How to change the style of the battery on Xiaomi: from widgets to AOD

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run on MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users a huge opportunity to personalize the look. One of the most visible features of the interface that is constantly in the view of the owner is the battery indicator. The default icon offered by developers can seem boring or simply do not fit into the overall desktop design concept. Fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem allows you to change this element without having to obtain superuser rights or reflash the device.

The process of changing the appearance of charging is not a trivial setup hidden in the depths of the menu, but a comprehensive approach that includes working with themes, widgets and lock screen. Understanding how the system handles graphic elements will help you avoid disappointment if standard methods failed to achieve the desired result. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from simple switching to the menu to installing specialized components.

Before you start taking action, you need to consider that the interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific modification of the shell. However, the basic principles of working with theme repositories and system widgets remain unchanged for most current models, including the Redmi Note series and the flagship Xiaomi Mi. Be prepared for the fact that to achieve the ideal result, you may need to install a third-party launcher or apply specific patches.

Using the Themes app to change battery icons

The easiest and safest way to change the visual perception of charge is to use the regular Themes app. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi allows you to implement entire packages of graphic elements that replace standard system images. First, you need to launch the application and enter keywords related to the desired style in the search bar, such as “battery style” or “minimal icons”.

Once you have found the right design, don’t rush to use it completely, as it can radically change the entire interface of your smartphone, which you may not be ready for. The description of the theme often indicates which components it affects. You need to find the option “Apply” and in the option of selecting components, mark only the item “Icons” or “System elements” if such functionality is supported by a particular theme, this will save your usual wallpaper and widgets, changing only the style of the system icons, including the battery indicator.

Note that not all themes support selective installation of items. Some design packages require all changes at once, in which case it is recommended to pre-screenshot current settings or use the preview function if it is available in your version of MIUI. It is also important to check the theme rating and the number of downloads to avoid installing corrupted or malicious files that can cause unstable system operation.

• 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the search section.
• 🔍 Enter “battery icon” or “battery style” to search for relevant results.
• 📥 Select a High Ranked Theme and click the Download button".
• ⚙️ Click "Apply" and select the "Icons" component so as not to change the entire interface.

After the changes are applied, the system may require the device to restart correctly to display all graphic elements. If after the reboot the battery icon remains the same, this means that the selected theme does not contain modifications for the system status bar of your particular smartphone model, in which case it is worth trying another theme or moving to more advanced customization methods.

Always on Display and Lock Screen

For owners of smartphones with AMOLED-The most effective way to display charge is the Always On Display function (AOD). This mode allows you to display information on the screen off, consuming a minimum amount of energy. MIUI number of available styles AOD It has grown significantly, and many of them offer unique battery indicator designs.

To access an extended style directory, it is often required to activate third-party themes in settings. AOD. Go to the Settings menu → Lock screen and find the "Always On Display" section, where you'll see a gallery of available styles. If you don't like the standard set, click on the "Download More" button or the store icon in the corner of the screen. This will open up access to thousands of custom designs where you can find animated percentages, vertical scales and even game elements.

⚠️ Warning: Constant operation of the Always On Display function, even in optimized mode, increases the battery consumption by about a half. 5-10% It is recommended to set the switching schedule or activate the "Raise for display" function so that the screen will light up only when interacting with the device.

Special attention should be paid to the lock screen, which is displayed before unlocking the smartphone. Here the battery style often depends on the chosen locking theme. In new versions of the shell, you can add widgets directly to the lock screen. You can place a large widget with a percentage of charge, made in the style of Material You or in retro style, which will make the display of information more convenient and aesthetically pleasing.

By experimenting with different AOD styles, you can create a truly unique look that will make it stand out from other devices. Remember to update the theme catalog periodically, as designers regularly release new design options for holidays or the release of new phone models.

Widgets and third-party launchers for personalization

If the system doesn't provide enough flexibility, widgets and alternative shells come to the rescue. Widgets are small applications that display information on the desktop. MIUI and HyperOS have their own widget store, which can be called by long tapping on an empty desktop and selecting "Widgets" item, and you can find charge indicators in the form of rings, vertical bars or stylized as an old electronic clock.

For deeper customization, many users install third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher. These apps completely replace the standard desktop and often have built-in battery styling options or allow plugins to be installed. For example, the Nova Launcher bundle and the Nova Settings plugin offer almost limitless options for changing the appearance of the status bar, although some features may require additional adjustments via ADB.

