How to remove a dark theme on Xiaomi: all ways in 5 minutes

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 habit, some because of better readability of text in bright light. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off dark theme on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, including hidden settings and solutions for cases when standard methods do not work.

It is important to understand that the dark mode in MIUI It can be activated manually, but it can also be activated automatically, either on a schedule or depending on the time of day, and we'll show you how to turn it off completely, and how to set up flexible switching between modes. MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).

Why a dark theme may not be turned off in the standard way

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the dark mode switch in the Xiaomi settings does not work or immediately returns to the original position.

• 🔄 Application conflict – some programs (such as Google Chrome or Telegram) have their own theme settings that overlap the system.
• ⚙️ Cache error MIUI — Damaged settings data can block changes.
• 📱 Firmware with a bug - in some versions MIUI (especially in beta versions, there are errors with dark mode.
• 🌙 Automatic time switching – if Auto is enabled (on schedule), the theme will change regardless of manual settings.

If you’ve tried to turn off dark mode via Settings → Display → Dark Mode but nothing has happened, don’t rush to reset your phone to factory settings. In the following sections, we’ll look at alternative methods that will help even in the most difficult cases.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

To start with, the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi devices is suitable for MIUI 12, 13 and 14, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Xiaomi 11/12/13 and POCO F3/F4/F5 models.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Display section (or the Screen in some firmware).
3. Find Dark Mode (may be called Dark Theme or Night Mode).
4. Switch the slider to the off position. or select the option Light.

If you have a Style and Wallpaper tab on your menu, try going there — some versions of MIUI have the theme settings moved here. Also, pay attention to Auto (on schedule): if it is active, the theme will change automatically depending on the time of day.

Make sure there is no active schedule in the settings |Close all apps that may overlap the system theme |Reboot your phone after changing your settings |Check the MIUI updates in the About Phone section

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Method 2: Disconnect via "Themes" (if the standard method does not work)

MIUI has a separate Theme app that sometimes conflicts with the basic screen settings. If dark mode doesn't turn off via Settings → Display, try doing it through the Themes app:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. Go to My Themes or Theme Management.
3. Find an active topic and click on it.
4. In the menu that opens, select Light or Default.
5. Confirm the changes and restart the phone.

If there is no light option in the list of themes, try to set a standard MIUI theme:

• 🔍 In the Topics app, find the Official or Recommended section.
• 📱 Choose a theme marked Standard or MIUI Default.
• 🔄 Apply it and check if the display mode has changed.

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If after changing the theme, some apps (such as Google Play Store or YouTube) remain in dark mode, go to their settings and manually switch the theme to light.

Method 3: Turning off automatic time switching

One of the most common reasons that dark mode turns on itself is the Auto function (on schedule), which can be activated even if you haven't set it up manually, to turn off automatic switching:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Dark Mode.
2. If the Auto item is active (on schedule), click on it.
3. In the menu that opens, select No or Off.
4. Go back and manually set the light mode.

On some Xiaomi devices (such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro or POCO X3), the dark mode schedule can be tied to sleep or power saving.

• 🌙 Settings → Battery → Sleep mode – turn off the option Dark theme.
• ⚡ Settings → Battery → Saving Charge – Make sure there’s no dark mode clause.

Method 4: Reset theme settings via ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can try resetting the dark mode settings via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for advanced users, since it requires connecting the phone to a computer.

Attention: improper use of ADB may cause system failures. Follow the instructions carefully.

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version until you become a developer.

USB-debugging

• Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• Turn on USB debugging.
• Connect your phone to your computer and execute the command: adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1 (where 1 — light-set, 2 — dark, 0 — automatic).
• Reset the device.

Examples for popular applications:

• 🌐 Google Chrome: Settings → Topics → Light.
• 📱 Telegram: Settings → Appearance → Light.
• 📺 YouTube: Profile → Settings → General. → Theme → Light.
• 💬 VK: Settings → Registration → Bright topic.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Instagram or TikTok) don’t have manual theme settings and always follow system settings. MIUI.

What to do if a dark theme returns after a reboot

If it reappears after the phone is rebooted after the dark mode is turned off, the problem may be related to:

• 🔄 Work failure MIUI — damaged settings files are reset when rebooted.
• 📱 shell conflict – some firmware versions have bugs with saving themes.

Decisions:

1. Reset Launcher Settings: If you use a third-party launcher, go back to the standard MIUI Launcher. Go to Settings → Home Screen and select Standard.

Firmware update:

• Check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
• If a new version of MIUI is available, install it.