How to remove the black theme on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 14 and 15

The dark theme on Xiaomi smartphones has become a standard feature, but not all users like it. Some prefer the classic light interface because of habit, some because of problems with readability of text on a black background, and some users prefer the classic light interface because of habit. AMOLED-screens begin to burn with prolonged use of dark mode. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable the black theme on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO, including hidden settings and workarounds for stubborn firmware.

It’s important to understand that MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 have changed the logic of dark mode, allowing it to be activated manually, but also on a schedule, depending on the time of day or even geolocation. In addition, some apps (like Google Chrome or YouTube) have their own dark mode that works independently of system settings.

If you're in a situation where dark mode turns on on its own or doesn't turn off through the standard menu, don't panic. 90% of the time, it's solved without resetting or flashing it, and you know where to look.

1. Standard Disconnection through theme settings

The most obvious way is to use the built-in theme menu in MIUI, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12 firmware and later, including the latest versions of MIUI 15.

To turn off the black theme:

  1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
  2. Go to My Themes (or Offline in some versions).
  3. Select the default theme (usually light) or any other bright theme from the list.
  4. Click Apply and confirm the change.

If there are no light themes on the list, update the Themes app via Google Play or the App Store (for global versions of MIUI). Some regional firmware (for example, India) may not have standard themes, in which case download any bright theme from the Online section.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G) After changing the theme, you may need to restart the changes to apply to all system applications, including Settings and Phone.

Bright background on the main menu|White in the app "Settings"|Light panel notifications|The color of the icons on the desktop has changed-->

2. disable dark mode in the display settings

In MIUI 14/15, dark mode can be controlled not only through the Theme app, but also directly in screen settings, which is especially useful if you have automatic time switching or geolocation.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Settings β†’ Display.
  2. Find Dark Mode (or Dark Screen Mode in some translations).
  3. Switch the slider to the off position.
  4. If you have a schedule option, turn it off or set it up as you wish.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5), there is also an option on this menu called Automode, which analyzes lighting through a light sensor. If it is active, dark mode can be activated arbitrarily. Turn it off if you want full control of the color scheme.

What if the "Dark Mode" item is not in the settings?
On some firmware (e.g. MIUI EU or custom builds), this item may be called Color Scheme or Display Style. Also check the Additional Settings section β†’ Special Features β†’ Color and Contrast. If there is nothing there, use the methods in the following sections of this article.

If dark mode still appears in individual applications after turning off (for example, in the Google Play Store or Gmail), it means that they have their own mode.

3. Resetting theme settings to factory

If standard methods didn’t work, maybe the theme settings were changed through ADB or third-party utilities, in which case the factory reset will help.

How to reset the settings to topics:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management.
  2. Find the Themes app and select it.
  3. Click Warehouse β†’ Clear the data and confirm the action.
  4. Reset the device.

After the reboot, the theme will reset to standard (usually light) Warning: this method will also remove all the themes and wallpaper you have uploaded, so save your favorite options in the Gallery in advance.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI China (e.g. Xiaomi Mix Fold 3) resetting the Themes app can cause regional settings to reset. If the interface language has changed to Chinese after the procedure, return it via Settings. β†’ Additionally. β†’ Language and region.

Bright (always)|Dark (always)|Automatic (on schedule)|Automatic (by light sensor)-->

4. Disable dark mode for individual applications

Some apps (like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Chrome) ignore system settings and use their own dark mode to turn it off:

  • πŸ“± Google Chrome: Open the menu (three dots) β†’ Settings β†’ Topics β†’ choose the Light.
  • πŸ’¬ WhatsApp: Tap three dots β†’ Settings β†’ Topics β†’ Light.
  • πŸ“§ Gmail: Open the side menu β†’ Settings β†’ General settings β†’ Theme β†’ Light.
  • 🎡 YouTube: Profile avatar β†’ Settings β†’ General. β†’ Appearance β†’ Bright topic.

