Personalization is the first thing new smartphone owners are trying to do to make their device their own. Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers some of the most customization options of any Android device manufacturer. The Themes tool allows you to change not only the desktop wallpaper, but also completely redesign the appearance of system applications, notification curtains, settings menus and even screen unlock animation.
Unlike many competitors, where the change of design is limited to the installation of static images, MIUI and the new HyperOS provide access to thousands of ready-made design solutions. However, the process of changing the theme often raises questions for beginners: where to find hidden features, how to remove ads in the design store or why the font is not used after installation. In this article, we will discuss all aspects of working with a standard theme application.
We're going to look at not only basic cover changes, but also advanced customizations, such as creating your own design, using third-party launchers to completely change the logic of the interface and solving typical problems with the use of elements. Deep customization of the visual part can radically change the user experience, making control of the gadget more convenient and aesthetically pleasing.
Change the topic through a standard application
The main tool for changing the look and feel is the Themes app, which is automatically installed on all the brand’s smartphones and synchronized with the company’s cloud server. To get started, you need to run the program, wait for the home page to load, and select the category of interest. The system offers sorting by popularity, novelty or type of content, which makes it much easier to navigate through a huge database.
After choosing a design you like, click Download and then Apply. It is important to understand that it can take a few seconds for the system to re-draw all the interface elements. In some cases, the phone may suggest a reboot, but most often the changes take effect instantly, affecting the control panel, notification center and standard utilities.
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Use keyword searches like “Minimal” or “Cyberpunk” to find a style that fits your taste faster, instead of scrolling through the recommendation feed for a long time.
It’s worth noting that some themes may be paid or subscription-based, but the vast majority of free content in the directory. If you want to quickly return to the original state, there’s always a reset button in the Profile section to classic Classic design, which is especially useful if the installed design has proved inconvenient for everyday use or contains display bugs.
Customization of icons, fonts and system sounds
The flexibility of the system allows you to change the individual design elements independently of each other. You can leave the standard theme, but replace all the application icons with a single style. To do this, in the Themes app, you need to go to the Icons section and select the favorite set. After application, the system will offer to replace the icons for all installed programs or only for manually selected ones, which gives you complete control over visual noise on the desktop.
The fonts are a powerful way to change how you see text on the screen. The catalog offers hundreds of options, from strict business headsets to fancy handwriting styles. The font changes in MIUI 14 and HyperOS are applied globally, affecting settings menus, messages and most third-party applications that support system fonts. This makes reading text unique but requires caution: too decorative fonts can reduce readability in small interfaces.
Don't forget the audio. In the same "Themes" section, you can download new ringtones of the call, notifications and alarm clocks. The sound pack is used in a similar way to visual themes. Often users ignore this feature, leaving the standard tunes, although replacing the sound with a more pleasant or less annoying one can significantly improve the comfort of using the device during the day.
Elimination of advertising in the theme and catalog store
One of the main problems with a standard application is the intrusive ads that pop up when you open a directory or move between sections. Fortunately, there is a proven way to disable most ad units without having to install third-party software. You will need to go to the user profile, click on the settings button (usually a gear) and find the "About" item.
In the menu that opens, you need to find the Show ads switch and put it inactive. Then it is recommended to completely close the application through the Task Manager and start it again. The banners in the recommendations and pop-ups should disappear, leaving only a clean directory with themes. This action does not violate the warranty and is a regular feature of the shell.
☑️ Checking Advertising Settings
If you have left the ads after you do this, try clearing the app cache through your smartphone settings menu. Sometimes old data may conflict with new privacy settings. It’s also worth checking if personalized ads are included in the general Mi Account settings, as some banners are broadcast at the server level.
Using third-party launchers for deep customization
For those who don't have the standard shell, there are third-party launchers, apps that completely replace desktop, search bar, and swipe logic. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Smart Launcher allow you to change the desktop grid, add gestures, customize the behavior of the dock bar, and implement animations that are not available in stock MIUI.
Installing a third-party launcher requires special permissions. After downloading from Google Play, the system will suggest choosing the default app for the home screen. If you agree, you will see changes immediately. However, it is worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more battery life, since they are constantly active and redraw the interface.
| Parameter | Standard theme | Third-party launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Tall. | Medium/High |
| Impact on the battery | Minimum | Possible increase in expenditure |
| Flexibility of setting | Limited to catalogue | Almost limitless |
| Integration with the system | Complete. | Partial |
Alternative shells can cause conflicts with system gestures, such as swiping from the bottom up to open the app menu may not work properly, and launchers offer custom gesture settings that need to be activated manually, which gives an additional level of control, but takes time to initially adjust to their habits.
Create your own theme with Theme Editor
For advanced users, the company has released the official application Theme Editor for MIUI. This tool allows you to create themes from scratch, editing graphic elements, sounds and XML-You can take a stock theme and change the specific details of it: the color of the battery, the shape of the watch, the transparency of the curtain or the icon of a particular application that does not fit into the overall style.
The creation process requires connecting to a computer or using a file manager on the smartphone itself. You will need to unpack the theme archive, replace images in the image folder with your own (observing the original resolution and format), and collect the project back. XML-files are responsible for the coordinates of elements, so editing them requires carefulness and understanding of the code structure.
Where can I find the source of the stock theme?
You can install the theme in debugging mode for testing or package it into a ready-made.mtz file for distribution. This is a great way to implement a unique design that no one else has. However, remember that when you upgrade the system, some custom elements may stop working if the structure of the HyperOS interface changes.
Solving problems with the use of themes and bugs
Sometimes, after installing a new theme, artifacts can arise: a black screen, missing icons, or incorrect text display. Most often this is due to the theme being made for another version of the shell or having a low source resolution. The first step in diagnosis should always be to reset to a standard theme through the recovery menu or safe mode if the interface does not respond to touch.
⚠️ Note: Installing themes from unverified sources (not from the official store) can lead to unstable system operation. Some modified themes contain errors in the code that cause a cyclic reboot of the device (bootloop).
If the theme is applied but looks “curved,” check the resolution in the theme settings. Some designers create content only for specific models, such as screens with a cut-out drop, ignoring leaky screens or old 16:9 formats.
Also, problems can be caused by crowded cache: Regularly cleaning temporary files of the Themes app helps to avoid errors when downloading new packages. If nothing helps, try removing updates of the application itself through the application management menu and running it again - this will return the factory version of the component.
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Always back up important data before installing themes from third-party sources, as deep integration carries minimal but present risks.