How to customize themes on Xiaomi: from standard to custom solutions

Xiaomi’s theme is not just a background, but a holistic visual style that changes icons, fonts, animations, and even system sounds. A properly chosen theme can transform a device, make it unique and easy to use every day. However, many users are limited to standard settings, unaware of the hidden capabilities of MIUI, Xiaomi’s branded shell.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to customize themes, from basic changes through built-in tools to custom solutions installed through third-party services, and focus on the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 15), and how to avoid common bugs that can lead to interface failures. If you want your Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi 13/14 to look truly personal, this guide is for you.

Basic theme settings via the standard MIUI menu

To start with, it's simple: modifying the theme through built-in tools, which is suitable for all Xiaomi models released after 2018, and doesn't require any additional knowledge or root rights.

1. Open Settings and go to Themes (or Makeup in some versions of MIUI).
2. At the top of the screen, you'll see the current active theme. Slap it to open the gallery.
3. Choose one of the proposed topics (they are divided into categories: Popular, New, Minimalism, etc.).
4. Click "Apply" to make the changes effective. Some topics may require a device reboot.

Note that MIUI 14/15 has a dynamic themes feature that automatically adjusts to wallpaper. To activate it, select a theme marked "Dynamic" and install live wallpaper from the Wallpaper → Dynamic section.

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If after changing the theme, some application icons have not changed, try manually updating them through a long click on the icon → “Change” → “Icon”.

Standard topics are divided into two groups:

• 🎨 Free — basic Xiaomi options, available without restrictions. 20-30 piece.
• 💎 Paid - premium themes with a unique design, the cost of which varies from 50 to 300 rubles.

How to Set Custom Themes from Third-Party Sources

If you find embedded themes boring, you can use third-party resources, and the most popular platforms for downloading custom themes are Zedge, Themes for MIUI (Telegram channels), and MIUI Themes Editor (to create your own themes), but there are some critical nuances:

⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from unverified sources may lead to personal data leakage or conflict with system files. Always check reviews about the topic and use antivirus software before installing.

The process of setting a custom theme:

1. Download the theme file in.mtz format (for example, from miuier.com).
2. Move the file to the MIUI/theme folder on the internal drive (create it manually if it is not available).
3. Open the Themes app, go to My Themes → Import and select the downloaded file.
4. After importing the theme will appear in the My Themes section – you just have to apply it.

Some custom themes require additional manipulation:

• 🔧 Animated themes – can slow down on weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3). Before installation, check the version requirements MIUI.
• 🎵 Themes with sounds - replace system tunes. If notifications are missing after application, reset the audio settings to Settings → Sound.
• 📱 Model-specific themes – some designs are optimized for Xiaomi only 12/13/14 They may not be displayed correctly on budget smartphones.

Download the.mtz file from a trusted source

Check compatibility with the MIUI version

Create a backup copy of the current theme

Clear the cache of the "Themes" application (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Clear the cache)-->

Creating a theme from scratch: tools and tips

If you want to go further and create a unique theme yourself, you will need Xiaomi’s official software, MIUI Theme Editor, which is available only for Windows, but allows you to edit almost all interface elements, from icons to fonts.

1. Download and install MIUI Theme Editor from the official website.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 times tap on version).
3. In the editor, select New Project and specify your device’s screen resolution (e.g. 1080×2400 for Xiaomi 13).
4. Start editing with the basic elements: wallpaper, icons, color schemes. There is a separate section in the left panel for each element.
5. Once completed, export the theme to the.mtz file and transfer it to the phone as described in the previous section.

When creating a topic, consider the following points:

If you don't want to go into the editor, you can use online services like ThemesFactory or MIUI Themes Generator, which offer templates that you can customize without having a deep knowledge of design.

Problems with themes and their solutions

Even if you install themes correctly, they may not work properly, and let's look at some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• ❌ Theme does not apply – check if there is enough space on the device (requires a minimum of 500 MB of free space) and also make sure that the theme file is not corrupted (try to download it again).
• ⚙️ Icons don't change - some launchers (like Nova Launcher) block icon changes. MIUI Launcher.
• 🔄 Theme resets after update – this is a known error MIUI. Before upgrading the system, make a backup copy of the theme through Settings → Topics → Exports.
• 🖼️ Wallpaper stretches or cuts — the problem is the resolution mismatch. For modern smartphones, use wallpaper with an aspect ratio of 20:9.

⚠️ Warning: If the device starts to brake or overheat after applying the theme, return the standard theme immediately and clear the cache through Settings → Memory. → Some custom themes contain hidden processes that load the processor.

To diagnose problems, use the MIUI Error Log:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Tap 10 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Return to Settings → More → Error Log and check the entries associated with com.android.thememanager.

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If the theme caused critical crashes (such as a black screen after rebooting), reset settings via Recovery Mode: press Power + Volume Up when the phone is off, select Wipe → Wipe Cache.

Optimizing productivity when using themes

Beautiful themes often require additional resources, which can affect the speed of the device, especially on budget models like the Redmi Note 10 or the POCO X3.

• ⚡ Turn off animations - go to Settings → Special facilities → Remove animations (or through Developer Mode) → Window animation = 0.5x).
• 🗑️ Clear the theme cache – once a month delete temporary files through Settings → Memory. → Clear the app cache → Topics.
• 🔋 Use light topics – avoid themes with 3D-The best choice is flat design).
• 🛠️ Update. MIUI — In newer versions of the shell, theme work is optimized. MIUI 15 added Easy mode for weak devices.

To check the load from the theme, use the CPU Monitor app or the built-in performance monitor in MIUI:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Monitor.
2. Look at the CPU load schedule after you apply the theme, and if you download more than 30 percent in plaintiff, it's too heavy.

If you notice that after changing the theme, the device began to discharge faster, check the background processes:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics.
2. Disable auto-start and background activity for the Themes app.

Topics for Xiaomi Models: What You Need to Know

Not all themes are universal, some designs are optimized for specific product lines.

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/14 Series - supports dynamic themes with smooth transitions and adaptive colors Recommended themes: Aura Dynamic, Neon Glow.
• 🎮 POCO F4/F5 — They're game-oriented. Popular themes: Cyberpunk Edge, Dark Gaming.
• 💰 Redmi Note 12/13 — budget models, so avoid those with heavy animations. OS, Pure Black.
• 📺 Xiaomi Pad 6 - tablets require themes with adaptive scaling.Best options: Tablet UI, Material You for MIUI.

For devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO X5 Pro recommends dark themes, which reduces battery load and extends the life of the display, so you can force the dark mode to be turned on:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Dark Mode.
2. Choose Always On or Scheduled.
3. In the Topics section, filter themes by the Dark tag.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with LCD-screens (e.g. Redmi) 10A) Dark themes do not save battery power, as the backlight works the same regardless of the color of the pixels.

If you are not sure which theme will suit your model, use the official compatibility directory:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to the For [your model] section (e.g., For Xiaomi 13 Pro).
3. Check out the recommended themes – they have been tested by Xiaomi for compatibility.

Resetting themes to factory settings

If experiments with themes led to unstable operation of the device, you can return everything to its original state in several ways:

• 🔄 Through the theme menu: Open Settings → Topics: Select a standard Default theme or MIUI Standard. Confirm reset and restart the device.
• ⚙️ Through Settings Reset (if the theme has corrupted system files): Go to Settings → The phone. → Settings reset. Select Reset interface settings (does not affect user data).

Through Recovery Mode

1. Turn off the phone.


2.Put Power + Volume Up down before the Mi logo appears.




3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.




4. Reset the device.

After discharge, it is recommended:

• Update theme app through Play Market.
• Clear the cache in Settings → Memory → Clear the cache.
• Set only one subject for the test to ensure the stability of the work.