How to turn off themes on Xiaomi: return the classic look

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face an intrusive proposal to install third-party interface designs. MIUI shell or the new HyperOS by default actively promotes the store with themes that can annoy users accustomed to pure Android. This is not just visual noise, but also a potential impact on system performance, as the background processes of the Themes app consume resources.

Many users wonder if it is possible to completely get rid of this element of the system without losing functionality. The answer is yes: it is possible to disable or remove the store theme, but the methods vary depending on the firmware version and region. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from simple settings to use. ADB-team-up.

It is worth noting that the rejection of the theme store is not only a matter of aesthetics: disabling the theme system application on Xiaomi can increase the autonomy of the device by 5-10% per day by stopping background synchronization.

Disabling Advertising and Recommendations in the Theme Store

Before you try to remove an app, try to minimize its aggressive behavior through built-in settings. Xiaomi’s system allows you to limit data collection and show recommendations, which makes using a standard interface less annoying. This is the first step that every owner needs to take.

To start, open the Themes app on the home screen or in the Tools folder. Click on the profile icon in the top right corner, then select Settings. Here you are interested in the Advanced Settings or About section, where you need to find the Receive Recommendations switch and turn it off.

Additionally, it is worth clearing the app cache to reset the accumulated data about your preferences that are used for targeted advertising. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Topics → Memory and click “Clear”. This action will not remove your installed designs, but reset your personalization settings.

⚠️ Note: Even after disabling all recommendations in the settings, some interface elements may appear periodically when updating system components. MIUI, requiring periodic verification of privacy settings.

Hiding the application icon through system settings

If you think it's risky to completely remove the store icon from the app menu, it won't stop the process completely, but it will remove the visual stimulus from the desktop, and it's especially relevant for those who are afraid of disrupting system fonts or alarm clocks.

Newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have added a hidden app feature: Hold your finger on an empty desktop to enter edit mode, and select Settings or Hide Apps. In the list that appears, find Themes and activate the switch. Now access to the store will be possible only through search or settings.

Alternatively, use Second Space or Guest Profile mode, create a new user profile where the theme store simply won't be installed or active by default, and switch between profiles allows you to isolate the main work environment from system debris.

  • 📱 Go to the desktop settings after a long press.
  • 🔍 Find the “Hide Apps” item in the lower menu.
  • 🚫 Select the Topics app from the list to hide.
  • ✅ Confirm the action with a password or fingerprint.

It's important to understand that concealment is only a cosmetic measure, and the com.android.thememanager process will continue to work in the background, and more radical measures are required to fully deactivate, as discussed below.

Remove themes via ADB on your computer

The most effective and safe way to get rid of the rootless theme store is to use USB debugging and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tools, which allows you to delete system applications for the current user without affecting the system partition. If something goes wrong, resetting will return everything to place.

To start, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on either MIUI Version or OS Version. Then the Developer option will appear in the "Additional" menu. Inside, find and enable "Debugging by USB" and "Debugging by USB (security settings)".

☑️ Preparation for removal through ADB

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Connect your smartphone to your computer. Download the Platform Tools package from Google's official website. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type in the command to check the connection: adb devices. The phone will have a request for debugging permission — be sure to check the box "Always Allow" and click "OK".

Now, execute a command to remove the theme packet. Enter in the terminal: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.themestore. If you want to remove and the theme manager completely, use the batch name com.android.thememanager. The system will report the success of the operation with the word "Success".

⚠️ Note: When removing system components through ADB Check the name of the package carefully. Deleting critical system services such as Security or Settings can cause the device to function in an unstable way1.

Use of universal uninstallators

For users who do not want to work with the command line, there are graphical shells for the use of the ADB. Programs like Universal Android Debloater or Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools make it much easier to do this. They provide a user-friendly list of applications with descriptions and the ability to safely remove them.

Download and run the selected utility on your PC. Connect the phone with debugging enabled. The program automatically determines the device model and downloads the list of installed packages. You need to search the list of "Theme Store", "Themes" or "Miui Theme Editor" and click on the button "Uninstall" or "Remove".

What if the phone is not identified in the program?
Make sure drivers are installed ADB Interface. Try another one. USB-cable or port on some Xiaomi models require a mode switch USB From “Charging” to “Transfer of Files (MTP)» The advantage of these tools is that they have a knowledge base: they often color-code applications to indicate the risk of deleting them, green for security, yellow for caution, red for critical system components. This minimizes the risk of accidental system failure. 🖥️ Download Universal Android Debloater with GitHub. 🔌 Connect your smartphone and allow debugging. 🗑️ Find the word "Theme" in the search for the program». 🚀 Press the delete button for selected packages. After the procedure is completed, it is recommended to restart the device. You will notice that the store has disappeared from the menu, and in the application settings it is no longer available. If you want to go back, the cmd package install-existing com.miui.thememanager will restore the remote. The method depends on your technical skills and the desired result. Simple hiding of the icon is suitable for conservative users, whereas the method is suitable for conservative users. ADB-The following is a table to help determine the optimal way. Method Complexity Risk Effectiveness Disabling Ads in Settings Low Low (processes remain) No Hiding App Icons Low Medium (visually) No Deleting through ADB Average High (complete removal) Medium (code error) Graphic uninstallers Low High Low As seen from the table, the use of graphic uninstallers combines high efficiency and low entry threshold. This is the best choice for most users who want to clean the system of unnecessary software without deep immersion in technical details. Possible problems and their solution After removing the store, users may encounter a number of nuances. For example, some third-party launchers or widgets tied to the theme engine may stop displaying icons correctly. Also, the theme can be reset to standard, and it will be impossible to return customization through standard means. If after removal you notice a missing alarm clock or a failure in the lock screen, this means that the system package comm is affected, but only the reset will help the store with a full reset. 📊 What is the way to disable the topics you chose?Just hid the icon Disabled the ad in the settings ADB In rare cases, after updating the firmware, remote applications can return. This happens if the update is in the nature of a complete flashing with the replacement of the system partition. In such a situation, the removal procedure will have to be repeated again. ⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (which is important for global versions of Xiaomi), deep modification of system files without root rights is impossible. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Is It Safe to Remove Theme Store Through ADB? Yes, it is safe, as the application is only removed for the current user (user 0), and not from the system partition completely. You can always restore it with the adb shell cmd package install-existing or reset the phone settings. Will the wallpaper be no longer available after removal? No, the standard wallpaper change function through Gallery or Settings will remain available. You will only lose access to the catalog of paid and free themes in the Mi Store. Does removing themes affect the warranty? Using ADB to remove applications does not require unlocking the bootloader and does not violate the software seals. However, if critical system components are removed in the process and the phone stops from being turned on, can the service be removed from the download? Yes, methods using ADB (through command line or uninstallation programs) work on devices with a locked bootloader, as they do not require modification of the system partition recovery or boot. What to do if widgets disappear after removal? Some widgets depend on the theme engine. Try reinstall them or use alternative widgets from Google or third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.