How to completely remove themes from Xiaomi Redmi Note: from standard to custom

Why Xiaomi themes are memory-consuming and how to delete them correctly

Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones based on MIUI allow you to install hundreds of themes from the official store, but over time they accumulate in the system, taking up up to 1-2 GB of memory — even if you have not used them for a long time. Unlike regular applications, themes are not deleted in the standard way through the Apps menu, and their residual files can slow down the phone. This article will help you understand how to completely clean themes — from preinstalled to manually downloaded, including hidden system files.

The problem is complicated by the fact that MIUI Users often encounter errors like "Can't delete the subject" or "Files are occupied by the system." 5 working methods on Redmi Note models 10/11/12 (including Pro/Pro+) Identify the nuances for each version. MIUI 13/14. Important: Some methods require permission to debug USB or the rights of the superuser (root).

Before you start, check how much space the themes occupy on your device:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Memory and find the "Subjects" section"
• 🔍 In the file manager, go on the Internal Storage path. → MIUI → theme
• ⚠️ If the folder weighs more than 500 MB, it should be cleaned.

Method 1: Remove via standard MIUI settings

The safest method, which requires no additional tools, is suitable for removing downloaded themes, but does not affect system files, works on all Redmi Note models without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush)
2. Go to My Themes section (the tab at the bottom of the screen)
3. Press and hold your finger on an unnecessary topic → select Delete
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window

⚠️ Note: This method does not delete theme cache and temporary files. To clear them, follow additional steps:

• 🧹 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache
• 🗑️ In the file manager, delete the Internal Storage folder. → Android → data → com.android.themes → cache

Method 2: Manually cleansing through file manager

If standard deletion doesn't work or the themes are left in memory, you'll have to manually search for their files, which allows you to delete all the themes at once, including system ones, but you need to be careful - an error can cause the interface to crash.

Step-by-step:

• 📂 Open any file manager with access to root folders (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer)
• 🔎 Going the Way: Internal Storage → MIUI → theme
• 🗃️ Select all the folders with the titles of the themes (they usually have the form) mtz_123456 or com.example.theme)
• 🚮 Click "Delete" and confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: If the interface is removed after folders are deleted MIUI start glitching (black screen, no icons), perform reset themes to the factory:

1. Go to Settings → Topics
2. Select the MIUI Standard Theme and apply it.
3. Reboot the phone.

💡

Before mass removal of themes, make screenshots of the current design (wallpaper, icons, fonts) - this will help to quickly restore the usual look after cleaning.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning

For advanced users who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge, this method allows you to remove all traces of themes, including system files that are not visible in the file manager, requires a computer and enabled debugging over USB.

Instructions:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux)
4. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.themes pm clear com.android.themes

After the commands are executed:

• 🔄 The phone will automatically apply the standard theme.
• 📉 Free up to 1.5 GB of memory (depending on the number of themes)
• ⚙️ All the design settings will be reset to the factory

Method 4: Resetting themes via Recovery Mode

If previous methods did not help or the phone started to slow down after removing themes, resetting through Recovery will help. This method does not affect user data (photos, contacts), but returns all interface settings to factory ones.

How to perform the reset:

• 🔋 Turn off the phone and press the power buttons. + Loudness up before the appearance of the Mi logo
• 🌐 In the Recovery menu, select the language (if you have an option)
• 📱 Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (Do not select this item!)
• 🎨 Instead, look for the Wipe Theme Data or Reset Theme Settings option (newer versions) MIUI)
• 🔄 Confirm the reset and wait for the reset

⚠️ Note: In older versions MIUI (up to 12.5) the option of resetting themes may not be available:

• Use Wipe Cache Partition – This will clear the themes cache without losing data
• If the problem persists, you will have to do a full reset (Factory Reset), but save a backup copy beforehand.

💡

Resetting via Recovery is the only way to return factory themes if the MIUI interface is not working properly after manually deleting files.

Method 5: Removing topics with root rights

For users with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, this method gives full control over system themes, but requires technical skills. Wrong actions can lead to a bootloop (a looped reboot).

Instructions for Root Explorer or Mixplorer:

• 🔓 Open a file manager with root access
• 📂 Move to the /data/system/theme/ and /system/priv-app/ThemeManager/
• 🗑️ Delete all files with the.mtz and.apk extensions except: com.android.themes.default.apk miui_system_theme.mtz
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

After removal:

• 🎨 Apply the standard theme in the settings
• 🛠️ Check the work of animations and transitions - if there are lags, clear the cache through TWRP: Wipe → Advanced Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after removing themes, Redmi Note users are facing problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📋 Availability of updates MIUI — In new versions, bugs with themes have been fixed
• 🛠️ Integrity of system files through Mi PC Suite
• 🔧 The possibility of rollback to the previous firmware version (if the problem appeared after the update)

FAQ: Answers to popular questions