How to Change the Notification Curtain in MIUI 12: All Ways to Customize

The notification curtain in MIUI 12 is one of the key interface elements that users see dozens of times a day. Despite the fact that Xiaomi’s proprietary shell offers many options for customization, not everyone knows how to properly change its appearance, functionality or even completely replace the standard panel with an alternative one. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from basic settings in the system menu to the use of third-party applications and hidden functions.

Many owners of Redmi, Poco or Mi smartphones find that the curtain has become less convenient after upgrading to MIUI 12, with the switches gone, the design changed or unnecessary elements appeared. Fortunately, developers have provided flexible customization tools — you just need to know where to look for them. And for those who do not have standard options, there are solutions from third-party developers.

Before you make any changes, make sure that your device has MIUI 12 installed (or backwards compatible versions of MIUI 12.5/MIUI 13). Check the version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Also remember that some features may not be available on budget models or regional firmware.

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1. Standard curtain settings in MIUI 12

The basic parameters of the notification curtain are hidden in the lock screen settings menu. This may seem counterintuitive, but in MIUI, the logic is this: the curtain is closely related to unlocking the device and displaying notifications on the locked screen.

To open these settings:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select Notification Curtain Style (some devices may call it Notification Panel).
3. Here you will see two main sections: Appearance and Functionality.

In the Appearance section, you can change:

• 🎨 Color scheme – the choice between a light and dark theme (automatic switching is tied to the system theme).
• 🔍 Transparency – adjusting the level of background blur (from 0% to 100%).
• 📱 Element Size – Scaling icons and text (useful for devices with large screens).

In functionality, options are available:

• 🔔 Order of notifications – sorting by time or priority.
• 🔄 Fast switches – the choice of displayed buttons (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.).
• 🔒 Security – Hiding confidential notifications on a locked screen.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or Poco) X3) Curtain style may not be available, in which case try updating the firmware to the latest version or using alternative methods from the following sections.

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2. Changing fast switches

One of the most popular curtain elements is the toggle switch panel, which in MIUI 12 can be not only rearranged, but completely replaced with alternatives.

To edit the switches:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the curtain.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (Settings) in upper right corner of the fast switch panel.
3. In the menu that opens, select Edit.

Now you can:

• 🔄 Drag icons to change their order.
• ➕ Add new switches from the list of available (e.g. Airplane Mode, Hot Spot, Charge Savings).
• ➖ Remove unnecessary items (suffice it to drag them to the basket at the bottom of the screen).

On some devices (such as the Mi 10T or Redmi K40), the option to Show App Shortcuts is also available on this menu, and if you turn it on, you'll see icons of frequently used programs in the curtain, which is convenient, but takes up additional space.

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To quickly turn on the flashlight or mobile data, swipe twice on the corresponding icon in the curtain - this will work even without unlocking the screen.

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3.Use of themes to change the design of the curtain

MIUI 12 supports global themes that change the design of not only the curtains, but the entire interface. Many themes include unique styles for the notification panel, from minimalist to futuristic.

To apply the topic:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Choose the Online section or My topics.
3. Find your favorite topic and click Apply.

Some topics are changing:

• 🎭 Color gamut of curtains (for example, dark blue Ocean or green Nature).
• 🖼️ Background image – instead of the standard blur, an abstract drawing may appear.
• 🔧 The shape of the elements - rounded or sharp corners at icons.

Note that not all themes are compatible with MIUI 12. If the curtain starts to look crooked or switches stop working, return the standard theme to the Topic menu → My Themes → By default.

⚠️ Note: After installing themes from unverified sources (e.g, APK-The curtain may start to brake or display incorrectly. Delete such themes through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Delete the data.

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4. Hidden Curtain Functions: What Can Be Enabled Through ADB

For experienced users who are willing to work with ADB-teams, in MIUI 12 conceals a few additional curtain options. These settings are not available in the standard interface, but they can be activated via a computer.

To enable hidden functions:

adb shell settings put global notification_panel_active_app_list 1

This command adds a list of active applications to the curtain, which is useful for quickly switching between tasks.

Important: Not all commands run on custom firmware or locked bootloader devices. Before experimenting, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.

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5. Magisk third-party launchers and modules for full customization

If standard MIUI 12 capabilities aren't enough, you can go further and use alternative launchers or modules for Magisk, which allow you to completely redesign the curtain to suit your needs.

Popular solutions:

• 📱 Nova Launcher + TeslaUnread plugin – adds customizable notifications and switches.
• 🔧 Xposed Framework (for older versions of Android) – modules like GravityBox or MIUI Tweaks.
• 🛠️ Magisk modules: MIUI Blur - adds blur for curtain. MIUI Extra Settings – Expands notification settings. QuickSettings Tweaks – allows you to change the number of rows and columns in fast settings.

To install Magisk modules, you will need:

1. Unlock the bootloader (fastboot oem unlock).
2. Install TWRP or other custom recaveri.
3. Swipe Magisk ZIP through the Recovery.
4. Download and activate the required modules in the Magisk Manager application.

Remember that using Magisk or Xposed can lead to:

• 🚨 Loss of warranty (unless the device is officially unlocked).
• 🐞 Unstable system operation (accidental reboots, lags).
• 🔒 Problems with banking applications (due to SafetyNet trigger).

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6. Solving curtain problems after changes

Sometimes, after customization, the curtain gets incorrect: notifications go missing, quick settings don't open, or artifacts appear. Here's how to fix some of the most common problems:

Problem 1: The curtain does not open or opens with a delay.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🧹 Clear the system cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → System applications → System system UI → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📱 Turn off animations in the developer settings (Scale of window animations) → No animation).

Problem 2: The fast switches are gone.

• 🔧 Reset the curtain settings: Settings → Lock screen → Style of curtains → Drop it.
• 🔄 Reinstall the current theme through the Topic app.

Problem 3: The curtain has become transparent or is showing a curve.

• 🎨 Bring back the standard theme.
• 🛠️ Disable all Magisk modules associated with the interface.
• 🔄 Reset the screen settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the lock screen settings.

If none of these methods worked, try updating your firmware via Settings → About Phone → System Update or manually via MIUI Recovery.

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Before resetting the curtain settings, export the current configuration through Settings → Additional → Backup – this will keep the order of the switches and notification settings.

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7. Alternative curtains: apps from Google Play

If you don’t like the standard MIUI 12 curtain, you can install third-party notification bars from Google Play.They completely replace the system curtain and offer advanced features.

Top.-3 curtain-replacement:

• 📱 Power Shade – customized panel with support for themes, gestures and widgets.
• 🔧 Notification Bar – lightweight alternative with transparency and fast switches.
• 🎨 Super Status Bar – adds additional elements (e.g. usage rate) CPU battery temperature).

To set the side curtain:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Give permission to Overlay over other windows (in special features settings).
3. Activate the panel in the application settings.

Please note that the third-party curtains:

• 🔋 Extra battery may be consumed (due to constant background operation).
• 🛡️ Not always correctly display system notifications (for example, low charge or missed calls).
• 🔒 Require permission to access notifications (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Access to notifications).

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Frequently asked questions