Smartphone personalization is the first thing that attracts the attention of the new owner of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. The standard interface of MIUI or the latest HyperOS looks clean and modern, but often users want something more unique that reflects their individual style. The ability to change application icons, fonts, lock screen wallpaper and the overall color scheme of the system is a powerful tool that turns a faceless gadget into a personal digital accessory.
The process of changing the visual design on Xiaomi devices is quite simple, but has its own nuances, which depend on the version of the operating system and the region of the account. Many users limit themselves to changing the wallpaper, unaware that they can completely transform the view of the menu, control panel and even sound. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from standard to advanced, so that you can get the interface you wanted.
It's worth noting that experimenting with themes is a safe process that doesn't require super-user rights. However, before making a global change to your system files, it's highly recommended to have a backup of important data, although the regular theme installation tools work well.
Official Theme Store: Basic Method of Installation
The most obvious and safe way for a beginner is to use the built-in Themes app, which is a centralized directory that has thousands of design options checked for no malicious code, and to find it, you just unlock the screen and find an icon called "Themes" or "Themes" among the standard applications. If you can't find the application, try searching the system by swiping down on your desktop.
The interface of the theme store in Xiaomi is often overloaded with banner ads and recommendations, which can be confusing. The main content is in the tabs "Categories", "Rating" or "News". Here you can find both free works by enthusiasts and paid options from professional designers. It is important to understand that the quality of execution can vary greatly: some themes change only icons, while others redraw all the elements of the interface, including settings and the call.
To install the selected option, just click on the preview and then on the "Download" or "Free" button. Once the download is complete, the system will suggest applying the theme immediately. If you do not like the result, you can return everything in a couple of seconds through the user profile, which is a key advantage of the official method is the ability to instantly roll back changes without losing data.
But there are limitations to the store, and some topics may not be available in your area because of licensing restrictions or company policies, and in recent versions of HyperOS, theme-selection algorithms have become more aggressive, sometimes hiding really good, but old work, so if standard search results have not been found, you should pay attention to manual file installation.
Manual installation of themes: working with TMT and TPF files
For more experienced users who are not satisfied with the official directory range, there is the option of manually installing theme files for Xiaomi usually have the extension.mtz,.tmt or.tpf. They can be found on specialized forums such as 4PDA or XDA Developers, where enthusiasts share their modifications. This method allows you to install themes removed from the official store, or regional versions that are not available in your country.
The manual installation process requires pre-production. You need to download the theme file onto the device and put it in the correct directory. It's usually a MIUI/theme folder in the internal storage. If theme doesn't exist, you need to create it manually. It's important to follow the letter register in the folder name, because Android is sensitive to this setting. Once the file is moved, you need to reboot the device or clear the the the theme app's cache.
☑️ Pre-manual check
There is an important nuance with.tmt files. These are often “heavy” themes that contain high-quality graphics and animations. When you try to apply such a theme through a standard Explorer, the system may give an error or simply ignore the file. In such cases, it is recommended to use third-party theme managers or special modified versions of the Themes application, which are able to recognize and activate these formats without restrictions.
⚠️ Warning: When downloading themes from third-party resources, always check the file with antivirus. Theme files have access to the system resources of the interface, and attackers can theoretically inject malicious code there, although in practice this is rare.
Hidden opportunities: third-party launchers and modules
If standard personalization tools don't seem flexible enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue. These are apps that completely replace your desktop and often your smartphone's notification panel. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Niagara Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allow you to change the logical structure of your phone's use beyond recognition. On Xiaomi, they work stably, but require permission to display on top of other windows.
For advanced users with an unlocked bootloader, Magisk modules are available. They allow you to embed system fonts, emojis, and even change system sounds at the firmware level. It is not just a theme, but a deep modification of the system. Installation of such modules requires caution, since an error in the module code can lead to a cyclic reboot.
The newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS have Android 12+ widgets, but the older MIUI widgets have not gone away. By combining them, you can create a unique interface. Some themes in the theme store are actually sets of widgets and icons that you need to activate through the Components app (if available in your area) or through theme settings.
Why are some topics not fully applied?
Comparison of theme loading sources
Choosing a source to download your registration directly affects the stability of the system and the security of your data. Below is a comparison table that will help you determine the best option for your needs. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered before starting installation.
| Source | Security | Diversity | Complexity of installation | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official store | Tall. | Average. | Low. | Minimum |
| Third-party sites | Medium | Huge. | Medium | Medium. |
| Third-party launchers | Tall. | High. | Medium | Low. |
| Magisk modules | Depends on the author. | Systemic | Tall. | High-pitched |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal balance is to use the official store in conjunction with finding rare files in trusted forums. Magisk modules are recommended only for those who understand the risks and know how to restore the system through Fastboot.
Compatibility problems and errors in installation
A common problem with Xiaomi users is that they are "meeting" after a reboot or system update, because a new version of MIUI or HyperOS can change the structure of the system files, and the old theme stops reading correctly, in which case the system automatically switches to standard design, the solution is one: look for an updated version of the theme or go back to the standard before the patch comes out.
Another common mistake is incorrect font display. If after installing the theme, the text in the menu became unreadable or “got”, then the font in the topic does not support Cyrillic or your pixel density. In such cases, resetting the font to the standard through the Settings menu → Screen → Font helps. Sometimes you need a complete reinstallation of the the theme with a pre-cleaning of the cache.
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If after installing the theme, the captions under the icons disappeared, try changing the font size in the screen settings or selecting another desktop grid in editing mode.
And also, the problem of "Chinese" themes on global firmware, which can have characters in the names of days of the week or months, and it's not a virus, it's a localization feature, and you can only fix this completely by editing the files of the topic, which requires special knowledge, or waiting for a Russified version from the community.
Optimization and the impact of themes on productivity
The issue of the influence of themes on the speed of the smartphone is relevant for owners of budget models Redmi and POCO. Heavy themes with live animation, dynamic wallpaper and complex widgets consume more RAM and battery power. The processor is forced to constantly render graphic elements, which can lead to micro-delays (freezes) when switching between applications.
If you notice that the phone started to work slower after installing a new theme, try switching to static wallpaper and simplifying widgets. Also helps to disable animations in the Settings for developers menu. For devices with less than 4 GB of RAM, it is recommended to use “light” themes that change only icons and colors without affecting system processes.
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Complex themes with live animation can reduce the autonomy of the smartphone by 5-10% per day due to the constant load on the GPU.
Regularly cleaning the cache of the Themes app also helps to keep the speed up, and over time, it accumulates data about the views and downloads, which can take up to tens of megabytes, and you can clean them through the storage management menu in the phone settings by finding the Themes app in the installed program list.