How to bring back the standard MIUI theme to Xiaomi: all the ways

Changing the theme on Xiaomi smartphones is a popular way to personalize the device, but sometimes users are faced with the need to return the original MIUI firmware. The reasons can vary from poor design choices to system failures after installing custom themes. In this article, we will discuss all working methods for returning to the standard interface, including manual settings, resetting through Settings and even restoring through Recovery for complex cases.

Many people mistakenly think that to return to a factory theme necessarily requires a data reset or flashing. In fact, in 90% of cases, a few clicks in the theme menu are enough. However, if you encounter a system freeze after installing a third-party theme from unofficial sources, more radical measures will be required. We will describe each method in detail so that you can choose the best option without risking damage to the device.

In the article you will find:

• 🔄 Step-by-step instructions for returning the theme through the standard menu MIUI
• 🔧 Ways to Reset Themes through Settings → In addition and Security
• 🛠️ Failure recovery methods (including Fastboot and Recovery)
• ⚠️ Warnings on the risks of using informal topics and their impact on the stability of the system
• 📱 Compatibility of methods with different versions MIUI (12-to-14)

1. Return to the standard theme through the "Themes" menu

The easiest and safest way is to return the factory design directly to the Theme app, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with any version of MIUI (except heavily customized firmware).

Open the Topic app (a palette icon) and go to My Themes, which displays all the designs you have installed, including the standard one. Find the default theme (or MIUI Standard on global versions) and click on it. The system will automatically apply factory settings to:

• 🎨 Desktop wallpaper and lock screen
• 📱 Icons of applications and system icons
• 🔠 Fonts and notification styles
• 🎛️ Color scheme of menus and panels

If a standard theme is not listed, try updating the Themes app via Google Play or MIUI App Store. On some devices (like POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro) you may need to pre-delete all custom themes through Settings → Apps → Application Management → Themes → Storage → Clear Data.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and newer after changing the topic through third-party sources (APK-files) standard design may not appear in the menu, in which case use the reset method through the Settings described in the next section.

2. Reset the themes through system settings

If the standard theme doesn’t work or the Topic menu doesn’t work properly, use the built-in reset feature, which doesn’t affect user data, but only returns visual elements to factory settings.

Go to: Settings → Additional → Resetting Settings → Resetting Theme Settings.

On some devices (such as Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50), the path may be different: Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Theme Reset.

Once confirmed, the system will restart and the original MIUI design will be applied, which is effective if:

• 🖼️ App icons are displayed incorrectly after changing the topic
• 📱 The lock screen “hangs” when unlocking
• 🔄 Interface animations are working with delays

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13 and older after resetting themes may need to reconfigure the navigation gestures in the Settings section → Display. Remember current gestures or take screenshots in advance.

3. Removing custom themes manually

If resetting through settings didn’t help, the cause could be a conflict with manually installed themes (MTZ-These files are stored in system folders and sometimes not deleted completely when reset:

Connect your phone to your PC and turn on Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version, press 7 times). Then activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → Developer.

Use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove themes. Open the command line on your PC and type:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/system/theme/*




rm -rf /data/resource/cache/*




reboot

Once restarted, the system will restore standard resources, a method that is suitable for power users and requires root rights on some devices (e.g., POCO X3 Pro or Redmi Note 9).

4.Recovery through Recovery Mode

In rare cases (usually after installing themes from unverified sources), the system may hover on the MIUI logo or reboot cyclically. If standard methods do not work, you will need to restore through Recovery.

Turn off the device, then press the button combination to enter the Recovery:

• 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO (most models: Nutrition + Loudness up
• 📱 POCO F1 or old models: Nutrition + Loudness up + Loudness down

From the recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (this will result in a complete reset!).

For devices with a locked bootloader (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), you may need official firmware via the Mi Flash Tool. Download the latest version of MIUI for your model from en.miui.com and follow the instructions:

1. Unpack the archive with firmware in a folder
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down)
3. In Mi Flash Tool, select the firmware folder and click Flash.

⚠️ Attention: Fastboot firmware deletes all data, including photos and apps. SD-map SIM-On devices with an unlocked bootloader, you can use OrangeFox Recovery to back up before firmware.

5. Solving problems after returning a standard theme

Even after a successful return to the original design, users sometimes encounter bugs, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

If after all the manipulations, the interface continues to work incorrectly, check the integrity of system files through Settings → About Phone → System Update → Check for updates. Sometimes Xiaomi releases patches to fix bugs with themes.

💡

Before installing a new theme, always check its rating and reviews in the official MIUI Themes store. Topics rated below 4.5 stars often contain errors.

6 How to avoid problems with topics in the future

To avoid having to return a standard theme, follow these guidelines:

• 🛡️ Install themes only from the official store MIUI Themes (avoid) APK-file-sharing)
• 🔄 Before applying a new theme, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup
• 📱 Regularly update the Themes and Launcher app through MIUI App Store
• 🚫 Do not use themes with modified system fonts – they often cause crashes in the system. MIUI 14

On devices with MIUI 12.5 and later, you have a Theme Preview feature that lets you see what the interface will look like before you use it, and use it actively to avoid unexpected changes.

If you like to experiment with design, consider using third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) that allow you to customize the interface without risking damaging MIUI system files.

💡

Official themes from the store MIUI Themes are being tested for compatibility with your firmware version. MTZ-Files may contain viruses or incorrect system calls, resulting in failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about returning a standard theme