Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often aim to maximize personalization of their device, going beyond standard settings. One of the most noticeable interface elements that catches the eye every day is the lock screen and battery charging process. The standard animation provided by the manufacturer can seem boring or just familiar, so users are looking for ways to bring diversity. Owners of the Redmi 9 model are no exception and often wonder how to replace the standard picture of the battery with something brighter or minimalist.
Changing the charging theme isn’t just about changing wallpapers, it’s a comprehensive update to the system’s visual style, affecting the lock screen, icons and system sounds. In the MIUI shell on which Redmi 9’s software is based, this process is quite flexible, but has its own nuances. Some users confuse changing the theme with installing live wallpaper, not realizing that it’s the the the theme that controls the animation of the percentage of charge. It’s important to note right away that deep customization may require the use of official Xiaomi tools or third-party software.
In this article, we will discuss all the available methods for changing animations and charging style. We will look at working with an official theme store, installing specialized applications from Google Play, and also touching on advanced methods for power users. You will learn how to avoid errors when installing incompatible files and what to do if a new theme is not applied correctly. Remember that installing themes from unverified sources can lead to unstable system operation, so always use official repositories or proven applications.
MIUI Themes' regular features on Redmi 9
The safest and easiest way to change the look of charging is to use the built-in Theme app. This is the official repository where designers from around the world publish their work adapted to different screen resolutions and MIUI versions. Redmi 9 owners do not need to look for difficult ways, since the basic functionality allows you to apply thousands of design options in a few clicks. However, not all themes contain unique charging animations, and this should be considered when choosing.
To find the right design, you need to open the Themes app on your desktop or in the Tools folder. You can type in keywords like "charging", "battery" or "animation" to filter the content. After choosing the theme you like, click Download and then Apply. The system automatically prompts you to select the components for installation: wallpaper, lock screen, system icons and, most importantly, charging style.
⚠️ Note: When applying a theme from the official store, always check compatibility with your version. MIUI. If the theme is created for MIUI 11, and you have one. MIUI 12 or later, charging animations may not earn or be displayed with artifacts.
Often, the theme changes only icons, leaving the standard animation lightning and percent. In this case, you need to carefully read the description of the topic or watch screenshots in the preview gallery. Some authors take the charging style into a separate component that you need to activate manually in the theme settings. To do this, after applying, go to the user profile in the Themes app, select My Themes, click on the current topic and make sure that the tick is opposite to the item "Charing style" or similar.
It's important to understand the difference between the theme and the live wallpaper. Live Wallpapers can create a movement effect in the background, but they rarely affect the view of the battery icon in the corner of the screen. MIUI Themes is the only regular tool that replaces the system overlay charging. If you want a unique character or a spectacular glow to appear when you connect the cable, you need a full theme, not just a picture.
Use of third-party applications for customization
If Xiaomi's built-in directory doesn't offer anything suitable, apps from the Google Play store come to the rescue. There are many programs that mimic the charging process by overlaying the standard system interface with their own window. Apps like Battery Charging Animation or Custom Battery Charging Animation run on top of the system and are activated when the charger is connected.
The principle of these programs is to create a transparent layer on top of the lock screen, so when you plug in the cable, the app reads the battery status and runs the animation you choose, and it allows you to use almost any video file or any other video file. GIF-However, this method has its own technical limitations related to access rights and battery optimization.
- 🔋 Wide choice: You can download any video from the Internet and make it a charging animation, not limited to the catalog of topics.
- ⚙️ Setting flexibility: Many applications allow you to adjust the volume of sound, duration of animation display and the trigger threshold (for example, only up to 50% charge).
- 📉 Resource consumption: Constantly working in the background battery monitoring service can increase the power consumption of the smartphone Redmi 9.
When installing such software, you need to give it a number of permissions, including access to the status of the phone and the ability to display on top of other windows. Without these rights, the application will not be able to intercept the charging event. MIUI The system can aggressively unload such applications from memory, which will lead to the fact that standard animation will appear instead of customization.
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To prevent a third-party application from being closed by the system, go to Settings → Battery → Application Search → Select your charging application → Set No Limits mode.
Some users prefer to use widgets. Battery widgets placed on the home screen can display the level of charge in a non-standard way, but they do not work on the screen off or at the time of connecting the cable if the screen is locked. Therefore, specialized emulator applications or themes are better suited to fully replace the moment of charging.
Step-by-step instructions for installing a new theme
The process of installing a theme on Redmi 9 requires consistent action to avoid errors. First, make sure your Mi Account is activated and the region is set correctly (often you need to choose India or Russia for the theme store if your current region has an empty directory).
