Huawei’s latest HarmonyOS 6 updates quietly hide status bar icons in the Notification Center on Mate 80 phones, while new 6.0.0.120 builds roll out Smart Grip calling, Magic Expressions, iOS file sharing, and more across Mate, Pura, and MatePad devices.
Huawei’s HarmonyOS 6 rollout is continuing with a mix of headline features and the kind of subtle UI polish that users notice instantly. The biggest visual tweak making the rounds this week: on the Huawei Mate 80 series, the Notification Center now opens without the usual row of status bar icons, keeping only carrier information for a cleaner, less cluttered look. [1]
At the same time, today’s HarmonyOS 6 news cycle includes broader 6.0.0.120 updates for other flagship phones and foldables—plus a HarmonyOS 6 update for Huawei’s compact MatePad Mini tablet and fresh HarmonyOS 6 “Fan Beta” access opening for additional MatePad models. [2]
Below is what’s changing, which devices are getting it, and why this small “status bar eclipse” could hint at Huawei’s next design direction for HarmonyOS.
The key change: Status bar icons vanish when you pull down the Notification Center
According to reports from both Huawei-focused outlets and Chinese tech media, users (and testers) noticed that after installing the latest HarmonyOS 6 build on the Mate 80 series, the Notification Center no longer displays the full set of status bar icons at the top. Instead, Huawei keeps the top area minimal—carrier info remains, but the familiar cluster of icons is hidden during that Notification Center view. [3]
Importantly, this appears to be specific to the Notification Center: the Control Center behavior remains unchanged in the same reports, meaning this is not a blanket removal of icons across the entire UI. [4]
Why users are calling it a “silent upgrade”
One reason this change is getting attention is that it’s being described as a tweak that wasn’t clearly highlighted in the visible changelog—spotted only after installation and then shared by users as a “silent” UI adjustment. [5]
Huawei hasn’t framed this as a major new feature on its own, but the impact is obvious: the Notification Center looks more spacious, and the opening animation feels less visually “busy” because the top bar isn’t competing with icons.
What update is this tied to on the Mate 80 series?
Chinese tech reporting describes the Mate 80 series receiving a HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 SP9 upgrade, with the full system package reported at around 2.81GB. [6]
Alongside the UI cleanup, the same reporting points to multiple practical improvements bundled in that build, including:
- Camera optimizations (including improvements to certain modes and stabilization behavior) [7]
- Huawei Share support for exchanging data with iOS devices [8]
- Outdoor exploration mode gesture interactions (multi-task gestures, app switching gestures, plus split-screen/floating window gestures) [9]
- Dynamic Weather app icon behavior on the home screen (icon style changing based on real-time weather) [10]
In other words, the “hidden status bar icons” moment is part of a wider quality-and-features update—and it’s arriving right as Huawei broadens HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 availability across its recent flagships.
Today’s HarmonyOS 6 headlines: The 6.0.0.120 wave spreads beyond Mate 80
While the Mate 80’s Notification Center redesign is the most visually obvious tweak, Huawei’s HarmonyOS 6 activity today is bigger than one UI change. Here are the most notable HarmonyOS 6 items dated Dec 16, 2025:
1) Pura X foldable gets HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 SP6 (plus AI and privacy upgrades)
Huawei’s Pura X foldable is now receiving HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 SP6, with the system package reported at about 1.95GB and a staged rollout. [11]
Highlights called out include:
- “Smart Grip” call UI (answer button shifts based on whether you’re holding the phone left- or right-handed—when banner-style call notifications are enabled) [12]
- “Magic Expressions” in the Gallery AI editing flow [13]
- Cloud Gallery option to delete photos “only from this device” while keeping cloud copies available [14]
- Gallery widget dynamic effects and multi-photo playback support [15]
- Huawei Share file transfers with iOS/iPadOS/macOS (with an additional app requirement on Apple devices) [16]
- A privacy control aimed at blocking “shake” ad redirects by restricting apps’ access to device orientation permissions [17]
2) MatePad Mini starts receiving HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 SP6 with a new App Center
Huawei’s compact MatePad Mini tablet is also entering the HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 SP6 cycle. A report citing Huawei’s tablet software team says the update adds features like an App Center and dynamic lock screen wallpaper options. [18]
Notable additions listed include:
- New “App Center” accessible via an “up swipe” on the home screen (once enabled in settings), with search and alphabet browsing [19]
- Adjustable Dock recent apps area (change how many apps show there via a long press and slide gesture) [20]
