Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face unexpected changes in the interface after the next system update. One of the most notable and discussed innovations was the introduction of a new Control Center, which is radically different from the usual notification curtain that has existed in Android for years. If you switched from another model or just got used to the classic look, separating the notification curtain and brightness sliders can seem extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Xiaomi has made it possible to choose between new and old styles, although sometimes this option is hidden in the back of the menu or depends on the region of the firmware. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to change the control center to Xiaomi, returning the classic look or, conversely, activating a modern interface if it was lost.
Not only will you learn about standard settings, but you’ll also learn how to get around restrictions by changing regions or setting themes. Understanding how MIUI or HyperOS works will allow you to customize your smartphone exactly as you like, rather than as designers in China have decided.
What is the difference between the old and new management center
The traditional Android approach that Xiaomi has used for years is to combine all elements into a single curtain: a swipe down from either end of the screen opens a panel where notifications are on top and fast Wi-Fi switches, Bluetooth switches and adjustment sliders on the bottom, a solution considered ergonomic for users accustomed to one-handed control.
The new style, borrowed from iOS, divides these features into two independent zones: a swipe from left down only opens notifications, and a swipe from right down is a control center with tumblers and sliders, which is designed to reduce visual noise and make managing multimedia and smart home more visual, but many users complain about the loss of access speed.
⚠️ Note: In some global versions of the firmware MIUI 12.5 and a new transition to a new style can occur automatically without warning, which often confuses inexperienced users.
The differences are not just about the visual arrangement of the elements, but also about the logic of the interaction. The new interface often features widgets that take up extra space, whereas the old style is more compact and informative for those who value minimalism, and the choice between them is a matter of personal preference and habit.
- 📱 Classic Style combines notifications and settings in one menu.
- 🎛️ The new style divides the screen into left (notifications) and right (control) parts.
- 🔧 Older interfaces often run faster on budget devices.
- 🎨 New design offers more visual effects and animations.
The standard way to change style through settings
The easiest and safest way to change the look of the curtain is to use the built-in features of the system. Xiaomi engineers left the switch in the settings menu, but finding it is difficult because of the complex structure of the directories. First, you need to open the main settings menu of your smartphone.
Then you go to Notifications and Control Center, and depending on the shell version (MIUI or HyperOS), this item can be directly at the root of the menu or hidden inside the Notification tab, and this is where the key switch for the Control Center style is located.
Once you have selected the right option, the system will apply the changes instantly, without having to reboot the device. If you have chosen the old style, you will see a single panel when you swipe down. If the new one is separated, you will retain the separation. In some cases, you may need to re-enable and turn off the screen to apply the changes.
- 📂 Open the “Settings” of the smartphone.
- 🔔 Find the section "Notifications and Control Center».
- 🖱️ Click on the "Center of Management».
- ✅ Select “Old version” or “New version».
It is important to note that on some models, especially in Chinese versions of firmware, this item may be called differently or missing. In such cases, the default system uses the style specified by the region, so if the standard method does not work, you should pay attention to the region of the device.
How to Restore the Old Control Center by Changing the Region
One of the most effective crutches Xiaomi’s experienced users use is to change the region of the device, because MIUI’s firmware functionality is highly dependent on the location they choose, and in India or Russia, for example, features are often available that are hidden in European or global builds.
To use this method, go to Settings → Additional → Region. In the list that opens, select a country other than your current one. Often, choosing India, Nepal or Indonesia helps. After changing the region, the menu interface may change slightly, and the notification settings may show the desired switch.
⚠️ Warning: Changes in region may affect some system applications, such as changing the list of available themes in the store or adding unnecessary local service shortcuts (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Music).
If the option didn’t appear immediately after the change of region, try clearing the cache of the Security app or simply restarting your smartphone, a technique that is especially relevant for devices where the manufacturer has software-based blocked the ability to choose a style in certain countries due to patent restrictions or marketing policies.
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After changing the region and activating the old style of the control center, it is recommended to back up the settings, since resetting to factory settings will return the region by default.
Using themes to change the interface
MIUI Theme Store is a powerful customization tool that allows you to change not only wallpaper and icons, but also system elements, including the Control Center. Many of the themes created by third-party developers completely replace the standard curtain design with your own, ignoring system limitations.
To find the right theme, go to Profile, and select My Components, and find categories related to notification and control center, but it’s easier to search for keywords like Old Control Center, Classic Status Bar, or iOS Control.
Installing a theme may require all elements or only individual components. Beware: some topics may contain ads or require watching videos to unlock. Once the theme is applied, the old curtain style can be available even where it has been blocked by the system.
- 🎨 Open the "Themes" appendix».
- 🔍 In the search, type “Control Center” or “Old Style».
- 📥 Download your favorite theme (free of charge).
- ⚙️ Apply the theme or only the System/Notification component».
Consider that themes are not just visual shells, but also a set of resources that can affect battery autonomy. Heavy themes with live animation in the curtain can drain the device faster. So before you permanently install them, test the theme for a few hours.
HyperOS Update Problems and Solutions
With the release of the HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI, Xiaomi’s policy on the interface has become more stringent, and in new versions of the software, the company is actively promoting a single interface standard, removing the choice between the old and the new control center in an explicit form.
Users who upgrade to HyperOS 1.0 and higher often find that the style switch has disappeared from the settings, in which case it is almost impossible to return the classic look with standard methods, the system forcibly implements the new design as part of the Xiaomi HyperConnect ecosystem.
| System version | Presence of a switch | Method of modification | Risk of failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 - 12.5 | There are (mostly) | Settings / Region | Low. |
| MIUI 13 - 14 | Depends on the region. | Changing region/Themes | Medium. |
| HyperOS 1.0+ | Absent. | Only themes / Root | High-pitched |
| Chinese firmware | Often hidden | Change of region | Low. |
The only legal way to change the interface in HyperOS is to use third-party themes that can block system windows, but the effectiveness of such themes may decrease with each security update, as Xiaomi closes vulnerabilities that allow you to modify the system UI.
What to do if the switch is missing after the update?
Advanced Methods: ADB and Third Party Applications
For users who are not afraid of technical terms and want to gain full control of their device, there are methods of modifying the system through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to send commands directly to the operating system, bypassing the standard settings menu.
You will need a computer to work, USB-cable and on-debugging USB You need to install Android platform tools on your computer. SDK. After connecting the phone, you can enter commands that change the display parameters, although in the latest versions MIUI Direct command to change the curtain style is often blocked.
adb shell settings put global sysui_qs_tiles wifi,bluetooth,flashlightThis command is an example of how you can manipulate the tiles of fast settings, but to completely change the architecture of the control center requires more complex scripts or modules Magisk, which requires unlocking the bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader) voids the warranty and carries security risks.
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB without an accurate understanding of their purpose can lead to unstable system operation or "bootloop" (cyclical reboot.
And there are third-party apps from Google Play, like Notification & Control Center, that create their own layer on top of the system, and they don't change the system curtain, they just swipe it over with a copy of it, which is less elegant, but it works on any version of Android without superuser rights.
- 🔌 Turn on "Debugging by" USB» menu "For developers».
- 💻 Connect your smartphone to your PC and install drivers ADB.
- 📝 Enter the required commands in the computer terminal.
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
Using third-party launchers can also partially solve the problem, as they often have their own implementations of control panels. However, launchers cannot completely replace the system notification curtain without deep modification of the system, so this method should be considered as a temporary solution.
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The safest and most stable way to bring back the old control center on modern versions of MIUI is to change the region to India or install a specialized theme that does not require unlocking the bootloader.