Shifting your favorite design theme from one Xiaomi to another can seem like a trivial task — until you face the limitations of the system. Unlike wallpaper or melodies, MIUI themes are tied to your account and device, and their export does not always work out of the box. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer them between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, including bypassing typical errors and nuances for different versions of the firmware.
It's important to understand that MIUI Themes' official functionality doesn't allow you to directly copy themes between devices, but the combination of backup, manual APK installation and cloud sync is a good thing. We tested the methods on devices with MIUI 12-14 (including HyperOS) and identified those that work consistently, and if you're trying to transfer a paid theme purchased on one device to another, it's impossible without being tied to the same Mi Account.
Before you start, check:
- 📱 Both devices are working MIUI (or HyperOS) and have the latest version of the Themes app.
- 🔄 Both smartphones use one Mi Account (for the cloud method).
- 📁 There is enough free space on the target device (themes can weigh up to 50–100 MB).
1. Transfer theme through MIUI backup
The most reliable way is to use the built-in MIUI backup feature, which also saves the themes, which works on all devices with MIUI 10 and later, but there are nuances with recovery on different models.
Instructions:
- On the original smartphone, open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
- Select Themes in the data list to save (if you don’t have an option, update your firmware).
- Start backup. The file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on the internal drive.
- Transfer the backup file (with the.mbk extension) to the target smartphone to the same folder.
- On the target device, repeat the Settings path → Backup → Restore and select the transferred file.
Transfer the.mbk file to the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup|Make sure the target device has the same version MIUI (±1 subversion)|Shut down. VPN/Proxy (can block recovery)|Charge both devices at least to 50%-->
⚠️ Attention: If versions MIUI on devices differ by more than one subversion (for example, MIUI 13.0.5. and MIUI 13.2.1), the theme may not recover or be displayed with errors. APK-file (section 3).
Also, note that some themes (such as animations or fonts) may not be portable due to differences in hardware capabilities of devices. For example, the transparent panel theme on the Xiaomi 12 Pro may appear differently on the Redmi Note 10.
2. synchronize themes through Mi Cloud
If both devices are linked to the same Mi Account, you can try syncing themes over the cloud, which only works for free themes installed from the official MIUI Themes store.
Step-by-step:
- 🔄 On the original smartphone, open the Topics app, find the right theme in the My Topics section, and click Apply (even if it is already active).
- 📱 Go to Profile. → Settings → Synchronize themes and turn on the option.
- 🔄 On the target device, log in under the same Mi Account, open Topics → Profile → My subjects.
- 🔍 If the theme doesn’t appear, update the list by pulling the screen down, or reboot the device.
| Conditions | The result | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Both devices are on MIUI 12+ | The theme is synchronized in 5-10 minutes | — |
| Different versions of MIUI (e.g. 11 and 14) | The topic may not be displayed. | Use the method with APK (Section 3) |
| Theme purchased on one device | The second device will require a re-purchase. | — |
| There is no internet connection | Synchronization is not working | Use local backups |
⚠️ Note: If a pirated version of the theme with the same theme was previously installed on the target device ID, Cloud sync may not work, in which case, delete all unofficial themes through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Memory. → Clear the data.
Backup MIUI|Synchronization with Mi Cloud|Installation APK-file|None of the above.-->
3. Manual installation of the theme through APK-file
For advanced users, the most universal way is to extract APK-The method works for all topics, including paid ones (provided you legally purchased them).
Instructions:
- On the original smartphone, install a file manager with access to system folders (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
- Go to /data/app/com.miui.theme.editor-1/ (for custom themes) or /data/app/com.android.theme.icon-1/ (for icons).
- Find a file with the.apk extension that contains the title of the topic (e.g. com.miui.theme.MintGreen.apk).
- Copy it to your computer or directly to your target smartphone.
- On the target device, install APK-file as a normal application (allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Security).
- After installation, the theme will appear in the My Topics section in the Topics app.
How to find APK themes without root rights?
⚠️ Attention: Installation APK-Unofficially sourced themes may result in the Mi Account being blocked for breach of the license agreement. Use this method only to transfer your own legally acquired themes.
If the theme does not apply after installation, try:
- 🔄 Reset the device.
- 📁 Clear the app cache Themes in the settings.
- 🔧 Set the topic through ADB with the team: adb install -r -t com.miui.theme.NAZVANIE_TEMY.apk
4.Transfer between devices with different versions of MIUI
If the source and target smartphones run on different versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 13 and HyperOS), standard methods may not work due to changes in the theme structure, in which case converting the theme through third-party tools will help.
Algorithm of action:
- 📥 Extract. APK-Theme file from the source device (as described in Section 3).
- 🖥️ Use the utility. MIUI Theme Editor (available on GitHub) to convert theme to the target version MIUI. Conversion commands: java -jar miui-theme-editor.jar convert -i input.apk -o output.apk -v TARGET_VERSION where TARGET_VERSION — version MIUI target device (e.g, V14 for HyperOS).
- 📲 Install the converted APK target-mount.
💡
Before converting, check for compatibility of MIUI versions on Xiaomi's official support site. For example, MIUI 12 themes rarely work on HyperOS without edits.
If the conversion didn’t work, try to find a similar theme in the official store for your version of MIUI. Often manufacturers release adapted versions of popular themes for new firmware.
5. Frequent errors and their solutions
When you move themes between Xiaomi devices, users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common and ways to fix them.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The topic does not appear in the list after the transfer | Version incompatibility MIUI damaged APK | Check the integrity of the file or convert the theme (section 4) |
| Application of the topic leads to failure | There are no system resources (fonts, animations) | Install the missing components through the Topics → |
| The "Theme Not Supported" Error | Theme is for another region (CN/EU/Global) | Change the device region to Settings → Additional → Region |
| Paid theme requires repayment | Linking the purchase to a specific device | Contact Xiaomi with a payment check |
If none of the methods worked, check:
- 🔍 Updates for the Themes app in Google Play or App Store.
- 📵 Absence of ad blockers (such as AdGuard) that may interfere with the loading of topics.
- 🔧 Correct date and time settings (incorrect values can knock synchronization).
💡
Before perenosom themes, always check for compatibility of MIUI versions on both devices. Differences in even one subversion (e.g. 13.0.1 and 13.0.2) can lead to display errors.
6. Alternative methods: third-party launchers and custom firmware
If it is not possible to transfer the topic through standard methods, consider alternative options:
Use of third-party launchers:
- 📱 Install a launcher with themes support (e.g. Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Poco Launcher).
- 🎨 Export theme settings from MIUI in.klwp format (for KLWP) or.backup (for Nova).
- 📤 Transfer the file to the target device and import it in the launcher.
Castom firmware:
- 🔧 Sweep through custom firmware on both devices (e.g. xiaomi.eu or LineageOS) where theme restrictions are removed.
- 📂 Move the folder. /MIUI/theme/ from one device to another through TWRP.
- ⚠️ Note that this requires unlocking the bootloader and may deprive you of warranties.
⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware or modified themes can lead to a ban on your Mi Account if the device is tied to Xiaomi services (for example, Mi Cloud or Mi Pay.