Branded shell MIUI Xiaomi's 12 is famous not only for its stable operation, but also for its deep customization of the interface. One of the most popular options is to install third-party themes that radically change the appearance of the system. MIUI 12 can be done by anyone, and it doesn't require the skills of a professional designer or programmer, but it's just patience, creativity and the right tools.
In this guide, we will take the theme development process from scratch, from preparing a work environment to testing and publishing in the official Mi Theme Store, you will learn what interface elements can be modified, where to download templates, and how to avoid typical beginner mistakes. We pay special attention to technical requirements MIUI 12, as the themes for this version have a number of differences from newer releases (e.g, MIUI 14. Ready to turn your Xiaomi into a unique device!
1. What you need to create a topic MIUI 12: Tools and requirements
Before you start designing, make sure you have everything you need. MIUI 12 (Or emulator, for testing. 9 Pro, Mi 10 or POCO X3 — The main thing is that the shell version is not newer. 12.5.7. Second, prepare a computer with Windows. 10/11 or macOS for working with graphic editors.
Main instruments:
- 🎨 Adobe Photoshop or GIMP (Free alternatives – for editing icons and backgrounds.
- 📦 Mi Theme Editor (official software from Xiaomi) – for assembling themes from ready-made elements.
- 📱 MTZ Manager (Android app) – to upload themes to your phone without posting them to the Store.
- 🔍 APKTool – for decompilation of system APK (advanced users).
⚠️ Note: If you plan to publish a theme in the Mi Theme Store, register a developer account on themes.xiaomi.com. Without this, you can not upload the theme to the official directory. Also note that Xiaomi moderates content – topics with copyright infringement or obscene images will be rejected.
Minimum technical requirements for the topic MIUI 12:
| Parameter | Requirement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Permission of icons | 192×192 px (for launcher) | .png formats are supported with transparency. |
| Background images | 1080×2340 px (Full HD+) | Use different screens to adapt to different screens 9-patch formats. |
| Color palette | No more than 5 primary colors | MIUI It automatically generates accents. |
| Size of the theme archive | Up to 50. MB | Lossless compression (e.g.,.zip without archiving) |
Structure of the topic MIUI 12: What elements can be changed
Subject in MIUI 12 is not just wallpaper and icons, it includes over 50 customizable elements, from download animations to notification styles:
Main elements of the topic:
- 📱 Launcher: application icons, folders, dock panel, opening/closing animations.
- 🎨 Wallpaper: Home screen, lock screen, application wallpaper (e.g. Weather or Calendar).
- ⚙️ Systemic UI: notification panel, quick settings, call screen, keyboard.
- 🔋 Animations: system boot, transitions between screens, pressing effects.
- 📊 Fonts and colors: system font, palette of accent colors, text style in the menu.
It's important: MIUI 12 supports dynamic wallpapers, but their creation requires knowledge XML and JSON If you're a beginner, start with static elements. Also note that some system applications (like Settings or Phone) have rigidly defined styles that can't be changed without root rights.
Example of folder structure in the theme archive (.mtz):
miui_theme/
├── description.ini #Metadata topics (title, author, version)
├── preview.png # Store Preview (500×500 px)
├── icon/ # App icons
├── wallpaper/ # Wallpaper
├── lockscreen/ # Lock screen elements
├── notification/ # Notification Panel
└── font/ # Fonts (optional)💡
Use official templates from Xiaomi to avoid missing theme elements, which can be downloaded from Mi Theme Editor or en.miui.com.
3. Step-by-step instruction: create a theme from scratch
Now, let's get to the practice. Below is a universal algorithm for creating a theme for the future. MIUI 12, which will suit even beginners. Follow the instructions in order to avoid errors in the assembly.
Step 1: Preparing a template
1. Download and install Mi Theme Editor from Xiaomi's official website.
2. Select the New Theme option and specify the target shell version — MIUI 12.
3. Fill in the metadata in the description.ini file:
- name=Title of your topic
- author=Your name or nickname
- version=1.0
- compat=12 (version) MIUI).
Step 2: Designing icons
Icons are the most visible element of the topic.
Use vector templates (such as from Flaticon or IconFinder) to avoid pixelation.
Save the icons in.png format with a transparent background.
To adapt to a dark theme, create two versions of the icons (light and dark).
Example of a path for the icon Phone: miui_theme/icon/com.android.contacts.png
Step 3: Wallpaper and background images
Wallpapers must match the screen resolution of the target devices. MIUI 12 are relevant to the following standards:
- 1080×2340 px – for most smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note) 9).
- 1440×3200 px – for flagships like Mi 10 Pro.
Tip: Use the tool 9-Patch in Android Studio, so that the wallpaper is properly scaled on screens with different aspect ratios.
Step 4: Assembly and testing
1.In Mi Theme Editor, click Build to generate a.mtz file.
