Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often seek to personalize the interface to make the device unique.One of the first things that a user's eye drops when unlocking the screen is the battery charge indicator. The standard icon can seem boring, especially if you're used to other shells or want to stand out among friends. Fortunately, the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS provide a variety of ways to change the visual display of energy.
In this article, we’ll look at all the methods available, from simple built-in settings to advanced methods using third-party apps. You’ll learn how to activate hidden percentages, change the shape of the icon in the status bar, and even install animated widgets on the desktop. It’s important to understand that some methods require minimal technical knowledge, but the result is worth it.
Before we start to make changes, it's worth noting that the appearance of the battery depends on the version of the operating system. MIUI 14 interface is different from HyperOS, and older models may have limitations. We'll look at universal solutions that will suit most devices of the Chinese brand. Get ready to dive into the world of customization of your gadget.
Basic charge display setting in the system
The easiest and safest way to change how the energy indicator looks is to use the built-in system functions. Xiaomi’s settings menu hides an option that allows you to switch between percentage and graphic display. This doesn’t change the battery’s “picture” itself radically, but adds useful information right into the status bar.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Battery Charge. Here you will see a switch that allows you to select the percentage display inside or next to the icon. On some models, the option "Battery Style" is available, where you can choose the classic or numerical view.
⚠️ Note: On devices with a camera cutout (leaky screen) or drop-shaped cutout, the space for displaying interest inside the battery icon may be limited.
If you think the standard settings are too limited, you can use the theme, and the theme change is a powerful tool that changes icons, fonts and, importantly for us, the design of system icons, including the battery. Thousands of authors create themes where the charge indicator looks like a futuristic capsule, a retro indicator, or even an an anime character.
To find the right theme, open the Themes app and search for queries like "Battery," "Charge" or "Minimal." Once the theme is set, changes may affect not only the status bar, but also the lock screen, where the charging animation will also change, creating a holistic visual experience without having to get superuser rights.
Use of widgets for customization
Widgets are the best way to turn a boring indicator into a bright design element on the home screen. Unlike the little icon in the corner, the widget can occupy a significant part of the screen and display detailed statistics. MIUI and HyperOS shells have their own widget store, but third-party apps offer much more features.
One of the most popular solutions is to install a Battery widget from the standard widget menu, which is to pinch the empty space on the desktop, select the "Widgets" item, and find the category associated with the system, and there are often options with large numbers, pie charts and color indicators available.
- 🔋 Standard widget MIUI: Shows the charge of the phone and connected devices (earphones, watches) in one place.
- 🎨 Theme widgets: Many Themes in the Themes store come with their own unique widgets that are activated along with the theme.
- 📊 Third-party apps: Software like Battery Widget Reborn allows you to create an indicator of any shape and color.
When using third-party widgets, it is important to consider screen resolution and pixel density. Live-animated widgets that are too heavy can consume extra battery power, which creates a paradox: you decorate the battery, but it sits down faster. Choose optimized solutions.
Remember that widgets on the lock screen work differently than on the desktop. In recent versions of Xiaomi firmware, it is possible to add widgets directly to the lock screen (Always On Display or active screen), which allows you to see a stylish indicator without unlocking the phone completely.
Advanced Methods: Mods and Systemic Changes
For users who are not satisfied with standard methods, there are deeper ways to intervene, changing system files allows you to replace the standard battery graphics with any picture you find on the Internet, but this method requires caution and understanding the risks.
The main tool for such manipulation is the MT Manager application or similar file managers with root rights. You will need to find the framework-res.apk system file or resource package responsible for the interface graphics. Inside the archive are images of battery icons in different states (charging, discharge, 10%, 50%, etc.).
The path to graphic files (example):
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
/res/drawable-hdpi/stat_sys_battery_0.png
/res/drawable-hdpi/stat_sys_battery_100.pngReplacing these images requires strict format and sizes. If you insert a picture incorrectly, the system may not display the icon at all, showing an empty square or cross instead, and it is also critical to back up the original files before making any changes.
