How to make a dark theme on Xiaomi phone: a step-by-step guide

Modern smartphones, especially models from Xiaomi, are equipped with bright AMOLED-But long-term use of low-light displays can cause significant discomfort to the user's eyes, which is why many gadget owners tend to switch the interface to a more gentle mode.

In the Android operating system, as well as in branded shells MIUI And the new HyperOS, which is a full-fledged dark theme, not just inverting colors, but replacing white backgrounds with dark grays, which reduces the burden on vision and, in the case of the new HyperOS, the color is not just inverting. AMOLED-It saves a lot of battery power, and it's become the standard for comfortable use of your smartphone in the evening.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to activate night mode, learn how to set up automatic switching on a schedule, how to apply the theme to third-party applications and what to do if the standard settings do not work.

Main ways to activate through system settings

The most reliable and correct way to switch the interface is to use the built-in settings menu, which ensures that all system elements, including the notification curtain and the settings menu, will correctly display in dark colors. First, you need to unlock the device and find the Settings icon on the desktop.

In the menu that opens, you should scroll down to Screen or Wallpaper and personalization, depending on the version of your firmware. In older versions of MIUI, the desired switch is often in the Additional section. Find the Dark Theme item and activate the slider opposite it.

Once turned on, you'll notice changes instantly: white backgrounds will change to dark gray, and text will become light to preserve contrast. If you're using HyperOS, the path may be slightly different: go to Settings → Additional Settings → Colors and themes. Here, design management has become more flexible and detailed.

Importantly, activating a dark theme can change the look of some widgets and app icons.The system automatically adapts interface elements, but some third-party programs may require separate customization within their own menus.The basic system theme only affects standard Xiaomi utilities.

Use of control centre and notification curtain

For those who need to switch lighting mode quickly without diving deep into the menu, there is a faster way: in modern versions of the MIUI shell and HyperOS, key switches are placed in the control center, and to access them, you need to swipe from the upper right corner of the screen down.

In the panel that opens, you'll see a lot of quick access buttons, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and flashlights, which can include a crescent icon or just a "Dark Topic" sign, and if you don't see it on the first page, try swiping left to reveal the full list of available toggles.

Pressing this button instantly activates or deactivates night mode, which is especially convenient when you are in a movie theater or going to bed, and you need to quickly reduce the brightness of the interface. However, remember that this method only works if the corresponding widget has already been added to the user control panel.

If the button is not in the list, you can add it. To do this, click on the edit button (usually the icon of a pencil or gear in the corner of the curtain). In the list of available items, find the Dark Theme and drag it to the active area. Now control of the screen lighting will always be at hand.

• 🌙 Quick one-touch switch from any application.
• ⚙️ Ability to add a button to the Quick Access Panel.
• 📱 It works even when the screen is locked (in some versions).
• 🔄 Instant system response without interface delays.

Automation: schedule and sleep schedule

Manually switching the theme every night can be uncomfortable, especially if your schedule changes. Android offers an automation feature that allows the smartphone to go dark on its own at a given time.

To set up, go to Settings → Screen → Dark Theme. Here you will find Schedule or Automatic. The system will offer two options: turn on by time (for example, from 20:00 to 07:00) or activate at sunset and turn off at dawn using geolocation data.

Using Vision Protection or Reading Mode can also be synchronized with a dark topic. In Settings → Screen → Vision Protection, you can configure a blue light filter that will turn on simultaneously with the dark interface, creating the most comfortable conditions for reading at night.

⚠️ Warning: When selecting Sunset to Dawn mode, make sure your smartphone has access to geolocation. Otherwise, the automatic switching may not work properly if the system cannot determine the sunrise time in your area.

Automation is especially useful for saving energy. At night, when you sleep, your phone can receive notifications, and a dark background will help reduce overall power consumption if the screen does catch on, and it also protects your eyes if you're used to checking your mail in the middle of the night.

Dark Theme for Third-Party Apps

Many popular apps, like Telegram, WhatsApp, or YouTube, have customized design settings that take precedence over system settings, but there are programs that don't natively support dark interfaces, and for such cases, MIUI has a special tool for enforcing theme.

