How to set up pop-up notifications on Xiaomi: from system alerts to instant messengers

Pop-up notifications on Xiaomi are a key element of interaction with the device, but their setting often raises questions from users. Unlike other manufacturers, MIUI offers flexible alert management tools, from complete shutdown to fine customization for each application. The problem is that the settings interface regularly changes with the release of new versions of the shell (for example, the transition from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14 moved some menu items), and standard instructions often miss the nuances for specific models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 13.

In this article, we will discuss not only the basic ways to enable pop-up notifications, but also rarely documented chips: How to get Do Not Disturb alerts to work, why some apps (like Telegram or Viber) don’t pop up even when the settings are right, and how to get around battery optimization limitations that can be used to make your phone run. MIUI It's aggressively applied to background processes, and you'll also learn how Android settings differ. 11/12/13 controlled by different versions MIUI — This is critical for older device owners. 2020 year-end.

Why don’t Xiaomi’s pop-up notifications work?

Before you turn on alerts, it’s important to understand why they might not appear. 80% of the time, the problem lies not in the notification settings themselves, but in the background limitations of MIUI. Xiaomi’s shell is known for aggressive battery optimization, which often blocks applications from running in the background.

🔋 Optimizing the battery: MIUI automatically restricts background activity for "energy-intensive" applications (especially relevant for the use of MIUI 13/14).
🚫 Do Not Disturb Mode: Even if it is switched on selectively (for example, only for calls), it can block pop-ups.
📱 Application-specific settings: Many instant messengers (like WhatsApp or Signal) have their own notification options that override the system.
🔄 Resetting settings: After the update MIUI or reset to factory settings, notification parameters are reset to default values.

Another common scenario is a conflict with the “Second Space” or “Private Mode” features, which, if you use these options, can only be sent to the main space or vice versa, and it’s also worth checking whether the “No Sound” mode is enabled for a particular chat (relevant to Telegram and VK).

📊 What version? MIUI you have installed?

MIUI 12

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

Another version

I don't know.

Basic setting of pop-up notifications in MIUI

To enable pop-up notifications on Xiaomi, first check the global system settings.

Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
Go to the Application Notifications section.
Select the application you want to set up alerts for (such as SMS or Gmail).
Activate the switches: 🔔 Allow notifications (main switcher) 📝 Pop-up notifications (option will appear after the main notifications are enabled) 🎵 Sound and vibration (optional)

Note that on MIUI 14, the path may be slightly different – instead of Notifications and Status bar, look for Notifications → Notification Management. The newer versions also feature Priority Notifications, which allows you to highlight important alerts (such as calls) even in Do Not Disturb mode.

☑️ Checking the basic notification settings

Whether notifications for the annex are includedWhether pop-up alerts are activatedChecked sound and vibrationIs the "Do Not Disturb" mode off?

Done: 0 / 4

Set up notifications for messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber)

Messengers often require additional manipulation, as MIUI views them as "background" applications, taking Telegram as an example:

Open the Telegram settings, go to Notifications and sounds.
Make sure it's on: 📩 Pop-up notifications (in chat settings) 🔔 Sound (select a melody other than "No sound") 🔄 Repeated notifications (useful for important messages)

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Telegram

🔋 Turn off Battery Optimization (select Unlimited).
🚀 Enable Auto Start and Background Activity.
In the Priority Notifications section, add the required applications manually.

Importantly, MIUI 14 has a Do Not Disturb Schedule feature that allows you to automatically turn on/off the DND over time. If you set your schedule but the notifications don't arrive at the expected time, check if it conflicts with other automations (such as Sleep Mode or Work Profile).

How to completely disable the "Do not disturb" mode?

If you don’t need DND at all, you can deactivate it through Settings → Sound and Vibration → Don’t Disturb → Turn it off. However, this will undo all exceptions, including blocking calls from spammers.

Problems with pop-up notifications on the lock screen

A frequent complaint of Xiaomi users is that notifications do not appear on the lock screen, although the settings are all inclusive.

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Notifications hidden	Enables Hide the contents of notifications	Open Settings → Lock screen → Notifications on the lock screen and select Show Content
No pop-ups, just icons.	Minimalist lock screen activated	Go to Settings → Lock screen → Lock screen style and select another option
Notifications appear with a delay	Limiting background activity for the application	In the application settings, turn off Battery Optimization and enable AutoRun
No vibration at notifications	Vibration in the sound profile or for a specific application is disabled	Check Settings → Sound and Vibration → Vibration and Notification Settings of the Application

If you use an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion), this can also affect the notifications displayed on the lock screen, in which case try temporarily returning the standard MIUI launcher and check if the problem persists.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi) K50) The function of Always-on Display (AOD) It may conflict with pop-up notifications. AOD It's on, try turning it off for 10 minutes, and check if notifications are coming up.