⚠️ Note: Framework modifications can lead to a phone bootloop. If you're not sure what you're doing, use this method only on devices that are not too sorry to reflash.
An alternative to manual file replacement is to use ready-made modules for Magisk if you have superuser rights on your device. Modules like Custom Battery Icon allow you to choose from dozens of ready-made styles through a convenient menu, automatically replacing the system graphics. It is safer and more convenient than hand-painting. APK-file.
What is Magisk and why is it needed?
Setting up the lock screen and Always on Display
The lock screen is the second place where the battery status is displayed, and often it's even more important than the status bar. MIUI and HyperOS have an Always On Screen (AOD) feature that can show the time and battery charge even when the phone is down.
To change the battery view on the lock screen, go to Settings → Lock screen. Here you will find the style settings of the watch and its associated elements. Some watch styles automatically change the battery icon to a more appropriate design. For example, in a digital watch, the battery can be inscribed in the dial.
| Screen type | Potential for customization | Effect on charge |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (LCD) | Minimum (static picture) | High (screen on fire) |
| AMOLED (AOD) | Tall (animation, colors) | Low (individual pixels burn) |
| Super AMOLED | Maximum (widgets, photos) | Average. |
The charging animations deserve special attention. When you plug in the cable, you get a big indicator on the screen, and in newer versions of the firmware, this animation is smoother and more detailed, and you can only change it by installing special themes or modifying the system resources we talked about earlier.
Users of AMOLED screens have the advantage of using dark themes with a black background, where the battery icon will contrast brightly, creating the effect of a soaring icon. This is not only beautiful, but also saves energy, since the black pixels on such arrays do not consume current.
☑️ Checking before installing mods
Hidden functions and experimental settings
At the core of Xiaomi's system, there are experimental features available through special codes or engineering menus. While you can't directly redraw the battery from there, you can change the behavior of the indicator, for example, turning on the notification indicator flash at low charge or changing the threshold at which the energy saving mode is turned on.
You can use the Activity Launcher app to access the advanced battery settings, which lets you open hidden activity, and find activity associated with com.android.settings and Battery Saver or Power Usage, and there may be switches hidden from the average user.
Another interesting aspect is the color indication. In some scenarios (like Game Turbo), the battery indicator can change color or position to avoid disturbing view. Check the Game Turbo settings, there may be an option to move the icon to a corner or hide it while playing.
⚠️ Note: Making changes through Activity Launcher or the Engineering Menu may cause the system to run in an unstable way.
Also worth mentioning is the "Second Space" feature, which, if you use it, can have different battery settings than the main space, which allows you to have a strict minimalist look in your work profile, and a personal one with bright widgets and custom graphics.
Solution and optimization
After changing the theme or installing a widget, users often face a problem when a new battery style does not display or looks incorrect, most often due to caching graphics, the system "remembers" old images and does not rush to download new ones.
To solve this problem, try clearing the cache of the Themes and System UI app. Rebooting your phone also often helps to apply changes. If you use a third-party launcher (desktop shell), make sure it is given the necessary permissions to display widgets on top of other apps.
- 🔄 Reboot: The easiest way to update system resources.
- 🗑️ Cache cleanup: Settings → Annexes → All applications → Topics → Clean up.
- 📱 Change of launcher: Temporary switch to standard launcher MIUI It can reset display errors.
If you notice that your phone is getting hot or discharged faster after installing a “beautiful” battery, try going back to lighter design options.
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Balancing beauty and performance is key, and too complex visuals can negate the benefits of customization by quickly planting a battery.
In conclusion, changing the battery view on Xiaomi is a fascinating process that allows you to express your personality. Start with simple steps: change the theme or install a widget. If you need more freedom, explore the possibilities of modifying the system, but always act carefully. Your smartphone is your tool, and it should look the way you want it to look.
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Check for updates to the Themes app regularly. Authors often add new widgets and styles for already released themes, improving their compatibility with newer versions of Android.