Changing the visual design on Xiaomi smartphones is an easy way to personalize the device, but the result is not always pleasing. Often users are faced with a situation when the installed theme contains banner ads, incorrectly displays system fonts or simply ceases to like after a couple of days of use, in such cases there is an urgent need to return the original look of the interface or install a new design.
The process of returning to the factory state of the MIUI or HyperOS shell can vary depending on the version of the operating system. Some design elements can get stuck in the cache, creating visual artifacts even after trying to remove. In this article, we will detail all known methods of removing a theme from Xiaomi’s Android, including hidden settings and forced reset components.
There are several levels of depth of embedding a theme into the system. Sometimes it is enough to simply switch to the standard version in the Themes app, and in other cases it is necessary to completely clean the system service data. Incorrectly deleting the theme files through the file manager can lead to the disappearance of icons or a black screen in the menu. So it is important to follow proven algorithms of actions so that you do not disturb the stable operation of the shell.
Standard method of disconnection through the Topics app
The safest and most obvious way to get back to the standard look is to use the built-in Themes app, which is where most of the interface elements are managed, but many users mistakenly assume that deleting the theme file will automatically return the standard design, which is not always true.
To reset correctly, you need to perform a series of actions in a specific sequence. First, open the Themes app on your desktop. If the icon has been changed and you can't find it, search the system or find the standard icon in the Tools folder.
When you start the app, go to the user profile, which is usually a button with a person or avatar in the lower right or upper right corner of the screen, and it stores download history and active components.
- 📱 Click on the “Themes” section in your profile to see the list of installed designs.
- 🔄 Find a theme in the list called “Classic”, “Default” or “Standard».
- ✅ Click the “Apply” button under the selected standard theme.
- 🗑️ Only after applying the standard can you remove the unnecessary theme by holding your finger on it and selecting "Delete».
It is important to understand that using a standard theme resets the wallpaper, fonts and style of system applications, and if after this procedure some elements remain changed, then they have been modified separately and require individual reset.
☑️ Verification of the resetting of the topic
Resetting of individual design components
Often, the user changes only the font or style of the lock screen and then forgets about it. When trying to remove the theme from Xiaomi’s Android in the standard way, these elements can remain intact, creating an imbalance in visual perception.
Themes has separate tabs for different components, so to get everything to a common denominator, you need to check each one, go to your profile and look at the Fonts, Wallpaper, Lock Screen sections.
For each component, there's a rule: if you want to remove customization, you have to explicitly choose the standard option. Just removing the downloaded font is not enough - the system will continue to use it until you switch to system.
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If you lose your signatures on your app icons after resetting your theme, check your font settings. Often, large or decorative fonts hide the text and need to be changed separately.
Special attention should be paid to the lock screen. Third-party themes often implement complex unlock animations that can consume battery power. Make sure that the lock screen selects the Classic or Default option.
Cleaning the application data Topics and cache
If visual artifacts are saved even after applying a standard theme, it is possible that the phone still has residual files in its memory, in which case a deep cleaning of the data of the Themes system application is required. This action is safe for your personal data (photos, contacts), but resets the settings of the application itself.
To do this, go to the basic settings of your smartphone. Find the Apps → All Apps. In the list, look for the Themes app. It may have a brush or palette logo.
Inside the app menu, find the Clear button (usually at the bottom of the screen). In the menu that appears, select Clear All or Clear Data. The system will alert you that the settings will be reset.
| Action. | The result | Security |
|---|---|---|
| Clear the cache | Delete temporary files, speed up work | Safe. |
| Clear the data | Reset the settings of the application Themes | Safe. |
| Delete the appendix | Impossible (systemic) | Unavailable |
| Apply Classic | Returns the standard look | Safe. |
After cleaning the data, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to re-index resources and apply basic design settings without caching errors.
Removal of topics from unknown sources
Users often download themes not from the official GetApps store, but from third-party sources or receive them through.mtz files. Such themes may not appear in the standard list or have no delete button.
If a theme was installed through a file manager or ADB, it can hang in the system. In this case, the method of forced stopping the theme service helps. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications → Themes.
Click the “Force Stop” button, which will temporarily turn off the registration service, and immediately after that, without opening other applications, try applying the standard theme through quick access or repeat the procedure from the first section.
⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from unverified sources (.mtz files) may contain malicious code. If after installing such a theme, the phone begins to behave strangely, immediately delete it and check the device with antivirus.
In some cases, shutting down the Internet while using a standard theme helps, preventing the system from trying to download remote design resources from the network.
Solving problems with icons and desktop
The most common problem after deleting a theme is having “got” icons or empty spaces on the desktop, because the theme has changed the desktop grid or the scale of the icons, and the standard procedure for removing the theme does not always return the grid to its original position.
To fix the grid, press long on the empty desktop space. In the menu that appears, select Settings (cogs). Here, find Grid or Grid Size. Set the standard value (usually 5x6 or 4x6 for modern models).
Also check the size of the icons. The same desktop settings menu may have a size slider. Move it to the middle position or select Default.
Why did icons become square?
If the icons of specific applications (such as Phone or Messages) look foreign, it is possible that the theme has installed its plugins for them. Go to the settings of these applications and reset their design individually, if such an option is available, or simply reinstall the launcher.
What to do if the interface freezes after changing the topic
In rare cases, the process of changing or deleting a theme can cause the System UI interface to freeze. The screen may go out, menus won't open, and buttons don't respond. Don't panic - it's a software glitch, not a hardware breakdown.
The first step is to force reset, and you press the power button and you hold it near. 10-15 So, the second it vibrates, and the Xiaomi logo appears, it'll clear the memory from the wrong processes.
If the phone freezes again after the restart during the desktop boot phase, try entering Safe Mode. To do this, press the volume button when booting (when the logo appears), In Safe Mode, third-party themes do not load, which will allow you to delete the problem file.
⚠️ Note: If the phone goes into a cyclic bootloop after installing the theme, it may mean damage to system files.
To prevent this from happening, always back up your important data before installing heavy-duty, deep-modified themes. Use Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud services.
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The most reliable way to remove the theme is to first apply the standard Classic theme, and then clear the Themes app data through your smartphone settings.