Modern OLED and AMOLED screens, which are used by the vast majority of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, offer not only rich colors, but also significant battery savings when using dark design. Activating the black interface is not just an aesthetic choice, but also a way to extend the autonomy of the smartphone in the face of a lack of time to charge. When the pixels display black, they actually turn off, which reduces the overall power consumption of the display.
The dark theme switching procedure in MIUI shells and the new HyperOS can vary depending on the Android version and regional firmware. Users often encounter a situation where the standard switch changes the background of settings but leaves app windows or notification menus white. Deep Dark Mode is a hidden feature activated through special codes or developer settings that forcibly blackens even those interface elements that normally ignore the system theme.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available for activating black mode, from simple menu settings to engineering codes. You will learn how to set up automatic switching on a schedule and understand why some applications may look incorrect once you turn on this feature.
Basic activation of dark theme through system settings
The easiest and safest way to change the look of the interface is to use the standard operating system tools. In the current versions of the shells from the Chinese manufacturer, this functionality is put in a prominent place so that the user can quickly adapt the screen to their preferences.
Find a section that, depending on the location, might be called Screen or Wallpaper and Personalization, and that's where the basic visual customization tools are, and if you're using HyperOS, the menu logic might have changed a little, but the principle is the same: look for "Decoration Theme" or just "Theme."
Inside this menu, you'll see a Dark Mode or Dark Theme switch, activating this slider will instantly change the background of the desktop, notification curtains and system applications to gray or black, but the standard mode often leaves some elements, such as the background of the keyboard or individual dialog boxes, light.
- 🌑 Go to Settings. → Screen for quick access to the switch.
- 🎨 Use the Wallpaper and Personalization section for more fine-tuning style.
- ⏱ Set up automatic switching on time of sunset and sunrise.
It is worth noting that in some versions of firmware for the global market (Global ROM), the dark theme algorithm may differ from the Chinese versions (China ROM). Global firmware more often follows Google's guidelines, so applications that are not optimized for dark mode can simply invert colors, which sometimes leads to unreadable text.
⚠️ Warning: Once you have enabled the standard dark mode, be sure to check the display in commonly used applications such as instant messengers and bank clients. Some older versions of the software may not properly render buttons or make text merge with the background.
For those who want more control, the system offers a schedule setting, so you can set specific times to turn on and off so that your eyes don't get tired in the evening and the interface stays light and contrasting during the day, and this is especially true for people who are sensitive to screen brightness.
If the standard settings don’t satisfy you, we’ll move on to more advanced methods that allow you to achieve the perfect black color even where the system usually draws gray.
Use of hidden functions and engineering codes
For smartphone owners with AMOLED-matrixes, Xiaomi has introduced a special mode, often called Deep Dark Mode, which forces all interface elements that support a dark theme to use pure black (#000000) instead of dark gray, which gives maximum energy savings and perfect contrast.
This function can be activated through a hidden menu, accessed by a special means. USSD-code or through the developer's settings, depending on the version MIUI Android, the path may be slightly different, but the basic method remains universal for most of the brand’s devices.
Open the Phone app and enter the code ##86583##. In some cases, the code may not work the first time, or the system will tell you that the function is already on/off. If the code is not responsive, your firmware version may require activation through the developer menu or installing a special plugin.
- 📞 Enter the code #86583## in the phone app to activate Deep Dark Mode.
- 🛠 Alternative path: Settings → The phone. → Tapping according to version. MIUI 7 times to open the developer menu.
- 🔍 In the developer menu, find the item “Enable a dark theme” (Force Dark Mode).
After successfully entering the code or switching the toggle in the developer menu, you will see a notification “Dark mode enabled” or “Dark mode disabled”. Now you need to restart the device so that the changes will take effect for all system processes.
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If #86583## doesn’t work, try installing the Dark Mode Enabler app from Google Play, which performs the same function by opening access to the system’s hidden settings menu.
It's important to understand that a deep theme can have a negative impact on how we perceive some interfaces, and where designers relied on a light gray background to separate blocks, there will now be a black hole, which can disrupt the visual hierarchy of elements.
⚠️ Warning: Forced inclusion of a deep dark theme can cause text to disappear in some applications if they use black fonts on a dark background.Be prepared to disable the feature via Safe Mode if the interface becomes unreadable.
Setting up a dark theme in HyperOS and MIUI 14
With the release of HyperOS and the upgrade to MIUI 14, the approach to personalization has become more flexible, so that users can not only include a dark theme, but also customize its behavior for specific applications or use cases, and the system has become smarter to recognize content on the screen.
