How to change the charging animation on Android: from themes to root

The visual component of the Android operating system has always been one of the strengths of the platform, allowing users to turn a faceless gadget into a personalized device. One of the elements that we see every day, but rarely think about changing is charging animation. Standard indicators, be it a pie chart or a charging battery, often seem boring and monotonous, especially after months of using the same smartphone. There is a natural desire to revive this process by adding unique effects, brand logos, or even full-fledged videos when connecting the cable.

Unfortunately, unlike wallpaper or icons, changing the system power animation is a non-trivial task. This is because the display of these graphics is the responsibility of deep system resources, often stored in protected sections of memory or even in the device's bootloader. However, the mobile modification industry does not stand still, and today there are several proven methods that allow you to achieve the desired result. From simple theme settings to complex intervention in system files via root access.

Built-in features and themes

The safest and most affordable way to change the visual style of charging is to use the built-in customization tools provided by smartphone manufacturers. Many modern shells, such as MIUI from Xiaomi, ColorOS from OPPO or One UI from Samsung, have their own theme stores. In these catalogs, you often find packages that replace not only icons and wallpapers, but also system animations, including a network connection indicator.

To access these functions, you usually just need to go to the personalization settings. For example, in Xiaomi devices the path often lies through the app Themes, where in the "Profile" or "Settings" section you can find the option to apply charging styles. Older versions of Android or stock builds may not have this feature, as Google does not provide a native API to replace these animations without third-party software. However, it is worth checking the section Settings → Screen → Lock screen style, since sometimes the charging animation is tied specifically to the lock screen.

If your manufacturer does not provide such a function, you can try installing third-party ones launchers or applications from the store Google Playthat emulate the charging screen. They do not change the system animation at the kernel level, but they intercept the cable connection event and display their window on top of the system. This solution has its drawbacks, such as increased energy consumption at the time of connection, but it does not require complex manipulations with the file system.

• 🎨 Check the official theme store of your manufacturer (MIUI Themes, Galaxy Store, OPPO Theme Store).
• 📱 Look for applications like "Custom Charging Animation" in Google Play, running on top of the system.
• ⚙️ Explore the lock screen settings in the device personalization section.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party applications that emulate the charging screen may conflict with the fast charging feature or cause a delay in displaying the actual battery percentage, since they work in the user space and not at the driver level.

Using Magisk modules to replace animation

For users who have an unlocked bootloader and an installed superuser rights manager Magiskmuch wider horizons open up. The developer community has created many modules that replace the system resources responsible for bootlogo and charging animation. This method is the most effective, since changes are made directly to the system partition through the systemless overlay mechanism, which allows maintaining the integrity of OTA updates in most cases.

To use this method, you need to find a suitable module on specialized forums, such as 4PDA or XDA Developers. The files usually have the extension .zip and are installed through the Magisk Manager application interface. Once installed and rebooted, the device will begin to display the new graphics when connected to a power source. It is important to understand that there are no universal modules: animation created for the processor Snapdragonmay not work or lead to a bootlap on the device with MediaTek.

The installation process requires care. Before implementing any changes to system files, it is highly recommended that you create a full backup of your data. Modules can contain animation files in .png formats (for frame-by-frame animation) or video formats converted to an Android-specific form. Some advanced modules even allow you to play short videos while charging, which looks extremely impressive.

It is worth noting that finding the correct module may take time. Enthusiasts often post packages for specific smartphone models, for example, “Charging Animation for Redmi Note 10”. Using someone else's module without adaptation may result in the animation simply not being displayed, or the device getting stuck on the logo when charging in the off state.

Manually replacing system files via Root

For those who prefer full control over the system and understand the structure of Android files, there is a method for manually replacing resources. This method does not require the installation of ready-made modules, but requires the presence of root access a file manager with access to the system partition, such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer. The essence of the method is to find the original animation files and replace them with modified versions while maintaining names and access rights.

The location of the charging animation files varies depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer. In most cases, they are located in the directory /system/media/ or /system/product/media/. File names may also differ: often it is battery_charging_0.png, battery_charging_1.png and so on, or a single file chargeranimation.zip. In some firmware, especially those based on OnePlus or OxygenOS, resources may be packaged in .qmg or other proprietary formats that require preliminary conversion.

/system/media/battery_charging_0.png
/system/media/battery_charging_1.png
/system/media/battery_charging_2.png
/system/media/battery_scale_1.png

Before replacing files, it is critical to set the correct permissions. Typically for system reading files this is 644 (rw-r--r--), and for executable scripts - 755. If you change the permissions incorrectly, the system may fail to read the animation file, resulting in a black screen when charging the phone while it is turned off. Always save the original files in a safe place on your internal drive or in the cloud so that you can roll back changes in case of failure.

⚠️ Warning: Manually editing the /system partition may void the warranty and cause system malfunction. An error in the file name or its format can cause a cyclic reboot (bootloop).

Modification via ADB and computer

An alternative to working with files directly on a smartphone is to use a debug bridge Android Debug Bridge (ADB) from a computer. This method is considered more secure because it allows you to manage files without installing potentially dangerous file managers with broad access rights on your phone. To work, you will need a PC, ADB drivers installed, USB debugging enabled in the developer menu and a connection cable.

Using the command line, you can extract system files for editing and download back modified versions. First you need to get a list of files in the desired directory to ensure the exact names. Then the file is downloaded to the computer, edited in a graphics editor (observing the size and color scheme) and uploaded back. This approach is convenient because it allows you to carefully prepare graphics on a large monitor screen.

ADB command	Description of action	Usage example
adb pull	Copying a file from a phone to a PC	adb pull /system/media/charging.zip C:/anim/
adb push	Downloading a file from a PC to phone	adb push C:/anim/new.zip /system/media/
adb shell chmod	Changing file access rights	adb shell chmod 644 /system/media/new.zip
adb shell chown	Changing file owner (root:root)	adb shell chown root:root /system/media/new.zip

However, this method has its limitations. Starting from Android 10 and higher, the partition /system is often mounted in read-only mode. To write files, you may need to temporarily remount the partition into write mode via the command adb root (works on engineering builds) or use special scripts if the device is rooted. Without root access, it is almost impossible to replace system animation via ADB in modern versions of the OS.

What to do if the System partition is read-only?

If the remount command does not work, try using the Magisk "Systemless Hosts" module or specialized scripts for remounting, but remember that this increases the risk of damage to the boot partition.

Custom kernels and Recovery for advanced users

The deepest level of customization is achieved when using custom kernels (Custom Kernels) and recovery environments (Custom Recovery), such as TWRP. Some kernels developed by enthusiasts for specific devices include support for advanced charging features, including the ability to load custom animations from a specific folder on the internal storage. This eliminates the need to modify the system partition every time you want to change the picture.

Installing a custom kernel is a risky procedure and requires an exact match between the kernel version and your firmware version. An incorrectly selected kernel can lead to unstable Wi-Fi, (Bluetooth) operation, or even a complete refusal of the device to turn on. Typically, such kernels are distributed in the form of ZIP archives, which are flashed through Recovery mode. The kernel description often indicates whether it supports the function custom charging animation and where exactly the graphics files should be placed.

There are also specialized ZIP files for TWRP that automatically replace animation files during installation. This is a combined method: you use the capabilities of custom recovery to safely write to system partitions, bypassing the restrictions of the running OS. This approach is often used in custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, where users initially have more freedom of action.

• 🔥 Make sure that the custom kernel supports your specific model and version of Android.
• 💾 Animation files for kernels are often placed in a folder /data/local/tmp/charging/.
• 🔄 Always have a stock kernel image on hand for recovery in case of failure.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery interfaces and kernel structure are constantly updated by the developers. Before installation, check the instructions on the official XDA forum threads for your specific device model, as file paths may change in new versions.

Frequent problems and questions about changing animation

The process of changing the charging animation rarely goes perfectly smoothly the first time. Users often encounter that the new picture is not displayed, the phone is charging with a black screen, or the animation “blinks” and switches to the standard one. One common reason is that the resolution or color bits of the images being replaced do not match. The system process responsible for charging (charger or playlpm) is very sensitive to graphics settings and may discard a file if it does not meet strict specifications.

Another problem is with the fast charging feature. On many devices, when modes are activated Quick Charge, VOOC or SuperCharge a separate, priority animation is called, which is stored in another file. By replacing the usual animation, you may not see changes when connecting a proprietary power supply. In such cases, it is necessary to search for and modify files that are responsible specifically for high-power modes, which often requires decompiling system frameworks.

It is also worth considering that on devices with encrypted storage, the charging animation in the off state may not work with user files until the unlock password is entered, since the data partition has not yet been mounted. This is an Android security limitation that is difficult to get around without a deep rework of the bootloader.

Is it safe to change charging animation files?

If you have a full backup and you know the exact file names, the risk is minimal. However, the error may result in the phone not showing a charge indication when turned off, which will make it difficult to understand whether the device is charging at all.

Will the animation be reset after a system update?

Yes, when installing the official over-the-air (OTA) update, all changed system files will be replaced with the original ones. Magisk modules may remain, but they will need to be activated again if the update affects the boot or system partition.

Is it possible to put a video as an animation?

Technically this is possible, but requires converting the video into a sequence of frames or a specific format supported by the charging daemon. This greatly complicates the process and can load the processor even when it is turned off.

Why does the animation not change when the phone is turned off?

Most likely, you replaced the files responsible for the animation in a running system (Android OS), and not the boot mode files (LPM/Charger Mode). These are different sets of resources stored in different directories.

Do you need root access to change the animation?

To fully replace the system animation, root access is required. Without them, you are limited to only applications that emulate the charging screen on top of the running system, which does not work when the phone is turned off.