Xiaomi Quick Access Panel: Full Setup and Hidden Opportunities

The Quick Access Panel on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most underrated MIUI tools that can save minutes of daily time. Many users do not even realize that it can be completely customized, from changing the order of icons to adding hidden features that are not in the standard set. Meanwhile, the competent configuration of this panel turns it into a real control center of the device — whether it is quick access to mobile data, turning on a flashlight with one hand or activating the “Do not disturb” mode before bedtime.

In this article, we’ll look at not only the basics of how to add or remove switches, but also the advanced tricks, from turning on the hidden night mode for the panel (available only through the engineering menu) to recovering resets without losing data. We’ll focus on the typical errors that can “reset” the panel after the MIUI update, and how to avoid them. If you still use the standard set of 6 icons, after reading you will have at least 12 useful shortcuts adapted to your habits.

What is a Quick Access Panel and Where to Find It

Xiaomi’s Quick Access Panel (or notification curtain) is a drop-down menu that opens with a swipe from top to bottom across the screen, and unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi splits it into two parts:

• 📱 The main panel appears when swiping down from the top of the screen. 4-6 Quick settings shortcuts (by default).
• ⚙️ Extended panel -- opens with a second swipe or swipe from the top right corner, and all the switches and shortcuts available are located here.

It's important to understand that you can only customize the extended panel, and the main panel displays a fixed set of 4-6 elements that automatically adjusts to the features you use, but even this set can be indirectly controlled, as we'll discuss in the Display Priorities section.

To open the settings menu, swipe down from the top of the screen (or two short ones), then tap the icon. ✏️ (Edit) in the lower right corner. Alternative path: Settings → Screen. → Notification panel and control panel.

Adding and removing elements: step-by-step instructions

The standard set of shortcuts on the panel includes switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight and airplane mode. However, MIUI has over 30 different elements available, including little-known ones like "Screen Time" or "Game Turbo Mode." To add or remove shortcuts:

1. Open the extended Quick Access panel (swipe down twice from the top edge).
2. Click on the icon. ✏️ (Edit).
3. At the bottom of the screen, a list of “Other Settings” will appear – all available elements are listed here.
4. To add a shortcut, press its icon and drag it to the top of the screen (in the active elements area).
5. To remove – pinch the unnecessary label and drag it down to the inactive zone.

Note that some items cannot be removed completely (such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), but they can be hidden from the second page of the panel by dragging them to the third. The maximum number of shortcuts is 21, but we recommend limiting yourself to 12-15 so you don’t waste time searching for the right one.

Add "Do not disturb the regime"|Remove the rarely used "NFC"|Bring the flashlight to the first page|Add "charge savings"|Hide the hot spot (if not used)-->

Hidden elements that are worth adding:

• 🌙 Dark theme – a fast switch for night mode.
• 🎮 Turbo mode – optimizes performance for gaming.
• 🔒 Orientation locking – fixes the screen in a vertical position.
• 📡 4G/5G — forced network selection (useful in roaming).
• 🔋 Charge savings – includes ultra-low consumption mode.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro after updating to MIUI 14 may not be able to add shortcuts to Read Mode or Color Filter. This is a firmware bug, the solution is described in the typical problem section.

How to change the order of elements and priorities of display

By default, MIUI automatically sorts shortcuts on the main dashboard by frequency of use. However, this algorithm is not always accurate - for example, it can ignore a flashlight if you turn it on through a widget on your desktop.

1. Open the panel editing (as described above).
2. Press the desired shortcut and drag it to the first page (to the left side of the screen).
3. The items on the left will be displayed on the main panel (with one swipe).
4. To capture the order, turn off the option Auto Sort in the panel settings (Settings → Screen → Notification Panel → Auto Sort).

If you want a certain shortcut to always appear on the main panel, even if you rarely use it (like Travel Airplane Mode), drag it to the top left corner. MIUI considers this zone a "priority" and does not replace its elements.

Professional trick: If you want the bar to always open on page two (for example, to access all shortcuts in one gesture), activate the option to Show Full Bar at the first swipe in the settings. This is especially convenient on devices with large screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mi MIX Fold).

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If you use Do Not Disturb mode frequently at night, add a shortcut to the first page and pin it in the top left corner, so you can turn it on with one swipe without opening your eyes to the bright screen.

Hidden functions of the Quick Access Panel

In addition to the standard switches, MIUI has a few hidden features that are not mentioned in the official documentation, and activating them requires additional actions, but the result is worth the effort:

• 🌗 Night mode for the panel - makes the notification curtain dark regardless of the system theme. → Screen. → Notification panel → Dark Notifications Bar (not available on all devices).
• 🔄 Quick switching SIM-maps – if you have two-sim Xiaomi, hold the label Mobile data 2 seconds to choose active SIM internet-based.
• 📶 Manual selection of the network 4G/5G — Keep the Mobile Data label, then tap the Network Type and select your preferred standard (useful in roaming).
• 🔊 Adjust the volume of the media and alarm separately – swipe down the panel, then tap the volume icon (a slider will appear with a choice of sound type).

One of the most useful hidden features is quick access to shortcut settings, for example, if you hold a Wi-Fi icon, you'll open a menu with a list of available networks, not just turn on/off the module. This works for most switches:

• Bluetooth → list of associated devices.
• Lightning → brightness selection (on supported models).
• Airplane mode → Quick access to network settings.

Exclusive for POCO and Redmi: On these devices (such as the POCO F4 GT or Redmi K50) hidden performance mode is available in the Quick Access Panel. To activate it, add the shortcut Game Turbo Mode, then hold it for 3 seconds - a menu with a profile selection will appear (Battery, Balance, Performance).

Typical problems and their solutions

Even when set up correctly, the quick access panel may not behave properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1. Shortcuts are reset after the MIUI update. This is due to a system cache conflict. Solution: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Find the MIUI System Interface (or Launcher). Clear the cache and data (Warning: this will reset the desktop settings!). Reboot the device.

On some firmware (MIUI 13.5-14), some elements are blocked.

• Install Mi Home or Mi Fit from Google Play.

Automation of the panel with MacroDroid and Tasker

If you don't have enough standard features, you can automate the Quick Access Panel with third-party apps like MacroDroid or Tasker.

• 🔄 Automatically turn on “Do Not Disturb” when connecting to your home Wi-Fi.
• 🌅 Change the brightness of the screen depending on the time of day.
• 🔋 Activate battery savings at a battery level below 20%.