What's special about widgets is that they can overlap the standard status bar, giving you the illusion of a modified system icon. They often require permission to display on top of other applications and access usage statistics. Even though they don't change the system file, the visual result is the same -- you see a new battery style at the top of the screen.

When using third-party launchers, it is worth considering that some features of Xiaomi’s native shell may not work properly or be available. For example, control gestures or specific swipes may require additional customization. However, for visual enthusiasts, this is often the only way to achieve the desired level of personalization.

Specificity of work in the shell of HyperOS

With the release of the HyperOS operating system, Xiaomi has redefined the interface design to make it more unified and smooth, and has also changed the way visual elements are managed, the new shell features Superbugs and an updated theme mechanism that tightens the integrity of the system, which means that old themes created for MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 may not be displayed correctly or installed at all.

HyperOS has shifted its focus to dynamic widgets and deep integration with the smart home ecosystem. The battery style here is often tied to a common color solution that the system automatically selects based on wallpaper colors (the analogue of Material You in pure Android). To activate this feature, you need to go to the design settings and select the option to adapt the system colors to the wallpaper, in which case the battery icon will take a shade that is in harmony with the background.

⚠️ Note: When you upgrade to HyperOS, some previously installed third-party themes may stop working or cause a cyclical reboot of the device. Before installing major system updates, it is recommended to remove custom themes and return the standard design to avoid software conflicts.

The new shell also improves the lock screen, allowing you to edit the size and position of the time and date widget, which indirectly affects the perception of adjacent elements, such as the charge indicator, and users have more freedom in the layout of elements on the lock screen, allowing you to create a unique design without installing third-party software.

Compatibility problems and error solving

A common problem when trying to change the style of the battery is the incompatibility of the theme with the screen resolution or Android version. If after applying the theme, the battery icon disappeared, became a black square or displayed incorrectly, the first thing you need to do is reset the theme settings, you can do this by going to the theme profile and selecting the standard design, or through safe mode if the system does not boot normally.

Another common mistake is the conflict between multiple installed interface modifiers. If you use a battery widget while trying to apply a theme that changes system icons, priority may be given to one of the elements, leading to visual chaos, in which case it is recommended to use only one style change method at a time.

To solve problems with using themes from third-party sources (not from the official store), you often need to change the region in the settings of your smartphone. Go to the Settings menu → Additional → Region and selecting a country like India or Singapore can unlock access to certain features or themes that are not available in your current region.

• 🔄 Reset the theme settings to standard through the menu "My Account" in the Topics app.
• 🌍 Change device region to access restricted content.
• 🗑️ Remove the cache of the application "Themes" and "System" UI" via app menu.
• 📱 Make sure the theme version matches your shell version MIUI/HyperOS.

If none of these methods work, you may have to damage your system files, and you may need to reset your settings to factory settings, but that's a last resort. Always back up your important data before any major intervention.

Advanced Methods: Magisk Modules and Root Rights

There are really endless possibilities for advanced users who are not afraid to get Root rights. Using the Magisk manager allows you to install modules that directly edit the system files responsible for rendering the interface. There are modules such as AOSP Mods or specialized tweaks for MIUI that allow you to change the battery style at the code level, adding dozens of new options that are not available to ordinary users.

One of the popular tools is the module that allows you to choose the style of the battery from the list: "Left", "Right", "Circle", "Text inside", etc. Installation of such modules requires an unlocked bootloader, which automatically cancels the warranty on the device and can disrupt the operation of banking applications (although this is solved by masking the root). ZIP-Module archive in Magisk Manager and subsequent reboot.

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Before installing any Magisk modules, be sure to make a full data backup (TWRP Backup), as an error in the system file can turn a smartphone into a “brick”.

It is important to understand the risks associated with obtaining superuser rights. Incorrect installation of the module can lead to a “boot loop” (cyclic reboot), in which case you will need to connect to a computer and use ADB commands to remove the problem module or flash the device.

However, it is this method that allows you to implement a unique battery style that is impossible with standard means, for example, a gradient pouring that varies depending on the level of charge, or a fully transparent icon with a contour.

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Root rights give full control over the appearance of the battery, but carry high risks of loss of warranty and system stability.

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