Dark Kill Black is one of the most popular custom themes for Xiaomi smartphones, which offers a deep black background, minimalist design and optimization for the smartphone. AMOLED-Unlike standard themes. MIUI, It completely removes grays, saving battery life and reducing eye strain, but it has nuances, from firmware versions to regional theme store restrictions.
In this guide, we will cover all installation methods, from official downloads through Themes to manual import via.mtz files. We will focus on compatibility issues on new versions of MIUI 14 and Poco/Xiaomi devices with a locked bootloader. If you have previously encountered the “Theme Not Supported” error, here you will find a solution.
Before you start, check:
- 📱 Smartphone model: the theme works on most devices Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco (exceptions - models MIUI for POCO clipped).
- 🔄 Version. MIUI: relevant MIUI 12-14. MIUI 11 and below may be bugs).
- 🌍 Firmware region: in Chinese versions (China) ROM) The theme may not be available in the official store.
1.Official method: installation through the store of MIUI themes
The easiest method is to download Kill Black directly from the Theme app, which is suitable for most global and European firmware (Global/EU ROM), but may not work on Chinese or modified builds.
Step-by-step:
- Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
- Go to the Topics → Popular or use the search (magnifying glass at the top).
- Enter the request: Kill Black or (for the Chinese version of the store).
- Select a topic with author @KillBlack (check the rating - it should be 4.5+).
- Click Apply and confirm the download.
⚠️ Note: If the theme is not located, it is removed from your region, in which case use alternative methods (see section 3). F3, Xiaomi 11T) After applying the theme, wallpaper can be reset - this is normal, they need to be installed again.
2. Compatibility issues: why is the topic not installed?
Even when officially downloaded, users often encounter errors, and here are the main reasons and solutions:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Subject not supported | Outdated version of MIUI or custom firmware | Update the system or use manual installation (Section 3) |
| Failed to load | Problems with the Internet or servers Xiaomi | Connect to another network or use a VPN |
| Theme applies, but elements remain gray | Conflict with the Dark Mode settings in the system | Turn off Settings → Display → Dark Mode, then apply the theme again |
| No button Apply | Restriction of regional firmware (China ROM) | Change the region of your Mi Account or use a.mtz file. |
🔹 Tip for Poco owners: If the theme is installed, but not all elements go black, check the settings of the Themes app → Additionally. → Apply to all applications. On some devices (Poco) X3, Poco F3) This parameter is off by default.
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If after installing Kill Black, icons on the desktop disappeared, restart the smartphone - this is a temporary MIUI bug associated with the launcher cache.
3. Manual installation via.mtz file (for all firmware)
If the official method didn’t work, you can manually install the theme through the.mtz file.This method is universal and works even on Chinese firmware (China ROM) or devices with a locked bootloader.
You'll need:
- 📄 Download the current version of Kill Black v4.2 (optimized MIUI 14) from a verified source (for example, miui-themes.ru or Telegram channel) MIUI Themes).
- 📂 File Manager: Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer.
- 🔧 Developer Settings: Enable Debugging by USB (Not necessarily, but it will help with mistakes).
Installation instructions:
- Download the file. Kill_Black_v4.2.mtz (size ~15–20 MB).
- Move it to the MIUI/theme folder on the smartphone's internal memory, and if theme doesn't exist, create it manually.
- Open the Topics app → Profile (human icon) → My Topics → Import.
- Select the downloaded.mtz file and confirm the installation.
- After application, restart the device.
Download.mtz file from a trusted source |
Create a MIUI/theme folder on internal memory |
Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager |
Turn off dark mode in the system settings
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⚠️ Warning: Don't download.mtz files from questionable sites! They may be embedded with malicious scripts or ads. Check the hash file (MD5) before installation. v4.2 hash-hash: a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9j0k1l2m3n4 (Check on official resources).
4. Set up the theme after installation
To make Kill Black look perfect, you’ll need additional optimization, and many users complain about gray bars on the top menu or incomplete coloring of system applications — this is handled manually.
What needs to be done:
- 🎨 Accent Color: Go to Settings → Display. → Colors and choose Black or Dark Gray.
- 📱 Icons: Install a pack of Kill Black Icons icons (available in the same store).
- 🔍 Search: In Google App or Mi Search, turn on a dark theme separately.
- 📲 Keyboard: Select a theme for Gboard or SwiftKey AMOLED Black.
🔹 For owners. AMOLED-screens: to minimize battery consumption, turn off Adaptive Brightness and set a manual value of 30-40%, which will reduce the load on the pixels and prolong the running time.
How to return standard color system notifications?
5. Kill Black Alternatives: Other Dark Themes for Xiaomi
If Kill Black doesn’t fit in style or isn’t set, consider analogues:
| Theme | Features | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch Black | Deeper black, optimized for AMOLED | MIUI 13-14, can lag on older devices |
| Dark Mode Pro | Support for color accents (blue, green, red) | All versions of MIUI, but takes up more memory |
| OLED Black | Minimalist design without unnecessary elements | It works better on Xiaomi 12/13 and Poco F4. |
| Material Black | Material You Style with Dynamic Colors | Requires MIUI 14 and higher |
🔹 If you want to save your battery, choose Pitch Black or OLED Black – They are better optimized for AMOLED-Matrix. Material Black is the best way to customize the interface.
6. How to delete or reset the topic?
If Kill Black is starting to glittle or you are tired of a dark theme, you can return the standard look in two ways:
Method 1: Through the "Themes" app
- Open Topics → My subjects.
- Find Kill Black and click Delete.
- Select the default theme or MIUI Standard.
Method 2: Reset via Settings (if the theme is not deleted)
- Go to Settings → About the phone → All the parameters.
- Find Reset Theme Settings (may be called Restore Themes by Default).
- Confirm the reset.
⚠️ Note: On some devices (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco) X3 Pro) after the theme is reset, the lock wallpaper may fly.
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Before removing the theme, check if its system applications (such as Calendar or Weather) are using it, otherwise their interface may not display correctly before rebooting.