How to remove the dark mode on Xiaomi: all ways to disable the night theme

Dark mode on Xiaomi smartphones has become an integral part of the brand shell MIUI, but not all users like it.Some prefer the classic light interface because of better text readability, someone faces automatic theme switching depending on the time of day, and some devices turn on the dark mode spontaneously after updates. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off the dark theme on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark phones – from basic settings to hidden developer settings.

The MIUI feature is that the manufacturer has integrated dark mode not only into the system interface, but also into most standard applications (Gallery, Settings, Phone), which means that simply turning off the night theme in the display settings may not give the expected result - some elements will still remain dark.

It is important to consider the version of MIUI on your device: in recent updates (starting with MIUI 12.5), the logic of dark mode has changed. Now it is closely related to the function of Digital Well-being and can be activated on a schedule or at low battery level. If you tried to turn off a dark theme through Settings → Display, but it reappears – in the article you will find a solution to this problem.

1. Standard dark mode shutdown through settings

Let’s start with the simplest way that works on most Xiaomi devices running the same. MIUI 11–14. This method is suitable for Redmi Note models 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 And other modern smartphones of the brand. Instructions are relevant for tablets Xiaomi Pad 5/6.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and follow the following steps:

1. Go to the Display section – it’s usually at the top of the settings menu.
2. Click on Dark Mode (some versions may call it Night Theme or Dark Theme).
3. Select the Off option at the top of the screen. If the Auto switch is active, turn it off first.
4. Check the result: go back to the home screen, the interface should be light. If the changes don't apply, restart the device.

On some devices (e.g., POCO F3/F4), the path may be slightly different:

Settings → Display → Additional settings → Dark mode

Is the display settings open?

Selected "Dark Mode"?

Is the "Off" option active?

Changes are applied after reboot?-->

If the interface is dark after these actions, or if individual applications (such as Gallery or Notes) do not change the topic, move to the next section, which means that additional settings are activated on your device that override the basic parameters.

2. Disable automatic switching on schedule

One of the most common reasons for spontaneously turning on dark mode is the automatic time-of-day switching feature, which can be activated in the Digital Well-Being settings or directly in the dark theme menu, and even if you manually turn off dark mode, this feature will turn it on again at a predetermined time (usually from 22:00 to 7:00).

To disable automatic switching:

1. Open the Settings → Display → Dark Mode.
2. If the Auto option (or Schedule) is active, click on it.
3. In the menu that opens, select Never or Off (depending on the MIUI version).
4. Save the changes and check if the dark mode is turned on after 5-10 minutes.

On devices with MIUI 13/14, you may need to further disable the Digital Wellbeing feature:

Settings → Digital Well-Being → Sleep Mode → Settings → Dark Mode

Never turn on.

1-2 times a week

Every day.

Only after the updates

Didn't notice.-->

If you still activate the dark mode after this manipulation, check the settings of specific applications, for example, Google Chrome or YouTube can include its own dark theme, which is independent of system parameters, and we will discuss this in one of the following sections.

3. Reset dark mode through the developer settings

In rare cases, standard dark mode disabling methods do not work due to MIUI failures. This can occur after a failed update, reset settings, or conflict with third-party applications (such as launchers like Nova Launcher), in which situations, resetting interface settings through the developer menu will help.

First, you need to activate the Developer Mode:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times in a row)

After the notification appears, you become a developer! go back to the main settings menu and follow the following steps:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → For Developers (or Settings → System → Advanced Settings → For Developers).
2. Find Reset interface settings (in some versions – Reset themes or Reset MIUI).
3. Confirm the reset and restart the device.

After the reboot, check if the changes are applied. If the dark mode is still active, the problem may be in the cache of system applications, in which case a full reset of the cache through Recovery will help (the instructions are given in one of the following sections).

4. Disable dark mode for individual applications

Even if you successfully disable the system-level dark mode, some apps may ignore these settings and use their own dark theme, including both standard programs (Gallery, Camera, Notes) and third-party programs (WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Chrome).

4.1. Standard Xiaomi applications

In Xiaomi apps (like Gallery or Music), the dark theme is tied to system settings, but sometimes a forced reset is required:

• 📱 Gallery/Camera: Open the appendix → Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Theme → Light.
• 📝 Notes: Application settings → Registration → Bright topic.
• 🔊 Music: Settings → Appearance → Light.

Popular third-party applications

Many apps (like YouTube or Chrome) have their own theme settings that are independent of MIUI:

If the app does not have the option to select a light theme, try clearing its cache:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [App name] → Storage → Clear cache

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If the app still remains dark after cleaning the cache, try removing its updates (for system applications) or reinstalling it (for third-party applications).

5. Problems after MIUI update: what to do?

Many users find that after the MIUI update, dark mode turns on spontaneously and does not turn off in standard ways, this is due to the fact that new versions of the shell can reset user settings or introduce additional theme management options.

Dark mode is activated when the battery is low

Starting with MIUI 12.5, the system can automatically activate dark mode at a charge level below 15-20% to reduce power consumption.

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Go to Battery Settings → Additionally.
3. Find the Dark Mode item at low charge and turn it off.

5.2 Reset to the factory theme settings

If the interface has become dark after the update, and standard methods do not help, try resetting the theme settings to factory:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. Go to My Subjects or Profile.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset to factory.
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

💡

If the reset didn’t help, the cause could be damage to the system files, in which case only a full reset or flashing through Fastboot will help.

Conflict with third-party launchers

If you use an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, or Microsoft Launcher), it can override theme system settings to solve the problem:

• 🔄 Update the launcher to the latest version.
• ⚙️ Go to the launcher settings and find the Dark Theme option (usually in the Appearance section).
• 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache in the application settings.
• 🔙 Get back to the standard launcher MIUI, Check to see if the problem persists.

Radical methods: resetting and flashing

If none of these methods worked, the reason could be a serious failure in the MIUI. In this case, there are two radical solutions: hard reset or flashing the device, these methods should be used only as a last resort, as they will delete all the data on the phone.

Hard Reset (Severe Reset)

This way, you can get your phone back to factory settings by deleting all user data, apps, and settings. Before you reset, make sure you back up your important data!

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Resetting (or Resetting to Factory).
3. Confirm the action by entering the password from the Mi Account (if required).
4. Wait until the process is completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

1. Turn off the device.

2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up until the Mi logo appears.

3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume and power buttons).

4.Confirm reset and restart the phone.-->

6.2 Flashing through Fastboot

If the reset didn't work, the firmware might be damaged, and then Fastboot flashing will help, which requires a computer and a special tool (Mi Flash Tool).

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your computer.
3. Put the phone in Fastboot mode: turn it off, then press Power + Volume down.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and follow the instructions in the Mi Flash Tool to install the firmware.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to turn off dark mode on Xiaomi, users often make mistakes that lead to the opposite result.

⚠️ Note: If you use the second space function in MIUI, The dark mode settings may vary for each profile. Check the theme settings in both spaces!

Ignoring system updates

Older versions of MIUI (below 12.5) have a different dark mode management than newer ones. If your device hasn't been updated in a long time, some settings may be missing or not working properly. Solution: check for updates:

Settings → About the phone → System update

7.2. Conflict with applications for interface configuration

Apps like Substratum, Hex Installer, or Swift Installer can redefine system themes, and if you've installed custom overlays, delete them before setting up dark mode.

1. Open the application to customize themes.
2. Find the Installed Overlays section.
3. Remove all overlays associated with system applications.
4. Reset the device.

7.3. Misconfigured Xiaomi account setting

If your phone is linked to a Mi Account, some settings (including themes) may sync between devices. If your other Xiaomi smartphone is dark mode enabled, it can automatically apply to your current device, to avoid this:

• 🔗 Turn off the synchronization of themes: Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization → Topics (deactivate).
• 🔄 Log out of your account and check if the problem persists.

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If dark mode is only enabled in certain applications (like Google Play Store or Gmail), the problem is not MIUI, but the settings of the apps themselves. Update them or clear the cache.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions