How to Put a Standard Theme on Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Work

Why users are returning to the MIUI theme and when it is needed

Changing a bright custom theme to a standard MIUI interface has to be for various reasons: some get tired of flashy colors and animations, some encounter bugs after updating, and some just don’t like how third themes affect smartphone performance. In 2026, Xiaomi continues to actively promote its theme store, but the factory shell remains the most stable and optimized for the hardware of the devices.

You may also need to return a standard theme in technical cases, such as before selling a phone, in preparation for a firmware update (some custom themes conflict with the standard theme). OTA-packs), or if after installing a third-party theme, the notification icons disappeared, the font in system applications changed, or lags began when scrolling the desktop. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods - from simple reset via settings to manual editing of configuration files.

It’s important to understand that the “standard theme” on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version and regional firmware. For example, in the global version of MIUI 14, the factory theme is called Default, and in the Chinese version, Miui Classic, we will take these nuances into account in the instructions below.

Method 1: Return to the factory theme through MIUI settings

The most obvious and safe method is to use built-in system tools, which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the latest Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 and POCO F6. The main condition is that you must have at least one alternative theme installed (otherwise, the reset point will not appear).

Step instructions:

1. Open the “Themes” app (an icon with a brush on your desktop or in the app menu).
2. Go to My Themes section (the tab at the bottom of the screen).
3. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset to the factory theme (or Restore the standard theme depending on the MIUI version).
4. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

The system will automatically apply factory settings to:

• 🎨 Desktop wallpaper and lock screen
• 🔤 Fonts (return system Mi Sans or Roboto)
• 📱 Application icons (standard pack icons)
• 🔊 Notification sounds and alarm clocks
• 🎚️ Style of system menus (colors, animations, form of elements)

⚠️ Note: If some interface elements remain changed after reset (such as the font on WhatsApp or wallpaper in Google Discover), this means that the applications have redefined system settings, in which case you will need to manually reset the settings in each application separately.

Method 2: Remove the custom theme through Mi Theme Editor

If a standard reset doesn’t work or you’re using a modified theme (like a third-party download in.mtz format), manual intervention will be required. Xiaomi offers the official Mi Theme Editor app, which allows you to manage installed themes at a low level.

How to remove unnecessary topic:

1. Download Mi Theme Editor from AppGallery or Google Play (the app is official, but may not show up in search – use a direct link).
2. Open the application and provide all the permissions requested (access to the storage is mandatory!).
3. Go to the Local Themes tab.
4. Find the topic you want to remove in the list and tap it.
5. Select Delete and confirm the action.

After removing the third-party theme, the system will automatically load the factory one.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🧹 Clear the cache of the "Themes" application in the settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📲 Check if additional modules are installed in Magisk (if you have root rights) that can block the reset of themes.

Download Mi Theme Editor from official source

Create a backup copy of important data

Provide all requested permits

Make sure the battery is more than 30% charged

Close the background applications for stable operation-->

Method 3: Reset via ADB (for power users)

If the first two methods didn't work, and the theme still doesn't reset, you can use the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, and is relevant for devices with MIUI 13/14, where standard methods sometimes fail due to system optimizations.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (use the original cable for connection stability!).

ADB Tools

adb

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

adb reboot

Once it's restarted, it'll use a factory theme, and it'll also reset:

• 📁 Desktop settings (location of icons, folders)
• 🎨 All previously applied themes (including wallpaper and fonts)
• 🔧 Some of the personalization parameters in MIUI (For example, the notification style)

⚠️ Attention: pm clear commands delete application data, including cache and settings, and if you lose your saved wallpaper or lock screen settings after completing these commands, you will have to manually restore them!

Method 4: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If none of the previous methods worked, then hard reset is the last resort that will bring the phone back to factory status, including deleting all data, and only use it if:

• 🔄 The subject is not reset even through ADB.
• 🐞 After applying the custom theme, the phone began to slow down or overheat.
• 📱 The device emits boot errors (e.g., Unfortunately, System). UI has stopped).

How to reset:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Mi Cloud or manually on your PC.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose Erase All Data (Erase All Data).
4. Enter the password from the Mi Account (if linked) and confirm the action.
5. Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-15 minutes).

After the reset, the phone will boot with factory settings, including the standard MIUI theme.

• 🔐 If the device has been activated protective PIN-code or pattern lock, after reset, you will need to enter Mi Account data to unlock.
• 📦 All installed applications and their data will be deleted.
• 🔄 The first 10-15 minutes after resetting the phone may be slower than usual – this is normal (system optimization is underway).

💡

Before a full reset, untie your Google and Mi Account from your device in the settings, which will speed up the setup process after the reset and avoid problems with activating the device.

Method 5: Manual editing of configuration files (for advanced ones)

This method is only suitable for users with root rights or an unlocked bootloader. It allows you to manually delete custom themes files that may remain in the system even after a standard reset. On devices with MIUI 14, theme files are stored in the /data/system/theme/ folder, and their cache is in /data/data/com.android.themes/.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/system/theme/.
3. Delete all files and folders except default (this is a factory theme).
4. Clear the cache in the folder /data/data/com.android.themes/cache/.
5. Reset the device.

Warnings:

• 🚨 Without root rights, this method will not work – the system will block access to folders.
• 🔧 Incorrect deletion of files can lead to the collapse of the system UI (A black screen or permanent reboot will appear).
• 🔄 After manual cleaning, it is recommended to reset through the theme settings (Method 1) so that the system reassembles the cache.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) may have different paths to themes. Before deleting files, back them up to a separate folder! If the phone stops loading after manipulation, you will need to flash through Fastboot.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after a successful theme reset, users sometimes experience problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

1.After the reset, there were old wallpaper or fonts left

This happens if the wallpaper or fonts were installed not through the system's theme menu, but through third-party applications (e.g. Zedge or iFont).

• 🖼️ For wallpaper: go to Settings → Wallpaper and select a standard background.
• 🔤 For fonts: go to Settings → Additionally. → Font and reset by default.

2. app icons have not returned to standard

If the icons remain custom, then they were changed through the launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher).

• 📱 Install a standard launcher MIUI through settings (Settings) → Home screen → Default launcher).
• 🔄 Reset the device.

3.The subject is reset, but after a while it is applied again itself

This is a sign of a third-party application that enforces a theme (e.g. Tasker or MacroDroid).

• 🛑 Check the list of auto-run applications in Settings → Annexes → Auto-start.
• 🔍 Remove suspicious automation applications.

💡

If the theme doesn’t reset after all the manipulations, the problem may be in the corrupted system files, in which case only flashing through the Mi Flash Tool will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions