Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often seek to personalize their device’s interface to make it unique and more convenient in everyday use. One of the most noticeable details that a user’s eye falls on when unlocking or while charging is the battery status indicator. The standard icon offered by the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS may seem too simple or simply not to match the aesthetic preferences of the gadget owner. Changing the appearance of this item is not just a tribute to fashion, but a way to better control charge levels.
The process of changing the style of the indicator can range from simple configuration of system parameters to installing third-party applications if standard functionality is not enough. It is important to understand that the visualization of charge affects the overall perception of the device’s operation, especially when you are in standby mode or when you are connected to the network. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to modify the battery icon, consider the hidden functions of the system and answer frequent questions related to this topic.
Before you start taking action, you need to determine the version of the operating system installed on your smartphone, as the path to settings in different versions of Android and shells may differ. We will consider both native methods that do not require superuser rights, and more advanced options for advanced users.
System settings for displaying charge
Start with the basic features that the operating system itself provides. Most modern Xiaomi models already have an indicator style change feature built in, allowing you to choose between displaying only the icon, adding a percentage value inside or outside the icon. To access these parameters, you will need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Notifications section and the status bar (or the Lock Screen depending on the firmware version), which hides the main switches that control the visual representation of the power system.
In the menu that opens, you'll find the option "Battery Charge" or "Battery Indicator." Clicking on it will offer you a few options: a classic horizontal bar, a vertical style, or a large print of percent on top of the lock screen. The specific style depends on your personal preferences and how informative you want to see the screen. Some users prefer minimalism, leaving only the outline, while others need to see the exact numbers at any given time.
⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI The number of system styles available may be limited compared to the Chinese versions.If you don't see the style change option, it may be due to the developer's regional restrictions.
It's also worth noting that changing the settings in this section affects not only the lock screen, but also the status bar at the top of the screen. This ensures uniformity of the interface and allows you to quickly evaluate (energy balance) without having to unlock the device. If standard options do not suit you, you can move to more flexible customization methods, which will be discussed below. Remember that any changes in the system settings are better tested immediately to make sure they are displayed correctly.
Using design themes to change icons
The most popular and safe way to dramatically change the look of the battery indicator is to use the Themes app, preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones. The Theme store offers thousands of design options, where developers from around the world create unique styles for system icons, including the battery icon. To take advantage of this method, open the Themes app and search for queries like “Battery icon”, “charge” or popular style names.
When choosing a theme, look at the screenshots in the description – usually the authors show how the charge indicator will look in different states (discharged, charged, fully charged). Once you download and apply the theme, the changes will affect not only the battery, but also other interface elements such as application icons, wallpaper and sounds. If you are only interested in the battery, some themes allow you to use components selectively, although in recent versions of MIUI this feature may be limited in favor of complex application of style.
- 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the Profile or My Topics section to find popular collections.
- 🔍 Use the keywords “Minimal”, “Neon”, “Cyberpunk” to find specific indicator designs.
- 📥 Before installing, be sure to review other users’ reviews to make sure the theme is compatible with your Android version.
- 🔄 To return to the standard look, just go back to the profile and select the theme “Classic” or “Default».
It is important to understand that the use of third-party themes can have a slight effect on energy consumption, especially if the theme contains live wallpaper or animated interface elements. However, static changes to icons usually do not have a noticeable effect on the autonomy of the device. If after installing a new theme you notice strange system behavior or blurry fonts, try resetting the theme settings or choosing another design option.
Customization of the lock screen and Always on Display
Special attention should be paid to the setting of display indicator on the off screen or in the Always On Display (AOD) mode. In modern models of Xiaomi with AMOLED-matrixes, this feature allows you to see the time, notifications and charge level without activating the display completely. These elements are customized through the Wallpaper menu and personalization -> Always On Display. Here you can choose a style of watch that is often integrated with the battery indicator, creating a single composition.
There's an editor available for lock screens that allows you to add widgets. You can choose a battery widget that will display percentages in large print or as a graphical element. This is especially convenient when the phone is on the table while charging. Some widgets allow you to adjust the color of the indicator depending on the level of charge: for example, green at full charge and red at critically low level.
If standard widgets seem boring to you, you can find plugins for the lock screen in the GetApps theme store or third-party stores (if available), and they offer complex animations like draining droplets filling the battery or neon glow. However, consider that active Always On Display and complex animations increase energy consumption. The balance between beauty and energy efficiency is key when setting up this section.
Third-party applications for advanced configuration
When the system is not available, Google Play apps come to the rescue, with programs like Battery Widget Reborn, AccuBattery or Custom Battery Indicator allowing you to create your own widgets and, in some cases, replace system icons, providing detailed control over the look and feel of your own image, change shape, color, and even add brand logos.
However, you need to distinguish between desktop widgets and status bar system icons. Most applications can only change the widget on the home screen or lock screen. Replacing the top-line system icon (status bar) often requires Root rights or the use of special modules such as Substratum (for older versions of Android) or Monet (for Android 12+).
| Annex | Type of change | I need a Root. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Widget Reborn | Widget on screen | No. | Low. |
| AccuBattery | Monitoring and widget | No. | Low. |
| Substratum Lite | Systemic icons | Often. | Tall. |
| Custom Battery Indicator | Icon in a status bar | Depends on the version. | Medium |
When installing third-party apps, be sure to check the permissions requested. A battery icon changer should not require access to your contacts, microphone or location unless stated as a primary feature (e.g. geofences to save charge). Excessive access rights requests may indicate a potential security threat to your data.
☑️ Application security check
Solving problems with displaying the indicator
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the battery indicator is displayed incorrectly: the percentages do not change, the icon disappears or shows an incorrect charge level. Often this is due to a software failure in the system process SystemUI. The first step to solve the problem is to simply reboot the device. If this does not help, you can try to clear the cache of the Themes application or reset the display settings in the Settings menu -> Advanced Settings -> Recover and Reset (select reset only settings, not data).
Another common problem is battery calibration. If the phone turns off at 15% or the charge jumps, the problem may not be in the graphics, but in the power controller. In this case, changing the indicator will not solve the problem, but will help to visually track the jumps. For software calibration, you can use special applications or a method of full discharge-charging cycle: discharge the phone before turning off, then charge to 100% in the off state, then turn it on.
⚠️ Warning: If the battery light flashes or burns red even when the charger is connected, this may indicate a malfunction of the battery or charging port.
It’s also worth checking whether the Power Saving or Ultra-Saving mode is enabled, which forcefully changes the interface style to monochrome and simplifies icons to save charge. Disabling this mode will return the indicator to its former appearance. In rare cases, conflicts with previously installed themes may arise after a major operating system update, so after a major update, it is recommended to temporarily return the standard theme for stability check.
The impact of customization on the operation of the device
Many users wonder if changing the battery indicator affects the performance of the smartphone. If we are talking about standard themes from the official store, the impact is almost zero. The MIUI shell is optimized to work with such elements. However, the use of heavy third-party widgets with live animations or unoptimized applications can lead to increased RAM consumption and, as a result, to more frequent work of the processor.
Apps that require permanent permission to draw over other windows or access system files can be especially careful to prevent the phone from going into deep sleep, which will lead to increased charge consumption in standby mode. The critical factor is the source of the application installation: use only trusted stores to avoid the introduction of malicious code under the guise of a useful utility.
In conclusion, personalization is a great way to make smartphone use more enjoyable. By changing the battery indicator, you not only improve aesthetics, but also adapt the device to your own perception habits.