Next, you should find the right topic. You can use tag search or browse sections. After downloading the theme file, do not rush to apply it completely. It is recommended to first click Preview to see how the theme will look on the lock screen and on the menu. If everything is fine, click Apply. In the component selection window, make sure that the "lock screen" and "charging style" (if available) are marked.
☑️ Checklist for the theme installation
After applying the theme, the screen may blink and the system will return to the desktop. Now plug in the charger. If the animation doesn't appear, maybe the theme doesn't support your particular MIUI version or Redmi 9 screen resolution. In this case, try to find a theme marked "Global" or specifically designed for MIUI 11/12.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing the theme, the phone started to work slowly or there were failures in the interface, immediately delete the theme through the Themes app (section Profile). → My subjects. → Standard) and reboot the device.
In some cases, it may be necessary to clear the Topic app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Find Themes → Clear → Clear the cache. This action will not remove your downloaded themes, but can correct display errors.
Advanced Methods: Modified Themes and MTZ
For users who want an exclusive design that is not available in the official store, there are modified themes in.mtz format. These files are often created by enthusiasts and distributed on forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA), Installing such themes requires the inclusion of the developer mode and the use of special tools, since Xiaomi blocks the installation of unverified themes for security purposes.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI Version 7 times. Once the message "You are a developer" appears, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For developers. You need to find and enable the option "Turn on MIUI theme debug mode". Without this step, installing third-party files will not be possible.
What to do if there is no item "Enable the verification of topics"?
Once you enable debugging, download the.mtz theme file from a trusted source. Don't download files from questionable sites to avoid infecting your device with malware. Open the Themes app, go to profile (human icon), select My Themes and click on the folder or menu icon at the top to select a file from the device's memory. Find the downloaded.mtz file and apply it.
Using modified themes gives access to hidden design features, but carries risks.The theme can be poorly optimized, leading to increased battery consumption or conflicts with system fonts. Redmi 9 has enough performance hardware to pull on complex graphics, but system stability should always be a priority.
Adjustment of sound accompaniment charging
The visual part is only half the success. Many users want to change the sound tip about the start of charging. In MIUI, the charging sound is often tied to the theme, but it can be changed separately through system settings or third-party applications. Standard sound can be quiet or just annoying, so replacing it is a popular task.
To change the sound through the system settings, go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Additional sounds. There may be a "Charge Sound" item if your firmware version allows you to change it regardless of the theme. If there is no such item, the sound changes along with the theme of the design, in which case you need to look for topics that indicate the presence of custom sounds.
- 🔊 File format: To replace audio manually, you will need audio files in format.mp3 Or.ogg. It's better to use short samples of length. 2-5 seconds.
- 📂 Location: When using substitute applications, you will need to specify the path to the sound file in the application settings.
- 🔇 Silence mode: Remember that if silent mode or Do not disturb mode is enabled, the audible charging alert may not play back.
There are apps like Battery Sound Notification that allow you to assign different sounds to different charge levels (e.g. one sound at 10%, another at 50% and a third at 100%) that are useful for those who are keeping a battery healthy and don’t want to keep the phone charging too long.
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The sound of charging is a great way (by ear) to determine that the phone has started charging without even looking at the screen, which is especially handy in the dark or when the phone is lying down screen.
Comparison of methods and possible problems
The choice of the method of changing the theme depends on your goals and level of training. Staff themes are safe and stable, but limited to the catalog. Third-party applications give complete freedom, but consume resources. Modified themes (.mtz) offer unique design, but require dance with a diamond and carry risks. Let's compare the main characteristics of the methods in the table.
| Method | Difficulty | Security | Variability | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Topics (Themes) | Low. | Tall. | Medium | Minimum |
| Apps from Play Market | Medium | Medium | Tall. | Average (background process) |
| Modified themes (.mtz) | Tall. | Low (bug risk) | Maximum | Depends on the topic. |
One of the common problems is that after updating the MIUI system, custom animations may disappear, which is because the new version of the firmware changes the system paths to the interface files, in which case you need to remove the topic and search for an updated version that is compatible with the current software build.
Redmi 9 users may also experience a black screen problem when charging if they have a heavy, high-resolution graphics theme installed. The phone screen has a resolution of 1080×2340, and if the theme is optimized for 4K or has another aspect, the system may not be able to render it correctly when the screen is turned on, the solution being to go back to a standard theme or find an easier alternative.
⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the application of a theme, especially a modified one. MI or Redmi, try pressing the volume button up and power to log in to Recovery Mode and reset data (this will delete all files).
In conclusion, personalizing the Redmi 9 is a fascinating process to make your device your own. Start with the official themes to understand how it works, and then experiment with more sophisticated methods. A properly chosen charging theme is not only pleasing to the eye, but also creates a sense of novelty, even if you have been using your phone for years.