The modern shells of MIUI and HyperOS, which are equipped with Xiaomi smartphones, often radically change the familiar look of the system with each major update. Users accustomed to the concise and strict design of earlier versions of Android may feel uncomfortable with the abundance of animations, rounding and new color palette of the interface. The question of how to put a classic theme becomes especially relevant for those who value functionality above visual effects.
Fortunately, Xiaomi’s ecosystem provides flexible customization tools to roll back visual changes to a more recognizable state, and in this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can use built-in features to install customized themes that mimic classic Android.
It is worth noting that the concept of “classic” is different for everyone: someone needs just white settings, and someone wants to return icons in the style of iOS 6 or pure Material Design. We will consider the most versatile methods that work on most current models, including Redmi and POCO.
The concept of a classic theme in the shell of MIUI
Before you make any changes, it’s important to decide what you think is a classic. In the context of Xiaomi devices, the term often refers to either the design style of MIUI 9-11 versions or the stock Android interface, which is devoid of heavy graphics add-ons. The visual style of the system affects not only aesthetics, but also the perception of navigation.
The MIUI shell has deep integration with thematics, allowing you to change not just wallpaper, but completely redraw system icons, notification menus and even a quick setup curtain. However, new versions of HyperOS introduce restrictions, making some of the design elements system and not replaceable through the standard menu.
For many users, the classic is the absence of unnecessary animations and high contrast of controls, a return to this state requires a comprehensive approach that involves changing the theme, fonts and sometimes system fonts.
- 🎨 Standard topics MIUI Often changing the design of system applications such as phone and messages.
- 📱 Deep customization allows you to simulate the interface of pure Android or older versions of iOS.
- ⚙️ Some interface elements, such as the control center, may remain unchanged without root rights.
- 🔄 System update can reset custom theme settings to factory values.
Use of the built-in theme store
The easiest and safest way to change the look of a smartphone is to use the regular Themes app, which is a built-in tool that is pre-installed on all devices of the brand and does not require any extended access rights. To find the right design, open the app and go to the search tab.
In the search bar, it is recommended to enter keywords in English, since the database of topics is global. Query like "Classic", "Stock Android", "Minimal" or "Old School" will help to filter out excess. Pay attention to the topic ranking and the number of downloads - this ensures that there are no bugs in the rendering of items.
⚠️ Warning: When installing themes from third-party sources or unofficial stores, there is a risk of system interfaces such as the lock screen or settings menu being disrupted.
After selecting a theme, click Download and then Apply. The system can suggest you choose which components to change: wallpaper, icons, system interface or lock screen. For maximum classic style effect, you'd better choose all items except perhaps the lock screen, if you prefer a modern look.
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Before applying a new theme, take a screenshot of the current screen settings – this will help you quickly return everything back if the new design does not like.
Search and install retro themes through catalogs
If the built-in search didn’t work, you can use third-party theme directories, such as Theme Editor for MIUI or specialized forums, which allow you to download.mtz theme files that contain all the necessary graphic elements.
First, download the theme file and save it to the device’s memory. Then, opening the Themes app, go to the user profile (usually the person icon in the corner) and select “Import.” The system will prompt you to select a file from the smartphone’s memory. After importing, the the theme will appear in the “My Topics” section.
It is important to understand that not all themes are compatible with all versions of MIUI. A theme created for MIUI 12 may not display correctly on HyperOS. Always check the theme description for compatibility with your version of the software. The description often lists supported screen resolutions and Android versions.
- 📂 Theme files are.mtz extensions and usually weigh between 5 and 50 MB.
- 🔍 Look for themes marked “Global” for better compatibility with international firmware.
- 🛠 Special tools may be needed to edit themes on PC.
- 📉 Older themes may not support newer versions MIUI.
☑️ Checking before setting the topic
Customize interface elements manually
Even without heavy themes, you can bring the interface much closer to the classic look by changing the individual settings in the system settings. Go to the Settings → Wallpaper and personalization menu. You can turn off large headers, change the font to a stricter one (for example, Roboto or classic system), and remove the unnecessary transparency effects.
Special attention should be paid to the setting of the main screen. In the editing menu of the desktop (long tap on empty space), you can select a grid of icons, for example, 5x6 or 4x5, which will visually reduce their size and make the interface denser. It is also recommended to disable the feature “enlarged icons” if it is active.
To fully immerse yourself in classic style, you should change the way you navigate. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Full-screen display and choose to control three buttons instead of swipes. This will bring back the usual buttons “Menu”, “Home” and “Back” that are typical of classic smartphones.
Secret font setting
Comparison of methods of change of design
The choice of method depends on your goals and level of technical training. Below is a table that will help you compare the main ways to return the classic look and choose the best one for your case.
| Method | Difficulty | Security | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in themes | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Third-party MTZ files | Medium | Medium | Tall. |
| Manual setting | Low. | Tall. | Low. |
| Modified firmware | Tall. | Low. | Maximum |
As you can see from the table, using embedded tools is the safest way to go, but it has limited results. Third-party themes require caution, but you can achieve almost any visual style. Using modified firmware (Custom ROM) gives 100% classic Android, but it is not warranty and requires unlocking the bootloader.
If you're a beginner, start with a combination of manual setup and official themes, which will allow you to understand exactly what elements you're missing without risking the stability of the device, and leave the experiments with system files for later.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of the theme, users often encounter artifacts: unreadable text on the menu, missing icons or a black screen when turned on. Most often this is due to the fact that the theme is not optimized for your screen resolution or the version of MIUI. To fix this, try applying a standard theme, and then activate the desired one again.
Sometimes, after updating the system, the theme may “fly” or stop correctly displaying new interface elements that appeared in the latest version of the software. In this case, you need to wait for the theme update from the developer or find an analogue marked as compatible with the current version.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing the theme, the phone stopped responding to touches or went into a restart, press the power button on the phone. 10-15 Seconds for forced reboot. In safe mode, third-party themes do not load.
It’s also worth remembering that some system applications, such as Security or Files, can ignore the theme’s color scheme due to its tightly attached system resources.This is normal behavior for newer versions of the shell, and it’s impossible to get around it without deep intervention.
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The most stable way to get a classic look is to use an official theme in the style of “Stock” and manually adjust the font and navigation, avoiding modification of system files.