How to change the style of the desktop screen on Xiaomi: from standard themes to customization MIUI

Why and how to change the style of the desktop screen on Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s desktop screen is not just an icon background, it’s a complete personalization tool. From a boring standard theme to ultra-modern minimalism or retro style, MIUI’s capabilities allow you to transform the interface to suit any preferences. But not everyone knows that in addition to basic wallpaper in the gallery, the system hides dozens of customization settings for deep customization.

In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change the style of the screen, from official themes in the Mi Theme Store to manually editing system files for advanced users. We will pay special attention to the nuances of working with different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models - for example, the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13T have unique options that are not available in budget devices.

If you want to not just change the picture on the screen, but create a unique visual experience, read on. We have collected current methods for 2026, including bypassing the regional restrictions of the Mi Theme Store and working with alternative launchers.

Method 1: Standard Themes from the Mi Theme Store

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in theme store. It is available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 10 and later. To open it, go to Settings → Wallpaper → Theme or click long on the free desktop space and select "Themes".

In the Mi Theme Store, the themes are broken down into categories:

• 🎨 Popular – trendy designs updated weekly.
• 🖼️ Minimalism – clean wallpaper with an emphasis on icons.
• 🌌 AMOLED — Dark themes for screens with organic LEDs.
• 🎮 Game styles for specific games (eg Genshin Impact or scalable games) PUBG).

Note that many of the themes in the store are paid (from 50 to 300 rubles), but there are also free options marked “Free”. When using themes from the Mi Theme Store, the system automatically adjusts the color palette of system applications (calling, messages, calendar), which creates a holistic visual image.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global themes can be blocked due to regional restrictions. To access all designs, change the region in your Mi Account to “India” or “Indonesia” (see the section on circumvention of restrictions below).

Method 2: Customization through Screen Style (MIUI 14+)

The latest versions of MIUI 14 have a separate screen style section that allows you to customize the interface elements point by point without changing the theme completely.

1. Hold your finger on the free space on the desktop.
2. Select Screen Style (or Screen Settings on some models).
3. Go to the tab "Castomization".

Options are available here:

• 🎨 Accent color – changes the color of the selection in the menu and buttons.
• 📱 Shape of icons – round, square or adaptive (for example, the style of iOS or Pixel).
• 🖼️ Wallpaper style – blurring, dimming or color filter for background images.
• 🔄 Transition animations - speed and smoothness of screen change.

Especially useful function AI-Wallpaper generation: The system analyzes your current wallpaper and offers 3 options for styling for them. For example, if you have photos of mountains, Xiaomi can generate a minimalist gradient in the same color range.

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If after changing the screen style, some applications began to look incorrect (for example, white text on a light background), return to Screen Style and turn on the option “Autocontrast correction”.

Method 3: Installation of third-party launchers

For those who don't have standard MIUI capabilities, alternative launchers are the best solution, replacing the desktop entirely with unique features:

• 📱 Nova Launcher - flexible customization of gestures, icon sizes and folders.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – Pixel style with adaptive icons.
• 🖼️ Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows 11 and OneDrive Cloud.
• 🔧 Hyperion Launcher – Dynamic Effects and Support KLWP wallpaper.

To set up the launcher:

1. Download. APK-file from the official website (for example, Nova Launcher).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Appendices → Special Rights.
3. After installation, click “Home” and select the new launcher as the main one.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 13+ Some launchers may conflict with system memory optimization. If there are slowdowns after installation, add the launcher to the list of Secure Applications (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).

Backup your current desktop settings |

Check the compatibility of the launcher with the version of Android|

Disable battery optimization for launcher |

Restart the phone after installation-->

Method 4: Manually modifying system files (for advanced)

This method is suitable for experienced users who are ready to work with ADB or Xiaomi file system.

• 🔧 Replace system icons without changing the theme.
• 🎨 Change the default fonts (including Mi Sans).
• 🖼️ Install custom download animations (bootanimation).

First, you will need to:

1. Unlock the bootloader (bootloader) on your smartphone (instructions on the official website).
2. Install Magisk to obtain root rights.
3. Download a file manager with root support (e.g. Solid Explorer).

Example: To change the system font, go to /system/fonts and replace the MiSans-Regular.ttf and MiSans-Bold.ttf files with yours (pre-renamed them). After replacing the system files, be sure to clear the cache in Recovery Mode, otherwise display artifacts are possible.

Method 5: Dynamic Wallpaper and Live Themes

For users of Xiaomi with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60 Pro) dynamic wallpapers are available that respond to:

• 🕒 Time of day – change of color from dark at night to light during the day.
• 📱 Charge level - animation of battery discharge on wallpaper.
• 🎵 Music playback – visualization of sound waves.

To activate dynamic wallpaper:

1. Go to the Settings → Wallpaper → Dynamic Wallpaper.
2. Select the source of the data (for example, “Music” or “Weather”).
3. Customize the sensitivity of the animation (in MIUI 14 is available slider "Intensity").

To create your own live wallpaper, use apps like KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker or Wallpaper Engine (requires root to work properly), which let you import animations in.klwp or.json and attach them to your smartphone’s sensors.

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Dynamic wallpaper increases battery consumption by 10-15% compared to static ones. If your Xiaomi is draining too quickly, turn off animations in wallpaper settings or use dark themes on your wallpaper. AMOLED-screen.

Regional restrictions of Mi Theme Store

Many users face a problem: the Mi Theme Store displays a limited set of themes, and when you try to download a design from another region, you get a “Not available in your region” error.

Method 1: Change region in Mi Account

1. Open Settings → Mi Account → Region.
2. Choose India or Indonesia (these regions have the maximum choice of topics).
3. Reboot your phone and upgrade to the Mi Theme Store.

Method 2: Using VPN + Cache Cleanup

• 🌍 Install. VPN with servers in India (e.g. ProtonVPN).
• 🧹 Clear the Mi Theme Store data in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔄 Re-launch the Theme Store through VPN.

Once you download the theme, you can return the region to your account and the theme will remain set, but some dynamic elements (such as weather widgets) may not work properly if the region in the phone and the topic do not match.

Optimizing productivity after changing style

New themes and launchers can slow down your smartphone, especially on budget models (Redmi 10A, Poco M5).

• 🔄 Turn off animations in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times, then to the Developer → Animation factor. ×0.5).
• 🗑️ Clear the cache after installing the theme: Settings → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🔋 Add the launcher to the battery exceptions (see the section on launchers above).
• 📉 Reduce screen resolution (if supported): Settings → Display. → Permission.

To check the impact of the theme on performance, use the test in AnTuTu Benchmark (UX section).If the score has dropped more than 10% compared to the standard theme, consider returning to factory style settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing screen style