How to make a new taskbar on Xiaomi: from standard settings to advanced launchers

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or the new HyperOS, offer users a wide range of personalization, but the standard interface often seems conservative. Many device owners are looking to change the appearance of the bottom of the screen to make control more convenient or simply refresh the visual style of the gadget. The “taskbar” in the context of Android smartphones is most often meant by the bottom line with application shortcuts, known as a dock bar or notification control panel.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can modify this area of the screen, from built-in system functions to third-party installations, and learn how to change the number of icons, add widgets, or completely replace the standard launcher to create a unique interface that will meet your aesthetic and functional requirements.

Before making any major changes, it’s important to understand that the standard Xiaomi shell has a number of limitations that the manufacturer imposes to ensure the stability of the system. However, even with basic tools, you can achieve significant results. Let’s look at what features the operating system offers out of the box without the need to install additional software.

Standard settings of the dock bar in MIUI and HyperOS

Starting the interface transformation is by exploring the standard features that the operating system itself provides. In recent firmware versions, Xiaomi engineers have added flexible desktop settings to adjust the appearance of the bottom row of icons, the most secure method that does not require obtaining superuser rights or installing dubious software.

To access the basic settings, you need to pinch the empty area on your desktop and select Settings. Here you are interested in the section responsible for the grid and scale. By changing the number of columns, you automatically affect how many apps will fit in the bottom row. Standardly, the system offers 4 to 6 icons, but when you select the minimum number of columns, the dock bar can visually expand.

Special attention should be paid to the “Increased Mode” function, or changing the font size and interface elements in the general settings of the system. If you go to Settings → Screen → Text and elements size, you can make the entire taskbar larger, which is especially important for users with reduced vision or those who prefer large controls.

It's worth noting that HyperOS's shell has the ability to fine-tune animations and transparency, which visually updates the taskbar without changing its structure, but radical changes like a floating dock bar or changing the shape of icons in the bottom row will require more advanced techniques, which will be discussed below.

Using themes to change the interface globally

One of the most effective ways to dramatically change the look of the taskbar is to use the Themes app. Xiaomi’s theme store contains thousands of designs that replace not only wallpaper, but also system icons, fonts and, most importantly, the style of the dock bar. Some themes completely redraw the bottom line, making it soaring, translucent or integrated into the watch widget.

To find the right design, open the Themes app and search for keywords like “Dock,” “Minimal,” or “Transparent.” When choosing a theme, look at the screenshots in the description: often developers show exactly what the taskbar will look like after installation.

The installation process is simple: find your favorite theme, click the download button, and then "Apply." Once you reboot the desktop, you'll see changes. If you don't like the result, you can always go back to standard design through the theme settings in the same application, which allows you to experiment with the design without risking the system.

⚠️ Warning: Some themes from third-party sources or unofficial stores may contain layout errors, causing the text on the icons in the taskbar to become unreadable or disappear completely. Always check the theme ranking before installing.

In addition to visual style, the themes can also change the behavior of the taskbar, such as designs that add effects when you click on icons in the dock bar or change the color of the background of the panel depending on the time of day, which creates the feeling of using a completely new device without the need for flashing.

Installation of third-party launchers for maximum customization

If built-in capabilities aren’t enough, third-party launchers will come to the rescue, apps that completely replace the standard desktop and taskbar with advanced alternative solutions. The most popular and stable options for Xiaomi devices are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and Lawnchair.

Once you install this launcher, you have full control of the dock, you can change the number of pages in the dock, make it transparent, hide the signatures under the icons, add the Google search bar directly to the taskbar, or, conversely, remove it, and some launchers even allow you to change the shape of the dock cells themselves.

The Nova Launcher, which is considered a benchmark for customization, is particularly noteworthy, and it allows you to work through the taskbar in detail: set a separate background for the dock bar, different from the desktop background, adjust the indentations, and even add a second row of icons to the dock that appears when you swipe, which turns a standard narrow strip into a powerful control tool.

However, when using third-party launchers on MIUI, there can be specific problems. The system aggressively manages the background processes, so the launcher can periodically be reset to a standard one. To avoid this, you need to lock the application in memory and give it all the necessary permissions, including auto-start and work in the background.

Configure the control panel and notifications

Often, what people mean by "new taskbar" is not just the bottom row of icons, but the top curtain, the control center. In modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 13/14, this element has been redesigned and divided into two parts: notifications on the left and switches on the right, but here too, customization is possible.

In the control center settings, you can change the style of the switches, the classic look replaces the large tiles with a list, which makes room for more elements, and you can change the order of the buttons by dragging and hiding the unnecessary ones so you don't clutter the interface.

Deeper modifications to the top panels often require specialized modules or applications that mimic system elements, such as a weather or music widget that will be visually integrated into the taskbar area, creating a single information unit.

It's important to distinguish between system limitations and capabilities. If you want to change the transparency of the curtain or add a blue effect under the control panel, standard tools rarely do this, and plug-in launchers or customized status bar apps come to the rescue.

Advanced customization through ADB and system commands

Users who are not afraid of the command line can access hidden interface settings through USB debugging. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can change options that are not available in the usual menu, including scaling the elements of the taskbar and hiding the system bars.

To get started, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging USB.” By connecting your smartphone to your computer, you can send commands to change system variables.

adb shell wm density 400

This command changes the overall pixel density (DPI) of the system. Decreasing the DPI will make all interface elements, including the taskbar, smaller and more compact, allowing more information to fit on the screen. Increasing the value will, on the contrary, enlarge the elements. Be careful: setting too high or low values can make the interface unreadable.

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB to disable system components (e.g. com.miui.home) without a pre-installed and configured alternative launcher can cause the interface to "brickle" when you're left with a black screen.Always have a reset method or second launcher on hand.

Creating widgets and automation in the taskbar

The modern taskbar is not just a set of shortcuts, it's a script management center. Using automation applications like MacroDroid or Tasker, you can customize the behavior of the dock bar depending on the context, for example, in the evening, alarm and reader shortcuts may appear in the bottom row, and in the afternoon, the navigator and messengers.

While the standard system does not allow dynamic changes in the docking bar, widgets placed directly above or on the taskbar (if the launcher allows) can display current information, such as Wi-Fi switches, battery levels of connected devices, or quick start of frequently used functions.

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Use Contacts or Direct Call widgets in the bottom row to always have access to emergency numbers, even if the main screen is locked or crowded with apps.

You can use launcher plugins to implement complex scenarios, for example, the Nova Actions plugin allows you to assign specific actions to double or long-press icons in the dock bar: take a screenshot, run a flashlight or roll all windows, which makes a static panel a powerful productivity tool.

Also, don’t forget the visual component of widgets. Many applications, such as Overdrop or KWGT, allow you to create widgets of any shape and size that fit perfectly into the concept of your new taskbar, hiding the standard elements and creating the illusion of a monolithic interface.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The safest and most effective way to get a new taskbar on Xiaomi is a combination of a quality theme from the official store and a competent setup of the desktop grid. Third-party launchers give more freedom, but require careful configuration of permissions.