiaomi allows you to flexibly manage which icons will be displayed at the top of the screen. This is especially true for models with small screens or cutouts, where each pixel counts. These parameters are managed through the Settings menu → Notifications and Status bar → Hiding elements (the path may vary slightly in different versions of MIUI).
In this section, you can forcefully hide app icons that are often annoying with their intrusiveness, such as store icons, games or rarely used services, and you can turn off the display of the NFC icon when the module is active, or hide the headset indicator, which helps you focus on the main content of the screen and not be distracted by visual noise.
| Element of bar status | The possibility of concealment | Impact on functionality |
|---|---|---|
| NFC badge | Yes. | The module is working, the icon is not visible. |
| Alarm clock | No (usually) | Always displayed with an active alarm clock |
| Headphone charge | Partially. | Depends on the headphone model and theme |
| Application icons | Yes. | Only visual display is hidden |
Special attention should be paid to the setting of the display of Internet connection speed. Many users prefer to see the real download speed in kilobytes or megabits in real time. This feature can be activated by Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Network speed. This adds useful monitoring of traffic directly to the bar status, which is convenient when controlling mobile Internet consumption.
⚠️ Attention: Hiding the badge NFC If you're afraid of random payment, be sure to turn it off. NFC through the control center or quick settings.
Problems with screen cutout and banging
Smartphone owners with a cutout in the screen (bang or hole under the camera) often face a situation where the bar status elements overlap or, conversely, take up extra space. MIUI and HyperOS provide a feature of concealing the cutout, which actually paints the area around the camera with a black stripe, shifting the status of the bar higher, which allows you to make the top panel symmetrical and visually hide the physical defect of the screen.
You can configure this feature in Settings → Screen → Lock screen and password (sometimes just Screen) → Screencut (or Cut Control). There are three modes available: Do Not Hide, Hide the Cutout, and Hide the Cutout in Individual Applications. Choosing Hide the Cutout Mode will add a black bar along the top edge, and time will shift to the right, taking its standard place in the corner, which often looks more aesthetic.
- 📱 Do not hide: Status bar skirts the cutout, time can be shifted or divided (on some models).
- ⬛ Hide the cutout: A black stripe appears, the interface becomes rectangular, the status of the bar rises higher.
- 🎮 In apps: Black bar appears only in games and videos, in the menu remaining standard.
It’s worth noting that on some models with a hole-punch, the system automatically hides icons around the camera without requiring manual black bar tuning. However, if you’ve set up a theme that doesn’t take into account the camera’s location, icons can be superimposed on the lens, in which case you’d better switch to a standard theme or choose another one that’s labeled as compatible with your screen type.
☑️ Checking screen settings
Advanced customization through ADB and third-party utilities
For users who lack standard features, there are methods of modifying system files via USB debugging (ADB), which allows you to change parameters that are not available in the usual menu, such as the transparency of the background status of the bar or the forced display of certain icons.
Before you start any manipulations, you need to activate the developer mode. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the version MIUI/HyperOS. Then in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging by” USB». For work you will need to install drivers ADB on a PC and connect a smartphone in debugging mode.
adb shell wm overscan 0,0,0,0The above command is an example of resetting display parameters, but changing the status of the bar is often used commands to change the density. DPI or concealment of specific system UI-For example, you can try to scale the interface, which will also affect the size of the elements:
adb shell wm density 400There are also specialized apps from Google Play, such as SystemUI Tuner or analogues, that can request permissions through ADB to control the visibility of items. They allow you to flexibly customize which icons to display in tray and which to hide, giving you more control than the standard Xiaomi menu.
⚠️ Note: Making changes through ADB This can lead to unstable system operation or a "boot loop" (cyclical reboot). Always do a full backup of data before experimenting with system commands.
💡
Using ADB gives you maximum freedom, but requires technical knowledge and carries risks. For most users, the features of the Themes app are sufficient.