If the app does not have a separate theme setting, but it still appears in dark mode, try to force the light theme to be installed through the developer mode:

  1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings β†’ About Phone).
  2. Back to Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers.
  3. Find the option Forced to Enable Light Mode (or Override Force-Dark) and turn it on.

This method will make all applications appear in light mode, even if they do not support manual theme change, but it may not work properly in some games or banking applications.

5. Correcting Dark Mode Bugs Through ADB

If the dark mode turns on by itself or doesn't turn off in any way, the problem may be system flags. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

For this:

  1. Install ADB on your computer (instructions are available on the XDA Developers website).
  2. Connect the phone to the PC and allow debugging over USB.
  3. Open the command line and enter:
adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1


adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 0

The first command is dark mode (for reset), the second command is disable. Once executed, restart the device.

If the problem is related to automatic switching, turn it off via:

adb shell settings put global night_display_auto_mode disabled

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you are not sure about your actions, you should contact the Xiaomi service center or the forum. 4PDA assist.

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Before working with ADB, back up your important data via Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Backup. This will help you recover information in the event of a crash.

6.Problems with the dark mode on AMOLED-screen

On devices with AMOLED-displays (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi) K60 pro POCO F4 GT) The dark mode may behave in a non-standard way because of the way the matrix works:

Problem.Reason.Decision
The black screen flashes when scrollingConflict with screen refresh rateSet a fixed frequency (60Hz) in Settings β†’ Display β†’ Update Frequency
Colors are distorted in dark modeDC Dimming Mode EnabledTurn it off in Settings β†’ Display β†’ DC Dimming
Dark mode is turned on at low chargingPower saving mode Ultra battery saverTurn off in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Power saving mode
Some elements remain black.Rendering error in MIUI 15Update your firmware or reset your settings through Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Reset settings

If your device supports Always-On Display (AOD), check its settings: sometimes this mode conflicts with the global theme. Turn off AOD in Settings β†’ Lock and Protect β†’ Always-On Display and see if the problem has gone away.

πŸ’‘

Nana AMOLED-Dark mode saves battery power on screens, but can accelerate the burnout of pixels. If you notice permanent artifacts (for example, traces from the navigation bar), use a light theme or turn on dark mode only at night.

7. Alternative methods: launchers and third-party themes

If system methods do not help, you can bypass the restrictions using third-party tools:

  • πŸ“± Change Launcher: Install Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher – they allow you to force a light theme for the desktop and app menu.
  • 🎨 Third-party themes: The Play Market has apps like Hex Installer or Substratum that allow you to deeply customize the interface, including color schemes.
  • πŸ”„ Flashing: In extreme cases, you can install custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS), where theme management is implemented differently.

Before using third-party themes or launchers, check their compatibility with your Xiaomi model.Some themes may conflict with MIUI, causing lags or bugs.

If you decide to flash it, remember that it voids the warranty and can lead to data loss, only if other methods have failed and you understand the risks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the dark mode on Xiaomi

Why does the dark mode turn on on itself at night?
You probably have Automatic Time Switch activated. Turn it off to Settings β†’ Display β†’ Dark Mode β†’ Schedule. Also check your Digital Well-being settings, which can include night mode.
How to turn off dark mode in MIUI 15, if the item "Dark mode" is not in the settings?
In some versions of MIUI 15 (especially for China), this item is moved to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Special features β†’ Color and contrast. If not, use the ADB method from Section 5.
Can you turn off dark mode only for desktop, leaving it in apps?
Yes, but only with a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher), which is not available in the standard MIUI launcher, but is applied globally.
After upgrading to MIUI 15, the dark mode stopped turning off.
This is a known bug in some builds. Try: Clear the Themes app cache (as in Section 3). Reverse to the previous firmware version via Fastboot. Contact Xiaomi with bug logs (you can get them through the Bug Reporter app in MIUI).
Does dark mode affect battery autonomy?
On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro or Redmi K70) Dark mode can increase the operating time by 5-15%, since the black pixels are not illuminated. IPS-screens (e.g., screens, POCO M6 Pro) the difference is minimal - savings will be 1-3%.