How to change the theme Xiaomi: 5 working ways to MIUI 14/15

Changing the theme on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the easiest ways to personalize your device to your own style. However, even in 2026, many users are faced with problems: standard themes are not liked, custom themes are not installed, then after the MIUI update, the settings are reset. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change themes from basic to advanced, including bypassing regional restrictions and manually installing through ADB.

It is important to understand that the process depends on the firmware version (MIUI 14, MIUI 15 or HyperOS), the smartphone model (for example, Redmi Note 12 vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra) and even the region of the device. Global versions (MIUI Global) are often devoid of features compared to Chinese (MIUI China).

1. Standard change of theme through “Themes” (MIUI Themes)

The most obvious and safe way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (except for HyperOS devices, where the logic is a little different).

Open the Topic app (Brush icon) → go to My Themes tab → click Change theme. Here you will see:

• 🎨 Standard themes – pre-loaded to the system (usually 3-5 pieces).
• 🌍 Online directory – requires an Internet connection and a Mi Account.
• 📁 Local themes – if you downloaded a.mtz file manually.

For global versions of MIUI, the catalog is often limited. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 with MIUI Global 14.0.5, only ~20 free themes are available, whereas in the Chinese version there are hundreds of them, the solution is to change the device region (more on this below).

⚠️ Attention: When downloading themes from the online catalog, check reviews! Some custom themes may contain banner ads or change system fonts beyond recognition. You can only roll back changes by resetting your settings.

2. Install custom themes (.mtz) manually

If the built-in themes don't work, you can install custom themes from the.mtz file. These themes are distributed on forums like XDA Developers, 4PDA or specialized sites (such as Mi-Themes.com).

1. Download the theme file (.mtz) to your phone or computer.
2. Move the file to the MIUI/theme folder on the internal drive (create it if it is not available).
3. Open the Topics Application → My Themes → Local → select the downloaded file.
4. Confirm the installation and apply the theme.

On some devices (e.g., POCO F5 with HyperOS), the MIUI/theme folder may be hidden. To see it, enable the display of hidden files in any file manager (e.g., in Mi File Explorer: Three dots → Settings → Show hidden files).

Download.mtz file from a verified source

Check the compatibility of the theme with your version of MIUI

Create a MIUI/theme folder at the root of internal memory

Enable the display of hidden files (if the folder is not visible)

Backup of current settings (optional)

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On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the standard installation method.mtz may not work. ADB-commands or patches through Magisk.

Circumvention of regional restrictions (change of MIUI region)

Global MIUI users often face a limited theme catalog, and the solution is to switch from region to China, which unlocks access to a full theme catalog, but has side effects:

• 📵 Loss of support for some local services (e.g. Google Pay may stop working).
• 🔄 Reset some settings (such as the default keyboard or language).
• 📱 Chinese apps (Mi Video, Mi Music, etc.) that can be turned off.

Instructions for changing the region:

1. Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
2. Choose China and confirm the change.
3. Reset the device.
4. After the reboot, open the Topics → update the directory (pull down).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) Changes in the region can lead to loss of the network 4G/5G. Before the procedure, check the compatibility of your model in the forums.

4. Installation of themes through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., HyperOS or custom firmware), you can install the theme via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and enabling developer mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press 7 times.
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect the phone to the PC, confirm the debugging permission.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder.
5. Place the theme file (.mtz) in the ADB folder and rename it to theme.mtz.
6. Execute the command in the command line (replace) path_to_adb real-world): path_to_adb\adb push theme.mtz /sdcard/MIUI/theme/ path_to_adb\adb shell am broadcast -a miui.intent.action.CHANGE_THEME --es theme_path /sdcard/MIUI/theme/theme.mtz

Once you execute the command, the theme will appear in the Local Topics section of the app, which works even on locked downloaders, but it requires caution — incorrect ones. ADB-Teams can cause system failures.

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If ADB does not recognize the device, try updating drivers via Mi PC Suite or manually installing Google USB Driver. Also check that the developer settings enable USB Debugging (security options) and select Allow debugging over USB when connected.

5. Use of Magisk and Modules for Themes

For users with an unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk, another way is available - installing theme modules. For example, the MiuiThemeEditor module allows:

• 🎭 Setting topics without restrictions by region.
• 🔧 Edit existing themes (colors, icons, fonts).
• 📥 Import themes from older versions MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Install Magisk and the MiuiThemeEditor module via Magisk Manager.
2. Download the theme in.mtz and place it in /sdcard/MIUI/theme/.
3. Open MiuiThemeEditor, select a theme and apply it.

The advantage of this method is the ability to edit themes (for example, replace icons or fonts) without completely reinstalling. However, it requires an unlocked bootloader, which cancels the warranty and increases the risk of “bricking” the device.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change themes, you're going to see some common mistakes, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The topic is set, but not applied.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🗑️ Clear the app's cache Themes in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📥 Try to download the theme again (the file may have been damaged when downloading).

Problem 2: The theme directory says “No Internet connection” even though the Internet works.

• 🌐 Check if it's blocking. VPN Firewall access to Xiaomi servers.
• 📡 Switch from Wi-Fi to Mobile Internet (or vice versa).
• 🔧 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting settings.

Problem 3: After installing the theme, the app icons disappeared.

This means that the theme is incompatible with your version of MIUI.

• 🔙 Bring back the standard theme.
• 🛠️ Install the MiuiThemeEditor module (requires Magisk) and manually replace only the necessary elements (e.g. wallpaper or fonts).

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If the device starts to slow down after the theme change, return the standard theme and clear the cache. Some custom themes overload the system with animations and effects, leading to lags.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions