Personalization of the interface is what makes using a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone truly unique. Standard wallpaper and icons quickly become boring, and ready-made solutions from the store do not always satisfy the needs of the experienced user.
The process of developing your own skin seems complicated only at first glance. In fact, Xiaomi provides enough tools to turn a typical user-enthusiast into a full-fledged interface designer. You don't need to be a professional programmer to get started, although a basic understanding of file structure will greatly speed up the process.
In this article, we'll go into detail on how to create a MIUI or HyperOS theme from scratch. We'll look at the tools you need, the design structure, the elements you draw, and the final product build, and the willingness to experiment is all you need.
Tools and workplace preparation required
Before you start creative, you have to prepare the software. The main tool is the official utility. MTZ Editor, designed specifically for Xiaomi theme formats, allows you to import graphical resources, edit. XML-Configure and compile the final file without having to manually write code.
You also need a graphics editor to create icons and background images, and designers often use Adobe Photoshop or the free GIMP. It's important to define the color scheme and style in advance so that all elements look harmonious.
⚠️ Attention: To work with MTZ Editor may require a Xiaomi developer account (Mi Account Developer). A regular Mi Account does not always give access to the compilation and signature features of the themes.
You can also take stock theme as a base or download the "Empty Theme" template from the official MIUI forum, which will save you time, since you don't have to draw every element of the system from scratch.
☑️ Preparation for the theme
Project structure and main topic files
The theme for Xiaomi is an archive with a specific internal structure, containing graphics files and scripts. Understanding how the files are organized within the package is critical to successful development. If you break the folder structure or filenames, the system simply won't be able to apply your theme.
Inside the theme directory are key folders, such as icons for application icons, images for system images, and lockscreen for lock screen. Each element has its own format and resolution requirements, ignoring which will lead to visual artifacts.
Special attention should be paid to the file description.xml. This is the passport of your topic, which spells out the title, author, version and preview images.
Deep customization uses.xml files that control the logic of the behavior of elements, such as how the clock face changes or how the interface responds to touch.
Secret folders in the structure
Development of icons and graphic elements
Icon creation is the most time-consuming part of the process. You have to re-draw hundreds of apps to fit a single style. MTZ Editor has an automatic icon generation feature, but for quality results, you better draw them by hand or use ready-made vector graphics sets.
It's important to have a single visual language when designing, and if you've chosen a flat design, all elements should be devoid of shadows and gradients, and if you're a neomorphic design, you need to carefully work out the light and shadow to create the volume.
- 🎨 Use vector graphics where possible to make icons look clear on screens at any resolution.
- 📐 Observe the grid and indentations so that the icons in the menu look neat and do not "dance".
- 🌈 Think ahead: bright colors can quickly tire your eyes with daily use.
Remember to use system icons such as settings, phone and messages, which are the face of your theme and are most common to the user.
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Use the "Import Icons" feature in MTZ Editor to quickly load an entire folder of images at once, which greatly speeds up the process of filling the theme with graphic elements compared to adding one at a time.
Setting up the lock screen and Always on Display
Lock Screen is the first thing a user sees when they pick up a phone. There are two types of lock screens in the Xiaomi ecosystem: classic and new, with widgets. Creating a theme often involves adapting to both options or choosing a priority.
To configure the lock screen, a special editor is used inside. MTZ or manual editing XML-You can set the font of the watch, its position, color, even animation of the appearance. More complex topics can include weather widgets or pedometers right on the locked screen.
The feature is Always on Display (AOD) It requires a separate approach. AOD should be optimized for OLED-In the case of black, you have a pixel that's turned off, so you can save battery power while you display time and date.
| Interface element | File format | Recommended authorization | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application icon | PNG | 192x192 px | The main icon on the menu |
| Desktop wallpaper | JPG / PNG | 1080x2400 px | Background image |
| Settings icon | PNG | 96x96 px | Systemic icon in the curtain |
| Preview of the topic | JPG | 480x800 px | Image for the theme store |
| Font of the watch | TTF / XML | Depends on the typeface. | Time mapping on loxcrine |
Compilation, testing and debugging
Once all graphical elements are ready and distributed to folders, the compilation stage begins. In MTZ Editor, this process is started by the "Build" or "Compile" button. The program will check the integrity of the files and create a file with the.mtz extension.
The resulting file must be installed on the device for verification, this can be done through the "Subjects" -> "My topics" -> "Import" menu. When testing, carefully monitor the absence of "broken" icons (when instead of a picture, a black square) and the correct display of text.
⚠️ Warning: When testing a theme on a real device, make sure you have a way to quickly reset the theme (e.g., via Safe Mode or the Volume button when booting) if the interface becomes unreadable.
It often happens that everything looks perfect on the computer, and on the phone the fonts float or the colors get distorted, and that requires going back to the editor and making edits, and the edit-compilation-test cycle is a normal part of the theme designer's job.
Posting the theme in the Mi Store
If your theme has passed all the tests and looks great, you can submit it to moderation, and you can go to the developer's personal account on the MIUI Theme Store, where you upload the.mtz file, fill out the description, add screenshots, and specify the category.
The moderation process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, and moderators check the subject for compliance with the guidelines: no prohibited content, all elements working and graphic quality, and if the topic is rejected, you will receive a comment indicating the errors that need to be corrected.
Once published successfully, the theme will be available to millions of users around the world, and you will be able to track download statistics and get feedback, which will help you improve your skills and create even better products in the future.
Creating a theme is not just a technical process, it's also a creative journey, and starting with simple icon changes, you can come up with full-fledged visual concepts that change the design of the device.
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Successful publication of the theme requires not only high-quality graphics, but also strict compliance with the technical requirements of the Mi Store.