How to remove the dark mode on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The dark mode on Xiaomi smartphones has become an integral part of the MIUI brand shell, offering users a comfortable use of the device in low light conditions. However, not everyone likes the black interface: someone prefers a classic light design, someone prefers a dark theme interferes with the perception of text, and some users have problems with displaying content in individual applications. If you are among those who want to return the usual light interface, this article is for you.

Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or 15) and the model of the smartphone (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), the process of turning off dark mode may be slightly different. We will look at all the current methods, including hidden settings that the manufacturer does not always advertise.

Before you start settings, make sure your device has the latest firmware installed. In older versions of MIUI (up to 12.5), the settings interface may be radically different, and some features (for example, flexible dark theme management for individual applications) may not be available at all.

πŸ“Š How often do you use the dark mode on Xiaomi?
Constantly.
Only at night.
Sometimes.
Never.
Depends on the app.

1. The main method: through the MIUI settings menu

The most obvious and universal method of turning off dark mode is using the standard settings menu, which works on all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a MIUI 12-15 shell.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on your desktop or in the app menu). Go to the Screen section. Depending on the phone model, this item may be called Display or Makeup. Scroll down to the Style block and you'll find the Dark Mode switch.

To completely disable the dark theme, move the slider to the position Off. Changes are applied instantly - the system interface, standard applications (Messages, Contacts, Camera) and supporting third-party programs (WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Chrome) will return to light design.

Is the screen settings open?

The "Dark Mode" switch in the "Off" position?

Is the phone reset to apply the changes?

Checked for the mapping in 2-3 annexes?-->

⚠️ Warning: Some models (Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi Note 10 Pro) may still have a black background in the Quick Settings menu after dark mode is turned off. MIUI or resetting themes to standard.

2. Quick shutdown via notification panel

If you don't want to dig into the settings, you can use the notification bar, which is the fastest way to switch themes. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification curtain. In some versions of MIUI, the dark mode shortcut is displayed immediately, in others it needs to be added manually.

If the Dark Mode buttons are not in the main switches, click on the pencil icon (or Edit) in the lower right corner of the panel.In the list of available shortcuts, find Dark Theme and drag it to the active area.Now you can turn on and off the dark mode with a single touch without going into the settings.

Note that on devices with MIUI 14/15, the shortcut may be called Screen Mode, and when you click on it, a pop-up will appear with a choice between a light and a dark theme, which is done to save space in the notification bar, where the number of shortcuts is limited.

πŸ’‘

If after turning off dark mode through the notification panel changes do not apply, try to hold the shortcut 2-3 seconds – this will cause an additional menu with schedule settings and exceptions.

3. Set up automatic switching on schedule

Many users are faced with a situation where the dark mode turns on on its own β€” usually due to the settings of automatic switching. To avoid this, you need to turn off the schedule or change its settings.

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Screen β†’ Dark Mode.
  2. Slip on the Schedule (or Automatic Enablement).
  3. Select Never or Off option if you want to completely deactivate automatic switching.

If you are comfortable using dark mode only at night, but the current settings are confused, check the following settings:

  • πŸŒ™ Turn on/off time: Make sure the correct time range is set (e.g. 22:00 to 7:00).
  • πŸ“ Geolocation Schedule: Some firmware has a feature to automatically turn on a dark theme based on sunset/rise time. Turn it off if it interferes.
  • πŸ”„ Adaptive mode: Adaptive dark mode (available on Xiaomi) 13/14) It can include a dark theme depending on the light. It should also be deactivated.
ParameterMIUI 12/13MIUI 14/15
The way to the scheduleSettings β†’ Display β†’ Dark Mode β†’ ScheduleSettings β†’ Screen β†’ Design style β†’ Automatically
The "Never" option.Available.Available (may be called "Off")
Geolocation scheduleAbsent.Available on flagships (Xiaomi 13 Pro and newer)
Adaptive regimeNo.Yes (in the settings Additional)

⚠️ Warning: If the dark mode still turns on after the schedule is turned off, check the battery settings. MIUI Smart schedules in Power and Performance can override screen settings. Turn it off or add it to exceptions.

