Budget smartphone owners often face the desire to personalize their device’s interface, and the Xiaomi Redmi 9A is no exception. The standard charging animation that comes with connecting a power cable can seem boring or too simple amid modern design trends. Users are looking for ways to change this element to make the energy recharge process more visually enjoyable and unique.
However, it is important to understand the architectural limitations of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. Changing system icons, especially critical ones such as the battery indicator, requires access to hidden configuration files or the use of special thematic tools. Simply take and replace the picture through standard settings will not work, as Xiaomi developers limit deep interface changes for the sake of stability.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from safe and formal to more complex, technically demanding ones. You will learn how design themes work, what system stylization is and why you sometimes need to resort to custom firmware installation to achieve the desired result. Be careful, because improper actions with system files can lead to unstable work of the gadget.
Related: The limitations of the standard MIUI shell on the Redmi 9A
The operating system installed on Redmi 9A out of the box is based on a strict hierarchy of access rights. MIUI shell (or its newer version HyperOS) does not provide the user with direct access to editing the graphical resources of system applications, this is done so that accidental file changes do not lead to a “boot” (cyclical reboot) or the disappearance of important notifications.
Standard functionality allows you to change only the desktop wallpaper, font and general color gamut in some versions of the software. Charging animation is sewn deep into the system framework and often depends on a particular version of Android. Trying to change it by standard means usually only leads to a change in the style of the dial or the shape of the icon in the status bar, but does not change the behavior of the lock screen when you connect the cable.
⚠️ Warning: Direct editing of system files without Root rights and data backup can lead to complete inoperability of the smartphone.
But there are workarounds. Xiaomi has created a Themes store that allows you to swap many interface elements, including the lock screen, and through this mechanism, the most common desired icon replacement occurs. It's important to distinguish between the icon in the "curtain" of notifications and the full-screen animation when you connect the charger are different visual elements.
Using the Topics app to change animations
The safest and most affordable way to change the visual display of charging is to use the official Themes app. Xiaomi catalogues thousands of designs created by both the company and independent designers, many of which include a unique Lock Screen with its own animation.
To get started, you need to open the app and go to the Profile section or directly to the directory. In the search bar, you should enter charging queries, such as "charging animation", "battery" or "power", the system will offer options where, when you connect the cable, a specific graphic will appear that overlaps the standard Redmi 9A indicator.
- 🔍 Open the Topics app and use keyword search.
- 🎨 Choose a topic with a high rating and carefully study the screenshots in the description.
- 📥 Click the Download button and then Apply to activate the changes.
- 🔌 Connect the charger to check the result on the lock screen.
Note that not all themes work correctly on all versions of MIUI. Some animations may not run if the region of the device does not match the region of the topic (for example, a theme for India may not work in Russia without changing the region).
💡
Before installing a new theme, always take a screenshot of the current lock screen settings so that in case of failure you can quickly return to the usual look or find a similar theme with the desired functionality.
System styling module and third-party launchers
If a standard theme store isn’t enough, more advanced tools like Theme Editor or modules for Magisk (requires unlocking the bootloader) come to the rescue, however, for the average user, using third-party launchers and widgets that simulate charging remains a more affordable option.
There are apps in the Google Play Store that create an animation layer on top of the lock screen, such as Battery Charge Animation or Charging Show, which use permissions to display on top of other windows (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW) and monitor the status of the power connection.
| Annex | Type of change | Demands a Root. | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Topics | System animation | No. | Minimum |
| Battery Charge Animation | Overlay (layer over top) | No. | Average. |
| Magisk Modules | Replacement of system files | Yes. | Depends on the module. |
| Custom ROM | Complete interface replacement | Yes (indirectly) | Varying. |
Using third-party animators has its pros and cons. On the one hand, you get a huge selection of effects from draining fluid to futuristic graphics. On the other hand, such applications consume additional battery power, since the processor and screen must process graphics even in sleep mode (on the lock screen).
⚠️ Note: Install applications from unknown sources or use modified applications APK-files to change system icons can lead to malware infection of the device. Use only proven software from Google Play.
Advanced configuration through superuser rights
For those who are not looking for easy ways and want to gain full control of the Redmi 9A, there is a method using the rights of Root. Obtaining superuser rights (usually through Magisk) allows you to replace the system files responsible for the charging schedule directly in the file system.
This process is complex and requires the bootloader to be unlocked through the official Xiaomi website, and after root access, animation files are usually located in directories like the one in the directory. /system/framework/framework-res.apk or in the resources of a specific system application PowerUI. special editors are used to edit them. APK.
☑️ Preparation for Root-Modifications
The main challenge is finding the right animation file, because you can't just take a file from another model or Android version, you can go into a cyclical reboot, and you need to look for mods that are specifically designed for the MediaTek Helio G25 chipset and the specific version of the shell.
What is a bootloop and how to get out of it?
Alternative methods and battery widgets
If replacing global animation seems too risky, you can limit yourself to installing advanced battery widgets on the desktop or lock screen. The GetApps store or Play Market has utilities that display charge percentage, temperature and voltage in a beautiful graphic design.
Some users go further and install custom firmware (Custom ROM) such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience. These often already have alternative charging animations built in, other than stock MIUIs. This is a radical method that completely changes the “face” of the smartphone, but deprives the owner of some of Xiaomi’s branded features, such as advanced camera settings or second spaces.
Also worth mentioning are physical indicators. The Redmi 9A doesn't have an LED event indicator, but some cases with built-in backlighting can react to the charging connection, creating a visual effect. This is not a software solution, but it also changes the way you feel about charging.
💡
The most stable and safe way to change the charging animation is to use official themes from the Themes app, as they are tested for compatibility with your version of MIUI.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of experimenting with the design, Redmi 9A users may face a number of difficulties, most often the problem lies in the conflict of versions: the theme made for MIUI 12 may not display correctly on MIUI 14 or HyperOS. In such cases, the animation may simply not turn on, or instead it will be displayed standard black screen.
Another common problem is increased power consumption: If you installed heavy animations through a third-party app, the battery can run out faster even when the phone is on charge, which is because the processor does not go into deep sleep mode while the complex graphics are displayed.
- 📉 Animation is missing after system updates – update the theme in the Topics app or find a new version.
- 🔋 Phone discharges quickly on lockdown – disable “Always On Display” or change animation to a simpler one.
- ❌ Theme is not set – try changing the region in the settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Region) to India or Indonesia.
Optimization is more important than beauty.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party charging animation apps, make sure they don’t ask for excessive permissions, such as accessing contacts, microphone, or geolocation, unless required for their functionality.