How to remove a dark theme on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: a detailed guide with pictures

The dark theme on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro smartphones has become a standard for many users thanks to battery savings and reduced eye strain. However, not everyone likes it: some prefer the classic light interface, some dark tones seem gloomy, and some face display bugs in individual applications. You can turn off the dark theme on this device in several ways, from basic system settings to fine-tuning through hidden MIUI settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including the nuances for different versions of firmware, you will learn how to return light mode globally for the entire system, for individual applications, or even set up automatic switching on a schedule, and pay special attention to the typical problems when settings are not saved or reset after a reboot.

If you recently upgraded the Redmi 8 Pro and noticed that the dark theme turned on on on its own, this is the standard MIUI 12+ behavior, where the default mode is tied to the battery system settings. But don't worry: all the changes are reversible, and you can return the usual look of the screen in a couple of minutes.

1. Standard method: through system settings

The easiest way to disable dark theme is to use built-in MIUI settings, which works on all Redmi 8 Pro firmware versions, including MIUI 11, 12 and 13, but with minor visual differences in the menu.

To change the topic globally for the whole system:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Display section (in some versions - Screen).
3. Select Dark Theme (or Dark Theme Mode).
4. Move the slider to the off position. or select the Light option.

After that, the system interface, standard applications (Calls, Messages, Settings) and some third-party programs will immediately switch to the light palette. Note: individual applications (for example, YouTube or Telegram) can ignore the system settings and use their own theme settings.

If the item Dark theme is not in the Display menu, check:

• 🔍 Version MIUI: into MIUI 10 and below the theme settings could be in the Additional settings section → Special facilities.
• 🔄 System Updates: Some features only appear after the latest patches are installed.
• 📱 Firmware region: in global (Global) and Chinese (China) versions MIUI The location of menu items may vary.

💡

If some system applications are dark after turning off the dark theme, try restarting your smartphone, which will help you apply the changes to all processes.

2. Configure via MIUI Launcher (themes and wallpaper)

In Redmi 8 Pro, the MIUI Launcher is responsible for the visual design, which allows you to flexibly customize the appearance of the system, and through this menu you can not only turn off the dark theme, but also choose alternative styles of design.

Instructions for changing the theme through MIUI Launcher:

1. Click and hold the blank space on the home screen, then select Themes (or Wallpaper and Themes).
2. In the lower panel, go to the tab My (human icon).
3. Tapping on an active topic (usually it is highlighted by a frame).
4. In the window that opens, select Light or any other theme with a light palette (for example, Default or Classic).
5. Confirm the changes with the Apply button.

This method is more flexible than system settings, as it allows:

• 🎨 Apply custom themes from the store MIUI Themes (including lighter options with unique icons).
• 🔄 Save a few themes and switch between them quickly.
• 🖼️ Customize wallpaper and icon style separately from the color scheme.

Important: If you downloaded a theme from a store, it can contain both light and dark elements, in which case check the description of the theme before installing - look for the mention of Light mode or Light version.

3. Automatic switching on schedule

If you don’t like to keep turning on/off a dark theme manually, MIUI has an automatic switching function for the time of day or light level, which is convenient for those who prefer dark mode at night and light during the day.

To set up automatic switching:

1. Open the settings → Display → Dark theme.
2. Select the item Automatically (or on schedule).
3. Specify one of the conditions: 🌅 From sunset to sunrise – the theme will change depending on the time of day (access to geolocation is required). ⏰ Schedule – set a fixed on/off time. 🔦 According to the light sensor – switching will occur when the light level changes (does not work on all devices).

Save the settings.

Automatic nuances:

• 📍 To work the option With sunset before sunrise, you must enable geolocation and allow access to the location for the Settings application.
• ⚡ Automatic switching can slightly increase battery consumption due to background sensor activity.
• 🔄 If the switching time is lost, check the date and time settings in the Settings section. → Additionally. → Date and time (must be enabled Automatically).