4. Disable dark mode for individual applications

MIUI 13 and later has the ability to flexibly customize a dark theme for each application separately, which is convenient if you like the dark interface of the system, but in some programs (for example, Google Chrome or Instagram), you prefer light design.

Open Settings β†’ Screen β†’ Dark Mode β†’ Extra β†’ Application Exceptions. Here you will see a list of all installed programs with the ability to turn on or off dark theme for them regardless of system settings. By default, all applications follow global settings (Like in the system), but you can manually choose Light or Dark for each of them.

Some apps (like YouTube or Twitter/X) ignore system settings and use their own theme-switching logic, in which case you’ll have to change the theme directly in the app’s settings, usually in Settings β†’ Appearance or Themes.

Why do some apps not change the theme? Not all apps support dynamic theme switching over the top. API Android developers can implement their own mechanisms (for example, in the VK or TikTok that is not synced with settings MIUI. In this case, only manual configuration inside the program or contacting developers will help.--> 5.Reset themes to standard If after disabling dark mode the interface remains black or graphic artifacts arise (for example, incorrect display of icons or fonts), perhaps the problem lies in the damaged theme files. In this case, resetting the design to the factory settings will help.
Go to Settings β†’ Design (or Themes). Slip on three points in the top right corner and select Reset. Confirm action - the system will return the standard light MIUI theme. After reset, all user themes, fonts and icons will be removed, and the interface will return to its original state. If you previously installed custom themes from the Mi Theme Store, they will have to be downloaded and applied again. This method also helps to get rid of bugs associated with incorrect display of interface elements after updating the firmware. 6. Problems and solutions: sometimes the user mode does not turn on when the situation. Let’s look at the most common causes and ways to eliminate them: πŸ”§ System cache: Clear the Settings and Launcher app cache (home screen) through Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management. This often helps with interface failures. πŸ“± Update of firmware: On devices with MIUI 12.5 and below, there may be conflicts when switching themes. Update the firmware to the latest stable version. πŸ› οΈ Google service failure: Some themes features are dependent on Google Play Services. Reinstall updates for this app in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ All applications β†’ Google Play Services. πŸ”„ Hard reboot: Press the power button 10-15 seconds before turning off the phone, then turn it on again. This will reset the screen's temporary settings. If none of the methods worked, check if your device is installed. ADB-commands or Magisk modules, Forcedark> or DarkModeFix. These tools can force a dark theme at the system level, and to remove them, you need access to root rights or rollback to factory firmware. πŸ’‘In some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) Dark mode may be enabled due to Read in the special features settings. β†’ Special opportunities β†’ Reading mode and turn it off. FAQ: Frequent questions about dark mode on Xiaomi Can you turn off dark mode only for the home screen, leaving it in apps? MIUI There's no such option. Dark mode applies to the entire system interface and the applications that support it. However, you can use light themes for the launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), which ignore the system settings. MIUI 15 Dark Mode Started to Turn on Its Own? V MIUI 15 Adaptive Dark Mode, which analyzes the time of day and the level of light, has been introduced. β†’ Screen. β†’ Style of design β†’ Also check the Digital Well-Being settings, which can activate night mode. How do you make dark mode only available in certain applications? MIUI 14/15 This can be configured through Application Exclusions (see section below). 4). For apps that don’t support this feature (like Facebook), use third-party utilities like Dark Mode Manager (root rights required). Will turning off dark mode affect battery life? AMOLED-The dark mode does reduce power consumption because the black pixels are not illuminated. However, the difference in autonomy usually does not exceed 5–10%. If you're more comfortable with a light theme, feel free to turn it off - the impact on the battery will be minimal. Can you set up automatic themes switching by geolocation? Yes, but only on flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 14) with a new model? MIUI 15.The function is called Geolocation Schedule and is located in Settings. β†’ Screen. β†’ Style of design β†’ Automatically, it needs to be enabled to operate with Precise Location.