The dark theme on Xiaomi smartphones saves battery power and reduces eye strain, but not everyone likes it. If you are a Redmi 9 owner and want to bring back the classic light interface, this is for you. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to turn off dark mode, including hidden MIUI settings, and also explain why sometimes the switch button may disappear or not work.
Many people have a problem when dark mode is automatically turned on on schedule or due to a system failure, and we will show you how to completely deactivate this feature, rather than just switching themes manually, and we will pay special attention to the nuances of the MIUI 12/13/14 firmware, as the menu layout may vary.
If you've got a dark interface since you've updated the system, don't panic. 90% of the time, it's solved in 2-3 clicks, and you need to know where to look for the settings and what settings are responsible for automatically switching themes.
1. Standard method: through the theme settings
The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI theme menu, which works on all firmware versions for Redmi 9, including global and Chinese builds.
Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop). In the bottom panel, select the Profile section, then tap the gear icon (⚙ Settings) in the upper right corner. Here, find Dark Mode and move the slider to the off position..
- 📱 If there is no item: Update the Themes app via Google Play or MIUI App Store. Older versions may not support this feature.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.
- 🌓 Automatic Switching: In the same menu, turn off the Auto option (on schedule) if it is active.
On some firmware, the path may be slightly different: Settings → Display → Dark Mode. If there is no slider, then the theme management is transferred to the Themes app, as described above.
Make sure the “Themes” app is updated|Check your schedule settings|Turn off automatic time switching|Reboot your phone after the changes-->
2. Disconnection through the notification panel
A quick way to switch the subject is to use the notification curtain. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the panel, then find the Dark Mode tiles (the crescent icon). Slap it once, the interface will immediately become light.
If the tiles are not in the main panel:
- Open the curtain completely (swipe twice).
- Click on the pencil icon (✏ Edit).
- Find the Dark Mode on the list and drag it to the active area.
💡
If the “Dark Mode” tile is missing after the update, reset the notification panel settings in Settings → Notifications → Additional → Reset the control panel.
Important: This method temporarily switches the topic until the next reboot or schedule is triggered. №1.
3. Set up the dark mode schedule
A common reason for spontaneously turning on a dark topic is an active schedule, and the system can switch the interface by time of day or geolocation to fix this:
Go to: Settings → Display → Dark Mode → Schedule.
- 🕒 Time: Turn off the option or reset the timeframe at 00:00-00:00.
- 🌅 At sunset/dawn: Deactivate geolocation schedule – it often fails.
- ⚙️ For individual apps: In the same menu, check the list of programs with a forced dark theme (e.g. Chrome or YouTube).
| Schedule type | How to turn off | Cause of failure |
|---|---|---|
| Timely. | Set off. or reset the time to 00:00 | Time zone conflict |
| Sunset/dawn | Turn off geolocation for dark topics | Incorrect GPS data |
| For applications | Remove programs from the exclusion list | The app update resets the settings |
| Battery | Turn off the charge saving → Dark topic | The energy saving regime has been activated |
If the topic changes after the schedule is turned off, check the charge saving settings. MIUI has a hidden option that forcibly turns on dark mode at a low battery level (less than 15%).
4. Resetting theme settings to factory
If previous methods didn’t work, return the theme settings to the default state, which will help to eliminate software failures without completely resetting the phone.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the “topics” list and tap it.
- Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Confirm the action and restart the phone.
What happens after the dump?
After the reboot, the system will prompt you to select a theme again. Select a light one (such as Default or Light) and turn off dark mode in the settings as described in the method. №1.
Constantly | Only at night |Sometimes |Never |I don't know what-->
5 Problems and Solutions: Why the Dark Mode Doesn't Turn Off
If the interface remains dark despite all the manipulations, check out these points:
⚠️ Attention: on some firmware MIUI 13+ Dark mode is tied to the system theme MiuiSystemTheme. To turn it off, you need to install a third-party light theme from the theme store.
- 🔧 System update: after major updates (e.g. with MIUI 12 on MIUI 14) Theme settings may be reset. Check the firmware version in Settings → The phone.
- 📴 Application conflict: Some programs (such as Twilight or Night Shift) may force dark theme to be included.
- 🔄 Cash Systems: Clear the Cache in Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache.This will help if the failure is caused by corrupted temporary files.
Another possible reason is the developer mode. If it's activated, check the color space simulation setting in Settings → For developers. It should be disabled or set to Disable.
💡
If dark mode is only enabled in individual applications (such as Google Chrome or Telegram), the problem is not in the system, but in the settings of the programs themselves. Go to the settings of each application and turn off the option “Dark theme” or “Night mode”.
6. Alternative methods for experienced users
If the standard methods didn't work, try these solutions. They take a little more effort, but they work in difficult cases.
Method 1: ADB-team (no root)
Connect Redmi 9 to a computer with ADB drivers installed and execute the command:
adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1
adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 0The first command is dark mode (to check), the second command is turned off. Once done, restart the phone.
Method 2: Editing a configuration file (requires root)
If you have root rights, open the file. /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db Using Root Explorer and find the recording ui_night_mode. Set the value on 0 and keep the changes.
⚠️ Note: editing system files without a backup can cause your phone to fail.Before doing anything, back up through TWRP or MIUI Backup.
Method 3: Installation of custom firmware
In extreme cases, you can flash an alternative firmware (like Pixel Experience or LineageOS) where dark theme management is implemented differently, but this is a radical solution that should be applied only if other methods have not worked.