Personalization is the first thing that attracts users to Xiaomi smartphones. The MIUI shell, and now the new HyperOS, provide tremendous opportunities to change the appearance of the system, going far beyond standard wallpaper. When a user asks how to change the theme to shawmi, they often do not suspect that the built-in tool “Themes” is able to completely transform icons, fonts, notification sounds and even screen unlock animation.
However, the installation process is not always smooth, especially given the regional restrictions that the company imposes on users from certain countries. Standard methods can be blocked, requiring a change of region or the use of third-party launchers. In this article, we will examine all the nuances from the official installation to advanced methods of activating third-party resources that are not displayed in the basic directory.
It is important to understand that changing the visual style is not just a cosmetic procedure, but an intervention in the system files of the design. Incorrectly installed or damaged theme can lead to a cyclic reboot of the interface or a complete “bricking” of the graphics shell, which will require resetting through Recovery.
Official method of installation through the Topics app
The basic way that every smartphone owner can use is to use a pre-installed system application. To get started, you need to find an icon on your desktop called Themes (or Themes). If you can't see it, try searching the system or the Tools folder. Once you run the application, the system will prompt you to review the user agreement you need to accept to continue working.
The main screen of the app is divided into several tabs, including Recommended, Popular and Categories, and this is where thousands of free and paid designs, vetted by moderators, are collected. You can filter them by style, color or animation. You choose the option you like, click Download, and after you finish downloading, apply. The whole process takes literally a couple of minutes and requires no additional rights.
However, there are limitations: If your account or phone region is set up for countries with strict licensing restrictions (e.g. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus), the directory may be significantly reduced or completely empty, in which case the standard procedure will not work, and you will have to resort to changing the region in the system settings or using third-party downloaders, which will be discussed below.
⚠️ Note: When installing themes from third-party sources through the Import menu, always check the file extension. it should be strictly.mtz. Attempting to import files with an unknown extension can lead to installation error or damage to the system cache of the graphics.
Problems with the region and ways to circumvent them
The most common problem users face when trying to change the design is the “Can’t download items” or empty store error, which is due to the company’s policy that restricts access to servers with themes for certain geographic areas. To circumvent this restriction without root rights, you can temporarily change the region of the device. To do this, go to Settings → Additional settings → Region and select a country where the services work fully, such as India or Singapore.
Once you change region, the phone may require you to reboot the interface or offer you to install system application updates. Wait until the process is complete, then reopen the Themes app. The store should update, and you will have access to the full directory. Remember, after you set the desired design, to return the region back to the local services, weather and news.
An alternative and safer method is to use third-party utilities such as Themes Editor or MIUI Theme Editor. These applications allow you to download.mtz files directly, bypassing the region check. You will need to download the theme file from a trusted source (for example, 4PDA forum or specialized sites), open it through the import menu in the application, or through the file manager, selecting Open with help.
☑️ Check before installing a third-party theme
Using third-party launchers for complete freedom
If the built-in MIUI shell feels too limited, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher, which completely replaces the desktop, control panel and application menu. The most popular solutions are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and Smart Launcher, which allow you to change the desktop grid, swipe animation, hide applications and even control gestures.
To install an alternative launcher download APK-You can either find the file or find the app in Google Play Market or GetApps. Once installed, Xiaomi will ask for permission to use this launcher by default. Confirm the action and the interface will change. It is important to note that some system features, such as widget “cards” or specific gestures MIUI, They may work incorrectly or be inaccessible.
The advantage of third-party launchers is that they are cross-platform and have a huge number of ready-made icon packs. You can install one launcher and change dozens of different styles just by downloading new icon packages from the Play Store. This gives you much more flexibility than a standard theme, which is often sewn into a single file and is not amenable to partial editing.
The impact of launchers on autonomy
Advanced customization: fonts, icons and Always On Display
Deep customization is not limited to the overall picture, but rather to fonts that can dramatically change the way you see text on the screen, and the theme store has a separate "Fonts" section where you can download handwritten, gothic or minimalist text, and the use of font requires a system reboot, which is standard security procedure.
It is also worth mentioning the feature Always on Display (AOD), accessible AMOLED-Many modern themes include dynamic lock screens that respond to touch or show animations when notifications are received. AOD You can find the settings section → Lock screen → Always On Display, where style, work time and display information (battery, steps, notifications) are selected).
For minimalist lovers, it is possible to create their own icon sets. Using design apps, you can redraw standard MIUI icons, retaining their original style, but changing their color or shape, and this is especially true for those who use monochrome or neon themes, where standard color icons are knocked out of the overall style.
| Parameter | Standard theme | Third-party launcher | Manual modification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Tall. | Medium | Low (risk of error) |
| Flexibility of settings | Low. | Tall. | Maximum |
| Impact on the battery | Minimum | Medium/High | Depends on the topic. |
| Complexity of installation | 1 click | 5-10 minutes | Requires skills |
⚠️ Note: When installing fonts from unverified sources, there is a risk of "bricking" the system if the font file is damaged. The system can go into an endless restart (bootloop). Always have access to Recovery Mode at hand to reset to factory settings.
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Expert advice: Before installing a heavy animated theme, check for free space in memory.Theme cache files can take up anywhere from 100MB to 1GB of disk space, which can slow down the device when it fills up storage.
Removing and returning to factory settings
If you are bored or are not working properly, it is easy to delete. Go to the Themes app, go to the user profile (human icon) and select the Topics section. Find an active theme (usually marked with an "Used" icon) and click the delete button or select the standard "Classic" theme for reset. This will return all icons and wallpaper to its original state.
If the phone is stuck on the theme download screen or the interface is unstable, you can use the safe mode or Recovery menu. To do this, turn off the phone and turn it on by holding the button combination Volume Up + Power. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (with loss of data) or, if possible, Connect with MIAssistant to remotely delete the problem file via the PC.
Often, the problem is solved by simply cleaning the theme app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Themes → Memory and click Clear Cache. This won’t delete your downloaded themes, but will reset temporary files that may have been corrupted when downloaded.
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The quickest way to return the standard look is to apply the Classic theme to the Themes app profile, it takes a few seconds and doesn’t require a reboot.