How to remove icons on the lock screen Xiaomi: the complete guide

The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones often turns into a chaos of notifications, system icons and widgets. Weather icons, carrier, batteries, unread messages all distract and spoil the minimalist look. Worse, some elements (such as banner ads in older versions of MIUI) can appear without your consent.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to clean the lock screen, from standard settings to hidden functions and even edit system files for advanced users. Relevant for MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including HyperOS), as well as for most models: Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Xiaomi 11T/12/13 and others.

Before you start, consider that some methods require superuser rights (root) or can reset personal settings, and we will mark these cases separately so that you can choose a safe path.

1. Disable notifications on the lock screen

The most common reason for blocking is notifications from apps, and by default, MIUI shows their contents (or at least icons) even on a locked screen.

Go to Settings → Notifications → Notifications settings on the lock screen. Here you will see three options:

📱 Show everything – the text of notifications and app icons are displayed.
🔒 Hide content – only icons without text are shown.
🚫 Do not show notifications – complete cleaning (recommended!).

Select the last item, and all notification icons will disappear from the lock screen, but note: this does not affect the system icons (time, battery, network) - they will have to be removed separately.

📊 What notifications annoy you the most?

Messages from messengers

Advertising push notifications

System Alerts (Updates, Battery)

Notifications from games

2. Removal of system icons (time, battery, operator)

System elements like a watch, a charge indicator, or an operator name are hard-wired into MIUI, and there are no standard settings for removing them.

Method 1: Use themes without icons

Some themes for Xiaomi hide system elements, such as the theme "Minimal Lock" or "Pure Black" (available in Themes → Online).

Method 2: ADB-teams (without root)

For advanced users, there is a way to disable system icons via ADB. Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers) and execute the command:

adb shell settings put global hide_lockscreen_clock 1


adb shell settings put global hide_lockscreen_carrier 1




adb shell settings put global hide_lockscreen_battery 1

Once you reboot, the icons disappear. To get them back, replace the 1-to-0 in the commands.

💡

Before using ADB, back up your settings in Settings → Additional → Backup. This will help restore the system if something goes wrong.

3. How to remove widgets from the lock screen

Widgets (e.g. weather, calendar, music player) are added to the lock via MIUI settings to remove them:

Unlock the phone and swipe your finger across the lock screen from left to right (or right to left, depending on the version).
You'll see a widget panel at the bottom, and you'll tap it and hold it, and then you'll drag it up to "Delete" or "Remove."
To completely disable widgets, go to Settings → Lock Screen → Widgets and deactivate unnecessary ones.

In MIUI 14 and HyperOS, lock widgets can automatically return after the update. To prevent this, turn off the "Recommended Content" option in the lock screen settings.

Make a backup copy of the data|Check the version. MIUI (Settings → The phone)|Disable debugging by USB after-use ADB|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

4. Hiding application icons (fast access icons)

At the bottom of the lock screen Xiaomi displays icons quick start (camera, phone, flashlight) can be removed or replaced:

📷 Remove: Go to Settings → Lock screen → App shortcuts and disable unnecessary ones.
🔄 Replacement: Tap and hold the icon on the lock screen, then select another app from the list.
🚫 Complete disable: In the same settings, move the App Shortcuts slider to the Off position..

On some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi K40), these settings may be hidden, in which case editing the systemui file via Magisk (root required) will help.

5. Removal of advertising and “recommended content”

In older versions of MIUI (up to 12.5), banner ads or “recommendations” from Xiaomi could appear on the lock screen to remove them:

Go to Settings → Lock screen → More.
Turn off the options: 📢 "Recommended content" 🎯 "Personalized recommendations" 📊 "Showing advertising” (if any)

Settings → Applications → Application Management → MSservice

Warehouse → Clear the data

Attention! Starting with MIUI 13, blocking ads are extremely rare, but can occur after resetting settings or installing unofficial firmware.

What to do if the advertisement returns?

If banners reappear, check for system updates (Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI). Also, you should turn off the "Show recommendations" option in your Mi Account (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Account Settings → Personalization).

6. Advanced methods: editing system files

If the standard methods didn't work, and you have root rights, you can delete icons by editing system files, which is suitable for advanced users!

Step 1: Getting root rights

Use Magisk or OrangeFox Recovery to unlock the bootloader and install the superuser. For instructions for your model, look for the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.

Step 2: Editing SystemUI.apk

With a root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer), follow the path:

/system/priv-app/SystemUI/SystemUI.apk

Copy the file on the PC, open it in APK Editor and remove the lines responsible for displaying icons (look for keywords: lockscreen_clock, carrier_label, battery_icon). After saving the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention, incorrect editing SystemUI.apk This can cause a system to fail or a looped reboot. Create a full backup before you start. TWRP Or OrangeFox.

Method	Difficulty	Root is required.	Risk to the system
Disabling notifications	⭐	❌ No.	⚠️ Low.
ADB-team	⭐⭐	❌ No.	⚠️ Medium.
Removal of widgets	⭐	❌ No.	✅ No.
Editing by SystemUI	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes.	❌ High-pitched

7.Alternative launchers and third-party applications

If you do not fit the standard methods, you can use third-party applications to customize the lock:

🔓 Always On Display (AOD): Apps like Always On AMOLED Allows you to create your lock screen from scratch, hiding system elements.
🎨 KLCK (Kustom Lock Screen: An advanced tool for creating unique lock screens (requires Kustom Live Wallpaper).
🛡️ LockScreen Customizer: Lightweight app for hiding icons without root (not working on all models).

The disadvantage of such solutions is increased battery consumption (due to the constant operation of the application in the background) and possible conflicts with MIUI.

💡

The side lock launchers may conflict with system gestures (e.g. double tap to wake up).Please check reviews for your Xiaomi model before installing.

FAQ: Frequent questions

Can I remove the icons without root and ADB?

Yes, but only partially. You can disable notifications, widgets and app shortcuts through standard settings. System icons (time, battery, operator) without ADB or root are impossible to remove.

Why did the MIUI updates come back?

System updates often reset user settings, including lock screen changes. After the update, check notification and widget settings again. ADB-The teams will have to be reused.

How do I return my badges if I accidentally remove them?

For notifications: return settings to Settings → Notifications → Lock screen. For system icons, do it. ADB-If you used themes, return the standard one.

Will it work? ADB-method POCO or Redmi?

Yes, ADB-commands are universal for all devices on MIUI, including POCO And Redmi. The key is to turn on the debugging. USB and use current drivers.

Can I remove the icons on Always On Display (AOD)?

Setting Always On Display is separate. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display and choose a minimalist style or disable the feature completely.