How to completely remove the theme on your Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

We changed the theme to Xiaomi, but it was crooked, it slows down the system or just annoys the eye? Delete it is not as easy as it seems — there is often no standard item on the menu, "Delete" in the menu. Why? It's about the MIUI architecture: many themes are integrated into system files, not installed as individual APKs. But there is a way out!

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods for removing themes on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from basic to radical. We will describe the nuances for different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS), warn against typical errors, and show how to clear the cache so that they do not “resurrect” after a reboot.

Spoiler: The new versions of HyperOS have changed the algorithm, and now some of the themes are tied to the Mi Account, but there are workarounds.

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1. Remove theme through standard MIUI settings

The most obvious way is to try removing the theme from the theme menu, which will work if the theme was installed from the official MIUI Theme Store and is not a system one.

Open the Topic app and go to My Themes, which will show all packages installed, click on the one you want to delete, and look for the Remove or Reset button, if not, the theme is built into the system or protected from removal.

⚠️ Attention: POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T With HyperOS, the delete button can hide behind a long tap in the thumbnail of the theme. Try to hold your finger on the preview. 2-3 Seconds, the context menu will appear.

• 📱 Works on: MIUI 12–14, HyperOS (partially)
• ❌ It will not work for: system themes (Default, Dark Mode), those from the manufacturer
• 🔄 Alternative: Resetting to a standard topic (see Section 3)

If there is no delete button but the theme is in the way, try turning off its elements individually. Go to Settings → Screen → Lock screen style and reset wallpaper, fonts or icons manually.

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2.Using MIUI Theme Editor (for experienced)

If the theme isn’t removed in the standard way but you’re sure it’s not system-friendly, try MIUI Theme Editor, a hidden editing and theme management tool available through ADB or dedicated commands.

To start, turn on the Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.

Now connect your phone to your PC and execute the command in ADB:

adb shell am start -n com.android.themes/.editor.ThemeEditorActivity

In the editor that opens, find your theme in the list and click Uninstall. If there is no item, the theme is protected or is part of the firmware.

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 12 and later, Theme Editor may not open due to HyperOS limitations. In this case, move to Method 4 (Reset via Safe Mode).

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3. Resetting themes to factory settings

If the theme is stuck in the system and it doesn't get deleted, reset all visual settings to the standard one. It won't delete the theme itself (it'll stay in memory), but it will return the interface to its original appearance.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Themes.
2. Select Standard or Default (usually first on the list).
3. Confirm the reset if a request arises.

For complete cache cleaning topics:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find themes and select Warehouse.
3. Click Clear the cache and Clear the data.

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If the theme is automatically applied after the reset, check your Mi Account settings. The theme may be linked to your cloud profile. Untie it to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync → Themes.

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4. Remove via Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

Some themes are set as system APKs and block standard removal, in which case Safe Mode, a mode where all third-party apps and themes are disabled, will help.

How to start:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold the Power button until the MI logo appears.
3. Once the logo disappears, immediately press and hold the Volume button down until the phone boots.

In Safe Mode (at the bottom of the screen will be an inscription) try:

• 🔍 Delete theme through Settings → Apps (find a package with the title of the topic).
• 🗑️ Clear the Application Data Topics.
• 🔄 Reboot – if the topic is gone, the problem is solved.

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K60 HyperOS Safe Mode may not disable system themes, in which case proceed to method 5 (manual file deletion).

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5. Manual deletion of theme files (for advanced)

If all previous methods failed, the theme is stored in system folders, you can only manually delete files on phones with unlocked bootloader and root rights, and without them, you risk damaging the system.

Instructions for root users:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/system/theme/ or /system/media/theme/.
3. Find a folder with your theme title (e.g. com.theme.fancyblue) and delete it.
4. Clear the cache to /data/data/com.android.themes/.
5. Reboot the phone.

A list of typical paths to topics:

• 📁 /data/system/theme/ — user-themed
• 📁 /system/media/theme/default/ — Systemic topics (cannot be removed!)
• 📁 /data/app/com.miui.theme.editor-*/ — editor

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system If you don't have root, you'll have to make a brick. MIUI Theme Editor or reset via Fastboot.

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Manual removal of themes is an extreme method, and if the theme doesn't get deleted, it might be embedded in the firmware, and then it's only going to help if you flash it or reset it to factory settings.

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6. Completely reset your phone (if nothing helps)

If the theme is not deleted and the interface is buggy, it's hard reset, which is a radical method, but it's guaranteed to remove all user themes and settings.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of data (photos, contacts, SMS) through Settings → About phone → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Reset and confirm the action.

On HyperOS phones, the path is different: Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Delete all data.

Once reset, the phone will boot from a clean MIUI, and all themes (except system ones) will be deleted. Restore the data from the backup, but do not restore the settings, otherwise the problem will return.

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Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users have problems removing themes, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔄 The theme returns after the reboot → Clear the Themes app cache and check sync with Mi Account.
• ❌ No "Delete" button" → Theme is systemic or established through APK. Try it. MIUI Theme Editor.
• ⚠️ The phone stopped turning on after deleting files → You've deleted the system theme. You need to reflash the device through the Fastboot.
• 📱 No method works on HyperOS. → Try to untie the theme from the account in Settings → Xiaomi account → Topics.

If you accidentally delete a system theme (like Default), the phone may boot without an interface or with errors.

1. Connect to your PC via ADB.
2. Follow the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.theme.default
3. Reboot the phone.

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Before experimenting with themes, create a restore point in TWRP (if installed) that allows you to roll back changes in 5 minutes.

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions