Changing the visual style of a smartphone is not just a pamper, but a way to personalize the device for yourself. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 often wonder how to change the usual picture that appears when you connect the power cable. Standard lightning or the MIUI logo can get bored quickly, especially if you want the lock screen and charging process to look unique. Fortunately, the MIUI shell provides a fairly flexible tool to customize the interface without the need to obtain superuser rights.
The process of replacing the charging screensaver on Redmi 9 is closely related to the overall theme of the system design. This means that you do not need to search for a separate file just to animation the battery. All graphic elements, including icons, sounds and actually charging animations, are packaged into a single package, which the system calls a theme. Understanding this principle is key to successful visual style change. In this article, we will examine all the available methods, from using the official store to manually installing modified files.
It is worth noting that some methods require careful consideration when choosing a file source. Unverified themes from third-party resources may contain errors in the code or incorrectly display on the screen resolution of your Redmi 9. We will look at safe algorithms that will avoid interface failures. Being willing to experiment with settings is the first step to creating a unique look for your gadget.
The principle of animation in MIUI
Shell MIUI, Xiaomi-based Redmi 9, It uses a single resource management system, which means that Charging animation is not an independent element that can be replaced separately from wallpaper or fonts, but is built into the design theme structure. When you activate a new theme in the settings menu, the system loads the entire package of graphics and sound resources, including: charging_anim.
Technically, a theme file is an archive with an.thm extension that contains many subfolders with images and scripts. It is in one of these folders that the sequence of frames or video played when you connect the charger is stored. It is important for the user to understand that trying to replace only one file inside the system without properly packaging the theme will not lead to the desired result and can cause errors.
⚠️ Warning: Attempts to manually edit theme system files without backing up can result in a device cycling reboot or the interface disappearing.Always have the option to roll back to a standard theme.
It is important to distinguish between standard animation that comes with a theme and special "super wallpaper" or live themes that can use more CPU resources. On Redmi 9, which runs on the Helio G80 processor, excessive amounts of heavy animation can slightly affect the system response rate at the time of locking the screen.
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Before installing a new theme, always check the author’s rating and downloads, which reduces the risk of getting a theme with bugs or broken charging animations.
Using the Themes app to change style
The safest and easiest way to change the charging screensaver on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is to use the standard Themes app. This method does not require a connection to a computer or the use of complex file managers. All the necessary files have already been checked by moderators and adapted to the screen resolution of your device.
To get started, open the Topics app on the home screen. In the search box, type in keywords like "charging," "animation" or "charging." The system will offer a list of available designs. Pay attention to the preview: often theme authors show charging animations in the theme screenshot gallery.
- 🔍 Open the Topics app and go to the Catalog or Top section».
- ⬇️ Search for “Charging” or “Animation” to find the appropriate styles.
- 👁️ View the details of the topic: the description often indicates whether there is a unique charging animation.
- ✅ Click the Download button and then Apply to activate the new style.
After applying the theme, it is recommended to lock the screen and plug in the charger to check the result. If the animation does not appear, it is possible that the selected theme does not support this feature for your version of MIUI. In this case, it is worth trying a different theme from the same author or looking for alternatives marked "Global" or "EEA", as they are often better optimized for global versions of firmware.
Install third-party themes through file manager
If you don't find the right design in the official Xiaomi directory, you can use third-party sources. Many enthusiasts create unique themes with high-quality charging animations that are not available in the stock store. To install such files on Redmi 9, you will need to download a file with the.thm extension and install it correctly.
The manual installation process is slightly different from the standard one. You need to put the downloaded file in the device's memory. Then, through the Themes app, you need to go to the user profile (the human icon in the lower right corner) and select the Topic item. This often hides the local file add button, although it may be hidden in newer versions of MIUI.
| File type | Source | Complexity of installation | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| .thm (official) | Shop Topics | Low. | Minimum |
| .thm (mode) | Third-party sites | Medium | Medium. |
| .mtz (patch) | Forums (4PDA) | Tall. | High-pitched |
| System file | Hand-substituted | Very high. | critical |
If you don't have a local file installation button, there's a proven method. Go to the Themes app settings (usually through the profile menu or three dots). Find the About app item and quickly click 10 times on the MIUI logo or app version. This action unlocks the hidden developer menu where the Enable Local Themes switch appears. Once activated, the profile will have a button to select.thm file from the phone's memory.
⚠️ Note: Only download themes from trusted forums and sites. Files from questionable sources may contain malicious code that steals personal data or disrupts the stability of Redmi 9.
☑️ Check before installing a third-party theme
Setting up live wallpaper and Always on Display
Xiaomi Redmi 9 owners can also use Always On Display (AOD) or live wallpaper that changes dynamically when charging. While it’s not exactly a replacement for standard lightning animation, it creates a similar visual effect.
To activate, go to Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Always on screen. Here you can choose a static image or animated version.
Also worth noting is the Live Wallpaper section of the lock screen settings, some of which have phases that only activate under certain conditions. Unfortunately, the built-in MIUI functionality on Redmi 9 does not allow you to directly assign a video file to a "start charging" event without installing a full theme, so using themes with integrated live elements remains the most effective solution.
Effect of AOD on the battery
Solution: Animation is not working or reset
Often users are faced with a situation where after installing a new theme, charging animation on Redmi 9 does not appear, or after rebooting, the standard image returns. This can be due to several factors, including system cache, MIUI version conflicts, or errors in the theme file itself.
The first thing you need to do is clear the Themes and System UI app cache. Go to Settings → Applications → All apps, find "Themes" and click "Clear Cache." Do the same for the system interface. Then re-apply the theme you've chosen and reboot the device.
- 🔄 Make sure the theme is fully compatible with your Android version and MIUI (frequently-theme MIUI 12 mishandling MIUI 13/14).
- 🗑️ Remove the previous theme completely before installing the new one to avoid residual file conflicts.
- 📱 Check if power saving mode is enabled, which can block heavy animations to save resources.
If the problem persists, the theme file may be damaged when downloaded. Try to download it again, preferably via a Wi-Fi connection to avoid packet breaks, and check if antivirus or built-in MIUI protection has blocked changes to the system registration files.
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In most cases, the problem with the lack of animation is solved by completely clearing the theme cache and rebooting the smartphone after applying a new design.
Security and Return to Factory Theme Settings
Experimenting with themes and charging animations on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a fascinating process, but it requires caution. If you have installed a theme that causes crashes, black screen or freezes, you need to know how to quickly return everything back. The standard theme always stays in the device’s memory and can be forced to activate.
To get back to factory status, go to the Topics app, go to profile, and select My Themes. There's always a theme called Classic or Default available. Click on it and select Apply. This action will reset all graphical changes, returning the standard charging animation and wallpaper.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone interface stopped responding due to the theme’s faulty, try booting into Safe Mode (clicking the off button at start) to remove the problematic theme through the file manager or settings.
Regularly backing up important data before installing modified system files is the golden rule of any Android user. While replacing a theme rarely results in loss of personal photos or contacts, system stability can suffer. Use Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos cloud services to synchronize important data.