Many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone users are faced with the desire to change the standard MIUI or HyperOS interface to a more familiar look. Often, the “regular theme” means returning to the classic Android style with a horizontal app menu, standard icons and no intrusive advertising, which is quite possible to do even if you are not an advanced user.
The process of changing visual style can range from simply replacing wallpaper in settings to installing a third-party launcher that completely changes the logic of the system. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from built-in tools to installing alternative shells, you will be able to choose the option that best suits your needs.
Now, it's worth noting that changing the launcher is the most effective way to radically change the interface, but don't neglect the built-in features that allow you to significantly customize the appearance without risking disruption. Let's look at each method in detail.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The most obvious and safest way to change the look is to use the official app from the developers. Each Xiaomi smartphone preinstalled theme service, which provides access to a huge database of design, and you can find both complex graphical shells and minimalist styles reminiscent of “pure” Android.
To find the desired design, use the search bar inside the application. Enter queries like “Stock”, “Pure” or “Minimal”. Often authors create themes that simply change the icons and wallpaper, leaving the structure of the menu unchanged, which creates the effect of “normal” theme. After downloading and applying the design, the system may require a reboot or suggest applying styles for specific elements, such as a lock screen or control panel.
But there are limitations to this method: Many beautiful themes in the official store contain ads or require a paid subscription for full access, and they can't always completely change the structure of the app menu unless it's provided by the MIUI shell itself.
⚠️ Note: When installing themes from third-party sources or even from an official store, carefully read permissions. Some topics may request access to contacts or location, which is not necessary to change the visual style.
If you want to quickly refresh the look of a smartphone, but are not ready for complex manipulations, this option is the perfect start. It does not require root rights and is completely reversible at any time.
Installation of a third-party launcher for changing the interface
If the built-in capabilities don't meet your needs, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. This is a special application that replaces the standard desktop and application menu. Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair allow you to recreate the classic look of Android with a Google search bar and a vertical or horizontal list of programs.
The installation process is simple: download the selected launcher from Google Play, launch it and follow the instructions on the screen. Android will prompt you to choose the new default app for the home screen. After that, you will have full control over the desktop grid, swipe animations and the appearance of the folders. This gives you the feeling of using a different, lighter smartphone.
An important advantage is the ability to fine-tune: You can change the font size, the transparency of the dock bar, hide unnecessary widgets and adjust gestures. Many users note that after switching to a third-party launcher, the interface performance on older Xiaomi models even increases.
☑️ Check after launcher installation
Some deep MIUI features, such as specific gestures or integration with Xiaomi services, may not work properly or require additional customization, but the basic functionality of calling, messaging and launching applications remains fully available.
Setting up the application menu and desktop
Even without installing third-party programs, the MIUI and HyperOS shell allows you to switch between different menu display modes. Many models have a "no menu" mode, where all applications are scattered across desktops, like iOS, by default, and to return a "normal" view with a separate menu button, you need to change this setting.
Go to Settings → Desktop. Find Mode and select “From the App Menu.” This will instantly create a separate button or swipe up to access all installed programs, which is the standard for most Android smartphones. This action is often called “setting a normal theme” because it brings back the usual logic of navigation.
You can also adjust the number of speakers on your desktop, the size of the signatures of icons, and the indentations, and these little details have a big impact on how you feel about the interface, and by increasing the grid, you can put more widgets, and by changing the font size, you can make the signatures more readable or less visible.
| Setup parameter | Where to find out. | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| Menu mode | Settings → Desktop → Mode | Adds the "Applications Menu" button |
| Grid size | Settings → Desktop → More | Changes the number of icons on the screen |
| Increase | Settings → Screen → Size | Scaling the entire system interface |
| Hiding icons | Settings → Desktop → Hidden applications | Hide selected programs from the menu |
Remember, the changes take effect immediately, and you can experiment with the settings as long as you need to find the perfect balance between convenience and aesthetics.
Disabling advertising and unnecessary elements of MIUI
One reason users want to move away from the standard theme is the abundance of ads and recommended content on the system, and to make the interface cleaner and more common, you need to disable the MSA (MIUI System Ads) service, which is the system process responsible for showing ads in standard applications.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data. Search in the msa list and turn off the slider. The system will warn you of the consequences within 10 seconds — this is standard protection, you just have to wait for the timer to end and confirm the disconnection. This action will not remove the ads completely, but will significantly reduce the amount of it.
What if the MSA doesn’t shut down the first time?
Next, go to each standard application (Security, Cleanup, Music, Video, Downloads) and find the "Get Recommendations" or "Advertising" option in their internal settings to deactivate it. It will take time, but the result is worth it: the interface will become strict and functional, without pop-ups and unnecessary banners.
It is also recommended to disable the wallpaper carousel feature, which constantly changes the images on the lock screen and often contains advertising integrations, this is done in the lock screen settings or through the Themes app in the wallpaper carousel section.
Change of system fonts and icons
Visual perception of “usuality” often depends on the fonts. Standard MIUI fonts may seem too pretentious or specific. The Themes app in the user’s profile (human icon) has a “Fonts” section, where you can download and use the classic Roboto font or other standard headsets used in “pure” Android for free.
Using a new font may require rebooting the device, and once turned on, you'll notice that all the text in the system, menus and apps has changed, becoming more familiar to the eye, a little thing that dramatically changes the experience of using a smartphone.
So you can do the same thing with a set of icons. If you don't want to put a third-party launcher, just download a package of icons in the style of Material Design or iOS and apply it. The combination of classic font and minimalist icons creates the effect of a new, more rigorous theme without losing the functionality of the native shell.
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Keep the original fonts in your phone’s memory before experimenting, so that you can quickly return everything as it was through the theme recovery menu if necessary.
Some fonts may not display characters correctly in certain applications or not support Cyrillic. Always check the readability of text in messengers and browser after applying new settings.
Addressing problems with the application of topics
Sometimes the process of installing a theme or launcher may not go smoothly, for example, after applying a new theme, icons may “go” or captions disappear. In such cases, you should not panic, most often, simply resetting the launcher settings or re-applying a standard theme through the recovery menu.
If you have installed a third-party launcher and it has stopped opening or is freezing, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find your launcher, click Stop and Clear Data. Then reassign it to the primary. This solves 90% of compatibility issues.
⚠️ Note: When installing launchers from unknown sources (APK-Always check for viruses. The official Google Play store guarantees the security of the downloaded software.
In rare cases, when the system interface is completely broken and the phone does not respond to touch, logging into Recovery Mode and clearing the cache can help, but this method should be resorted to only in extreme situations.
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Most themes problems are solved by cleaning the Themes app data or restarting the smartphone in safe mode.