Creating a custom theme for Xiaomi: from idea to installation

Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI Not only can you choose from thousands of themes, but you can also design your own interfaces, so you can stand out, you can adapt your phone to your own style, or you can even make money selling unique themes in your own home. MIUI However, many users do not know where to start: what tools to use, how to build a theme package correctly and avoid installation errors.

In this guide, we will take a look at the entire process – from preparing graphic elements to final installing the theme on your Redmi, POCO You will learn what programs will help you create icons and wallpapers, how to work with the theme file structure, and why some custom themes may not apply on new versions. MIUI 14/15. And where to find design inspiration and how to test a theme before publishing.

Important: The process of creating a theme requires attention to detail, such as incorrectly specified screen resolution in a file. description.xml It can cause the theme to simply not appear on the list of available ones, but don't worry, we'll go through each step in detail so you can avoid the typical mistakes.

1.Preparation: What is needed to create a topic

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

• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone on the MIUI 12 and newer (for testing)
• 💻 Windows computer 10/11 or macOS (for working with graphics)
• 🎨 Graphic Editors: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (free) or Figma for icon and wallpaper design
• 📂 WinRAR Archivist or 7-Zip topic-file
• 📝 Text editor Notepad++ or VS Code (for editing) XML-file)

You will also need basic graphics editor skills, and if you’ve never created an icon or wallpaper, practice on simple elements, such as trying to repaint standard icons. MIUI In a different color, or add shade to it, it will help you understand the principles of layering and resolutions.

Pay attention to the screen resolution of your smartphone. For example, for Xiaomi. 13 Pro with permission 3200×1440 And the wallpaper and the interface elements have to be adapted to this ratio, and if you're creating a theme for multiple devices, you're going to have to do multiple graphics or use vector elements that scale without losing quality.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 14/15, Note that the theme structure has changed from older versions. Some older manuals on the Internet may contain irrelevant data on file locations or supported settings.

2. Theme structure: what files and folders are needed

The theme for Xiaomi is an archive with a specific folder and file structure, and here's the basic structure that works for most versions. MIUI:

miui_mtl_global_theme.mtz (or other format)


├── description.xml # Theme metadata main file




├── preview # Folder with preview (required!)




│ ├── preview_1.jpg # Preview for theme store




│   └── preview_2.jpg




├── wallpaper #Wallpaper




│ ├── lockscreen.jpg # Wallpaper for lock screen




│ └── homescreen.jpg # Home screen wallpaper




├── icon # App icons




│   ├── com.android.chrome.png




│   ├── com.android.settings.png




│   └── ...




├── font # Fonts (optional)




│   └── custom_font.ttf




└── Style # Styles of interface elements




├── colors.xml # Color scheme




└── styles.xml # Button styles, menus, etc.

The most important file is description.xml. It says:

• 📌 Title of the topic and its version
• 📱 Supported screen resolutions
• 🎨 Author and contact information
• 🔧 Version compatibility MIUI

Example of minimum content description.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>


<theme>




<name>MyCustomTheme</name>




<version>1.0</version>




<author>YourName</author>




<email>your.email@example.com</email>




<compatibility>




<miui_version min="12" max="15"/>




<resolution>1080x2400</resolution>




<resolution>1440x3200</resolution>




</compatibility>




</theme>

💡

Use online validators XML, check out description.xml Errors in this file are the most common reason why a topic is not displayed in the system.

3. Creation of graphic elements

Graphics are the basis of any topic. Even if you're not an artist, you can create quality design using pre-made templates and tools. Let's start with the most noticeable ones: wallpaper and icons.

Wallpaper for lock screen and main screen

Recommended wallpaper sizes:

Advice on wallpapering:

• 🎨 Use abstract textures or minimalist drawings – they look better on smaller screens.
• 🌈 Avoid too bright colors in the status bar area (top of the screen) – this can make it difficult to read time and notifications.
• 🔄 For lock screen wallpaper, leave free space at the bottom - there will be displayed interface elements (hours, date, buttons).

Application icons

The icons should be in format. PNG It's a transparent background — 192×192 pixels, but for high resolutions (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Ultra is better to use 256×256. Each icon should be named according to the principle:

[Application package].png


Examples:




com.android.chrome.png # Icon for Chrome




com.miui.calculator.png # Icon for Calculator




com.android.settings.png # Icon for Settings

Where do you get the app packages? Install the App Inspector app on your phone (available on Google Play) -- it shows the packages of all the apps installed. Or use this list of the most popular ones:

If you do not want to draw icons from scratch, you can:

• 🔍 Download free icon sets from sites like Flaticon or Iconfinder (check the "Free for Commercial Use" filter").
• 🎨 Use icon generators, such as Android Asset Studio (online service from Google).
• 🖌️ Take as a basis standard icons MIUI and modify them (change color, add a stroke, etc.).

