Xiaomi smartphone users often face aggressive optimization of MIUI or HyperOS, which by default hides album covers and music control buttons on a locked display. This is especially annoying for music fans who are used to AIMP player functionality and want to see the track without unlocking the device every time. Standard Android settings here are often powerless, as the manufacturer puts energy saving and minimalism of the interface at the forefront.
But there are several proven ways to get around these limitations and get back the user-friendly control of playback: You'll need to do a sequence of things in the system and the application settings to wake up the widgets and notifications. It's important to understand that the shell algorithms can vary depending on the firmware version, so we'll look at universal solutions.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at how to make AIMP display correctly on the lock screen using hidden system functions and correct permission configuration. You will learn why a standard widget may not work and how to activate advanced notifications that do not disappear after memory is cleared.
Why AIMP is hiding on a locked screen Xiaomi
The main reason is the MIUI shell mechanism, which prioritizes the system player or completely blocks third-party overlays to save battery life. The system perceives the active window of a music application on a locked screen as a potentially energy-consuming process. Therefore, AIMP is automatically put into sleep mode or its interface is replaced by a standard, less informative notification.
In addition, the current versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) have strict rules for managing media sessions: If the application does not have special permission to display over other windows or is not included in the battery exception list, the system forcibly hides its interface, a protective mechanism that, however, interferes with the normal operation of music players.
⚠️ Warning: Aggressive energy saving can completely stop music playback in the background if you don't manually adjust the exceptions. POCO.
Also, consider that some of the themes installed through the Themes app can force you to change the style of the lock screen, removing support for third-party widgets, in which case even the correct AIMP settings will not work as long as third-party visualization is active.
Basic setting of AIMP notifications and permissions
The first step is to make sure that the app is allowed to display information on the lock screen at the Android level. Without this foundation, further manipulation of the widgets does not make sense. Open your smartphone settings and go to the application management section.
Find the AIMP installed in the list and select Notifications, where it is critical to activate all available switches, especially those that are responsible for displaying on the locked screen and in the status bar. The system can offer different categories of notifications, and all of them must be allowed.
- 🔔 Enable the option “On the Lock Screen” to display the track without unlocking.
- 📢 Activate “Pop-up Notifications” to see the current track when active actions are in place.
- 🔊 Allow sound playback and background work without restrictions.
- 🎨 Make sure that the display of album covers in the settings of the player itself is enabled.
Once all the switches are turned on, it is recommended to restart the device so that the changes take effect. Often, the MIUI system caches the old access rights settings, and a simple restart helps to apply the new rules to AIMP.
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If all the permissions are turned on, the music is still gone after a few minutes, check if you have Super Energy Savings installed. In this mode, third-party widgets are forcibly blocked.
Set up auto-start and work in the background
The next critical step is to adjust the app’s behavior when the window is rolled up. Xiaomi is infamous for its memory cleaning system, which “kills” processes that are not in active use. In order for AIMP to continue working and display the interface on a locked screen, it needs to be given “immortality” within the system.
Go to the battery settings and find the "App Energy Saving" section or similar, depending on the HyperOS version. Find the AIMP in the list and change your strategy from "Energy Saving" to "No Limits" to prevent the system from stopping the player process.
Settings → Battery → Top gear → Energy savings in applications → AIMP → Without restrictionsAutostart is also required, which allows the app to start the necessary services immediately after the phone is turned on, ensuring that the widgets on the lock screen are running from the start of the session.
☑️ Setting up energy saving
Remember to check these settings periodically after major system updates, as Xiaomi may reset them to default values for the sake of “optimization.”
Use of widgets and lock screen styles
Recent versions of MIUI and HyperOS have introduced a more flexible lock screen builder that allows you to add widgets. However, the standard AIMP widget may not appear in the list of available or may not work correctly, in which case you need to use the built-in system player, redirecting control to AIMP.
To do this, press your finger on the locked screen (or go to the lock screen settings), select Editor or Lock screen settings. Here you can choose the display style of the media controller. If you can select a source, specify AIMP.
| Interface element | Where to set up | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Clock style | Lock screen editor | Anybody that doesn't cover the bottom |
| Widgets | Add a widget → Music. | AIMP (if available) |
| album cover | Settings AIMP → Skin | Included. |
| Curtailment behaviour | Android settings | Convert to a mini player |
If the direct widget doesn't work, try changing the theme to a standard "Classic" or "Untitled" third-party themes often have rigid paths to the system player, ignoring AIMP.
Solving problems with displaying covers
A common problem is that the music is playing, the controls are there, but the album cover is black or missing, which is because AIMP stores the cache of images in its folder, and Android security prevents the lock screen from accessing the application files.
To fix this, open the AIMP settings, go to the “Skin” or “Interface” section and find the point responsible for system integration. In some versions, you need to explicitly allow access to media files in the application rights settings in the smartphone itself.
Cleaning the media cache also helps: Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find Media Storage and clear the cache, and then you need to reboot it, during which the system will scan the music library again.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning the media cache, the process of indexing files can take a long time (up to 30 minutes), during which the phone can run slower.
Make sure the covers are embedded in the music files themselves or are in the same folder as the cover.jpg file. AIMP works best with ID3v2 metadata embedded directly into mp3 or flac files.
Alternative methods and third-party launchers
If standard methods fail, you can resort to using third-party lock screen launchers such as Hi Locker or KLCK. These applications completely replace the lock system screen and allow you to output any AIMP widget anywhere and any size.
Installing such a launcher requires broad access rights, including permission to display over other windows and access to use the device, which can increase battery consumption slightly, but gives you full visual control.
Another option is to use automation scenarios (e.g., via MacroDroid) that can force a track notification to the foreground when the screen is locked, but this is a complex path that requires technical literacy.
Risks of using third-party lock screens
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did the AIMP widget settings disappear after the MIUI update?
Can I put the song on a locked screen?
Does the AIMP widget affect battery consumption?
What if the music control button disappears after 5 minutes?
Setting up AIMP on Xiaomi takes patience, but the result of having a user-friendly music control is worth it. Following these steps, you can enjoy your favorite tracks with full control without interrupting to unlock your smartphone.
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The key to success is an integrated approach: you need to configure notification rights, and energy saving, and auto-run at the same time. any of these elements will lead to unstable widget operation.