Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter visual markers in the official theme store that raise questions, such as the crown icon or the inscription “Premium” next to a certain interface design intrigues many device owners. This is not just a beautiful picture, but an indication that this content has advanced functionality or requires a special status for activation.
In the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS, premium goes beyond just paying for it, often due to the account level of the Mi Account or special promotions from developers, and understanding it allows not only personalizing the smartphone, but also accessing exclusive widgets and live wallpapers that are not available in the standard set.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what premium means in the context of design themes, how such files differ from ordinary ones and whether sheepskin is worth making. You will learn how to get the desired status for free and what hidden opportunities are open to a user with a higher level of theme service.
The essence of Premium status in the theme store
Themes Premium status is a special access layer that is assigned to a user or a specific content. When you see a theme marked "Premium," it means that it requires additional rights to install or use it fully, which are usually given for activity in the system or buying a subscription. Unlike standard free themes, premium themes often contain complex lock animation and dynamic elements.
It’s important to understand the difference between paid content and premium access: Paid theme requires a one-time transaction through a linked card, whereas premium themes are often made available for free if your account reaches a certain level. This is part of Xiaomi’s gamification, which encourages users to use the company’s services more actively, sync data and leave feedback.
Theme developers can also mark their work as premium to highlight it among thousands of others, a signal to the user that icons, fonts and system windows are highly developed, and often require confirmation through a pop-up window where the system checks your Mi Account’s rights.
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Before installing any theme, even free, look for a list of permissions you’re asking for – some may require access to contacts or geolocation without an explicit need.
The theme store level system works automatically. Activity such as daily login, installing updates and using standard apps boosts your rankings. Once you reach the right mark, the crown icon appears in your profile, opening access to the Premium section within the app.
Differences between Premium themes and standard designs
The main difference is the depth of integration into the system: if a typical theme only changes wallpaper and icons, premium design often involves system sounds, unlock animations, and even the style of the power menu, which makes the interface more lively and responsive, the visual component here is secondary to the technical capabilities that the user gets.
Premium themes often support the "Always On Display" feature with enhanced features. On standard themes, the lock screen is static or shows simple time, whereas improved versions offer interactive elements that respond to touches or notifications. AMOLED-screens of modern smartphones Xiaomi.
Another important aspect is optimization: Premium themes undergo stricter moderation by Xiaomi, which ensures that once installed, the phone does not start to run slower or consume the battery faster, while downloading modified themes from unverified sources can lead to instability of the launcher.
Let’s compare the main features in the table below to clearly see the difference:
| Characteristics | Standard theme | Premium theme |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock animation | Basic or absent | Complex, with effects. |
| Changing system sounds | Rarely. | Full support |
| Account requirements | Absent. | We need a Premium level. |
| Lock screen widgets | Standard. | Unique designs |
It’s worth noting that some premium themes features may not work on global firmware versions without additional manipulation, and regional restrictions sometimes block access to content created for the Chinese market, even if you have the appropriate status.
How to get Premium status in Mi Account
Getting the status you want is a time-consuming, active process. Xiaomi automatically scores experience points for various actions in the shell. There is no single "Get Premium" button, it depends on the accumulated rating. It usually takes several weeks of active use of the device to reach the first level, which opens up access to topics.
Key ways to improve the level include daily login to the Mi Cloud service, using built-in apps like Security or Cleanup, and installing system updates the day they launch. The newer your Redmi or Xiaomi smartphone model, the faster the rankings can grow as the company encourages owners of new devices.
☑️ How to Increase Account Level
There is also a region-specific method, where some users change their region in their phone settings to India or Indonesia, where the requirements for premium status may differ, but this method carries risks: some local services may stop working and the theme may reset.
⚠️ Note: Do not use third-party modifier applications to artificially increase your account level, this may lead to blocking Mi Account and inability to use cloud services.
You can check your current status by opening the Topic app, going to the profile (human icon) and looking at the icon next to the avatar. If it displays a crown or corresponding inscription, access is open. If not, the system will show how many activity points remain to the next level.
Compatibility issues and regional constraints
One of the main challenges when using premium themes is regional binding. Xiaomi theme store is divided into segments. Themes bought or downloaded in the Russian segment may not appear as available if your account is temporarily switched to another region, this often happens when trying to download exclusives from a Chinese store.
When you install a theme, you may get an error, "Unable to download" or "Premium Access Required," even if you have the rights, and this is treated by clearing the Topic app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Topics → Memory → Clear. After that, you will need to log in again to Mi Account.
Another problem is that Android versions and shells are incompatible. Old premium themes created for MIUI 11 or 12 may not show correctly on HyperOS. UI elements may go off and system fonts may become unreadable. Always check the date of the last theme update before installing.
What to do if the topic is not set?
Global ROM owners are often denied access to China ROM exclusives, which can be circumvented by installing third-party launchers, but this is beyond the standard functionality and can affect the stability of notifications.
Alternative ways to customize the interface
If you find the status and level tinkering too complicated, there are alternative ways to personalize: standard high-resolution wallpapers can be found in the gallery or downloaded from trusted sources online. Many users prefer minimalism, using static high-quality images instead of heavy animated themes.
Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher provide customization capabilities that often outperform Xiaomi’s regular facilities: You can change the desktop grid, swipe animations, icons and docking bar without having to have Premium status on Xiaomi’s system.
Also worth mentioning are widgets, new versions of MIUI and HyperOS have a widget menu that works regardless of the theme you choose, so you can combine a standard theme with a set of stylish widgets to create a unique desktop look, a secure way that doesn't require super-user rights.
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Using third-party launchers is the best way to get around the limitations of regional themes, but it can lead to increased battery consumption.
For advanced users, a method of manually installing themes through a file manager is available. The downloaded theme file (extension.mtz) can be installed using an engineering menu or special installer applications that do not require an account status check.
The impact of live themes on the autonomy of the smartphone
The use of complex animated themes, especially those in the Premium category, directly affects battery life. Constant rendering of graphics on the lock screen and desktop loads the GPU. On older smartphone models, this can lead to a noticeable reduction in battery life.
Also, some live themes contain codecs that may not be optimized for your device’s specific processor, which causes the case to heat up at the top of the smartphone, where the chipset is usually located, and if you notice that the phone has started to warm up after installing a new theme, it’s worth going back to standard design.
The energy optimization also depends on the type of screen. IPS-In matrices, black is not truly black, and the backlight works constantly, making dark themes less efficient for energy savings compared to the black light. AMOLED. Nana AMOLED-Using dark premium wallpaper really helps save charge.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing the theme, the smartphone begins to discharge quickly or spontaneously reboot, immediately remove it through Safe Mode or the standard settings menu.
It is recommended to test new topics throughout the day by watching battery statistics in the Settings → Battery section. If the power consumption of the processor or screen has increased for no apparent reason, the problem lies in the design software.