How to change the black background to white on the smartphone Xiaomi: all working methods

Dark theme in MIUI saves battery power and reduces eye strain, but many Xiaomi users want to return the usual light interface over time. This is especially true for those who use a smartphone in well-lit rooms or print a lot of text – on a white background, the characters are perceived more clearly. However, it is not always clear where the the theme switch is hidden: in new versions of MIUI 14/15, the path to settings has changed, and on some models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5) the option is duplicated in several menus.

In this article, you will find all the current ways to change the black background to white, from standard settings to hidden functions through ADB. We will also discuss why sometimes a light theme does not apply to all applications and how to fix it. If you encounter a bug where part of the interface remains dark after switching, there is a separate section at the end of this article to solve this problem.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global and MIUI Europe menu paths may vary. If you have custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu), check the version in Settings first. → The phone. → Version. MIUI — This will help you to better understand the instructions below.

1. Standard method: Switching theme in MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI settings. It works on all current Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (including Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Xiaomi 14, POCO F5).

1. Open the Settings app** (cog icon).

2. Go to the Screen section (on some firmware it is called the Display).

3. Find the item "Dark Mode"** (or the Color Scheme in MIUI 15).

4. Switch the slider to the "Off" position** or select the Light option.

⚠️ If after that part of system applications (for example, Security or Camera) remains dark, it is not a bug, but a feature. MIUI. Xiaomi developers deliberately leave some elements in the dark for better readability. To bring everything to a uniform style, use the methods from section 4.

On models with MIUI 14 and later, an option may appear: Auto Switch on a Schedule. If it is active, the light theme will be dropped on the dark in the evening.

Make sure your smartphone is at least 30% charged |Close all background apps |Disable automatic theme switching |Check if the power saving mode is active-->

2. Change the topic through the “Themes” app (for full customization)

If the standard switching does not produce the desired result (for example, the icons remain dark), try to apply a light theme through the official Themes app, which is suitable for deep customization of the interface, including color accents and icon style.

1. Open the Themes app (if not, download from Google Play).

2. Go to the Wallpaper or Theme tab (depending on the version of the application).

3. In the search box, enter a query for a light theme or white theme.

4. Select your favorite theme (e.g. Default Light or Minimal White) and click Apply.

💡 Useful tip: If after applying the theme some elements (for example, notification panels) remain black, try resetting the theme settings to the standard:

Unlike the system switch, Themes can conflict with some shells (like Nova or HyperOS launchers).If artifacts appear after applying the theme, go back to the standard MIUI launcher.

3. Use of the “For the visually impaired” mode (alternative method)

A little-known way to force the light interface is to activate the “For the Visually Impaired” mode in special features settings, which works even on older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12 on the Redmi Note 9) and often resets all system applications to a white background.

1. Go to Settings → Special Features (or Additional Features).

2. Select for the visually impaired (may be called Contrast Text or Enhanced Visibility).

3. Activate the slider Enable and select High contrast (light) circuit.

4. Save the changes and restart the device.

⚠️ Warning: This mode can increase font size and change contrast of some elements. If you only need light colors without additional changes, then after application, return to the settings and turn off all options except the color scheme.

🔍 Key takeaway: The visually impaired mode is a "heavy artillery" for cases where standard methods don't work, and its main advantage is the forced application of a light theme to all system components, including Settings and Quick Panels.

4. Forced inclusion of a light theme through ADB (for advanced)

If system settings ignore your commands (for example, due to a bug in MIUI 15), you can manually set a light theme through ADB. This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer, but is guaranteed to work on any Xiaomi device.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers (you can download on the official website).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (original to avoid connection issues).
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB (Part of Google's Platform Tools).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB smartphone.

🔧 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until you become a developer!
2. Enable USB debugging: Return to Settings → Additional settings → Developer settings. Activate USB debugging and confirm permission.

Command line.

Terminal

ADB

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

adb shell cmd uimode night no

For MIUI 14/15, an additional command may be required:

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1

Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI setting ADB To fix a bright theme forever, create a task in Automate or Tasker, which will automatically apply the command when you boot the system.

5. Bug fix: why a light theme doesn't apply to all apps

A frequent complaint of Xiaomi users is that after switching to a white background, some applications (such as Gallery, Music or Browser) remain dark.

🔹 Reason 1: The app uses its own theme setting.

💡 Solution: Open the settings of the problem application (for example, Gallery) → ⚙️ → Dark theme) and manually select Light. MIUI 15 Some apps (e.g. Mi Video) sync with the system theme with a delay – wait 5-10 minutes or restart your smartphone.

🔹 Reason 2: Launcher conflict (e.g. Nova Launcher or HyperOS Launcher).

💡 Solution: Return to the standard launcher MIUI or in the alternative launcher settings, disable the option Dark Theme/Adaptive Icons.

🔹 Reason 3: Bug in MIUI (relevant MIUI 14.0.4–14.0.6).

💡 Solution: Update your firmware to the latest version or reset the theme settings: adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

📊 Comparison of methods for eliminating bugs:

6. Alternative methods: launchers and third-party applications

If you don't like the standard design of MIUI, you can completely replace the interface with alternative launchers, which allow you not only to change the color scheme, but also to customize icons, animations and even fonts.

🌟 Top.-3 launcher:

• 🔹 Nova Launcher supports light themes, adaptive icons and gestures. Select Appearance in the settings → Dark subject matter → Never.
• 🔹 HyperOS Launcher (from Xiaomi) – optimized for MIUI, But with enhanced customization options.
• 🔹 Lawnchair is a lightweight open source launcher with Material You support (automatically picks up light accents).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers, some functions MIUI (For example, Super Wallpaper or Quick Commands may not work properly. Before installing, back up your home screen through Settings. → Annexes → Default launcher → Backup.

🛠️ How to Return a Standard Launcher MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset app settings.
3. Confirm the reset, it will return the standard launcher.

On Xiaomi models with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 Ultra), forced inclusion of a light theme through ADB can cause system animations to fail, in which case use only standard settings or launchers.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When changing the theme, Xiaomi users often encounter common mistakes that lead to unexpected results, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

🚫 Mistake 1: Light Theme applies, but dark comes back an hour later.

💡 Reason: Automatic time switching to Settings is activated → Screen. → Dark mode. Turn it off or set the schedule manually.

🚫 Error 2: After applying the topic through ADB The wallpaper on the lock screen is missing.

💡 Reason: Adb shell cmd uimode night no resets some personalization settings. To return wallpaper, go to Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper and re-select them.

🚫 Error 3: In some apps (like Google Chrome), text has become unreadable on a white background.

💡 Reason: The app uses an inverse color scheme. Open the settings of the problem app and select Light Theme or System Default.

📋 Checklist before the topic change:

Check the version. MIUI (Settings → The phone)|Turn off automatic theme switching|Make a backup copy of the home screen|Close all background applications|Make sure the debugging is done USB disabled (if not in use)-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions