Creating a custom theme for Android Xiaomi: from idea to installation

You're tired of standard themes. MIUI And you want to give your smartphone Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO Creating your own theme is not only a way to stand out, it's also an opportunity to optimize the interface for your needs. Unlike the Themes, custom theme allows you to control every element, from application icons to transition animations to fonts.

In this guide, we will take a look at the entire process, from design preparation to final installation via the.mtz file. MIUI 14/15, How to get around the limitations of the system and avoid common mistakes, and if you've never designed interfaces, don't worry, we'll explain each step in detail, including free alternatives to professional software.

Important: The procedure requires care, especially when working with system files. On devices with a locked bootloader, some methods of installing themes may not work without unlocking. But even without it, you can create and test theme on most modern models, including Xiaomi. 13/14, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5.

1. What you need to create a topic MIUI

Before you start designing, make sure you have everything you need. Here's the minimum set of tools and knowledge:

• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone based on MIUI 12-15 (or HyperOS for new models) Any model will work, but on devices with a high-end design. AMOLED-The screen theme will look more profitable.
• 💻 Computer (Windows/macOS/Linux) You can do with a smartphone, but it's a lot harder.
• 🎨 Graphic editors: Adobe Photoshop or GIMP (Free to use for creating icons and backgrounds; Figma or Canva for prototyping interfaces; Inkscape for working with vector elements (e.g. logos).
• 📂 Templates. MIUI. Official templates for themes can be downloaded on the forum Xiaomi Community (section Themes Development).
• 🔧 MIUI Theme Editor is the official software from Xiaomi for packing themes in.mtz format.

If you're new to design, start with simple changes: replace desktop wallpaper, app icons, and color palettes. Advanced users can customize:

• 🔄 Animations of transitions between screens.
• 📱 Weather, hours and notifications widgets.
• 🎵 Sound effects (system melodies, keyboard sounds).
• 📝 Fonts (requires root rights or unlocked bootloader).

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), some themes may work differently than in the classic one. MIUI. Before you start, check the compatibility of your model on the forum Xiaomi.EU.

2. Theme design: where to start

Creating a theme starts with a concept. Decide what style you want to embody:

• 🖤 Dark theme with accent colors (e.g. purple or green).
• ☀️ A bright theme with minimalist icons.
• 🎨 Brand-specific theme (such as Apple iOS or Samsung One style) UI).
• 🤖 Futuristic design with neon elements.

For inspiration, explore popular topics in MIUI Themes Store or on sites like XDA Developers. Pay attention:

• 🎯 Contrast – the text should be well read on any background.
• 🔍 Size of elements – icons should not be too small.
• 🖼️ Style of icons - flat, voluminous, with or without shadow.

Tip: Use color palettes from services like Coolors or Adobe Color. MIUI optimally use no more than 3-4 primary colors so that the interface does not look overloaded.

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If you are not sure about your design skills, download free ones. PSD-template MIUI On the DeviantArt website and modify them to your needs.

3. Creating icons for the theme

Icons are the face of your theme. They should be:

• 🔹 Uniform – the same style for all applications.
• 🔹 Clear – without blurring on high-resolution screens (FHD+ or 4K).
• 🔹 Adaptive – look good in a dark and light background.

Recommended sizes of icons for MIUI:

To speed up the process, use icon generators:

• 🛠️ Flaticon – free vector icons (you need to adapt to the sizes) MIUI).
• 🎨 IconKit – Automatic creation of icons from templates.
• 🖌️ IconFinder – Premium icons (there are free options).

⚠️ Note: If you use icons from third-party sources, make sure they are distributed under a license that allows modification (such as Creative Commons or Creative Commons). MIT). Otherwise, your topic may be removed from the MIUI Themes Store for Copyright Infringement.

Download the icon template for MIUI|Create a folder with icons in format PNG|Check the dimensions (192×192 basic)|Ensure uniformity of style|Export icons with transparent background-->

4. Work with MIUI Theme Editor: Theme Packaging

When all graphic elements are ready, they need to be packaged in.mtz format – the only supported graphics. MIUI Theme format. This is done using official software. MIUI Theme Editor.

