How to remove the dark mode on Xiaomi: 5 working ways for MIUI 12-15

The dark theme in Xiaomi smartphones has become a standard feature since MIUI 10, but not everyone likes it. Some prefer the classic light interface because of better readability in daylight, some face display bugs in apps, and some just get tired of excessive contrast. If you are looking for a way to bring a bright theme back to your Redmi, Poco or Black Shark, this guide will help you understand all the nuances.

In this article, we'll look at not only the standard MIUI settings, but also hidden settings that the manufacturer doesn't advertise, how to turn off dark mode globally for individual applications, or even reset to factory settings if the system is stuck in night mode, and also understand why the topic sometimes spontaneously turns on and how to prevent this.

Before you make any changes, make sure your smartphone runs on the current firmware version. In older MIUI builds 11 and below, the shutdown algorithm may differ, and some features (such as theme schedule) are simply absent. If you have Xiaomi with custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the instruction may not work - in such cases, the the theme settings depend on the Android shell, not on the Xiaomi brand interface.

1. Standard dark mode shutdown via MIUI settings

The easiest way to bring back a bright theme is to use the built-in MIUI settings. This method works on all current models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The main condition is that you must have the official firmware installed without deep modifications.

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

1. Go to the Screen section (or Display in some localizations).
2. Select Dark Mode (older versions may call Night Theme).
3. Move the slider to the off position. or uncheck next to the option.
4. Confirm the changes if the system requests a reboot (some models require a restart to apply themes).

If the interface is dark after this, check the settings of individual applications. Some programs (such as Google Chrome or Telegram) have their own theme settings that do not depend on the system settings, and make sure that you do not activate Read or Vision Protection mode - they can simulate a dark theme.

Make sure MIUI is updated to the latest version|

Check the theme settings in individual applications (Chrome, Telegram, etc.)|

Turn off Reading or Vision Protection in screen settings |

Reboot the smartphone after the changes-->

2. Disable automatic switching of topics on schedule

Many users are faced with a situation where the dark mode turns on on itself in the evening, this is due to the automatic schedule function, which is activated by default in MIUI 12 and later, the system focuses either on the time of day or on the light sensor data.

To disable automatic switching:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Dark Mode.
2. Click on the Schedule (or Automatic Enablement) bar.
3. Select the option No or Disable.
4. If there are separate settings for Sunset before sunrise or for the light sensor, deactivate them.

On some models (like the Poco F5 or Xiaomi 13T), the schedule can be hidden behind additional options. If you don’t see the Schedule, try clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of the dark mode settings screen — there are sometimes extended options hidden there.

💡

If dark mode still turns on at night after you turn off your schedule, check the settings of the Google app (Google Services → Dark Theme) which sometimes override system settings.

3. Resetting theme settings to factory values

If standard methods didn't work, it might have been a theme configuration failure, which is where resetting the screen to factory settings helps, and it doesn't affect personal data (photos, contacts, messages), but it will return all display parameters to default values.

To perform the discharge:

1. Open Settings → System and Device → Additional (or Special Features depending on the version of MIUI).
2. Select Settings Reset.
3. Click on Reset screen settings (or Reset themes and fonts).
4. Confirm the action by entering the unlock password, if necessary.

Once reset, the smartphone will automatically restart and the theme will return to the standard (light for most regions), and if this does not help, the cause may be damage to the system files, in which case you will need a deeper diagnosis or firmware.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, Poco M3) Resetting your screen settings can also return factory wallpaper and notification sounds.

4. disable dark mode via ADB (for power users)

If system settings are not available (for example, due to an interface failure) or you want to apply the changes globally to all device users, you can use the system to make the changes. ADB-This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Instructions for Windows/macOS/Linux:

1. Activate Developer Mode on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times in a row).
2. Enable USB debugging in the Developer section.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the terminal (or command line) and type in: adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1 (where 1 — bright-themed, 2 — dark, 0 — automatic).
5. Reset the device.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell cmd uimode night no

This command forcibly disables night mode at the system level.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change other settings through settings put unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, settings put global with incorrect values can disrupt the network or battery.

5.Dark mode problems in individual applications

Even after the system dark mode is disabled, some applications may continue to use the dark theme, which is because many programs (especially Google) have their own display settings that are independent of MIUI.

Google Chrome, YouTube, Gmail:

1. Open the application and go to its settings.
2. Find the Topic or Design section.
3. Choose Light or Use System.

Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp:

These messengers often have a dark theme tied to the system, but sometimes manual sync is required. Go to the chat settings, find the Makeup item and select Light Theme or How to System. If you don't have an option, upgrade to the latest version.

Games and third-party applications:

Some games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) have built-in interface settings. You can find them in the Settings menu. → Graphics or Interface. If you don't have an option, check if the game overrides the system theme through resolution. android.permission.CHANGE_DISPLAY_SETTINGS.

💡

If the application does not respond to changes in the system theme, check its permissions in Settings → Applications → Permissions Management. Some programs (especially Chinese) require explicit permission to access the display settings.

6.If nothing helps: radical methods

In rare cases, the dark mode can become stuck due to serious MIUI failures. If none of the above methods worked, try the following:

Reset all settings to factory:

This is an extreme measure that will delete all data from the device, including apps, accounts and media files.Be sure to back up via Settings → About Phone → Backup or manually copy important files to your PC before resetting.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data.
3. Enter the password and confirm the reset.

Fastboot flashing:

If the reset didn't work, the system firmware might be damaged, and you'd have to reinstall MIUI through Fastboot mode.

1. Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.
3. Transfer the smartphone to Fastboot mode (clamp Power + Volume down when switched off).
4. Connect the device to your PC and run through Mi Flash.

Contact the service center:

If the problem persists after flashing, this may indicate a hardware failure (for example, a malfunction of the light sensor or memory), in such cases, it is recommended to contact an authorized Xiaomi service center, especially if the device is warranted.

⚠️ Warning: Self-flashing via Fastboot will void warranty on some models (e.g. Black Shark or Xiaomi) MIX Before the procedure, check the status of the warranty in the Mi Community app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the dark mode on Xiaomi