Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a desire to personalize the interface that goes far beyond simply changing wallpaper. One of the most visible elements of the system that the user interacts with daily is the notification curtain and the quick access bar. The standard MIUI or HyperOS interface looks utilitarian, but it can be greatly improved by adding visual appeal and functionality. It is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve the usability of the device in everyday life.
Customization can range from simple menu settings to specialized launcher applications. It is important to understand that deep modification of system elements sometimes requires enhanced access rights or third-party software. However, even with standard tools, you can achieve impressive results if you know where to look for the desired parameters. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for interface transformation.
Before you start taking action, you should evaluate the current state of the system and determine the desired end result. Some methods require minimal effort, others require a deeper dive into the Android settings. We will consider options for both experienced users and those who prefer safe ways without risking losing the warranty or stability of the gadget.
Standard settings and hidden MIUI capabilities
The first step to personalization is to carefully study the system’s regular capabilities. Many users overlook the fact that the control center in the new versions of MIUI and HyperOS already has flexible settings. Going to the Settings menu → Notifications and Status bar → Control Center, you can choose between the old and the new style. The new style offers larger sliders and division into blocks, which is visually more modern.
Additionally, you should pay attention to the transparency and blur settings. In some design themes, these settings can be changed without installing third-party programs. The blure effect under the curtain makes the text more readable and gives the interface depth. In order to activate advanced visual effects, sometimes you need to turn on the developer mode, but basic changes are available to everyone.
⚠️ Warning: When installing topics from unofficial sources through the Topics app, always check the author’s rating and number of downloads to avoid system conflicts.
Also, remember the classic "Themes": there are thousands of designs in the MIUI Themes store that completely change icons, fonts and, most importantly, curtain design. When choosing a theme, pay attention to the screenshots in the description: there is always a view of the notification panel. Some themes only change icons, while others completely redraw the Quick Settings interface.
Use of applications for curtain customization
If standard tools aren't enough, specialized applications from Google Play come to the rescue. The most popular solution to create a unique curtain is Hi Locker or its counterparts, such as Power Shade, which allows you to completely ignore the system curtain and replace it with your own, more beautiful and functional version.
Once you install this app, you'll be asked to grant a number of permissions. The key is access to "Display on top of other apps" and access to notifications. Without these permissions, the program won't be able to intercept the system swipe event down. Once you set up the app menu, you can choose preset designs or create your own from scratch by changing the colors, transparency and layout of the items.
- 🎨 Flexible Color Customization: Option to Choose a Gradient or a Solid Background Color.
- 📱 Adaptability: Support for screen cutouts and dynamic islands.
- ⚡ Quick Access: Adding App Shortcuts Right to the Curtain.
- 🔒 Security: Ability to hide the contents of notifications before unlocking.
Importantly, using such applications can slightly increase battery consumption, since the process constantly monitors the user’s actions. However, modern Android optimization algorithms minimize this effect. For better integration, it is recommended to add the application to battery exclusions so that the system does not “kill” the process in the background.
☑️ Configuring a substitute application
Application of launchers for deep integration
A more radical but effective way to change the look of the curtain is to install an alternative launcher that has built-in customization modules for system elements. Launchers like Niagara Launcher or Smart Launcher often offer notification widgets that can be placed on the desktop to mimic an extended curtain. Although they don't replace the system panel entirely, they change the perception of the interface.
Some advanced launchers, such as the Rootless Pixel Launcher with plugins, allow you to implement Material You design elements that dynamically change the color of the curtain depending on the dominant wallpaper color. To work such functions on Xiaomi often requires disabling optimization. MIUI developer menu.
The process of disabling optimization is as follows: you need to click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section, then in the advanced settings, find the item "Enable MIUI optimization" and turn it off. After the reboot, the launcher will receive more rights to render the interface. This action is safe, but returns the system to more standard Android behavior.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling optimization MIUI may cause some system fonts or icons to be displayed incorrectly in standard applications.
Comparison of popular customization methods
To choose the right option, it is useful to compare the basic methods by key parameters. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the model of your smartphone and the firmware version. Below is a table that helps you decide on the choice.
| Method | Difficulty | Impact on the battery | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard topics | Low. | No. | Medium |
| Substitute annexes | Medium | Low. | Tall. |
| Alternative launchers | Tall. | Average. | Very high. |
| Root modifications | Extremely extreme. | Depends on fashion. | Maximum |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal balance is with the replacement applications: they do not require complex manipulation of the system, but they give a wide range of designs. Standard themes are good because they do not load the processor, but their functionality is often limited by the imagination of the author of the topic.
If you plan to use heavy launchers, make sure your device has enough RAM. On models with 4GB RAM and less aggressive background work of the launcher can lead to downloading applications from memory, in which case it is better to limit yourself to setting up a standard theme.
What is Substratum and is it worth using?
Advanced Methods: Modules and ADB
For users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of modifying system files through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to implement design elements that are not available in the usual mode, for example, you can force transparency to be enabled or change the fonts in the notification panel.
It requires a computer, a USB cable, and an ADB driver installed. Once you connect your phone in debugging mode, you can type commands to change global parameters. For example, a command to change style may look difficult, but its efficiency is high. It is important to back up before any manipulations.
adb shell settings put secure qs_tile_style 2This command is just an example of how you can influence a system. MIUI. Use of the ADB-commands do not require Root rights, which makes this method relatively safe, as changes are easy to roll back by a reset command or reboot in Safe Mode.
💡
Before entering any commands through ADB, be sure to run the command 'adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -shared -all' to create a complete backup of the data on your computer.
Optimizing productivity after changes
After installing a new curtain or theme, it's important to make sure the system is stable. Visual effects such as transparency animations or dynamic color changes can be loading on the GPU. If you notice the interface twitching when you open notifications, it's worth lowering the animation quality.
And you can do this in the developer menu by looking at the "Scale of window animation," "Scale of transition animation," and setting 0.5x or even turning them off, and not only will the curtain work faster, but it will also make the interface more responsive visually. Beauty shouldn't be at the expense of speed.
- 🚀 Decrease in animations: speeds up system response.
- 🧹 Cache Clearing: Deletes Temporary Theme Files.
- 🔄 Reboot: fixes changes in memory.
It is also recommended to periodically check updates for installed themes or replacement apps. Developers often release patches that fix compatibility bugs with new versions of Android. Ignoring updates can cause the beautiful curtain to stop correctly displaying new types of notifications from messengers.
💡
Stability is more important than visual effects: if a beautiful curtain causes lags, it is better to return to the standard design or choose a lighter option.