2. Transfer the file to the smartphone in the folder MIUI/theme (use MTZ manager or ADB).
3. Apply the theme through Settings → Topics.
Icons are displayed without artifacts|The wallpaper is adapted to dark / light mode|All system menus are stylized|The topic doesn't cause lags or departures|The preview corresponds to the real view-->
4 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced designers face challenges when creating themes for the... MIUI 12.These are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:
Problem 1: The theme is not applied or the system crashes.
- 🔍 Reason: Incorrect folder structure in the.mtz archive or lack of mandatory files (e.g. description.ini).
- 🛠️ Solution: Check the structure by template (see Section 2) and reassemble the theme.
Problem 2: Icons are shown in pixels.
- 🔍 Reason: Original images are low resolution or lossy compressed.
- 🛠️ Solution: Use vector icons and export them to the 192×192 px without compression.
Problem 3: The theme is not moderated in the Mi Theme Store.
- 🔍 Reason: Violation of Xiaomi rules (e.g. use of brand logos or obscene images).
- 🛠️ Solution: Learn the rules of publication and replace the problem elements.
⚠️ Note: If you use resources from the Internet (icons, wallpaper, fonts), make sure they are distributed under a Creative Commons or Public Domain license. Otherwise, Xiaomi may block your account for copyright infringement.
How to check the topic for compatibility with MIUI 12?
5.Publishing the theme in Mi Theme Store: a step-by-step guide
If you are happy with the result and want to share the topic with other users, publish it in the official store.
- Register as a developer on themes.xiaomi.com (it will require a phone number binding).
- Upload the.mtz archive through the developer panel. Specify: - Subject category (e.g. Minimalism or Dark). - Brief description (in English and Chinese for a larger audience). - Search tags (e.g., Minimalism or Dark, #AMOLED, #DarkMode).
- Wait for moderation (usually takes 3-7 days). Xiaomi checks themes for technical and content requirements.
- Make a profit (optional): If the theme becomes popular, you can monetize it through the internal system Mi Credits.
Tip: To increase the chances of approval, add screenshots of the theme to the description on different devices (for example, Redmi and the other devices). POCO) and video animations.
| Moderation status | What do you do? |
|---|---|
| ✅ Approved. | The theme will appear in the catalog within 24 hours. |
| ❌ Overruled. | Correct the errors in the comments and upload them again. |
| ⏳ On the check-up. | Wait (depending on the workload of the support service). |
💡
Posting to the Mi Theme Store is the only legal way to spread the topic to millions of Xiaomi devices. Alternative methods (for example, through forums or Telegram) can result in a ban on an account for piracy.
Advanced Techniques: Animations and Dynamic Elements
If you want to make your topic stand out from thousands of others, add dynamic elements to it. MIUI 12 supported:
- 🌊 Live Wallpapers: Animated wallpaper based on.gif or.mp4 (maximum size: 10 MB).
- ⚡ Transition effects: Custom animations when swiping between screens or opening apps (edited via transition.xml).
- 🎵 Sound themes: Replacing system sounds (alarm clock, notifications) with your.ogg Samples.
- 🌓 Adaptive colors: automatic palette change depending on the time of day (requires manual editing) colors.xml).
Example of code for download animation (bootanimation.zip):
bootanimation/
├── desc.txt # Description of animation (resolution and FPS)
├── part0/ # First part of animation (logo)
│ ├── 001.png
│ ├── 002.png
│ └── ...
└── part1/ # Second part (system boot)To create Live Wallpapers, use Adobe After Effects with the Lottie plugin, which exports animation to.json – this format is supported. MIUI 12 without additional modifications.
⚠️ Warning: Overly complex animations can increase battery consumption and cause lags on weak devices (e.g. Redmi) 8A). Always test the theme on budget smartphones before publishing.
7. Alternative means of disseminating topics
If your theme hasn’t been moderated in the Mi Theme Store or you want to distribute it for free, consider alternative sites:
- 📱 Telegram channels: for example, MIUI Themes or Xiaomi Customization. You can upload.mtz files without restrictions here.
- 🌐 Forums: XDA Developers, 4PDA Or Mi Community. These resources have a custom section.
- 💾 GitHub: Code hosting is open source, users can download and modify the source code.
- 📦 APK-Mods: If a theme requires root rights, pack it in.apk using MT Manager.
Advantages of alternative sites:
No moderation (you can publish themes with non-standard elements).
The ability to get feedback from users faster than in the official Store.
Flexibility in monetization (for example, through donates or patreon).
Disadvantages:
Smaller audience (Mi Theme Store has millions of users).
The risk of pirated copies of your theme being distributed.
💡
To protect your topic from theft, add a unique identifier (such as your account hash) to description.ini to help prove authorship in case of disputes.