Owners of modern smartphones of the Chinese brand often face a change in the visual style of the interface after the system update, this is due to the introduction of the feature Material You, which automatically selects the colors of icons and widgets for wallpaper. On devices with a shell MIUI or the new HyperOS, this process can be intrusive and not always correspond to the aesthetic preferences of the user.
Google Dynamic Color, or Live Colors, changes the palette of the entire system depending on the background image you choose, and if you're tired of the interface constantly changing shades, or want to return the classic menu look, this feature needs to be forcibly deactivated, and in this article we'll look at all the ways you can solve this problem.
It’s worth noting that personalization algorithms are deeply integrated into Android 12 and above. Simple wallpaper changes often don’t return standard colors as the theme engine continues to run in the background. Full control of the screen’s appearance will require deeper intervention in settings or using third-party software.
What is Google Dynamic Color and Why it is Powered
Material You technology was introduced by Google as an evolution of Android design, which is to analyze the dominant colors on the desktop and automatically repaint controls, buttons and system applications, on Xiaomi smartphones, this is implemented through the system theme “Basic” or similar standard solutions.
Many users don't realize that activation of this feature occurs automatically when a device is first started or after a major firmware update.The system seeks to create a personalized experience, but often the result looks faded or doesn't match with the installed widgets. Disabling Dynamic Color returns static and predictable interface.
It's important to understand the difference between a standard theme and a dynamic palette. If you change wallpaper and the color of the notification curtain and buttons changes after them, then the function is active. If the colors remain unchanged regardless of the background, then the personalization mechanism is already disabled or is not supported by the current version of the shell.
⚠️ Note: Forced change of system files to disable colors can lead to unstable operation of the interface. Use the described methods with caution and only if the standard settings do not help.
The developers of MIUI and HyperOS sometimes hide the direct switches for this feature, relying on smart algorithms, but for advanced users, there are always hidden menus and engineering settings that allow you to control the behavior of the system.
Disconnection through standard theme settings
The safest and easiest way to get the interface back to normal is to use regular personalization tools, and in most cases, just change the active theme to the classic one, so that Google Dynamic Color doesn't affect the design, and it doesn't require root rights or complex software.
To start, you need to open the Themes app on your Xiaomi smartphone, and in the lower right corner is the profile icon, which will open the user menu when you click, and you need to select My Themes, which displays a list of all the installed designs.
Find a theme in the list called "Classic," "Standard," or "Basic." Click on it and select "Apply." Once you apply the theme, the system will reset all dynamic color settings to factory values. If the standard theme doesn't change the situation, try installing any other theme from the directory that doesn't support Material You.
- 🎨 Open the “Themes” app on the main screen.
- 👤 Go to the user profile (human icon).
- 📂 Select the section "My topics».
- ✅ Click on a standard theme and apply it.
After applying the theme, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to completely redraw the interface and fix the changes, and if after rebooting the colors began to float again, then another personalization mechanism is active, which requires a deeper adjustment.
☑️ Verification of the resetting of the topic
Using the Developer Mode to Disable
If standard methods fail, you can take advantage of the hidden capabilities of Android. Developer mode provides access to experimental features, including managing monetization and user interface personalization, which is suitable for advanced users familiar with the risks of changing system parameters.
To activate the developer mode, go to Settings → About the phone. Find the line "Version." MIUI» or "Version" OS» And press it fast. 7-10 The system will tell you that you have become a developer, and then a new section will appear in the settings menu "Additional" or "Extended settings", where you need to select "Developers For Developers».
In the list that opens, you need to scroll down to the section related to drawing or interface. Look for items with names like "Disable Material You," "Monet Engine," or "Override force-dark." Activating these switches can prevent the system from changing colors dynamically, but the set of options available depends on the specific version of Android and the shell.
| Parameter | Description of action | Risk of influence |
|---|---|---|
| Disable Material You | Completely disables the live flower engine | Low. |
| Force Dark Mode | Forcedly includes a dark topic | Medium. |
| Smallest Width | Changes the pixel density (DPI) | High-pitched |
| Animation Scale | Speeds up interface animations | Low. |
Be careful when changing the settings in the developer menu. Incorrect setting of the screen density (DPI) can make the interface unreadable. If you accidentally change the excess, just turn off the developer mode at the top of the menu, and everything will return to its original state.
What to do if the developer menu is empty?
Application of third-party launchers
The radical solution to the problem of intrusive design is to replace the standard shell with a third-party launcher. Apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher take over the desktop completely, ignoring the system settings of Google Dynamic Color colors.
Once you install this launcher, it will suggest that you become the default home screen app. You can agree to this. Now the appearance of icons, folders and widgets will be determined by the settings of the launcher itself, not the system theme of Xiaomi. This gives you maximum flexibility in settings.
Most modern launchers allow you to create your own color schemes that will be static and permanent.You can choose black, white or any other color for the menu background and search bar, and the system will no longer try to change it.
- 📲 Download the launcher from Google Play Store.
- 🚀 Launch the application and click "Apply».
- 🏠 Confirm your choice as the main screen.
- ⚙️ Set up a static color scheme in the launcher menu.
Using a third-party launcher also often speeds up the smartphone, as they are usually lighter and more optimized than standard shells.However, some features, such as control gestures or double tapping to turn on the screen, may require additional adjustment.
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When installing a new launcher, save the current icon layout in the screenshot to quickly restore the usual desktop structure.
Customization through ADB-team-up
For users who aren’t afraid of the command line, the most effective method is using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to send commands directly to the system by changing hidden configuration files that are not available through the usual settings interface.
To start, you need to enable USB debugging in the Developer Menu, which was discussed earlier. Then connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. On your PC, you need to install ADB drivers. Once connected, open the command prompt or terminal in the ADB folder.
Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device appears in the list, you can proceed to change the monetization settings.
adb shell settings put secure monet_engine_enabled 0Also, disable specific components of Material You:
adb shell cmd overlay disable --target com.android.systemui com.android.systemui.monetThese commands force the color generation engine to shut down, and the effect is applied instantly or after the interface is rebooted, and this is the most reliable way to ensure that the system does not try to re-apply the dynamic palette after the wallpaper is updated.
⚠️ Attention: Introduce infidels ADB-Copy the commands accurately, without unnecessary symbols. If the phone is behaving strangely, follow the command adb shell settings delete secure monet_engine_enabled return the default value.
Possible problems and solutions
When you turn off Google Dynamic Color, you may encounter artifacts, such as icons that are transparent and text that is unreadable against a new background, when the theme is partially applied or there is a conflict between system resources and user settings.
A common problem is the automatic return of dynamic colors after a system update or reboot, which suggests that some system process (such as Wallpaper and Style) takes priority, in which case cleaning the data of this application through the Apps → All Apps menu will help.
If the interface is unstable, crashes or black screens appear, you need to reset your design settings. In extreme cases, when changes have been made through ADB, you may need to completely reset your device to the factory settings (Hard Reset), but this is an extreme measure.
- 🔄 Perform a smartphone reboot in safe mode.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the "Themes" and "Wallpaper" app».
- 🎨 Temporarily install standard wallpaper from the gallery.
- 📉 Remove newly installed widgets that affect style.
The stability of the interface depends on the firmware version. HyperOS bugs are more common on beta versions, so for critical tasks it is better to use a stable update branch, where Dynamic Color functionality works predictably or has an official switch.
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The most reliable way to avoid color problems is to use a static theme in combination with standard wallpapers that do not contain gradients.