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

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones based on the shell MIUI They offer users a unique personalization experience, which is custom themes, but what's not widely known is that you can not only download them from a store, but also create them yourself. Why is it profitable? First, you get complete control over the visual style of the interface, adapting it to your preferences - from color palette to animations. Second, a custom theme allows you to stand out among the millions of Redmi users, avoiding template solutions.

In this article, we will look at the entire process, from preparing the necessary tools to the final installation of the theme on the device, you will learn what programs to use for design, how to structure theme files correctly, and what pitfalls can arise when downloading the theme to the device. MIUI Theme Store, we will pay special attention to the current versions MIUI 14/15 Compatibility with popular Redmi Note models 12/13, Redmi K60 other.

Before we get started, it's important to understand that creating a theme for Xiaomi is not just about picking pictures. It's about working with people who are not. XML-It's a markup, it's a customization of icons to different screen resolutions and compatibility testing, and if you're willing to spend time learning, it's going to be better than you'd expect: your Redmi will look like it was designed for you.

Redmi Note 12/13|Redmi K50/K60|Redmi 10/11|POCO F/X|Another model-->

1.Preparation: What will be needed to create a topic

Before you start designing, you can assemble all the tools you need, and without them, the process of creating a theme will be a agonizing experience.

• 📱 Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi on the MIUI 12+ (preferably with an unlocked loader for debugging).
• 💻 Windows computer 10/11 macOS (for working with graphic editors).
• 🎨 Graphic Editors: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (Free) or Figma for creating icons and backgrounds.
• 📂 MIUI Theme Editor – official software from Xiaomi for the assembly of themes (you can download on the official website).
• 🔧 ADB-tools (for debugging and installing themes manually).
• 📁 Theme templates (you can download from open repositories or use standard ones) MIUI Theme Editor).

Pay attention: MIUI Theme Editor has limited documentation in Russian. If you don't speak English, prepare an interpreter in advance to work with the program interface. We also recommend backing up data on your smartphone - when testing themes, there may be malfunctions in the shell.

For ease of work, organize folders on your computer as follows:

Draft themes/


├── Icons/# PNG-Icon files (resolution 192x192 px)




├── Backgrounds/# Desktop and lock wallpaper




├── Animations/# GIF or APNG for screensavers




├── XML/ # Markup Files (colors.xml, styles.xml)




└── Screenshots/# Preview of the theme for the store

💡

Use Google Drive or Mega.nz to back up your project. MIUI Theme Editor can remove unsaved changes.

2. Theme design: rules and recommendations

Creating a visual part of a topic is the most creative, but also the most important part, and it's important to balance originality with convenience, and remember that even the most beautiful topic will be useless if it impairs readability or navigation.

Start with the color palette. MIUI It uses a light and dark theme system, so your palette should include:

• 🎨 Primary color (for accent elements).
• 🖌️ Secondary color (for backgrounds and buttons).
• 📱 Colors of text (for light and dark topics).
• ⚪/⚫ Neutral shades (for sections and boundaries).

To check contrast, use tools like Coolors or Adobe Color, for example, if you choose a dark background, the text should not be gray, but close to white (#F5F5F5), so as not to strain the eyes.

Pay special attention to the icons. MIUI They must meet several requirements:

1. Permission — 192×192 px (for Redmi with xxhdpi pixel density).
2. Format — PNG transparently.
3. The style is the same for all icons (for example, minimalism or skeumorphism).

The program interface is divided into several tabs:

Start by importing graphics resources in the Resources tab. Upload icons, backgrounds and animations to the appropriate folders. Please note: file names should be in English and not contain spaces (use emphasises, for example, home_icon.png).

Next, go to the Styles tab where you are located. XML-configuration files can be changed here:

• 🎨 Color schemes (colors.xml).
• 📝 Fonts (fonts.xml — Only system fonts are supported MIUI).
• 🔄 Transition animations (animations.xml).

For editing XML Use a built-in editor or external tools like Notepad++. Example of changing the primary color:

<color name="colorPrimary">#FF5722</color>


<color name="colorPrimaryDark">#E64A19</color>

After you set up your styles, go to the Preview tab to test the theme on the connected Redmi.

• All icons are displayed correctly.
• The text is readable on a light and dark background.
• Animations don't slow down the interface.

💡

Always test the theme on a real device, not just an emulator. Some elements (such as screen lock animations) may not display correctly in the device. MIUI Theme Editor.

4.Export and install theme on Xiaomi Redmi

When the theme is ready, export it to.mtz through the Package tab.

• Title of the topic (Latin, without spaces).
• Version MIUI (for example 14.0.5).
• Supported models (select Redmi Note 12, Redmi) K60 etc.).
• Author (your name or nickname).