Additional settings for advanced users

If standard methods do not help, you can use hidden MIUI functions or third-party tools:

🔧 ADB-commands: To fully control notifications, use the command: adb shell dumpsys notification It will show the current notification settings for all applications. To reset the settings for a specific package (for example, com.whatsapp), use: adb shell cmd notification allow_listener com.whatsapp
📱 Settings editor MIUI: Apps like this MIUI Hidden Settings (available on the 4PDA) allow you to change parameters that are not available in the standard interface, for example, the priority of notifications.
🔄 Reset notification settings: In extreme cases, you can reset all notification settings via Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Reset the notification settings.

For owners of bootloaders, there is another way to install a custom kernel with a notification patch (e.g. Perseus or FrancoKernel), which is true for older models (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9), where MIUI limits background activity at the kernel level, but this requires root rights and can lead to a loss of warranty.

💡

If you are not sure about your actions with ADB or custom firmware, it is better to contact the service center. Wrong commands can lead to system failure or data loss.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up pop-up notifications on Xiaomi, users often make the same mistakes.

🔕 Ignoring App Permissions: Many forget that messengers require not only notification permission, but also Contacts, Warehouse and Microphone (for voice messages.
🔄 Settings inconsistency: For example, Telegram has pop-up notifications enabled, but in system settings MIUI They're off (or vice versa). Always check both levels of settings.
📴 Battery Savings: Ultra-Economic Mode or Charge Saving completely blocks background activity, including notifications. Turn it off in Settings → Battery.
🔒 Antivirus notification blocking: Apps like Mi Security or Avast can block notifications from "suspicious" sources.

Another common mistake is using dual apps. Clone versions of messengers (like the second WhatsApp) often have separate notification settings that need to be configured independently of the original application. Check this in Settings → Apps → App Cloning.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Google Messages (SMS-Google App instead of the standard message from MIUI, Notifications may not work due to service conflict, in which case either go back to the standard app or manually assign Google Messages to the default app for the service. SMS customized.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Why do notifications come without sound, even though it's on?

This can be due to several reasons: The audio settings have a No Sound or Vibration profile selected. The notification sound turned off for a specific application (check Settings → Notifications → [Application] → Sound). MIUI 14 has introduced Adaptive Sounds, which automatically mutes notifications based on ambient noise. Turn it off in Settings → Sound and Vibration.

How do you make sure that notifications from a particular contact always pop up?

To do this: Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want. Click Edit → Notifications (or Calls and Messages depending on the version of MIUI). Enable Priority Notifications or Always Show. In the messenger settings (such as WhatsApp), assign that contact a unique notification sound. For Telegram, you can create a notification folder with priority chats and turn on individual sounds for it.

Can you set up pop-up notifications for specific words only?

Yes, but not through the standard MIUI settings. Options: Telegram has a Notification Filters feature (in chat settings) where you can specify keywords. For Gmail or Outlook, set up rules for filtering notification emails. Use third-party apps like IFTTT or Tasker to create automatic rules. MIUI doesn't have a built-in keyword notification filtering feature, but you can ask developers to add it through the Mi Community.

Why did the MIUI update stop working?

MIUI updates often reset notification settings or change their logic. What to do: Check if app permissions are reset in Settings → Applications → Permissions Management. MIUI 14 has a new Privacy → Special Permits → Notifications – check it. If notifications don’t work only for system applications (e.g. Calendar or Weather), try clearing their cache in Settings → Applications. At the very least, reset notification settings (see section above). If the problem persists, check if it’s related to regional firmware, for example, MIUI can block the global applications (weblock).

How to turn off pop-up notifications for advertising in MIUI?

Advertising notifications from Mi Browser, Mi Video or GetApps are disabled as follows: Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Notifications for apps: Find Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps, Mi Pay apps and turn off notifications for them completely. MIUI Go to Settings. → Memory. → Settings → Disable recommendations (not available in all regions) If ads continue to appear, install ADB-command to disable system notifications: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution Please note that disabling system notifications may affect the performance of certain features (e.g. security updates).