How to put a standard theme on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: 3 proven ways

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro often face a situation when, after experimenting with custom themes from MIUI Themes or third-party sources, you want to return the native appearance of the system. The standard theme is not only familiar to the eye, but also optimized for stable operation of the smartphone. However, not everyone knows how to do it correctly without risking disrupting the device.

In this article, we will discuss three official methods of returning to the factory theme: through the MIUI settings, using the theme reset, and manually through the system files. We will focus on the nuances for different versions of the firmware - from MIUI 11 to MIUI 14, and also consider what to do if the the theme does not apply or graphic artifacts arise. All methods are tested on the Redmi Note 8 Pro (codename begonia) and do not require root rights.

Why a return to a standard topic might not work

Before proceeding to the instructions, it is important to understand the reasons why the smartphone refuses to use the factory theme:

• 🔄 Cash tem damaged or overflowing — MIUI Stores data in a separate section that sometimes requires cleaning.
• 📱 Update MIUI It was wrong if the firmware was updated by air" (OTA) With interruption, system themes may not be available.
• 🛠️ Manual edits in files /system/media/theme/default — typical for users who install custom firmware.
• 🚫 Region restrictions - on some global versions MIUI Standard topics are hidden due to licensing agreements.

If you have previously installed themes from third-party sources (for example, through the APK-files, the system can block the return to the standard due to the conflict of signatures, in this case, only a complete reset or manual replacement of theme files will help.

Method 1: Return via MIUI settings (the easiest one)

This method works on all versions of MIUI 11-14 and does not require additional tools, but it is suitable if you installed themes only through the official Topics app:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the My Themes tab (bottom of the screen).
3. Scroll through the list to the Standard or Systems section.
4. Choose a theme called Default or MIUI (can be called differently depending on the version).
5. Click Apply and confirm the action.

If the Standards section is missing, try updating the Themes app through the Play Market or App Store (for Chinese versions, through the Mi App Store). On some firmware, the standard theme is hidden: to see it, tap the magnifying icon in the upper right corner and type default in the search.

⚠️ Attention: On firmware MIUI 12.5+ for the Chinese region (China) ROM) The application of this theme will reset all visual settings, including fonts and animations.

Method 2: Reset theme settings through the engineering menu

If a standard theme doesn’t appear in the list or if it’s used in an error, resetting theme settings through the hidden MIUI menu will help.This method doesn’t affect user data, but will return all visual settings to factory:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##542843## (theme reset code, works on most versions of MIUI).
2. In the menu that appears, select Reset theme settings (or Reset theme settings in Russian).
3. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

After the reboot, the theme will return to the factory, but may reset:

• 🎨 Color scheme of accent elements
• 📐 Type size and style
• 🔴 Animations of transitions between screens

If the code doesn’t work, try an alternative:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the line version of MIUI to activate the developer mode.
3. Go back to the basic settings, open Additional → for developers.
4. Find Reset theme settings and activate it.

Method 3: Manually install a standard theme through files (for experienced)

This method will be required if:

• 🔧 The standard theme is not on the list even after the reset.
• 📁 System theme files are corrupted (for example, after a failed update)
• 🌍 You have Chinese firmware (China) ROM) without supporting global themes

For manual installation, you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer installed ADB (setup instruction below)
• 📎 Standard Theme File for Your Version MIUI (You can download it here)
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original)

Step 1. Enable debugging over USB

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times to activate the developer mode.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the resolution.

Step 2: Connect your smartphone to your PC and check the connection

Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, the connection is installed correctly.

Step 3: Set a standard theme

Download the archive with the topic (for example, default_theme.mtz) And put it in a folder with ADB. Then execute the command:

adb push default_theme.mtz /sdcard/MIUI/theme/


adb shell am start -n com.android.themes/.activity.ThemePreviewActivity -d file:///sdcard/MIUI/theme/default_theme.mtz

Once you execute the command, the theme will appear in the list of available topics. Apply it through the Topic app.

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If the adb command doesn’t work, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers on your PC or using an alternative method via TWRP (requires an unlocked bootloader).

Solving problems after returning to a standard topic

Even after successful application of the factory theme, bugs can occur, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🖼️ App icons haven't changed → Clear the launcher's cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 The animations are not working properly. → Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Special effects and select Standard effects.
• 📱 The lock screen is left from the old theme → Set the standard wallpaper through Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper.
• 🔊 Notification sounds unchanged → Reset the sound settings: Settings → Sound and vibration → Resetting sounds.

If after changing the theme, the smartphone began to slow down, follow the following steps:

1. Reset the device.
2. Clear the cache of system applications: Settings → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. Turn off animations in Settings → Additional → Developers → Animation Scale (select 0.5x).

⚠️ Attention: On firmware MIUI 14 with Super Wallpapers feature standard theme can conflict with dynamic wallpaper.To avoid artifacts, turn off Super Wallpaper in lock screen settings.

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If none of these methods worked, do a soft reset via Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset. This will bring all visuals back to factory settings without losing data.

How to avoid problems with topics in the future

To avoid having to return a standard theme, follow these guidelines:

• 🛡️ Install themes only from the official store - third-party APK-Files may contain viruses or may conflict with MIUI.
• 📥 Check compatibility – the theme description should indicate that it supports your version. MIUI smartphone.
• 🔄 Create a backup – before installing a new theme, back up your current settings through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📊 Watch the vacant space — MIUI Stores up to 5 last themes in cache. Cleans unnecessary ones regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Topics.

If you like to experiment with design, consider alternative ways to customize without risking the system:

• 🎨 Use launchers (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) to change icons and animations.
• 🖌️ Install icon packages through Play Market – they do not affect system files.
• 🌈 Apply wallpaper with effects through the Wallpaper app (included in the Wallpaper app) MIUI).

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12.5+ firmware, the standard theme is automatically updated via OTA. If visual elements change after the system update (for example, new icons appear), this is not a bug, but part of the new MIUI design.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing themes to Xiaomi