4. Working with color scheme and styles

Colors in the theme are defined in the file style/colors.xml. You can set the shades here:

• 📱 System menu background
• 🔘 Buttons and switches
• 📝 Text and clues
• 🔴 Emphasis elements (notifications, allocations)

Example of contents colors.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>


<resources>




<color name="miui_color_primary">#6200EE</color> <!-- Primary color -->




<color name="miui_color_primary_dark">#3700B3</color> <!--Dark variant -->




<color name="miui_color_accent">#03DAC6</color> <!-- Accent color -->




<color name="miui_color_background">#FFFFFF</color> <!--Fon -->




<color name="miui_color_text_primary">#212121</color> <!-- Main text -->




</resources>

To choose a harmonious palette, use the services:

• 🎨 Coolors – Color scheme generator
• 🔍 Adobe Color – a tool for selecting shades
• 📊 Material Design Color Tool – Contrast Testing

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ some parameters colors.xml Ignore them if you have Dark Mode or Color Scheme on Wallpaper on the system. Test the theme in different display modes!

5. Assembly and packaging of the theme

When all graphic elements and XML-Files are ready, they need to be properly packaged in the archive with the.mtz extension (for older versions). MIUI) Or.apk (for new ones). Here's a step-by-step guide:

Create a folder with the theme name (for example, MyTheme)|Place all files in a structure (description.xml, preview, wallpaper, etc.)|Check the icon names (must match the application packages)|Pack a folder in ZIP-archive|Rename the extension from.zip to.mtz-->

For packaging in.mtz:

1. Select the theme folder, right-click and select Add to Archive... (via WinRAR or 7-Zip).
2. In the archiving settings, select the format ZIP and compression level without compression.
3. Once you have created your archive, rename it from.zip to.mtz.

For MIUI 14/15 You may need to pack in.apk:

• 📥 Download the template MIUI Theme APK Template (available on forums such as XDA Developers).
• 📁 Place your theme files in the asset template folder.
• 🔧 Edit it. AndroidManifest.xml, name and version of the topic.
• 📦 Compile your project to.apk via Android Studio or online services like AppBundle Explorer.

The finished theme file can be:

• 📲 Install directly on the phone (instructions in the next section).
• 🌍 Download in MIUI Theme Store for public access (developer account required).
• 💾 Share with friends through cloud services (Google Drive, Telegram).

6. Install theme on Xiaomi smartphone

There are three ways to install a custom theme on Xiaomi:

Method 1: Through the standard "Themes" application

It is the easiest method, but it does not work on all versions. MIUI:

1. Copy the theme file (.mtz or.apk) into your phone’s memory.
2. Open the Themes app.
3. Go to the section My topics → Import.
4. Select your file and wait for the application.

Method 2: Through MIUI Theme Editor (requires an unlocked bootloader)

If the standard method does not work, you can use the application. MIUI Theme Editor (available on the XDA or 4PDA):

1. Install. MIUI Theme Editor.apk phone-on.
2. Open the app and import your.mtz file.
3. Press Apply Theme and restart your phone.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T) This method requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights. Without them, the theme may not apply or reset after a reboot.

Method 3: Through ADB (for power users)

If the first two methods didn’t work, try to install the theme through the ADB:

adb push C:\path\totheme\theme.mtz /sdcard/


adb shell am start -n com.android.themes/.activity.ThemePreviewActivity -d file:///sdcard/theme.mtz

After these commands are executed, the theme should appear in the list of available ones. If not, check:

• 🔍 Correct File Structure in the Archive.
• 📋 Compatibility of permits in description.xml.
• 🔄 Version MIUI (Some themes don’t work in beta versions).

7. Testing and debugging theme

Before you publish or distribute a topic, you need to test it on different devices.

Check the display of wallpaper on Lockscreen and Homescreen|Make sure all icons are displayed (no "broken" links)|Test the color scheme in light/dark mode|Check the work of animations (if they are in the topic)|Make sure the text is readable on all backgrounds-->

Common mistakes and their solutions:

If the theme is unstable, check the logs of the system through ADB:

adb logcat | grep -i "theme"

This will help to identify errors in downloading or applying styles.

8. Publication of the topic in MIUI Theme Store

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

1. Register a developer account on the Xiaomi Developer website (dev.mi.com).
2. Prepare the theme archive according to Xiaomi requirements (preview size, file formats, etc.).
3. Upload the theme through MIUI Theme Designer Portal.
4. Fill in metadata: description, tags, supported devices.
5. Wait for moderation (can take 3 to 7 days).

It is important to consider:

• 💰 Free themes are moderated faster than paid themes.
• 📌 In the description, specify all the features of the topic (animations, unique icons, etc.).
• 🔍 Avoid using protected content (brand logos, characters from movies).

💡

Before posting, check the theme on three different Xiaomi devices with different screen resolutions, which will increase the chances of being approved by the moderator.

After posting, keep track of user reviews. If a topic is gaining popularity, you can:

• 🔄 Release updates with new icons or wallpaper.
• 🎨 Create variations of the theme (e.g. dark and light versions).
• 💬 Communicate with users through comments in the theme store.

FAQ: Frequent questions about creating themes for Xiaomi