Download and install the editor from the official website.

1. Launch it. MIUI Theme Editor and select Create New Theme.
2. Enter the title of the topic (Latin, without spaces) and the version (for example, 1.0).
3. In Resources, upload your files: Icons to icon folder. Wallpaper to wallpaper. Color schemes to colors. colors.xml).

Build

.mtz

If you want to add animations or sounds, you need to place them in the appropriate folders:

• 🎬 Animation - anim (.zip format with frames).
• 🔊 Audio (.ogg or.ogg format.mp3).
• 📝 Fonts - fonts (files.ttf).

Example of the theme folder structure:

MyTheme/


├── icon/




│   ├── app1.png




│   ├── app2.png




│   └── ...




├── wallpaper/




│   ├── lockscreen.jpg




│   └── homescreen.jpg




├── colors/




│   └── colors.xml




└── desc.json

⚠️ Note: If you add fonts, make sure they support Cyrillic (if your theme is for Russian-speaking users.

5. Install theme on Xiaomi smartphone

The finished.mtz file can be installed in several ways. Choose the most convenient one for your model:

Method 1: Through MIUI Themes (official method)

1. Copy the.mtz file into your smartphone memory (for example, in the Download folder).
2. Open the Themes app.
3. Click on the profile icon → My subjects. → Import.
4. Select your.mtz file and wait for the application.

Method 2: ADB (for advanced users)

If the official method does not work (for example, on custom firmware), use ADB:

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


adb shell am broadcast -a miui.intent.action.CHANGE_THEME --ez extra_pkg_name com.android.theme.default

After completing the commands, restart the device.

Method 3: Through TWRP (requires an unlocked loader)

If you have a custom recovery installed (TWRP), Copy the.mtz file into the folder /data/system/theme/ File Manager Recovery.

Possible problems and solutions:

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If the theme doesn’t apply to HyperOS, try renaming the file. desc.json into theme_desc.json And reassemble the archive. It's a temporary solution for new versions of the shell.

Publication of the topic in MIUI Themes Store

If you want to share your topic with other users, you can publish it in the official store. MIUI Themes, for that:

1. Sign up for the Xiaomi Community forum.
2. Go to the Theme Development section and create a new theme.
3. Download the.mtz file and fill out the description (in English and Chinese).
4. Wait for moderation (can take up to 7 days).

Publication requirements:

• 📌 The topic should be unique (not a copy of existing ones).
• 📌 All graphic elements should be in high resolution.
• 📌 There should be no copyright infringement (e.g. brand logos).
• 📌 The theme should support the main Xiaomi models (listed on the forum).

If your theme is approved, you can earn on its downloads through the program. MIUI Theme Partner.Income depends on the number of installations and ratings.

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To increase the chances of approval, add screenshots on different devices (such as Xiaomi 13 and Redmi Note 11) to your theme description, which will show moderators that the theme is universal.

7. Alternative ways of customization without creating a topic

If creating a theme from scratch seems too difficult, there are easier ways to change the look and feel. MIUI:

• 🎨 Use of launchers: Nova Launcher allows you to change icons, animations and gestures. Lawnchair supports adaptive icons and a dark theme. Microsoft Launcher - Windows integration and custom widgets.
• 🖼️ Icon Pack Studio - creating your own icons without Photoshop. Whicons are minimalist white icons.
• 🔧 Magisk modules (requires root): MIUI Mix — advanced customization of system elements. GravityBox — change the status bar, animations and fonts.

Advantages of alternative methods:

• ✅ You do not need to create an.mtz file.
• ✅ Works on most devices without unlocking.
• ✅ It's easy to roll back change.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not all interface elements can be changed (e.g. system sounds).
• ❌ Some of the squatters may be in conflict with MIUI (For example, a gesture goes backwards).

FAQ: Frequent questions about topics for Xiaomi