How to make a transparent notification curtain in MIUI 12: all ways

Why the transparent curtain in MIUI 12 is not just a design feature

The notification curtain in MIUI 12 is one of the most controversial interface elements. On the one hand, Xiaomi’s brand identity with translucent panels and smooth animations looks modern. On the other, many users complain of excessive cloudiness when wallpaper or app content shines through the curtain, preventing the perception of text. But what if, on the contrary, you want to maximize the effect of transparency to the maximum – or, for example, to return it after an update, when Xiaomi suddenly made the background of the curtain too dense?

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to adjust the transparency of the curtain in MIUI 12, from standard settings to hidden tweaks using ADB and Magisk modules. Importantly, the methods work on most Xiaomi devices (Redmi, POCO, Black Shark), but there are nuances for specific models – we will also touch on them. If you have tried to change transparency through themes and nothing has worked, do not despair: then there will be more complex solutions (and more effective).

Warning: Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights. If you're new to customizing Android, start with safe ways (sections 2–3), and move to radical measures (sections 5–6) only if you're prepared for the risks. And yes, MIUI 12 is not the most stable firmware in terms of customization, so back up before experimenting.

Method 1: Standard Transparency Settings in MIUI 12

Xiaomi has provided users with a limited but working tool to change the transparency of the curtain right in the settings.This method does not require root rights and is suitable for most devices on MIUI 12/12.5.

1. Open “Settings” and go to the Display → Additional Display settings.
2. Select Notification Curtain Style (on some devices, it may be called Notification Bar Transparency).
3. Move the background transparency slider to the left (for greater transparency) or right (for greater density).
4. Save the changes and check the result by pulling the curtain from above.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro or POCO X3 NFC) This slider may not be there, so move on to the next way, and note that the standard setting only changes the transparency for the top curtain (with notifications), but does not affect the Quick Settings Panel.

If you have a slider but the changes don’t apply, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the device – sometimes the settings only work after the reboot.
• 🎨 Replace the topic with a standard one (for example, MIUI Default and return it back.
• 📱 Update the firmware - in some assemblies MIUI 12.0.1.0 and below this bug was patched.

Method 2: Use themes from the MIUI Theme Store

The official MIUI theme store offers hundreds of customizations, including options with a fully transparent curtain.

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. In the search bar, enter a request with a transparent curtain or transparent notification.
3. Choose your favorite topic (pay attention to the rating and reviews!).
4. Click Apply and wait for the installation to be completed.

The problem is that many themes change not only the curtain, but also icons, fonts, animations. If you want transparency just for the notification bar, look for themes marked Mix or Custom — they allow you to selectively apply elements.

💡 Useful tip: If the theme doesn’t apply, check if you have an ad blocker (like AdGuard) that can interfere with loading items from the site. MIUI Theme Store. Some themes also require a connection to Chinese servers, so use the same. VPN China-bound.

Make sure the internet is connected (Wi-Fi is recommended)

Disable the ad blocker

Free 200-300 MB of memory

Restart the phone before use-->

Method 3: ADB-commands for hidden transparency settings

If the standard methods didn't work, you can use the hidden settings that Xiaomi left for developers, which you need a computer and USB debugging enabled. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to the main settings menu and a new Developer section will appear.

Turn on USB debugging:

• Go to For Developers → Debugging by USB and activate the slider.
• Confirm the permission on the computer when connecting.
• Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux).
• Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
• Change the transparency of the curtain: adb shell settings put global notification_shade_bg_alpha 50 Here. 50 — level of transparency (from 0 — fully transparent 255 — It is completely opaque. We recommend starting with 80–120.
• Reboot the device: adb reboot

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) K40 or Mi 11) this command may not work due to manufacturer limitations:

adb shell settings put secure notification_shade_transparency 0.7

Here 0.7 is the transparency coefficient (from 0.1 to 1.0).

Method 4: Magisk modules for full customization

If you're willing to take drastic measures, root access will open up endless possibilities for you to customize MIUI 12, and one of the most popular tools is the MIUI Transparency module for Magisk, which allows you to:

• 🎛 Set up transparency separately for notification curtain and quick settings panel.
• 🖌 Changes color and background blur (the blur effect).
• 🔄 Apply changes without rebooting.
• 📱 It works on most Xiaomi devices (including the POCO F3 and Mi 11 Ultra).

Installation instructions:

1. Install Magisk Manager and get root access (if you haven’t already).
2. Download the MIUI Transparency module from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
3. Open Magisk Manager, go to Modules and click Install from Storage.
4. Select the downloaded file and wait for the installation.
5. Reset the device.
6. After the reboot, open the MIUI Transparency app (appears in the menu) and adjust the transparency to your liking.

🔴 Warning: Using Magisk may result in loss of warranty and system instability.On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), the module may conflict with proprietary features MIUI, So, you can do it like Game Turbo or Second Space. TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

💡

If the curtain starts to glitch (shimmer or not open) after installing the module, try turning off the Force Blur Effect option in the module settings. This often solves the problem on devices with MediaTek processors.

Method 5: Editing System Files (for Advanced)

This method is only suitable for advanced users, as it requires direct editing of system files. We will look at changing the parameters in the framework-res.apk, which is responsible for displaying the MIUI interface.

What you'll need:

• 📱 Root access and root-enabled file manager (e.g. Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
• 💻 Backup of the file framework-res.apk (situated /system/framework/).
• 🛠 Decompilation tool APK (For example, APKTool).

Step-by-step:

1. Copy framework-res.apk to your computer and back it up.
2. Decompile the file with APKTool: apktool d framework-res.apk -o framework_out
3. Go to the folder. framework_out/res/values/ and open the file. styles.xml.
4. Find the lines containing notification_panel_background or status_bar_background.
5. Change the Android:alpha setting to the desired value (e.g. 0.5 for 50% transparency).
6. Save the file, recompile it. APK: apktool b framework_out -o framework-new.apk
7. Sign a new APK (you can use a Uber-apk-signer).
8. Replace the original file in /system/framework/ with the edited one (remember to save the 644).
9. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing framework-res.apk If the phone doesn't turn on after rebooting, restore the original file through TWRP Or you can re-flash the device. MIUI All changes will be reset and the procedure will have to be repeated.

💡

Editing system files is the most powerful, but also the riskiest method, and only use it if other methods have failed and you are confident in your skills.

Problem Solving: The curtain doesn't become transparent

If none of these methods worked, here is a list of possible causes and solutions:

If your device is a POCO F2 Pro, Mi 10T or another model with MIUI 12.5 Enhanced, the problem may be the new interface rendering mechanism.

• 🔧 Reverse to the previous version MIUI (if possible).
• 📲 Use alternative launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) that allow you to adjust the transparency of the notification panel.
• 🔄 Enable the Force option in the developer settings GPU Rendering – sometimes it helps to add transparency.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transparent curtain in MIUI 12