- New theme options and support for setting dynamic photos as lock screen dynamic wallpaper [21]
- Huawei Share with iOS/iPadOS/macOS plus the same “shake ad redirect” blocking privacy control [22]
The report also notes this release was announced as a phased rollout, and that users may need to be on a specified prior build to receive it. [23]
3) MatePad Air 2024 and MatePad 11.5″S (2024) open HarmonyOS 6 Fan Beta access
Huawei is also widening HarmonyOS 6 testing on tablets: an IT Home report says MatePad Air 2024, MatePad 11.5″S 2024, and a “flexible” variant of the MatePad 11.5″S line have begun HarmonyOS 6 Fan Beta upgrade access as of today. [24]
The same report describes sign-up via Settings by searching for Software Update and entering the early upgrade path (labeled as an “early access/try first” route). [25]
4) HuaweiCentral: A “feature pack” refresh for Pura 70/80 and Mate 60/70
Separately, HuaweiCentral reports that Huawei is pushing a HarmonyOS 6 “feature pack” style refresh for Pura 70, Pura 80, Mate 60, and Mate 70 families—framing it as a more substantial, year-end-style bundle of upgrades. [26]
The described features overlap heavily with what Chinese reporting lists for Pura X and other devices, including Smart Grip calling, Magic Expressions, and Apple ecosystem file sharing via Huawei Share. [27]
The bigger pattern: Huawei is reducing visual noise while adding cross-ecosystem sharing
Taken together, today’s HarmonyOS 6 updates show two themes Huawei is pushing hard:
1) UI simplification that’s felt, not announced
The “icons hidden in Notification Center” tweak is a classic example: it’s not a new app, not a new AI model, not a new camera spec—but it makes the phone feel more refined in daily use. [28]
For users, this is about readability and focus. When the Notification Center is open, the top edge isn’t shouting at you with Wi‑Fi, signal, NFC, and dozens of notification dots or service icons. You see your notifications—cleanly.
2) Huawei Share’s Apple bridge is becoming a real “platform” feature
Multiple reports tied to the 6.0.0.120 updates emphasize Huawei Share interoperability with iOS/iPadOS/macOS, but with an important caveat: Apple-side support depends on a dedicated app download. [29]
HuaweiCentral previously reported Huawei launched a dedicated Apple App Store companion—described as HarmonyOS “Galaxy Interconnect”—to enable device discovery and transfers of contacts, photos, videos, and files, and noted early users could preview content before sending. That same report also says the feature is exclusive to HarmonyOS 6 devices in China. [30]
For additional context, Huawei’s push for Apple interoperability was also highlighted earlier in the HarmonyOS 6 launch coverage: TechNode reported that HarmonyOS 6 expands cross-ecosystem connectivity with Apple devices and supports near-field file transfers, while Mobile World Live described NFC-based transfer capability without an internet connection. [31]
What users should do next
Check for the update (and expect a staged rollout)
Across multiple HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 items today, the messaging is consistent: rollouts are phased. If your device is eligible but you don’t see the update immediately, that may be normal for Huawei’s staged deployment strategy. [32]
Back up first—especially on tablets
Update notices referenced in the MatePad Mini reporting also emphasize backing up data and note that post-update background optimization can temporarily increase heat and power usage for a couple of days. [33]
If you’re worried about icon clutter, Huawei already offers status bar controls
Even aside from the new Notification Center “eclipse” behavior, Huawei’s own support documentation outlines ways to manage how notifications and icons show up in the status bar—such as per-app notification controls and a “Simple display” option that limits which icons are shown by default. [34]
(That said, none of today’s reports specifically mention a user-facing toggle to revert the new Notification Center behavior on Mate 80—so for now, it appears to be a design decision baked into the build rather than a setting.)
Bottom line
Huawei’s HarmonyOS 6 story on December 16, 2025 isn’t just about one hidden row of icons—it’s about a platform that’s being actively tuned in public, device by device.
- Mate 80 users are seeing a cleaner Notification Center with status icons hidden during the pull-down view. [35]
- Pura X is receiving a feature-rich 6.0.0.120 update with Smart Grip calling, Magic Expressions, and privacy controls targeting “shake” ads. [36]
- MatePad Mini is getting HarmonyOS 6.0.0.120 SP6 with an App Center, lock screen upgrades, and Apple file sharing support. [37]
- More tablets (including MatePad Air 2024 and MatePad 11.5″S 2024 variants) are opening HarmonyOS 6 Fan Beta access today. [38]
If Huawei keeps pairing these “quiet” UI refinements with practical ecosystem features like cross-platform sharing and ad/permission controls, HarmonyOS 6’s most meaningful progress may be less about dramatic redesigns—and more about removing friction from everyday actions.
References
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