Modern smartphone design is inextricably linked with screen compactness, and manufacturers often sacrifice the top part of the display to accommodate the front camera and sensors. This area, which users affectionately or ironically call "bangs" or monobrow, can significantly spoil the impression of using the device, especially if the application interface is not adapted for it.
Many gadget owners wonder The question is how to install bangs on Android, meaning by this the process of setting up the visual display of the cutout. In fact, we are not talking about a physical installation, but about a software one customizing the interfacethat allows you to hide the black area or, conversely, highlight it. Depending on the model of your smartphone and the version of the operating system, methods for solving this problem may differ radically.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to control this area of the screen. You'll learn how to use built-in system tools, third-party utilities, and even hidden engineering menus to achieve the perfect desktop look. It is important to understand that Android is an open system that gives enormous freedom of action, but requires caution when making deep changes.
Built-in cutout display settings
Most modern smartphone manufacturers, such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Honor and OnePlusprovide standard tools for managing the cutout area. Usually these settings are hidden deep in the menu, as developers consider the standard behavior of the system to be optimal. However, if you're annoyed by how the notification shade blocks the camera or how the black background eats up useful space, it's worth checking out the available options.
First, you need to go to the main settings of the device. The path may vary, but most often it looks like this: go to Settings → Screen → Manage cutout or Settings → Accessibility → Screen cutout. In some shells, for example MIUI, this item may be called “Manage screen cutout”, and in EMUI - “Hide the cutout”.
Here you will usually find three main operating modes, which determine how the system will process the area around the front camera. Choosing the right mode depends on whether you want to maximize screen real estate or prefer aesthetic symmetry. Sometimes changing the mode requires rebooting the interface or the entire device.
- 📱 Default mode: The system automatically adapts the content, the notification curtain curves around the camera.
- 🌑 Mode “Hide the cutout”: Adds a black bar across the entire top of the screen, making the notch invisible.
- ⚙️ Mode “For individual applications”: allows you to set individual behavior for specific apps that are displayed incorrectly.
⚠️ Attention: When choosing the mode to completely hide the cutout, the useful screen area is reduced, since the black bar takes up space that could be used for content. This is a compromise between aesthetics and functionality.
Using third-party applications for customization
If the manufacturer of your smartphone has not provided flexible settings or you are using a device with a “clean” Android (for example, Google Pixel), applications from the store come to the rescue. Google Play. Specialized software allows you to emulate the behavior of a cutout, create decorative elements, or forcefully hide the camera using software methods.
One of the most popular solutions is an application Notch Remover or its analogues. The principle of their operation is to overlay a translucent or black layer on top of the system status area. This creates the illusion that there is no notch, turning the top of the screen into a single black panel. This method is especially effective for devices where hardware hiding is impossible.
For more advanced users, there are launchers and tweakers, such as Substratum (requires superuser rights) or various themes. They allow you to change the shape of the notification shade, the color of the indicators, and even the animation of the appearance of system elements. However, installing such solutions requires careful consideration of compatibility with your version Android OS.
Before installing third-party cutout applications, check their permissions. Avoid apps that require access to contacts or a microphone if their functionality is only related to graphics.
It is worth considering that using third-party software for layering may slightly increase the power consumption of the processor and RAM. Although modern chipsets can easily cope with such a load, on budget models this can lead to micro-stuttering when opening the notification curtain.
Engineering menu and hidden commands
For those who are not afraid to experiment, there is access to deep system settings through the engineering menu. This method allows you to force notch support to be enabled or disabled at the display driver level. Be extremely careful: incorrect actions here can lead to incorrect operation of the sensor or loss of the network signal.
To get to the engineering menu, you usually use a special set of numbers in the “Phone” application. The codes vary depending on the device processor. For popular chips MediaTek the combination ##3646633##is often used, and for Qualcomm the set may differ or require installation of a special dealer application.
