How to remove a dark theme on Xiaomi: 5 working methods for MIUI

Dark mode on Xiaomi smartphones has become a standard feature with the release of MIUI 10, but not all users like it. Some prefer the classic light interface because of the better readability of text, some face display bugs in applications, and someone just gets bored with the monotony of black backgrounds. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to disable the dark theme on Xiaomi – from standard settings to hidden parameters for experienced users.

It is important to understand that the process may differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14) and the device model (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.).We will look at the universal methods that work on most devices, and also point out the features for specific lines. If you are not sure about your firmware version, you can check it in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

Before you start settings, consider that some apps (like YouTube or Telegram) have their own dark theme switch that works regardless of system settings.

1. Standard method: through display settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI settings, which is suitable for 90% of users and takes no more than a minute:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Display section (or the Screen on some models).
3. Find the Dark Mode item (may be called Night Mode or Dark Theme).
4. Move the slider to the off position. or uncheck the tick.

On MIUI 14, the path may be slightly different: Settings → Display → Display Style → Dark Theme. If you have a Poco device, look for the Poco Launcher Settings section, which sometimes duplicates theme settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, Poco M3) After disabling the dark theme, you may still have a black background in the notification menu. This is a firmware bug, and only an update or reset will help (more on this below).

2. Disconnection through "Themes" (MIUI Themes)

If the standard method didn’t work, try changing the theme through the Themes app, which is especially relevant for users who have previously installed custom themes from the Mi Theme Store:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the My (or Profile) tab.
3. Click on the current theme (usually displayed at the top of the screen).
4. Choose a standard light theme, such as Default or MIUI Light.
5. Confirm the application and wait for the process to be completed (may take up to 30 seconds).

If there are no light themes in the list, try resetting the Themes app settings:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Topics.
• 📛 Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
• 🔙 Go back to the Topics app and select a standard theme.

On Xiaomi with Hyper-OS (new models 2026), the path may be different: Settings → Personalization → Themes → Light.

3. Automatic switching on schedule

Sometimes a dark theme is automatically turned on because of your schedule settings, like if you've previously activated Auto-Switching by time of day or geolocation, to fix that:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Dark Mode.
2. Click on the Schedule (or Automatic Enablement).
3. Select No or Off to cancel automatic switching.
4. If there is an option on time, make sure that there is no interval from 18:00 to 07:00 (standard value).

Some firmware (MIUI 12.5 Enhanced) has a separate Adaptive Color setting that can force dark tones to be turned off in Settings → Display → Color Scheme.

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If a dark theme is turned on at night after you turn off your schedule, check the settings in the Google app (Google Services → Dark Theme), which sometimes override system settings.

4. Reset theme settings to factory

If previous methods didn't work, it's possible that the system has had a configuration failure, and then resetting the theme settings will help.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Topics list and click on it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear data and Clear cache.
4. Reset the device.

After the restart, the system will apply a standard light theme. If this does not happen, try a more radical method - reset all settings (without deleting data):

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 📱 Select Resetting (not Resetting to factory!).
• ✅ Confirm the action and wait for the completion (takes). 1-2 minute).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with bootloader lock (most official firmware), resetting will not delete your files, but will return all system settings to factory settings. However, if you have previously unlocked the bootloader or installed custom software, this method can lead to bootloop (a looped reboot).

5. Manual shutdown via ADB (for advanced)

If the dark theme is enabled at the system level and is not disabled in standard ways, you can use the ADB-This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on Smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to unlock Developer Mode) Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB (enable)
2. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
4. Execute the command to disable the dark theme: adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1 (where 1 — bright-themed, 2 — dark, 0 — automatic).
5. Reboot the device: adb reboot

If the theme hasn’t changed after the reboot, try an alternative command:

adb shell cmd uimode night no

On devices with MIUI 14 newer ui_night_mode If you have a new system architecture, try using adb shell settings put global. dark_theme_enabled 0.

6. Post-Switchoff Problems and Solutions

Sometimes, when you turn off the dark topic, you have side effects, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

• 🖥️ Black Lock Screen: Go to Settings → Screen locking → Lock style and choose the light option. If you don't have the option, try changing the wallpaper on the lock.
• 📱 Apps remain dark: Go to the settings of each application (e.g. Chrome, WhatsApp) and manually turn off the dark theme, VK) synchronized with the system theme with a delay of up to 24 hours.
• 🔄 Theme spontaneously turns on: Check your Mi Account settings — sometimes syncing themes between devices can include dark mode. → Xiaomi account → Synchronization.
• 🛠️ Misrepresented icons or fonts: This is a consequence of the reset of themes. Go to Settings → Fonts and icons and select a standard style (Default).

If problems persist, try clearing the system cache:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation).
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

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If after all the manipulations the dark theme returns, most likely the problem is in the firmware. Check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update or consider flashing through Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off the dark topic