New versions of the software have a adaptive dark theme feature that analyzes wallpaper and open apps, slightly adjusting the shade of black or gray background to create a harmonious visual range, a subtle change, but it makes using a smartphone more enjoyable.
To access advanced settings, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Special Features. You can find points that regulate contrast and saturation in dark mode. You should also look at the settings of the Themes app itself, which often contain exclusive design components.
| Function | MIUI 12-13 | MIUI 14 / HyperOS | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic dark theme | There is. | There is. | Average. |
| The Deep Dark Theme (Deep Dark) | Hidden. | Partially built-in | High. |
| Adaptation to wallpaper | No. | There is. | Minimum |
| Sunset schedule | There is. | Got it (exact) | - |
Owners of HyperOS devices also have access to new widgets that automatically change their style depending on the theme included, creating a system integrity effect where all elements look like a single unit, rather than a set of disparate windows.
Remember that security updates and patches of the Google Play System Update can make changes to the dark theme. If you notice a bug in the display after the update, try clearing the theme app cache or resetting the design settings to the standard.
Use of third-party themes from the Mi Themes store
The official Mi Themes store is a storehouse of solutions for those who don't have the standard settings, and thousands of designers are creating themes that completely change not only the color, but also the shape of icons, the notification curtain, the power menu and the lock screen.
To find a quality black theme, search within the app. Type keywords like “Black”, “Dark”, “AMOLED” or “Deep Black” into the search bar. The Popular or Top filter will help you select the topics with the most positive reviews and the least bugs.
When installing a third-party theme, the system may request permission to change system fonts or style. This is normal, since the theme replaces system resources. After applying the theme, it is recommended to restart the device so that all graphic elements are updated correctly.
- 📥 Open the Topics app and go to the Profile section».
- 🔍 Search for the tags "Black" and «AMOLED» deep-search.
- ⭐ Pay attention to other users’ ratings and comments before installing.
Some themes may be paid or require a premium account, but free quality options are also abound.It's important to check the theme's compatibility with your version of Android, as old themes may not show up properly on newer versions of MIUI.
How to remove a bad theme if the phone is getting stuck?
Using third-party themes is the best way to make the interface unique. You can mix elements: take icons from one theme and system sounds and wallpaper from another, which gives you complete control over the look of your Xiaomi or Redmi.
Solving problems with display in applications
A common problem with users is when the system switched to dark mode and apps (such as Instagram, WhatsApp or Telegram) remained white, which is because app developers have to implement support for dark theme in their code.
In most modern instant messengers, the theme setting is made in the app’s own settings. You need to go to the App Settings → Chat / General → Theme and select “Dark” or “System”. If you choose “System”, the app will automatically follow the smartphone settings.
If the app doesn't want to go black, you can try forced switching through the Android developer menu. Find the option "Override force-dark", which will cause the system to invert colors even in applications that don't have native support.
But beware: Forced inversion can cause photos to become negatives and videos to become unreadable, a crude method that should only be used to read textual content in older apps.
⚠️ Warning: A forced dark theme for all applications can cause increased power consumption by the processor, as the system will have to constantly recalculate colors on the fly, which eliminates the savings from the processor. AMOLED-screen.
Web browsers like Chrome or Mi Browser also have their own experimental function flags, so by typing chrome://flags into the address bar and finding Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents, you can turn on the darkening of all web pages, which will save your eyes when you surf at night.
The Effects of Black Theme on Autonomy and Eye Health
Using a black theme on OLED or AMOLED screens has a direct impact on battery life. As mentioned earlier, the black pixel in these arrays is off. If the screen displays a pure black interface, this portion of the screen consumes no power at all.
According to the tests, with a brightness of 50% and using a dark theme in applications with mostly text content, the charge savings can reach 10-15% per day of active use.
In addition to saving energy, a dark theme reduces eye strain, especially in low light conditions. Less blue light and a lower overall brightness of the screen help to keep circadian rhythms and make it easier to fall asleep if you use your smartphone before bed.
☑️ Optimization check
However, in bright sunlight, a dark theme can reduce readability due to less contrast between text and background compared to a white theme.So the automatic switching function on a schedule or light sensor is the most sensible choice for most users.
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Black theme is not only style, but also a real energy saving tool for owners of Xiaomi smartphones. AMOLED-screens that can extend the life of the device 1-2 screen-hour.
To sum up, a smart dark interface setup makes smartphone use more comfortable and energy efficient: Experiment with settings, combine system features and third-party themes to achieve the perfect result.