How to turn on and configure the notification curtain on Xiaomi smartphones: from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

The notification panel (or “curtain”) on Xiaomi smartphones is a key interface element that allows you to quickly access alerts, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth switches, screen brightness and other functions. However, many users face a situation where the curtain of the Suddenly stops opening, disappears after updating or simply does not respond to swipes. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of the problem and 5 proven ways to return the notification panel to work – from basic settings to hidden functions of MIUI and HyperOS.

It's important to understand that the curtain switching algorithm can vary depending on the firmware version. For example, MIUI 14 changed the way gesture settings were done compared to MIUI 12, and HyperOS (which replaced MIUI in 2026) redesigned the notification panel logic to accommodate new animations, and we took all of these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

If you've tried to reboot your phone before and it hasn't worked, don't rush to reset to factory. 90% of the time, it's solved in 2-3 minutes without losing data. Let's start with the simplest and gradually move on to more sophisticated methods.

Why the notification curtain doesn’t open on Xiaomi: top-7 cause

Before you start settings, it is important to identify the root of the problem, and here are the most common reasons why the notification bar may not work:

• 🔄 System failure after update – especially relevant for transitional versions (for example, with the help of a new system). MIUI 13 on HyperOS).
• 👆 Disabled gestures in settings – often users accidentally change swipe settings.
• 📱 Touch screen problems – if the curtain does not open only at the top of the display.
• 🔒 Restrictions on third-party applications (e.g. Clean Master or Battery Saver).
• 🛠️ Incorrect developer settings – for example, a disabled parameter force_gpu_renderer.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware that block system processes.
• 🔋 Critical battery discharge (below 5%) – in which case the system disables “non-critical” functions.

If your case doesn't fall into either of these categories, there may be a hardware problem (e.g., a damaged display plume), but before you bring your phone to a service center, try all of the ways below.

Method 1: Check basic gesture settings (for MIUI and HyperOS)

In most cases, the notification curtain won't open because of the gestures in the system settings that are disabled, and this can happen after you reset, update, or accidentally tap. Here's how to bring back the standard behavior:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select Full-screen Display (in HyperOS, Gestures may be called).
3. Scroll down to the Swipe section down for the notification bar.
4. Make sure the switch is active (should be blue). If not, turn it on.

In HyperOS, the path may be slightly different:

Settings → Screen → Gestures → Swipe down for the notification panel

If this option is already on, but the curtain still doesn’t work, try turning it off and on again – sometimes this resets temporary errors.

Method 2: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

The MIUI/HyperOS launcher is a shell that controls the desktop and notification panel, and if it doesn't work properly, the curtain can freeze.

1. Click the empty area on the main screen before the menu appears.
2. Select Home Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings).
3. Scroll down and click Reset Settings.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

This method doesn't delete apps or files, but it will reset the icons and widgets on the desktop, so if you reset the curtain, it was the launcher that was the problem, otherwise move on to the next method.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) Resetting the launcher may temporarily disable the dark theme, and it will have to be turned on again in Settings. → Screen. → Dark mode.

Method 3: Verifying permissions for system applications

The notification panel is controlled by the com.android.systemui system application, and if critical permissions are revoked, the curtain will stop opening to verify and restore the rights:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System.
3. Find System UI (or System Interface) in the list and open it.
4. Go to Permissions and make sure all switches are active (especially Display on top of other apps).

If any permissions are disabled, turn them on and restart the phone, and check if the power saving mode blocks access to notifications:

• 🔋 Open the Settings. → Battery and productivity → Energy saving regime.
• 📵 Make sure the option to limit background activity is turned off.
• 🔄 If Ultra saving is enabled, turn it off – it blocks system processes.

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If there is no System UI in the list of applications, try entering its name in the settings search bar (the magnifier icon at the top).

Method 4: Using Safe Mode for Diagnostics

If the notification curtain doesn't work because of a conflict with a third-party app, it helps to use Safe Mode, which only downloads system programs, which allows you to identify the "culprit." To log into Safe Mode:

1. Press the power button before the off menu appears.
2. Hold your finger and hold it on the option to turn off (or turn off power).
3. After 2-3 seconds, a proposal will appear to go to safe mode - confirm.

In Safe Mode, check if the curtain opens, if so, the problem is in one of the installed applications, to find it:

1. Get out of Safe Mode (just reboot your phone).
2. Remove newly installed programs one by one, checking after each removal the curtain.
3. Pay attention to the applications for optimization (DU Speed Booster), ad blocking (AdGuard), or customization of the interface.

Even if the curtain doesn’t work in safe mode, the problem lies in the system files – go to method 5.

Method 5: Recovery of system files via Recovery Mode

If all previous methods failed, the system files that control the interface may be damaged, and in this case, recovery through Recovery mode will help, which does not delete user data, but requires accuracy.

Instructions for MIUI and HyperOS:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button + increase the volume at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons and you will be taken to Recovery Mode.
4. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
5. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe System Partition (not to be confused with Wipe All Data!).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
7. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

After the reboot, the system will restore the corrupted files, and the notification curtain should work. If this does not happen, the last option is to reset to factory settings (but this will delete all data).

⚠️ Note: On phones with an unlocked bootloader, it is not recommended to use the Wipe System Partition - this can lead to a "brick" (inoperability) of the device.

Additional settings: customization of the notification curtain

If you've managed to get the notification panel back up, you can customize it to suit your needs, and here are some useful options available in MIUI and HyperOS:

HyperOS phones also have a Smart Bar feature that analyzes your habits and puts your most commonly used switches into the curtain to activate it:

Settings → Notification Panel → Smart Panel → Enable

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If the notification curtain is unstable (e.g., opens once), try turning off animations in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers → Animation Scale and select No Animation).

Frequent Questions About Notification Curtain on Xiaomi