How to completely remove the theme from Xiaomi Redmi 9: 3 working methods

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones with a branded shell MIUI, which is famous for its extensive customization capabilities. But what if the installed theme has started to slow down the system, conflicts with icons or just annoys with its design? Delete it is not as easy as it seems: in MIUI there is no standard “Delete” button for those in ordinary applications.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove themes on Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T models), from basic to radical - with a factory reset. Also explain why some themes can not be removed by standard methods and how to avoid cleaning errors. If you encounter "broken" icons after changing the theme or the phone starts to warm up, here you will find a solution.

Why Xiaomi themes aren’t removed like regular apps

Unlike games or instant messengers, MIUI themes are integrated into the shell system files. They don't show up in the application list (Settings → Applications), so the standard way to uninstall using Delete doesn't work here. Here are the key reasons:

• 📦 Themes are stored in a protected section /data/system/theme/, Where the user does not have direct access without root rights.
• 🔄 Caching: Even after the theme is “deleted”, its elements can remain in the cache and be loaded when rebooted.
• 🛡️ Protection MIUI: The system blocks the removal of predefined topics (e.g., standard topics). MIUI Default).

In addition, many themes are downloaded through the official MIUI Themes app, which does not provide deletion features. Users often find themselves in a situation where, after changing the theme, the old one sticks to individual interface elements - for example, icons remain from the previous theme, and wallpaper is reset, which is due to incomplete cache cleaning.

⚠️ Note: If you have used themes from third-party sources (APK-files, their deletion can lead to a malfunction MIUI Launcher.In this case, you will need to reinstall the launcher through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher.

Method 1: Remove theme through MIUI Themes

The most secure method that works for themes installed through the official MIUI Themes store is suitable for most Redmi 9 users without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to My Themes section (the tab at the bottom of the screen).
3. Find the topic you want to remove and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, tap three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Remove.
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

If there is no Remove button, then the theme is system or was manually installed (via APK).

Check if the theme is system-based (e.g. MIUI Default)

Clear the app cache Themes in Settings

Restart the phone and try again

Use an alternative method (see below)-->

After removal, it is recommended that:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.
• 🧹 Clear the launcher cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Clear the cache.
• 🎨 Apply another theme (even standard) to reset display settings.

Method 2: Manually delete via file manager (no root)

This method is suitable for manually installed (through the APK-We will use the built-in file manager from Xiaomi with access to hidden folders.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the File Manager (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. In the top panel, press three horizontal lines (☰) and activate the display of hidden files.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/ This is where all downloaded themes are stored.
4. Find a folder with the name of the deleted theme (for example, MiFanFestival_2023) and remove it.
5. Also check the folder: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.themes/ and delete the cache files if any.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete folders with default, miui or system names, this will cause the interface to crash. If icons or wallpapers disappear after deleting the theme, apply the standard theme through the interface. MIUI Themes.

💡

If you can't find the /MIUI/theme/ folder, try connecting your phone to your PC and using Windows Explorer. Turn on the hidden files in folder settings.

Method 3: Reset to factory settings (radical method)

If the theme is stuck in the system and is not deleted by any of the above methods, the last resort is a complete reset, which will return Redmi 9 to the “out of the box” state, removing all user data, including themes.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, the phone will be like new – no unnecessary themes.

Cons of the method:

• ❌ All data (photos, apps, accounts) are deleted).
• ❌ Reconfiguration of the phone is required.
• ❌ It does not help if the theme was pre-installed by the manufacturer (for example, the manufacturer, MIUI 12 Default).

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when you buy a phone

Never change.-->

If the reset didn’t help (for example, the theme returned after the MIUI update), it’s sewn into the firmware, in which case only flashing through Fastboot or Recovery will help — but this is a topic for a separate article.

What to do if artifacts remain after the topic is deleted

Even after the “successful” removal of the topic, you may encounter:

• 🖼️ Distorted icons (squares instead of icons).
• 🎵 Alien notifications.
• 🔄 Re-setting an old theme after rebooting.

Decisions:

1. Cleaning the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Clear the cache
2. Resetting display settings: Settings → Screen → Display style → Reset to silence
3. Forced stop MIUI Themes: Settings → Applications → Topics → Stop

If the app icons are not displayed correctly, try:

• Install another launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher).
• Update MIUI Themes to the latest version via Google Play.
• Check your phone for viruses (some malware replaces system themes).

How to avoid problems with topics in the future

To avoid having to deal with undeleteable topics again, follow these tips:

• 🛡️ Install themes only from the official store MIUI Themes, third-party APK-Files often contain errors or viruses.
• 📥 Check reviews before installing a theme – users often write about bugs.
• 🔄 Regularly clean the cache of the Topic app (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Clear the cache).
• 📦 Don’t accumulate dozens of topics – each takes up a place in memory and may conflict with others.

If you like to experiment with design, consider the alternatives:

• 🎨 Icon packs (installed through launchers like Nova).
• 🖼️ Third-party wallpapers (apps like Zedge or WallpapersCraft).
• 🔧 ADB-commands for fine-tuning the interface (requires a PC and enabled debugging on the USB).

💡

Official topics from MIUI Themes are removed without consequences, and third-party APK-files can disrupt the system. Always check the source before installing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing themes on Xiaomi Redmi 9