Changing the visuals is the first step to personalizing a smartphone after you buy it. The standard MIUI interface or the new HyperOS may seem familiar, but it quickly gets boring if you don’t add variety to it. Fortunately, the shell from Xiaomi has one of the most advanced theme systems of all Android smartphones, allowing you to change not only wallpaper, but also icons, fonts, sounds and even screen lock animation.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can change the theme to Xiaomi to make your gadget look unique. You’ll learn about built-in tools, third-party sources, and techniques that circumvent regional restrictions. The style change process takes only a few minutes, but the result completely transforms the experience of the device.
Before you start installing new files, it's important to understand that system themes involve deep layers of the interface, not just replacing the desktop image, but changing graphic elements in a complex way, so before you start experimenting, you should familiarize yourself with the functionality of the standard application so that you don't have any problems with returning to the factory look.
It’s worth noting that menu layouts may vary slightly across different operating systems, but the Themes app’s logic remains the same across all models, whether it’s the budget Redmi Note or the flagship Xiaomi 14.
Standard Application Topics: Basic Functionality
The main customization tool is the pre-installed Themes app, which is where 90% of all content is downloaded. The interface is intuitive: the search bar is on top, and the feeds with popular and new designs are below, and you just need to open the application and log in to the Mi Account to get started.
When you choose your favorite, the system will offer you to view a detailed preview, you can see what the lock screen, notification panel and application icons will look like. Preview is a critical feature that allows you to evaluate the compatibility of the style with your taste before installing. If everything is fine, you click on the “Download” button and then “Apply”.
⚠️ Warning: Some themes may not support all interface elements of your Android version.Always check previews to avoid visual bugs such as unreadable text in settings or transparent icons.
After the changes are applied, the system may require a reboot or simply update the graphics shell on the fly. The application also offers a "Mixer" feature that allows you to combine elements from different packages, for example, you can leave icons from one theme, and take wallpaper and fonts from another, creating your own unique visual style.
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The Themes app is the most secure and stable way to change the interface, ensuring compatibility with the system.
Step-by-step instructions: installation and application
The process of installing a new design is as automated as possible, but requires careful consideration when choosing components. Below is a detailed algorithm of actions that will help you quickly change the design of your smartphone without errors.
☑️ The theme setting algorithm
First, run the app and go to the Profile tab to make sure you're logged in. Then search for the theme name or category from the ones you've suggested. Once you download the file, a window will appear on the screen that lists the items that will be changed. Here you can deselect from items you don't want to change, such as leaving standard desktop wallpapers.
When you make a choice, click the confirmation button. The system will apply the changes instantly. If the theme requires additional permissions or installing a plugin, follow the instructions on the screen. In rare cases, it may be necessary to re-enact the screen to ensure that new graphic elements are displayed correctly.
- 🎨 Open the Themes app on the home screen or in the Tools folder».
- 🔍 Use search or categories to find the right design.
- ⬇️ Click "Download" and wait until the file is finished.
- ✅ In the application window, select the desired components (icons, status bar, lock screen).
- 🔄 Click "Apply" and evaluate the result.
Free options are often marked with an appropriate icon. If you downloaded a file from a third-party source, it will need to be imported through a profile, but we will talk about this in the following sections.
Where to find safe and quality topics
The official directory inside the app isn't the only place to search for content; there are plenty of third-party sites where enthusiasts post their work, but when downloading files from the Internet, care must be taken not to infect the device with malware.
One popular source is the 4PDA forum or dedicated Telegram channels dedicated to MIUI, where users share modified versions of themes that unlock hidden features or improve graphics. When downloading, pay attention to the author’s rating and comments from other users.
Also worth mentioning is GetApps, which is an alternative app store from Xiaomi.It also has a themes section that sometimes offers exclusive options not available in the standard app.
| Source | Security | Diversity | Requires root. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official annex | Tall. | Average. | No. |
| GetApps | Tall. | Average. | No. |
| Forums (4PDA) | Medium | High. | No. |
| Third-party APKs | Low. | Maximum. | Often |
When downloading files with the.mtz extension from unverified sources, always check them with antivirus. Data security should be a priority, since topics have deep access to the system.
Importing third-party topics and working with MTZ-file
Often users are faced with a situation where the theme they like is only available as a file with the extension.mtz. This is the format of the MIUI theme archive. To install such a file, you first need to download it to the device and then import it through the Themes application.
The process of importing is as follows: open the application, go to the profile (human icon), find the icon of the folder or menu “Import”. The system will prompt you to select a file from the memory of the phone. After selecting the theme will appear in the “My themes” section, where it can be applied in a standard way.
What to do if the import does not work?
If the standard import method doesn't work, you can use a file manager. Find the downloaded file, click on it and select Open with → Topics. This action should start the installation process. However, in recent HyperOS updates, security has been strengthened, and direct installation can be blocked.
- 📂 Download the theme file (format.mtz) in the memory of the smartphone.
- 👤 Open the “Themes” app and go to profile.
- 📥 Click on the import icon (usually at the top right).
- 📁 Select the downloaded file from the list.
- 🚀 Click on “Apply” after successful importation.
For advanced users, there are methods of installing themes through ADB-For example, the adb shell command can be used to enforce certain configuration files, but this requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.
Customization of elements: icons, fonts and wallpaper
Flexibility allows you to change not only the whole themes, but also the individual components, especially when you like the overall design concept, but are annoyed by specific icons or fonts. The Themes section of the Mixer (or Components) app is designed for that.
In this section, you can independently configure:
- 🖼️ Wallpaper: for lock screen and desktop.
- 🔣 Icons: Replace standard app icons with stylized ones.
- 🔤 Fonts: Change the text throughout the system.
- 🔔 Sounds: Set unique notification and call melodies.
- 🔒 Lock screen: Choose animation and watch style.
There are a lot of fonts in the store, from elegant italics to strict monowidths, and installing a new font can significantly improve the readability of text or, conversely, worsen it if you choose too pretentious style. Always check what the new font looks like in the settings menu before using.
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Use the Store’s “Preview font” feature to see how the letters of the alphabet and numbers will look before applying them throughout the system.
Also worth mentioning is the “Second Space” or “One Hand Mode” feature, which can have its own display settings. Make sure the items you select are correctly displayed in different smartphone usage modes.
Returning to a standard topic and fixing problems
Sometimes, after you install a new theme, the interface can be unstable, with icon signatures disappearing, status bar color changes, or artifacts appearing, and you need to know how to quickly return to factory settings.
The easiest way is to go to the Themes app, go to a profile, and select a Classic or Default theme (standard). It's always on my themes list and marked as system, and applying this theme will reset all graphical changes to the original state.
⚠️ Warning: If after changing the theme, the smartphone started to work slowly or strong lags appeared, try clearing the cache of the Themes app through the settings (“Settings” (“Settings» → «Annexes» → «All applications» → «Topics» → «Clean. This often solves the interface hanging problem.
In extreme cases, when the phone is stuck in the theme application phase and does not respond to touch, a device reboot can help. On most Xiaomi smartphones, a forced reboot can be performed by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. Once turned on, the system must roll back the changes or suggest choosing the default theme.
If the problem is with a particular application that doesn’t show up correctly with a new theme, try selecting “Use Standard Icons” for all apps in the theme settings, or adjusting exceptions manually, which will keep the background beautiful, but return functionality to important programs.