After entering the code, you will be taken to a menu with many tabs. You will need to find the section related to the display. It is often called Hardware Testing → Display or Common → Display. Inside, look for the parameter responsible for Notch Status or Display Cutout. Changing the value from Enable to Disable (or vice versa) applies the setting instantly.
| Chip Manufacturer | Access Code | Menu Section | Setting Parameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| MediaTek (MTK) | ##3646633## |
Hardware Testing / Display | Notch / Cutout Control |
| Qualcomm | ##4636## (often limited) |
Phone Information / Display | Force Cutout (via ADB) |
| Samsung (Exynos) | #0# (service menu) |
General / LCD | Panel Info (rarely available) |
⚠️ Attention: The engineering menu interface may differ even on smartphones with the same processors but different firmware. Do not change the values of parameters whose purpose you do not know, so as not to disrupt the operation of the radio module.
What to do if the code does not work?
If standard USSD codes do not open the engineering menu, the manufacturer may have blocked this feature in your firmware version. In this case, you can try installing the "MTK Engineering Mode" application from the Play Market, which tries to bring up the same menu through the software interface.
Configuration via ADB (for advanced users)
The most universal and safe way to change the behavior of the cutout on any device with enabled USB debugging is to use the toolkit ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method does not require root access and allows you to set precise indentation parameters for the system status bar.
To begin, you will need a computer with device drivers and platform tools installed ADB. Connect your smartphone with a cable, enable debugging on the phone screen and enter the connection test command in the computer terminal. Make sure that the device appears in the list of connected ones.
The command to control the cutout is as follows. It forces the system to ignore the physical notch and behave as if the screen is rectangular, or vice versa, forcefully activates the indentation zone. You can set the display style for the entire device or for specific applications.
adb shell wm overscan 0,0,0,100In this command, the last four digits are responsible for the top, bottom, left and right padding. By increasing the top padding (the first decimal value in some implementations or the last in others, depending on the orientation), you can "hide" the bangs in the black area. To reset the settings to factory settings, use the command adb shell wm overscan reset.
☑️ Preparing to work with ADB
Problems with display in applications
It often happens that system settings work correct, but some applications behave unpredictably. Video on the entire screen may be blocked by the camera, and navigation buttons in games may go off the edge of the display. This is due to the fact that software developers do not always test their products on all existing types of screens.
In such cases, you should refer to the application compatibility settings. The cutout control menu (discussed in the first section) often has a list of installed apps. You can manually select an application, for example, a popular video player or game, and set its mode to "Show cutout"** or "Hide cutout".
If standard tools do not help, try changing the screen orientation or enabling full-screen mode in the settings of the application itself. Some video players have their own option “Cut off black margins” or “Fit to screen”, which helps to bypass conflicts with the smartphone hardware.
- 🎮 Games: often require forced full-screen mode to display the interface correctly.
- 🎬 Video players: can automatically hide controls that overlap the zone cameras.
- 📷 Camera: The native camera application usually ignores the hide settings, since it uses the entire sensor.
⚠️ Attention: Application developers are constantly updating their products. What worked a month ago may break after an update. Regularly check your compatibility settings after installing major system or application updates.
Frequently asked questions and solutions (FAQ)
Is it possible to physically remove the bangs from the screen?
No, it is impossible to physically remove the cutout, since there is a notch underneath it the camera and sensors are located. All methods are software and only mask this area, changing the way content is displayed on the screen.
Why did the bangs appear again after resetting the settings?
Resetting the settings returns the device to factory settings, where the notch display mode is often activated by default. You will have to go through the screen settings again and select the “Hide notch” mode or adjust the indents.
Does hiding the bangs affect battery life?
The fact of hiding it by software has virtually no effect on power consumption. However, if you use third-party applications to overlay the black bar, they may consume a small amount of processor resources.
Why is my character obscured by the camera in some games?
This is a game optimization error. Go to the smartphone settings, find the cutout control and for a specific game application, select a mode that expands the usable area of the screen or moves the interface lower.
Is it safe to use the engineering menu to change the cutout?
Using the engineering menu carries certain risks. If you change the wrong setting, it may affect the operation of the sensor or communication. It is recommended to use the ADB method or standard settings, if available.