Smartphone personalization isn’t just about installing live wallpaper or widgets on the home screen. For enthusiasts who own Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices, the highest degree of customization is to replace the system animations that appear when the device is turned on. This process, often referred to as replacing bootlogo, allows you to turn a standard “MI” or “Redmi” logo into a unique image, a brand logo, or even an an animated video.
However, unlike a simple theme change, this procedure requires deep intervention in system partitions of memory: you will have to face unlocking the bootloader, working with Fastboot mode and modifying the boot.img boot image. Any error in the calculations or sequence of actions can lead to a software lock of the device known as bootloop.
Before you start to take practical steps, you need to understand the risks. Replacing the boot logo is not a regular feature, but a modification that violates the integrity of system files. The image must be a strictly defined size and format, otherwise the phone will stop loading. If you are ready for experiments and have basic skills with PC, this guide will help you create a unique style of turning on your gadget.
Tools and environment preparation required
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the correct preparation of the workplace. USB-cable (preferably original) and fully charged smartphone. ADB Fastboot drivers, which are the bridge between the PC operating system and the phone hardware.
In addition to drivers, you'll need specialized image software, the most popular and proven tool is LogoBuilder, or the Android Image Kitchen bundle with a graphics editor, and it's critical to have access to the Internet to download the source firmware files that match your version of MIUI or HyperOS.
Be sure to make a full backup of important data. Although the logo replacement process does not theoretically affect the partition with user data, an unforeseen failure when flashing the boot partition may require a complete reset of the device to factory settings.
⚠️ Attention: You make all actions to modify the bootloader at your own risk.The author is not responsible for possible data loss or device failure as a result of incorrect actions.
Unlocking the bootloader and obtaining superuser rights
The fundamental condition for replacing the boot animation is the availability of an unlocked bootloader. Xiaomi factory protection does not allow you to make changes to system partitions without official permission. The process of obtaining this permission takes from 7 to 168 hours and requires linking the Mi Account account to the device.
After waiting, you need to use the official MI Unlock Tool. In Fastboot mode (activated by pressing the volume button when the cable is connected), synchronization with the server occurs. Successful unlocking is confirmed by the corresponding message on the smartphone screen and in the program log.
The next step is to get the Root rights, without which you can't modify the system files, and the standard solution is to install a custom TWRP recap and then run the Magisk archive firmware, and Magisk is the one that provides system access and allows you to manage the rights of the superuser.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Search and preparation of the original image
Creating your own animation doesn't start with code, it starts with graphics. You need to find or draw an image that will be displayed. The key parameter here is the screen resolution of your device. For modern flagships, it can be 2400×1080, for public sector users, 1600×720. The image should be in PNG format with support for a transparent channel (alpha channel).
It's important to consider the color gamut. AMOLED screens, which are equipped with many Xiaomi models, perfectly display deep black, which is actually a pixel off. Using a black background saves energy and looks stylish. Avoid small parts that can "swim" when booting.
There are two approaches to file format: one is a static image that just hangs on the screen for a few seconds; the other is pseudo-animation created by gluing frames or using specific formats supported by the uploader (which is rare); 99% of the time, it is static logo.png.
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Use graphics editors like Photoshop or GIMP to fine-tune the size of the canvas, and extra pixels can shift the image, and cropping can distort the proportions of the logo.
Modification of boot.img image
The most technically challenging step is to embed your image in the boot.img system file. This file contains the system kernel and the initial ramdisk, where the logo resource is stored. Simple replacement of the file in the explorer will not help here, since the boot partition is protected and compressed.
The process is as follows: first you need to remove the original boot.img from the stock firmware of your model, then the file is unpacked using the Android Image Kitchen utility. Inside the unpacked structure, you need to find the logo.png file (or logo.bmp in older versions) and replace it with the one that was prepared earlier.
Once replaced, the reverse procedure is done, which is to repack an image, and the utility will collect all the components back into a single new-boot.img file. This is the file that will be ready to be installed. It is important to check the checksum and the integrity of the archive before the final step.
In some cases, especially on devices with MediaTek processors or new Snapdragon with HyperOS, the structure may be different, then you may need to use specialized scripts for Magisk or modules patching the bootloader on the fly.
| Phase | Action. | Risks. | Tool. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extracting boot.img | Low. | Fastboot / TWRP |
| 2 | Unpacking the image | Low. | Android Image Kitchen |
| 3 | Replace logo.png | Medium (size error) | Graphic editor |
| 4 | Packaging new-boot.img | Medium. | Android Image Kitchen |
| 5 | Section firmware | Tall (brick) | Fastboot command |
Install a modified image via Fastboot
The final step is to write the modified file to the phone's memory. Put the smartphone in Fastboot mode (press the volume button and plug the cable in). Make sure the computer sees the device by running the command fastboot devices in the command line.
Use the partition-specific firmware command to install. Don't confuse this with a complete flashing of the device!
fastboot flash boot new-boot.imgAfter a successful command, which takes a few seconds, you need to restart the device, which can be done programmatically through the command fastboot reboot or physically by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds.
The first turn on may take longer than usual. If you see your logo, the operation was successful. If the phone is stuck on the Mi logo or went into an endless reboot, then the image is not correctly assembled.
⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the Fastboot recording process. Disabling the cable during data transmission can damage the bootloader, which can only be restored through paid service tools like MiFlash Pro.
What to do if your phone is in Bootloop?
Alternative methods and modules of Magisk
There is a less risky way to change animation without directly touching boot.img. This is using modules for Magisk. In XDA Developers repositories and the 4PDA forum, you can find modules that replace system resources at the boot stage of the system, rather than the boot loader.
These modules are often called "Bootanimation Changer" and work with files located in the system or product section that are easier to modify, but this method changes the animation of Android boot (robot logo or text), not the manufacturer's primary logo (MI/Redmi), which is visible in the first seconds.
For advanced users, the MagiskBoot patching method is available, a console utility that is part of Magisk that allows you to unpack and package images directly on your smartphone or PC without heavy graphics shells, which gives you more control over the compression and alignment process.