If the automatic mode is unstable, try manually specifying a fixed schedule, for example, you can set the switch to a dark theme at 21:00 and back to light at 7:00.

Geolocation included|Updated date and time|Is the Settings app allowed to use the location?|Is the battery level sufficient (recommended) >20%)-->

4. disabling dark theme for individual applications

Some apps (like Google Chrome, VK, or Instagram) ignore system settings and use their own theme settings, so you have to customize each software separately.

Examples for popular applications:

If the app does not have a built-in option to change the theme, try:

• 🔄 Update the app to the latest version (often new releases add support for a dark/light theme).
• 📥 Install an alternative client (e.g. Telegram X instead of the standard Telegram).
• 🛠️ Use the mode of forced light design through the developer settings (about this in the next section).

💡

Not all apps support a light theme. If you don't have an option in your settings, check the app information on Google Play, which is sometimes a limitation set by developers.

5. Forced shutdown through developer settings

If standard methods fail or a dark theme returns after a reboot, you can use the hidden options of the developer mode, which is suitable for advanced users and requires caution.

Instructions for forced disabling of dark theme:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified you have become a developer!).

Settings

For developers

Forced to include a bright topic

Override force-dark

Reset the device.

Warnings when using this method:

⚠️ Warning: Forced light mode can break the display in some applications, making the text unreadable or changing the colors of interface elements. If after activating this option, applications began to work incorrectly, return the setting to the original state.

⚠️ Note: on some versions MIUI Override force-dark may not be available or may be called the Force Light Theme, in which case you can try updating your firmware or using alternative methods.

If some interface elements are not displayed correctly after enabling the forced mode (for example, black text on a dark background), try:

• 🔄 Disable and turn on the option again.
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🛠️ Clear the application cache where the problems occurred (via Settings) → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

6. Reset theme settings to factory

If all of the above methods did not help, or the theme settings went wrong after the system update, you can reset the design parameters to factory values, which will return the standard bright MIUI theme without losing personal data.

To reset the theme settings:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset Theme Settings (or Reset Personalization).
3. Confirm the action (a password or pattern lock may be required).
4. Wait for the process to be completed and restart the device.

What will be dropped:

• 🎨 All applied themes, wallpaper and icon styles.
• 🔕 Fantasy settings and sizes of interface elements.
• 📱 Display parameters (brightness, color temperature, etc.) are not affected.

Once reset, the system will return to the standard light MIUI theme for your firmware version, a technique that is especially useful if you’ve experimented with custom themes and want to bring back clean design.

Typical problems and their solutions

When you turn off the dark theme on Redmi 8 Pro, users often face a number of problems.

Problem 1: Dark Theme turns on on itself after the reboot

• 🔋 Check the battery settings: in MIUI There's an ultraeconomic mode feature that can force a dark theme to be included. → Battery and productivity → Battery modes and turn off this option.
• ⚡ Update the firmware: in older versions MIUI There were bugs with the theme settings saved.

Problem 2: Some apps are still dark

• 📥 Update problematic apps through Google Play.
• 🔧 Check the theme settings inside the app itself (see Section 4).
• 🛠️ Use Forced Light Theme Mode (Section 5).

Problem 3: No "Dark Topic" item in the settings

• 🔍 Make sure you have it installed. MIUI 11 or newer. MIUI 10 and below the theme settings could be called differently (e.g. Night mode).
• 🌐 Check the firmware region: in Chinese versions MIUI Some options may not be available.
• 📲 Try to change the subject through MIUI Launcher (Section 2).

Problem 4: After the system update, the topic got lost

• 🔄 Reset the theme settings (section 6).
• 📡 Check if your Xiaomi account settings have reset (sometimes this affects the synchronization of theme).

💡

If after all the manipulations the dark theme continues to turn on, try to disable the synchronization of themes through your Xiaomi account. To do this, go to Settings → Accounts → Xiaomi → Synchronization and deactivate the Topic item.

FAQ: Frequent questions