The modern HyperOS and MIUI 14 shells have dramatically changed the visual style of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, introducing rounded icon corners, new fonts and a redesigned control center. For many users accustomed to the strict, angular style of the classics of MIUI 11 or MIUI 12, these changes were an unpleasant surprise that violates the usual ergonomics. It is almost impossible to return the former appearance to the system with regular means, since the company’s policy is aimed at unifying the design in all regions.
However, there are several proven methods to partially or completely recreate the atmosphere of older versions of firmware. Returning a classic theme requires a comprehensive approach, from simple change of design in the Themes app to more complex manipulation of system components. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, assess their risks and effectiveness.
It is worth noting that completely removing the new shell without flashing it on the global or Chinese version with older Android is impossible. However, a competent combination of third-party launchers and specific settings will allow you to forget about the new design and enjoy the familiar interface.
Analysis of interface changes in new versions of MIUI
The transition to new software versions brought not only functional improvements, but also major visual changes that many users perceive as downgrade. The system design code now dictates the use of large widgets, translucent plaques and mandatory rounding of all interface elements, this applies not only to the desktop, but also to system menus, notification curtains and settings.
The change has been particularly dramatic in the control center, which is divided into two parts in the new versions: notifications on the left and switches on the right. For those who have been accustomed to a single curtain for years, this creates discomfort. Xiaomi does not provide an official button to return to the old style, motivated by the desire for a modern look.
And the system of fonts and accents has changed, with strict, border-lined styles now dominated by airiness and gradients, and understanding these differences is critical before we start modifying the system, because simply changing the wallpaper will not be enough.
⚠️ Warning: Complete removal of system components responsible for the new interface can lead to unstable phone operation or cyclic restart (bootloop.
It's important to distinguish between theme and launcher, and the theme changes icons and backgrounds, but leaves the menu structure unchanged, and the launcher completely replaces the desktop and often the app menu, and to maximize the classic look, we'll need to work on both of these elements.
Using the Themes app to change style
The safest and easiest way to change the look is to use the built-in Themes app. Despite the dominance of new styles, you can still find designs in the directory that mimic older versions of MIUI.
It's recommended to search for "Classic," "Stock," "MIUI 11," or "Simple." Some authors create themes that force icons to square and return old system sounds. After selecting a theme, click Apply and the system will update the visual style.
- 🎨 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Type in “Classic Android” or «MIUI Old».
- 📥 Download your favorite topic and apply it.
- ⚙️ Go to the theme settings and select the application of icons to the entire system.
However, this method has a significant drawback: the standard theme changes only icons and wallpaper, but does not affect the system menus and control center. The notification curtain will remain new, which can create visual dissonance. In addition, some system applications can ignore third-party themes, maintaining their original look.
To get the best result, combine the theme with manual widget customization. Remove large weather and news widgets, replacing them with standard square Android-style watch or calendar widgets, which will help to visually clear the desktop of elements of the new design.
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If the theme store does not find the necessary designs, try to change the region in the phone settings to “India” or “Indonesia” – in these regions the catalog is often richer and contains more classic options.
Installation of a third-party launcher for full control
If the built-in tools fail to do what they want, third-party launchers come to the rescue, the most effective way to completely ignore the design of HyperOS and create a classic environment, with Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Microsoft Launcher leading the way.
Once you install the launcher, the system will ask permission to use it as the main one, and you'll agree, and your desktop will change beyond recognition, you can set up a grid of icons, remove indentations, return the list of applications instead of horizontal scrolling, and most importantly, make the icons square.
In the settings of Lawnchair or Nova, you can customize the style of folders in detail, making them transparent or, conversely, color, as in older versions of MIUI. Flexible animations are also available, which makes the interface more responsive and “lightweight”.
| Launcher | Difficulty setting up | Default style | Memory consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Classic Android | Low. |
| Lawnchair 2/12 | Low. | Pixel / Stock | Average. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low. | Modern. | High. |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Tall. | Automatic. | Average. |
These changes will require additional modules or themes that are compatible with the new launcher, but 80 percent of the time you interact with your phone is on a desktop that the launcher controls completely.
☑️ Set up the perfect classic launcher
Modification of system components through ADB
For advanced users who want to remove new interface elements at a deep level, there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to disable system packages responsible for the new control center and other elements of MIUI 14, without obtaining superuser rights (Root).
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. Then, in the Advanced Settings menu, turn on “Debugging over USB.” Connect the phone to your computer and launch the ADB console.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.mihome2This command, for example, can disable a standard launcher, forcing the system to use the analogue you installed. However, working with ADB requires extreme caution. Disabling critical system packages such as SecurityCenter or SystemUI can make it impossible to boot the system.
With ADB, you can also try to remove updates to the Themes or Security app by returning them to a factory version that may look more classic.
⚠️ Attention: Before use ADB Make sure you back up your data completely. Don't disable packets you're not sure about 110%.
If after the application of commands the phone began to behave incorrectly, you can return everything back with the command adb shell pm enable <name packet>. In the worst case, a complete reset to factory settings through Recovery Mode will help.
List of dangerous bags for removal
Reset theme settings and return to factory state
Sometimes the problem is not the desire to change the design, but that after the update, the system “got” or applied an incorrect theme that cannot be removed in the usual way, in which case the reset of the Themes app and related services helps.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find Themes, Wallpaper and Wallpaper Carousel in the list. Select Memory for each of them and click Clear Data and Clear Cache, which will return the app to the state immediately after installation.
Once the data is cleared, restart the device. When you first start the Themes app, select a standard Classic or Default theme. If a standard theme is not listed, you can find it under My Pages within the Themes app by going to the Topics tab.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings.
- 📂 Go to the "Applications" section».
- 🧹 Find “Themes” and clean up the data.
- 🔄 Restart the device and apply the standard.
This method is also useful if you downloaded a topic from an unreliable source and it contains ad modules or viruses.Data cleanup removes temporary files and cache that malicious scripts may have settled in.
Remember that the theme reset does not affect personal files, photos or contacts, but the settings of the widgets on the desktop may be confused and you will have to re-set them.
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Cleaning the Themes app data is the safest way to fix visual bugs and return the standard look without risk to the system.