Topics in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: a complete guide to personalizing the interface

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have long been popular not only for their value for money, but also for their flexible customization capabilities. One of the key features of MIUI is the theme system, a tool that allows you to radically change the appearance of your device in just a few clicks. From changing icons and fonts to completely transforming animations and sounds, themes turn the standard interface into a unique style that reflects your personality.

But many users still don't use it to its fullest, some don't know where to look for quality themes, some are afraid of "breaking" the phone with the wrong settings, and some simply don't realize that in addition to the standard options from the Xiaomi Themes store, there are alternative sources with thousands of free designs. In this article, we'll break down everything from the basic principles of how the theme works to hidden features that are not even written in the official instructions.

What are Xiaomi Redmi themes and how do they work?

MIUI themes are not just a collection of wallpaper and icons, but full-fledged skins for the operating system.

• 🎨 Appearance of application icons and system utilities
• 📱 Design of notification panels and quick settings
• 🔤 Fonts (including system and for individual applications)
• 🎵 Sound effects (calls, notifications, keyboard signals)
• 🖼️ Wallpaper for desktop and lock screen
• 🔄 Animations of transitions between screens

It is important to understand that the themes in Xiaomi are divided into two types:

1. Local themes are installed through the standard Theme Store and stored in the device’s memory, fully integrated into the system and updated automatically.
2. MTZ-themes – files with the.mtz extension that are downloaded from third-party sources (for example, Mi Themes or Xiaomi Themes Store) must be installed manually through the file manager.

The application of the theme does not require superuser rights (root) and does not affect the performance of the smartphone. All changes are reversible: at any time you can return the standard interface or switch to another topic. However, there are nuances: some elements (for example, icons of system applications) may not change in custom themes due to the limitations of MIUI.

Xiaomi Redmi Themes: Official and Alternative Sources

The main way to get themes is through the built-in Themes app (pattern icon), and there are thousands of free and paid options available, sorted by categories: Minimalism, Dark, AMOLED, Game, and others, but not everyone knows that there are other sites with unique content.

Here's the top.-5 proven sources:

Important: when downloading MTZ-Always check files from third-party sites via VirusTotal or similar services. Some pirated themes may contain malicious code masquerading as harmless interface elements.

⚠️ Note: Topics from unofficial sources may conflict with the latest versions MIUI. If artifacts appear after applying the theme (for example, black squares instead of icons), immediately return the standard interface through Settings. → Topics → Standard.

Step-by-step: how to install a theme on Xiaomi Redmi

Installation of the theme from the official store takes less than a minute:

1. Open the Themes app (if not, download from Google Play).
2. Select a category (e.g., "Popular" or "New").
3. Slip on your favorite topic and click Apply.
4. Confirm the changes – the system will automatically apply all the elements.

For installation MTZ-You will need a file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager):

Download the file with the.mtz extension|Open the file manager and find the downloaded file.|Tap on the file and select "Apply theme"|Restart your phone (recommended for correct display)-->

If the topic does not apply, check:

• 📌 Compatibility with your version MIUI (specified in the subject description).
• 📌 Free space in memory (some topics weigh up to 50MB).
• 📌 No region restrictions (e.g., Chinese firmware themes may not work on global platforms).

💡

If after applying the theme, the icons of some applications are missing, try updating the cache: go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics → Storage → Clear the cache

How to create your theme for Xiaomi Redmi: a guide for beginners

Creating a custom theme may seem complicated, but with the MIUI Theme Editor tool (available for Windows), the process becomes intuitive.

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with unlocked bootloader (not necessary, but recommended)
• 🎨 Basic skills in Photoshop or GIMP (icon-editing)
• 📂 Archive with the theme template (can be downloaded at miuithemeeditor.com)

Algorithm of action:

1. Install MIUI Theme Editor and connect your phone in USB Debugging mode.
2. Select a theme template (e.g. based on the standard "Default").
3. Edit elements: Icons (folder icon) - must be in PNG format, size 192×192 pixels. Wallpaper (wallpaper) - supported by JPG and PNG, resolution at least 1080×2340 Fonts (font folder) - TTF or OTF files.

.mtz

Transfer the file to your phone and install it through the file manager.

For advanced users: If you want to add custom animations, you will need to edit files in the animation folder using After Effects and the MIUI Animation Tool converter.

⚠️ Attention: When creating topics for MIUI 14+ Note that folder structure has changed, for example, dark theme icons are now stored in a separate directory. icon_dark. If it is not, create it manually, otherwise the icons will be displayed incorrectly in the night mode.

Top.-5 Mistakes in working with topics and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes encounter problems with the application of themes, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

1. Subject not applicable: Reason: incompatible with MIUI version or corrupted file Solution: check firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and compare to the theme requirements. If it doesn't match, look for an alternative.
2. Icons are displayed in low resolution: Reason: the original icon files have a resolution below 192×192 pixels. Solution: replace the icons in the icon folder with high-quality ones (you can download on Flaticon).
3. After applying the theme, the widgets disappeared: Reason: the theme overwrote the widget system files. Solution: return the standard theme, then re-add the widgets to the desktop.
4. Theme applies partially (e.g. wallpaper only): Reason: no rights to change system elements. Solution: go to Settings → Permissions → Special Access → Change system settings and enable access for the Theme app.
5. The phone overheats after the theme changes: Reason: Some animations in the topic are too resource-intensive. Solution: turn off animations in Settings → Additional → System Animation or choose a lighter theme.

All of these themes are available in the official Theme Store (free or for Mi Credits). For Redmi Note 12 and later, we recommend paying attention to themes marked "Adaptive" - they automatically adjust to the color range of wallpaper.

💡

Before installing a paid theme, check its ratings and reviews. Some designs may contain hidden advertising or require additional purchases for full functionality.

How to Remove or Remove a Theme on Xiaomi Redmi

If you don’t like the theme or start working incorrectly, you can return the standard interface in two ways:

Method 1: Through the "Themes" appendix

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to the "My Topics" section (the person icon in the lower right corner).
3. Select "Standard" or "Default".
4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.

Method 2: Through system settings

1. Go to Settings → Themes.
2. At the top of the screen, tap on the current topic.
3. In the menu that opens, select "Reset to standard".

If you have artifacts left after reset (such as old icons), follow these steps:

1. Clear the cache of the "Themes" app:


Settings → Applications → Application Management → Themes → Storage → Clean the cache




2. Reboot the phone.




3. If the problem persists, remove the updates for the Themes app via Google Play.

To completely remove MTZ-themes:

• Open the file manager and go to the MIUI/theme/.miui/ folder.
• Delete the folder with the name of the unnecessary topic.
• Clean the cache in Settings → Storage → Cleanup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about topics in Xiaomi Redmi