Once exported, you'll get a file with the.mtz extension, and you'll need to install it on your smartphone.

1. Through MIUI Theme Store (official way): Upload the.mtz file to themes.mi.com (developer account required). Wait for moderation (may take up to 7 days) Once approved, the theme will appear in the store and you can download it to your Redmi.

Through a local installation (for testing)

• Put the.mtz file in the folder /sdcard/MIUI/theme/ smartphone.
• Open Topics → Local → Select your file.
• Apply the theme and restart the device.
• Through ADB (For experienced users: adb push theme.mtz /sdcard/MIUI/theme/ adb shell am broadcast -a miui.intent.action.CHANGE_THEME --es theme_path /sdcard/MIUI/theme/theme.mtz

💡

If the theme is not applied through a local installation, check the permissions to the folder. /MIUI/theme/. Sometimes you need to manually issue permissions through Root Explorer or ADB.

After installation, the theme will be available in the Topics section. → If you have any errors (for example, the icons have not changed or the colors have gone wrong), go back to the MIUI Theme Editor and check out:

• Correctness of paths to files in XML.
• Version compatibility MIUI.
• The absence of Cyrillic in the file names.

5. Typical errors and their solution

Even experienced theme developers face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

If your topic is not moderated in MIUI Theme Store, check it for publication compliance:

• 🚫 Use of other graphic elements without permission.
• 🚫 Availability of watermarks or advertising.
• 🚫 Disparity of the style of the topic with generally accepted standards MIUI.

Send to moderation and wait for a response (usually) 3-7 days).

Once approved, your theme will be available to Xiaomi’s millions of users, and if it gets enough downloads and positive reviews, you can qualify for Recommended Author status, which gives you additional opportunities to promote.

To increase the visibility of the topic:

• 📢 Share it on social media with the hashtags #MIUITheme, #RedmiCustom.
• 🤝 Ask your friends to post likes and comments in the first few days after posting.
• 📊 Track download statistics in the developer panel and update the theme with reviews in mind.

7. Alternative methods of distribution of topics

If moderation in MIUI Theme Store is delayed or your theme has not passed the test, consider alternative distribution sites:

• 🌐 Thematic forums: 4PDA (section “Themes for MIUI"). Xiaomi.eu.).
• 📱 Telegram channels: MIUI Themes. Xiaomi Themes.
• 💾 File sharing: Upload the.mtz file to Google Drive, Mega.nz or Yandex Disk and share the link.
• 🛒 Payments: Google Play (through launcher apps). APKMirror (for distribution) APK topical).

When posting on third-party resources, make sure that:

• You have indicated authorship and have forbidden the subject to be changed without your consent.
• The.mtz file does not contain malicious code (check with VirusTotal).
• You have provided installation instructions (especially if the topic requires you to do so). ADB).

If you are planning to monetize your theme, consider the following options:

• 💰 Donation: Add a link to Donation Alerts or Patreon to the description.
• 🛍️ Premium: Release a free basic theme and a paid extended one (with additional icons or animations).
• 🤝 Partnering: Partner with bloggers who promote your topic.

8 Updating and supporting the theme

Creating a topic is only half the battle, and to keep it relevant, it needs to be updated regularly.

• 📅 Keep an eye on updates. MIUI: Each major update (e.g., transition from the MIUI 14 on MIUI 15) may break compatibility. Test the theme on firmware beta.
• 📱 Add support for new devices: With the release of new Redmis (for example, Redmi Note 14), update the list of compatible models in the new Redmi. MIUI Theme Editor.
• 🎨 Improve design: Add new icons for popular apps (Telegram, WhatsApp) Optimize animations to save battery.
• 💬 Communicate with users: Respond to reviews in MIUI Theme Store. Collect suggestions for improvement in a Telegram chat or forum.

If you find a bug in your topic, fix it and release an update.

1. Correct the error in MIUI Theme Editor.
2. Export a new version of.mtz with a larger version number (e.g. 1.0) → 1.1).
3. Download the update in MIUI Theme Store (if the topic is already published) or distribute it through alternative channels.

For convenience, please use the changelog (change list) in the topic description.

v1.2 (10.05.2026)


- Added icons for WhatsApp and CapCut




Fixed font display bug on MIUI 15




Optimized animations for AMOLED- screens





v1.1 (01.04.2026)




Support for Redmi Note 13 Pro+




- Corrected colors in dark mode

If you no longer plan to support a topic, let users know so they don’t wait for updates, which will keep your reputation as an author alive.

💡

Regular updates increase user loyalty, with topics that haven't been updated for more than a year losing search rankings MIUI Theme Store.

FAQ: Frequent questions about creating themes for Redmi