To activate it, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Special Options. Find the Dark Theme section (not to be confused with the main switch). Here you will see a list of all installed applications. You can select specific programs to which you need to apply color inversion.

This method works by software-based inversion of light areas, which can lead to some visual artifacts, such as gallery photos or bright design elements, which may look unnatural, so it is recommended to enable this feature selectively, only for applications where the white background does cut eyes.

In the new HyperOS shell, this functionality has been improved and integrated deeper into the system. Now, the forced dark theme is more stable and has less impact on the color reproduction of images. However, for critical tasks such as photo processing, it is better to temporarily disable this feature.

• 🎨 Forced application of the topic to applications without native support.
• ⚠️ Possible Color Distortion in Media Content.
• 📱 Selective activation for specific programs.
• 🔧 It is in the Special Opportunities section.

Comparison of MIUI and HyperOS versions

Xiaomi’s move to the new HyperOS operating system brought not only changes in design, but also changes in the logic of system functions. Theme management has become more intuitive, but the location of some switches has changed, which can cause confusion among users accustomed to MIUI 14 and earlier versions.

In MIUI, theme management was spread across different menus: basic inclusion in Screen, and advanced settings were often hidden in the Themes app. In HyperOS, all visual settings, including wallpaper, fonts and themes, are combined into a single wallpaper and personalization center, which makes it easier to search, but changes the way you're used.

The new system also improves dynamic colors, so if you're setting up bright wallpaper, the system can suggest that you adapt the interface to suit them, even in dark mode, making the transition between light and dark theme smoother and more aesthetic, removing sharp contrasts.

For users who have recently updated, the new switch animations should be considered. In HyperOS, the dark mode transition is accompanied by a smooth dimming of elements, which looks much more pleasant than the sharp inversion in older versions. It is a trifle, but it significantly affects the overall perception of the interface.

Problems with a dark topic and how to solve them

Despite the system’s debugging, users sometimes encounter bugs, most often the problem is that after turning on a dark theme, some elements remain white, or the text becomes unreadable (merges with the background), this can be due to a cache conflict or errors in a particular firmware update.

The first step to solve the problem should be cleaning the cache of the Themes application and the System UI. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find what you need, click Memory and select Clear Cache. Do not confuse it with cleaning data so as not to reset your settings.

⚠️ WARNING: Before resetting or clearing system application data, make sure you have a backup of important data.While cleaning the cache is safe, a deep reset can bring the phone back to factory status.

If the problem is that the theme is going off on its own, check to see if you have an aggressive energy saving mode activated. Some energy saving scenarios can force animations and certain visuals to shut down, returning the standard light interface to reduce the CPU load.

In rare cases, reinstallation of the theme helps. Go to the Themes app, go to profile and select a standard Classic or Default theme, and then try to turn on the dark mode again. This overwrites the configuration design files.

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If a dark theme doesn’t work properly in just one app, try updating it through the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store. Often developers release patches that fix compatibility with newer versions of Android.

Effects on autonomy and eye health

Using a dark theme is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a practical necessity for maintaining vision health. Blue light emitted by white pixels suppresses melatonin production, which can disrupt circadian rhythms and impair sleep quality. Switching to darker tones minimizes this effect.

Technically, on AMOLED screens, which are used in most Xiaomi smartphones, black means that the pixel is completely off, which leads to a real reduction in power consumption. If you use a navigator or read texts from your phone often, the charge savings in dark mode can be as high as 10-15%.

But remember, in bright sunlight, dark topics can reduce readability, black text contrasts on dark gray backgrounds are worse for the eye when light is directly hit, so switching automatically by light or time of day is the most sensible trade-off.

Research shows that lower screen brightness combined with darker theme reduces eye fatigue during prolonged text work. If your job involves constantly reading information from a smartphone, using night mode should become a must-have.

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Dark subject on AMOLED-Xiaomi really saves battery because black pixels do not consume energy, unlike the other devices. LCD-screens where the lighting is constantly working.

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