How to completely remove downloaded themes on Xiaomi smartphones: instructions 2026

Downloaded themes in MIUI take up space in the smartphone memory, slow down the system and can conflict with updates. Even after a change of design, old themes often remain in the cache or system folders, continuing to consume resources. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove themes on Xiaomi, from standard tools to hidden features for power users.

Complicating the problem is that MIUI does not always provide a direct uninstall option in the interface, some themes are blocked by the system as "built-in" when in fact they were installed by the user, we tested all methods on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS) and identified working solutions for models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Why topics are not removed in the standard way

The main reason is the MIUI Theme Manager architecture, and the app divides themes into three categories:

• 📦 System – pre-installed by the manufacturer (removed only with root rights).
• 📥 Downloaded – installed from Theme Store (must be deleted but often remain in cache).
• 🔄 Updated – User-modified versions of system themes (blocked from removal).

The second problem is that the theme cache is stored in a secure folder /data/system/theme/, which is not allowed to access the superuser, and even after clicking "Delete" in the theme menu, its files can remain in memory, taking up to 50-200 MB per theme, which is especially critical for low-end Redmi models with 64/128 GB of memory.

The third thing is sync with your Mi Account, and if you downloaded a theme from your account, it can automatically reset when you reset, and that includes those you bought from Theme Store, which are linked to your profile.

Method 1: Remove themes through the menu (official method)

The safest, but not always effective, way is suitable for themes installed from Theme Store without rooting:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to My Themes (or Management Themes in new MIUI versions).
3. Find an unnecessary theme and hold the icon for 1-2 seconds.
4. In the menu that appears, select Remove (or the basket icon).
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

⚠️ Note: If the Remove button is inactive or not, the theme is marked as system.

Disable theme synchronization in Mi Account

Close all background applications

Check the vacant space (minimum 500 MB)

Backup of important data-->

After removal, it is recommended that:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone (hold power) + Volume up for 10 seconds).
• 🧹 Clear the app cache Themes in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 📊 Check the vacant space in the settings → The phone. → Memory.

Method 2: Reset themes to standard through settings

If the theme doesn't get deleted or the system gives you an error, try resetting it to factory-based, and it won't delete the theme files completely, but it will return the interface to its original state:

1. Open Settings → Design (or Settings → Screen → Design in HyperOS).
2. Select Topics → My subjects.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset to a standard theme.
4. Confirm the action by waiting for the interface to restart (10-30 seconds).

This method helps in cases where:

• 🎨 The theme is visually applied but not displayed in the removal list.
• 🔧 After updating MIUI The topic has become incorrect.
• 📱 The screen is blocked or lagged due to conflict topics.

⚠️ Note: Reset does not delete the theme files from the device, but only cancels their use. Use Method 3 for complete cleaning.

💡

If the theme is automatically applied again after reset, turn off the themes synchronization in Mi Account: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Synchronization → Themes (switch to off position).

Method 3: Delete through file manager (without root)

For experienced users who are ready to work with system folders, the method requires caution, but does not need superuser rights.

1. Open File Manager and go to Categories → System Memory.
2. Activate the display of hidden files: click on three dots → Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Go down the path: MIUI → theme →.miui →.data → com.android.theme.iconpack or (for HyperOS): Android → data → com.miui.home → files → themes
4. Remove folders with the names of unnecessary topics (for example, DarkModePro_v3 or NatureWallpapers_2023).
5. Clean the cart and restart the phone.

📌 What files can be removed safely:

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.odex or.vdex extension, these are optimized system libraries.

Method 4: Remove via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods have failed, use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to your computer, but is guaranteed to clear all traces of themes, including cache and temporary files.

🛠 Essential tools:

• 🖥 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux and installed drivers ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔗 USB-TypeC Cable (Original, Undamaged).

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the terminal (or Command Prompt in Windows) and type: Adb devices Make sure the device appears in the list.
3. Run the command to delete the cache of the themes: adb shell pm clear com.android.themes
4. Delete files manually: adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/theme/* adb shell rm -rf /data/system/theme/*
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

⚠️ Attention: Rm teams -rf Make sure the path is correct before you run, a mistake in the command can erase critical data.

💡

ADB is the only way to remove themes that are stuck in the system after resetting or updating MIUI.

Method 5: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If the themes are not deleted by any means and take up gigabytes of memory, hard reset remains. This method erases all data on the phone, including apps, photos and settings, so use it only as a last resort.

🔄 How to reset:

1. Back up important data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the process to be completed (5-15 minutes) and the phone set up as new.

✅ When a reset is justified:

• 📉 The phone is slowed down due to overflowing memory (free) <1 GB).
• 🔧 Topics conflict with update MIUI/HyperOS.
• 🚫 It is impossible to remove topics even through ADB.

⚠️ Note: After a reset, Mi Account can automatically restore some topics from the cloud. To avoid this, unplug your account in Settings before resetting. → Xiaomi account → Delete the account.

How to prevent the accumulation of unnecessary topics

To avoid the problem of removing themes in the future, follow these rules:

• 🛡 Turn off auto-update themes: Settings → Topics → Settings → Auto-Update Themes (set off.).
• 📥 Download themes only from the official Theme Store: Third-party.mtz files may contain malicious code.
• 🧹 Clean the cache regularly: Use the built-in security utility → Cleaning or CCleaner app.

💡 If you like frequent design changes, use light themes (up to 50MB) or apps like Hex Installer to create your own styles without downloading heavy packages.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you remove themes, users face typical problems.

🔧 If no method has helped:

• Check your phone for viruses (use Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).
• Update MIUI to the latest version – new firmware fixes bugs with themes.
• Contact Xiaomi Service Center – the problem may be in the damaged system partition.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions