How to make a curtain like on iPhone on Xiaomi: full setup

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the desire to change the standard interface of the MIUI system or the new HyperOS to make it more familiar or aesthetically pleasing. One of the most popular requests is to change the appearance of the control panel and notification curtains to a style reminiscent of iOS. This is not just a question of beauty, but also ergonomics, as many users find the location of elements in Android less convenient compared to Apple products.

Fortunately, the Android operating system has a high degree of flexibility to implement design elements of competitors without the need to flash the device or obtain superuser rights. Visual customization has become available thanks to the development of third-party applications launchers and specialized utilities that can redraw the system elements of the interface. In this article, we will discuss safe and proven ways to transform your screen.

It's worth noting that you can't completely replace the system curtain at the code level without root rights, but you can create a functional and visual equivalent that will overlap the standard interface when swiping. The key here is to use apps that mimic Control Center from iOS that are activated on top of system notifications, which is ideal for those who want to keep the main interface stable but want to change the look of the main interface.

Why users want to change the style of curtains on Xiaomi

The desire to copy the iPhone interface on Xiaomi devices is dictated not only by fashion, but also by the objective advantages of ergonomics. In iOS, the control panel is divided into logical blocks, making control of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and music more intuitive. MIUI users often complain that the brightness and volume sliders in the standard curtain are uncomfortable or look too small on large screens.

In addition, Apple-style animations and visual responsiveness create a premium feel for the device. Even a budget Redmi or POCO model can look significantly more expensive after a proper interface setup, allowing you to personalize the gadget to yourself, hiding the typical features of the manufacturer’s stock shell.

It’s important to understand the difference between notification curtain and control center. In Android, they are often combined or have a single logic, whereas in iOS, they are two different elements called by a swipe from different sides of the screen. When setting up Xiaomi, we will strive to recreate exactly the combined experience where access to switches and notifications is as simple as possible.

Selecting the right application to simulate Control Center

We'll need third-party software to do this. There are many solutions available in the Google Play store, but not all of them work consistently on the MIUI shell due to the aggressive energy saving policy of the system. The most proven applications are iOS Control Center 15/16/17 from various developers, which are regularly updated.

When choosing a utility, pay attention to the presence of the Lock Screen feature, as many of them offer a comprehensive solution to replace the entire lock screen. Also important is support for adaptive brightness and the ability to fine-tune the background transparency to make the simulation look as natural as possible against your background.

• 📱 Control Center IOS 16 – one of the most popular solutions with a high degree of customization of icons and support for widgets.
• 🔔 Notification & Status Bar – an app that focuses not only on curtains but also on improving the status bar experience.
• ⚙️ iLauncher OS 17 – A comprehensive launcher that changes the entire interface, including the curtain, turning Xiaomi into a full replica of the iPhone.

Before installing any software, it is recommended to check compatibility with your version of Android. Some older versions of the applications may not work correctly on Android 13 or 14, causing sound to be out of sync or freeze when calling the menu.

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Only use apps that are highly rated (above 4.5) and have a large number of downloads to minimize the risk of installing malicious code or advertising.

Step-by-step: installation and initial setup

The process of installing a simulator application is quite simple, but requires careful permissions. After downloading the selected application from the Play Market, launch it. The first step is to ask for access to special accessibility, which is necessary to be able to block other windows and display a curtain on top of any running applications.

Then you have to adjust the activation settings. In most applications, this is done through the choice of screen area or button combinations. For maximum similarity to the iPhone, the best option is to swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. However, on some Xiaomi models this can conflict with the standard curtain, so sometimes you have to choose a swipe from any point on the top edge.

An important step is to adjust the look and feel. Go to the "Theme" or "Style" section and select the theme as close as possible to your iOS version. Pay attention to the size of the icons and fonts - they must be in harmony with the MIUI system fonts so that there is no visual dissonance.

If you’re using HyperOS, make sure the app has the appropriate design theme, as Xiaomi’s new shell has its own unique rounding and blur effects that may differ from the classic MIUI.

Configure access and permissions in MIUI and HyperOS

MIUI and HyperOS shells are known for their rigorous power management system, which can kill background processes necessary for the curtain to work. To ensure that the application is stable and does not disappear after cleaning the memory, you need to perform a number of actions in the system settings.

Go to Settings → Applications → All apps, find the installed curtain app, and select Battery. Set No Limits mode, a critical step without which the curtain can stop calling after locking the screen or after a few hours of operation.

⚠️ Warning: Granting "Above Other Windows" rights and accessing special features gives the app a high level of control.Make sure you downloaded the program from the official Google Play store, not from questionable sources.

It is also recommended to fix the application in memory (lock in the menu of running applications) so that the system does not unload it when cleaning RAM. Some firmware versions require you to additionally enable auto-start for the selected application in the Security menu → Permissions → Auto-Start.

For HyperOS users, it is worth checking their privacy settings. The new system can block access to a list of running applications, which will prevent the curtain from correctly displaying the status of music playback. Allow access to usage data if the application requests it for the media controller functionality.

Fine tuning of functionality and widgets

Once the curtain is up, you can start filling it up. One of the main features of iOS is interactive widgets. In the settings of the imitator app, you can add weather widgets, calendars, pedometers, or quick launch contacts, which turns the curtain into a full-fledged information hub.

You should pay special attention to brightness and volume sliders. Unlike the standard ones, they can have their own logic. Check whether the application supports adaptive brightness of the system, or it adjusts only a software filter (screen darkening). For a better experience, it is recommended to use system adjustment, if the application allows it.

Don't forget to adjust the behavior when playing music. The controller should display the album cover and let you switch tracks. If you use Spotify, Yandex Music or Apple Music, make sure the curtain app has access to the notifications of these services, otherwise the controller will be empty.

You can also adjust the device's rotation response, so horizontally (when watching a video), the curtain must either be locked or called from the other side to keep the content from overlapping, and this is set up under "Landscape Mode" or "Orientation".

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Despite the ease of installation, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties: the most common problem is desynchronizing the sound; when switching tracks through the curtain, the sound may not change or change with a delay, this is solved by restarting the availability service in the phone settings or reinstalling the application.

Another common problem is the screen flickering when you call the curtain, which is due to a conflict between the refresh rate of the screen (for example, 120 Hz) and the application optimization. In the application settings, try to turn off animations or reduce the refresh rate of the interface of the curtain itself.

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: Constant swipe tracking sensor activity can consume power. disable "Constant monitoring" if any, leaving only button or swipe activation.
• 📉 Interface Lags: If the phone starts to slow down, reduce the number of widgets in the curtain or go to a lighter theme of design.
• 🚫 Gesture conflict: If the swipe doesn’t work, change the activation zone in the application settings, shifting it to 10-20 pixel-side.

In rare cases, the application may not run on new versions of Android due to security limitations, in which case it helps to clear the app cache or wait for an update from the developer.

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The stability of the custom curtain depends on 90% of the correctness of the issuance of permits for auto-start and work in the background.

Alternative ways of customization without third-party applications

If installing additional programs seems risky or too resource-intensive, there are more native ways to change the look.The MIUI and HyperOS shell has a built-in Themes store where you can find full copies of the iOS interface. Applying such a theme will change icons, fonts and, in some cases, the design of the notification curtain.

To apply the theme, go to the Topics → Profile → Themes and search for “iOS 17” or “iPhone style.” Choose themes that rank high and have a lot of downloads. Note that some elements may not be completely replaced, as deep system customization through themes is limited by Xiaomi’s security policy.

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party themes from unverified sources (not from the official TEM store), there is a risk of disruption of the system fonts, which can lead to "bricking" of the interface (inability to read the text in the menu).

Another option is to use desktop widgets that visually mimic controls, and while this won’t have the effect of curtaining, it will allow Apple-style Wi-Fi, flashlight and Bluetooth switches to be placed right on the home screen, which is often even more convenient.

Using MIUI widgets (Android 12+ style widgets) also allows you to create a unique design. You can combine standard brightness sliders and music, changing their size and transparency to achieve a minimalist look close to Apple's philosophy.

Comparison of standard MIUI curtain and custom solutions

Before you finally decide on the method, it is worth weighing the pros and cons. Xiaomi’s standard curtain is optimized by the company’s engineers for a specific phone model, which guarantees maximum performance and no bugs. Custom solutions, in turn, offer a unique design, but can have overhead resources.

If you prioritize stability and battery life, you might want to limit yourself to changing theme or using widgets, but if the visual style and familiar interface of iOS are more important and you’re willing to put up with possible minor bugs, installing a simulator app is a great solution.

Also, it is worth considering that when you update your MIUI firmware to a newer version (for example, switching from MIUI 14 to HyperOS), the settings of third-party applications may get lost, and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Conclusion

Turning Xiaomi’s interface into an iPhone is a fascinating process that refreshes the experience of the device. Whether you use powerful flagships of the Xiaomi 13/14 series or budget Redmi Note, competently adjusting the curtain can significantly improve usability.

Remember to check the updates to the apps you use periodically, as developers are constantly improving compatibility with new versions of Android. Experiment with transparency settings, icon sizes and a list of widgets to find the perfect configuration for your use case.

Remember, any software that interferes with the interface requires resources. If you notice that the phone is running out faster or getting hotter, try turning off the extra widgets or getting back to standard. Technological advances give us tools to be creative, but smart use of them is the key to a long life for the gadget.