How to change the curtain on Xiaomi: settings and deep customization

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI and HyperOS, provide users with the widest possible options for personalizing the interface. One of the most commonly used controls is the notification panel and quick settings, which is often called “curtain”. Standard appearance can seem boring and functionality is limited, especially if you are used to other launchers or specific widgets. Which is why the question of how to change the curtain on Xiaomi remains relevant for both beginners and advanced enthusiasts.

Changing the visual style or functionality of this area of the screen can dramatically change the experience of interacting with the device. You can access hidden settings, change the location of the volume sliders or completely redraw the icons of fast switches. It is important to understand that there are different levels of intervention, from secure settings in the menu to deep modification of system files through root rights. The choice of method depends on how radical changes you want to implement and whether you are willing to risk the stability of the system.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to transform the interface in detail, including the use of customized tools for personalizing the theme, the use of specialized applications from Google Play, and methods for users with superuser rights. Attention: any actions related to installing third-party modules or editing system files require caution and understanding the risks.

Standard settings of the MIUI and HyperOS notification panel

Before you resort to installing third-party software, it is worth exploring the built-in features of the shell. Xiaomi engineers have provided several design options that allow you to adapt the interface to the user’s habits without losing the guarantee and risk of “bricking” the device. Basic setting allows you to change the style of displaying notifications, switching between the classic list and modern block design.

To access these options, you need to go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the Android version and shell, but the general logic is maintained. You need to find the section responsible for notifications and status bar. Here you can adjust the transparency of the background, font size and number of displayed elements.

The latest versions of HyperOS have the ability to more flexibly configure the control center, so you can change the location of the Wi-Fi switches, Bluetooth switches and flight mode, and sort the applications whose notifications are displayed at the top of the screen, which helps you keep only the most important information on hand.

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Use the “One-Hand Mode” feature in combination with the curtain setting to make it easier to reach the top edge of the screen on large Redmi and Xiaomi smartphones.

In some use cases, it is convenient to keep the curtain accessible even on a locked screen, although this can reduce security. MIUI 14 and HyperOS allow you to fine-tune these settings, creating a balance between convenience and privacy protection.

Change of style through the "Themes" app

The official theme store is the safest and easiest way to dramatically change the look of the interface, including the notification curtain. Thousands of authors from around the world create free and paid themes that completely replace system icons, fonts and controls. To take advantage of this method, you do not need root rights or complex technical knowledge.

The process of installing a new theme is intuitive. Open the standard Themes app on your smartphone. You can search for keywords like "iOS style," "Minimal," "Black" or "Neon" to find the right design. Pay attention to the preview: often authors show what the notification bar will look like after installation.

• 🎨 Full customization: background colors, toggles icons, brightness and sound sliders change.
• 📱 Compatibility: Themes adapt to your screen resolution and Android version.
• 🔄 Security: Official topics are checked and do not contain malicious code.
• ⚙️ Flexibility: You can mix elements of different themes to create a unique mix.

⚠️ Note: Some themes may not display correctly on certain Xiaomi models due to differences in screen resolution or shell version.

After applying the theme, it is recommended to restart the device so that all changes take effect correctly. If you do not like the new design, you can return to standard design at any time through the Profile menu in the theme application. This is a great way to refresh the experience of the interface without risk to the system.

Using third-party applications to replace curtains

If standard tools are not enough, specialized applications from the Google Play Store come to the rescue, creating a layer on top of the system interface, intercepting swipes from top to bottom and displaying its own control panel, which allows you to implement functionality that is not available in stock firmware, such as advanced widgets or unique animations.

One of the most popular solutions is iOS 15's Control Center app, or its analogues, which allows Android smartphone owners to have an interface that is almost identical to an iPhone. Installing these apps requires a range of permissions, including access over other windows and special features, without which the program will not be able to respond correctly to your actions.

The setup process usually takes a few minutes. Once you install the app, you need to activate it in the appropriate menu. It's important to adjust the swipe sensitivity correctly to avoid conflicts with the system curtain. You can adjust which area of the screen the new panel will be called from.

Settings → Applications → Special Opportunities → Control Center → Enable

It should be noted that the use of such "crutches" can increase battery consumption, since the application is constantly hanging in memory and tracks the user's actions. In addition, on some devices with aggressive memory optimization Xiaomi, the third-party curtain can spontaneously close.

Modification of the system through Magisk and modules

For advanced users with an unlocked bootloader and an installed Magisk rights manager, there are truly limitless possibilities. Modules for Magisk allow you to implement changes directly to the system partition without changing the integrity of the original files (the system works in read-only mode), which is the most powerful way to change the curtain to make it unique.

One of the most famous tools in this field is the Xposed framework (or its modern counterparts like LSPosed), which by installing a module like GravityBox or specific tweaks for MIUI, you get access to hundreds of hidden settings. You can change the number of columns in the quick settings panel, remove unnecessary dividers, change transparency, and even add new features like iOS-style music management.

An error in the module code or a conflict of versions can lead to a cyclic reboot.So make sure to make a full backup of data before installing any tweaks and make sure you have access to Recovery mode to roll back the changes.

Using modules requires an unlocked bootloader, which is a prerequisite for Magisk to work. Without this step, installing system modifications is impossible. Remember that unlocking the bootloader drops data from the device and can void the manufacturer's warranty.

Setting up the control center in HyperOS

With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has significantly redesigned the approach to the control panel. The new interface is more like iOS, separating notifications and switches into two separate areas. On the left are notifications from applications, and on the right are quick access tiles, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and brightness and sound sliders.

Many users want to bring back the classic look or, conversely, improve the new one. In the HyperOS settings, the option to switch between the Old and New Control Center has appeared, although in some regions this can be hidden. To activate it, you sometimes need to use special codes in the engineering menu or applications that activate hidden functions. MIUI.

In the new control center, you can edit a set of tiles, and by long pressing the edit icon, you can add new switches, change their order, and remove unnecessary ones, and you can have features like Translation, Screen Recording, Read Mode, and Mi Home smart home management.

HyperOS also has improved widgets, which can be placed more flexibly and the curtain is more gesture-sensitive, and the smoothness of animations depends on how fast your display screen is updated and the theme you choose.

Addressing problems and conflicts

When trying to change system elements, users often face a number of difficulties: the most common problem is the conflict between the installed theme and a third-party curtain application. Visual artifacts, non-clickable buttons or the complete disappearance of the panel are typical symptoms of such a conflict.

If the smartphone is unstable after installing the module or theme, the first thing you can do is try resetting the theme settings to the standard. If this does not help and you used root rights, you need to remove the problem module through Magisk Manager (in safe mode if the system does not boot). Often, cleaning the the theme and security app cache through the application management menu helps.

• 🔋 Quick discharge: turn off live wallpaper and animated themes if the battery starts to go down faster.
• 📉 Lags of the interface: reduce the number of widgets on the desktop and in the curtain.
• ❌ Startup errors: check compatibility of the Android version and the installed theme/module.

⚠️ Warning: Do not install multiple applications that replace the system curtain at the same time. They will conflict over interception of gestures, which will lead to unstable operation of the phone.

In some cases, problems can be caused by a lack of RAM. Xiaomi is known for its aggressive policy of closing background processes. If a third-party curtain constantly flies out, add the application to the autorun exception list and prohibit the memory cleaner from stopping it.

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The stability of the custom curtain depends on the amount of free RAM and the correctness of energy saving settings for a particular application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)