How to change the interface on Xiaomi smartphone: from standard themes to deep customization

Not everyone likes MIUI on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, some find it overloaded, some feel too childish, and some just want freshness after years of use. Fortunately, the possibilities of customization are wider than they seem, from simply changing the wallpaper to completely replacing the firmware with AOSP or Pixel Experience.

But before you go to extremes, you need to figure out what's wrong with you, and maybe you just need to change the design theme, disable unnecessary widgets, or activate hidden developer settings, and if you need a radical rework, you need to figure out how to unlock the bootloader, back up your data, and choose custom firmware. In this article, we'll look at all the options, from the simplest to the most risky.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files or firmware can cause a loss of warranty, unstable device operation, or even a buildup.

1. Standard methods: themes and wallpaper

Let's start with the safest and most reversible method, which is to change the visual design through the built-in MIUI tools, and even without the super-user rights, there's a lot to customize.

Xiaomi has two levels of customization interface:

• 🎨 Design themes change icons, fonts, animations, even system sounds, and there are free and paid options available.
• 🖼️ Lock screen wallpaper and styles – affect only background images, but can drastically change the perception of the interface.
• 🔄 Display settings – you can change the font size, element density (DPI) and color scheme.

To apply a new theme:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Select the MIUI or Online section to download new themes.
3. Click on your favorite topic and tap Apply.
4. Confirm the changes – some topics require a reboot.

If standard themes seem boring, you can install third-party ones from the Google Play store.

• 🛠️ Hex Installer – for installing themes in.mtz format.
• 🎭 Substratum - requires root but gives deep customization.
• 🖌️ KWGT — to create custom widgets.

⚠️ Warning: Some of the themes from third-party sources may contain ads or malicious code. Install only verified files from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums.

2. Hidden settings: Developer modes and MIUI laboratory

There are additional options hidden in MIUI that allow you to fine-tune the interface without risking the system, such as:

• 🔍 Enable developer mode to access advanced settings.
• 🧪 Activate the Laboratory MIUI — new features are being tested here.
• 📱 Modify DPI (pixel density) to reduce or increase interface elements.

To open the developer settings:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version.
3. Return to the main settings – a new section for developers will appear.

In this menu, pay attention to:

• 🔄 Window animation, transition animation — you can speed up or turn off for a sharper interface.
• 📱 Minimum width – changes the scale of the elements (the value 400dp will make the icons larger).
• 🎚️ Debugging by USB – you will need to connect to ADB.

Another hidden section is MIUI Lab, to find it:

1. Open the Settings. → Additionally.
2. Slip the free space at the top of the screen 5 times.
3. A laboratory with experimental functions will appear.

💡

If the interface elements are not displayed correctly after changing the DPI, restart the device. Sometimes you need to clear the Settings app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Settings → Clear the cache).

Installation of an alternative launcher

If a standard MIUI launcher seems inconvenient, it can be replaced with a third-party one, which requires no root rights and is reversible: you can return the standard version at any time.

Popular launchers for Xiaomi:

To install an alternative launcher:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and follow the setup instructions.
3. When requesting, select Always to use by default.

If the launcher is not applied after installation:

• 🔧 Go to Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher.
• 📱 Select the desired application from the list.
• 🔄 Reset the device.

4. Deep Customization: Unlocking the Booter and TWRP

If standard methods don't work, you can go further, unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery (TWRP), which will open access to:

• 📦 Install custom firmware (AOSP, LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
• 🔧 Modifications of system files (e.g., removal of embedded applications).
• 🔄 Create full backups through TWRP.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader erases all data from the device, including photos, contacts and apps. Make sure to back up!

The unlocking process:

1. Link your Mi Account to your device (Settings → Mi Account).
2. Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking in the developer settings.
3. Download Mi Unlock Tool from Xiaomi’s official website.
4. Connect your phone to your PC in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power).
5. Run the Mi Unlock Tool and follow the instructions (it may take 7-15 days to unlock).

After unlocking the bootloader, you can install TWRP:

fastboot flash recovery twrp.img


fastboot boot twrp.img

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro) after installation TWRP You may need to disable the dm-verity check, otherwise the system will not boot. TWRP I need to run the file. disable_dm-verity_forceencrypt.zip.

5. Install custom firmware: AOSP, Pixel Experience and others

If you don't like MIUI at all, you can install firmware based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

• 📱 Pixel Experience – pure Android with Google Pixel chips.
• 🔄 LineageOS is a stable firmware with minimalist design.
• 🎯 ArrowOS – Balance between customization and performance.
• 🔧 Havoc-OS is the maximum interface setting.

Installation process:

1. Download the firmware for your model with XDA Developers or 4PDA (note the arm64/arm version and the device codename).
2. Place the.zip file on a memory card or internal memory.
3. Boot to TWRP (click Volume Up + Power).
4. Run Wipe → Advanced Wipe and mark Dalvik, Cache, System, Data.
5. Press Install and select the firmware file.
6. After installation, go to Gapps (if you need Google services).
7. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11) may need to be disabled AVB 2.0 before the firmware, otherwise the system won't boot. TWRP You have to execute the command.

fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

After installing custom firmware:

• 🔧 Configure the interface through Settings → System → Gestures or Button mapper.
• 🎨 Install a theme from Google Play (e.g. Substratum for deep customization).
• 🔄 Check the sensors and modules (camera, NFC, IR- blaster may not work).

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Custom firmware deprives you of official updates from Xiaomi, you will have to update the system manually, downloading new versions from the forums.

6. Root rights: pros and cons

Getting root rights gives you complete control of the system, but it also has serious downsides.

• 🗑️ Remove embedded applications (bloatware).
• 🔧 Modify system files (e.g., replace fonts or animations).
• 📱 Install Xposed Framework or Magisk Modules for deep customization.

But there are risks:

• 🚫 Loss of warranty (if the device is warranty, Xiaomi may refuse repairs).
• 🛡️ Malware vulnerability (root-righted applications can access data).
• 🔄 Update issues (you’ll have to manually stitch patches for Magisk).

To get root:

1. Unlock the bootloader (see section 4).
2. Install Magisk via TWRP:

After obtaining root, you can:

• 🧹 Remove unnecessary applications via Titanium Backup or adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.browser.
• 🎨 Change system fonts using FontFix or iFont.
• 🔧 Set up build.prop to change system settings (e.g., enable force_fps=90 to increase screen refresh rates).

💡

If banking applications (e.g. Sberbank Online) have stopped working after receiving root, install the MagiskHide Props Config module and activate root hiding for specific applications.

7. Restoration of the standard interface

If customization experiments don't go as planned, you can always return the standard MIUI.

Option 1. Through Air Renewal (OTA)

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔄 If an update is available, download and install it.
• 🔧 This method only works if you haven't changed the firmware completely.

Option 2: Mi Flash Tool (full reset)

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
2. Unpack the archive and copy the path to the folder with the firmware.
3. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.
4. Turn your phone into Fastboot mode (Loudness down + Power).
5. In the Mi Flash Tool, select Clean all and press Flash.

Option 3: Through TWRP (if installed)

1. Download the official firmware in.zip format.
2. Download to TWRP.
3. Run Wipe → Format Data (enter yes).
4. Install the firmware through Install.

⚠️ Warning: When you return to standard firmware through the Mi Flash Tool, the bootloader will automatically lock. To unlock it again, you will have to wait 7-15 days (unless the Mi Account is tied to the device in advance).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the interface Xiaomi