Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners running on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS often encounter visual indicators that appear on the lock screen or status bar. These interface elements are called notification tags. They are designed to quickly inform the user about missed calls, messages or background processes. However, not everyone understands the difference between conventional fluffs and system tags, which sometimes leads to confusion in privacy settings.
Understanding how tags work not only keeps abreast of events, but also saves battery power by monitoring application activity. In this article, we will discuss in detail the purpose of various icons, how to customize them, and how to solve problems when indicators behave incorrectly or do not disappear.
You don't have to be a tech person to understand this, but we're going to look at the standard Android interface scenarios, coupled with the Chinese company's branded add-ons, to help you make your smartphone more comfortable and understandable.
What are notification labels and why do they need them?
Notification tags are visual indicators that tell users that they have unread information or activity in a particular application. Unlike pop-ups that can interfere, tags are often passive, appearing as small dots or numbers on application icons. System navigation in modern versions of MIUI allows them to be managed flexibly.
The main purpose of these tags is to get attention without interrupting the user's current activity. For example, if you're watching a video and a message arrives in the messenger, the tag on the app icon will neatly inform you about this without overlapping the screen, which is especially important for those who appreciate cleanliness and minimalism.
It's worth noting that tags can be of different types, some showing the number of events (digits), others just signaling the availability of new data (dots), and understanding this difference helps you navigate the flow of information more quickly.
- 🔔 Point indicators – signal the presence of unread, but do not show the number of.
- 🔢 Digital badges – display the exact number of missed events or messages.
- 📍 Status bar icons – show active services, such as GPS, Bluetooth or flight mode.
It's important to distinguish between app tags and system icons, the first one is about specific programs, the second one is about the state of the smartphone itself, and confusion is rare, but it's important to know about it to get the system right.
The main types of icons in the status bar
The status bar is a narrow bar at the top of the screen that is always visible, and that's where the most important system tags are located. On Xiaomi smartphones, their set can be wider than on Android stock, thanks to profound interface changes.
You can see network connection indicators, battery levels, time and service alerts, for example, an NFC icon tells you that the near-to-the-middle contact module is active and ready to pay, and if you see a VPN icon, traffic is encrypted.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a microphone icon or camera in the top right corner, it means that some app is using these sensors right now.
Some tags can be hidden by default, and to see the full list, you sometimes need to swipe through the status bar or go to the settings, so that you don't overload the screen with unnecessary information in everyday use.
Hidden system tags
Setting up the display of tags on the lock screen
The lock screen is the first thing you see when you pick up your phone, and notification tags are key here, and MIUI and HyperOS have a separate menu that allows you to customize in detail which apps can display information on the locked screen.
To access these settings, you need to go to Settings, then select Notifications and Status bar, and that's where the Lock Screen is located, and that's where you decide whether the phone will display the contents of your messages or just write "New Notice."
Privacy management is flexible, so you can allow preview text for instant messengers to be displayed, but hide it for banking applications, and this strikes a balance between usability and data security.
☑️ Setting up the lock screen
Also in this section, the option "Time Format" is often found. If you choose the option with a large clock, the notification tags can be shifted or displayed as dots under the dial, so as not to disturb the aesthetics of the widget.
How to turn on or off dots and numbers on icons
Many users want to remove annoying red dots from desktop app icons. In Xiaomi’s shell, this is done through the desktop settings themselves, rather than through the general notification menu.
To change the settings, press the empty space on your desktop with your finger. In the bottom menu that appears, select Settings (the gear icon). Find the Notification Marks section. Here you will see a list of all the apps installed with the switches.
You can turn off tags globally for all programs, or you can choose a selective approach, like leaving numbers on Telegram and Viber, but removing them from games and news aggregators, which allows you to maintain control over important correspondence and ignore information noise.
| Type of tag | Where to set up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers (Baji) | Desktop settings | Minimum |
| Points | Desktop settings | Minimum |
| Pop-ups | Notification settings | Medium (screen lights up) |
| Sound signal | Sound settings | Low. |
Note that some apps, especially social networks, may have their own internal notification settings that prioritize system notifications. If the tag doesn't disappear after reading, check the settings inside the app itself.
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Use the “Dots” style instead of “Digits” if you want to reduce anxiety and avoid being distracted by the exact number of unread messages.
Problems with the disappearance of labels and their solution
Often, users are faced with a situation where the notification tag “sticks” you read the message, but the red dot or number on the icon does not go away. This is a common memory optimization bug in Android, which is found on Xiaomi devices.
The easiest way to fix this is to open the app that the tag belongs to and exit it via swipe (close completely). If that doesn't work, try rebooting your smartphone. 90% of the time, it resets the notification counter.
If the problem is systemic and recurring, check the permissions. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the problem program and select Notifications. Try to switch the Allow Notifications slider and return it back.
⚠️ Warning: Do not reset your application settings to factory settings unnecessarily, and this will delete all program data, including logins and local saves, if they are not synced to the cloud.
It can also be an aggressive energy saving, so the system can freeze the application, so it doesn't get a signal that the user has already read the content, and add an important application to the battery exclusion list.
Specifics of the work in the mode "Do not disturb"
Do Not Disturb (DND) is a powerful tool that changes the logic of tags. When activated, the smartphone stops making sounds and vibrating, but visual tags can behave differently depending on the settings.
By default, this mode may not light up when a message arrives, and the status bar label appears without audio accompaniment. However, on the lock screen, notifications can be hidden completely so as not to distract the user during sleep or an appointment.
You can set exceptions, like allowing Do Not Disturb interruption only for selected contacts or repeat calls, in which case tags from these people will behave as standard, ignoring the general prohibition.
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Do Not Disturb does not turn off data acquisition, it only changes the way you alert, and tags may appear, but the phone will be silent.
To activate this mode, the quickest way to use the control center is to swipe down from the top right corner of the screen and find the icon with the month or crossed circle, and there are also finer schedule settings available.