How to return the previous theme to Xiaomi Redmi: all working ways

Have you updated your Xiaomi Redmi theme, but the new color scheme, icons or fonts were uncomfortable? Or did the system automatically reset after the MIUI update? Don't be too quick to put up with the inconvenience of returning the previous theme in several ways, even if it disappeared from the list of available. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from standard MIUI tools to manual restoration through backups and ADB.

The main problem with Redmi users is that after a system reset or update, previous themes often disappear from the theme gallery. This is because MIUI stores user settings in a separate memory section that can be cleared when crashes. Fortunately, most themes are saved in the device's cache and can be restored without losing data. Next, detailed instructions for various scenarios, including when the the theme was removed from the official Xiaomi Themes store.

Why did the previous theme on Xiaomi Redmi disappear?

Before you start to revisit the topic, it's important to understand why it disappeared.

• 🔄 Update MIUI: Newer firmware versions often reset custom themes to standard ones, especially if they were installed from third-party sources.
• 🗑️ Cache Clearing: Forced Data Cleanup of the Topic Application (com.android.themes) Removes All Uploaded Designs.
• 📱 Resetting: Even a "soft" reset via Settings → Additionally. → Resetting settings can affect topics.
• 🚫 Removal from the store: Xiaomi periodically removes themes from the official directory (for example, for licensing reasons).
• ⚡ System failure: Improperly shutting down or discharging the battery to 0% can damage theme files.

If your theme is missing after the MIUI update, check it first in Settings → Themes → My Themes. Often, the system will simply deactivate the custom theme but not delete it completely. If it is empty, go to the recovery methods below.

⚠️ Note: Some themes (especially those downloaded from third-party sources) may contain malicious code. Before restoring, check the theme file with an antivirus, such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky Mobile.

Method 1: Recovery through My Themes (the easiest)

If the theme is deactivated but not deleted, you can return it in 30 seconds:

1. Open Settings → Themes.
2. Go to the My Themes tab** (or My Themes in global firmware).
3. Scroll down the list – it shows all the themes ever installed, even the inactive ones.
4. Find the right topic and click on it → “Apply”**.

If there is no theme in this section, try updating the list by pulling the screen down (swipe down gesture) or clicking on the update icon in the top right corner.

Check your internet connection (themes sync with Xiaomi servers)

Reset the device

Clear the Themes app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics → Clear the cache)

Update the Themes app via Google Play or App Gallery-->

Method 2: Recoil through MIUI backup

If you previously backed up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset, the themes could have been saved in the archive. Here's how to restore them:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backups.
2. Select the most recent copy (before the theme goes missing) and click Restore.
3. In the data list for recovery, find the item “Themes”** (or Themes) and tick it.
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for the process to complete (the device will restart).

Important: When you restore from a backup, other settings (wallpaper, shortcuts, Wi-Fi passwords) will also return to the backup date. If critical, use selective recovery (available in MIUI 12 and later).

⚠️ Note: If you backed up on another Redmi model (e.g., Redmi Note 10, and you restore it on Redmi 12), the themes may not display correctly or cause interface failures. → The phone. → Resetting settings.

Method 3: Manually restore theme files through file manager

All MIUI themes are stored in the.mtz system folder, and if the theme is not physically deleted, you can find them and use them manually.

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/system/theme/ Or (for older versions of MIUI): /sdcard/MIUI/theme/
3. Find a file with the.mtz extension and the title of your theme (e.g. DarkBlue.mtz).
4. Copy it to /sdcard/MIUI/theme/.temp/
5. Open the Themes app**, go to Local → Import and select the copied file.

If /data/system/theme/ is not, the theme has been removed completely and can only be restored through backup or re-download from the store.

Method 4: Re-download theme from the Xiaomi Themes store

If the theme was installed from the official Xiaomi Themes store, it can be downloaded again:

1. Open the “Themes” app** (icon with brush).
2. Go to the "Online" tab** (or Online).
3. In the search bar, enter the title of the topic (if you remember) or use filters: 🎨 By color (black, blue, green, etc.) 📅 By date (sorting “Last») ⭐ Popularity.

"Apply"

If the topic is not in search, try:

• 🔍 Use the English name (for example, instead of Dark Night, look for Dark Night).
• 🌐 Switch region in the store settings (in the upper right corner) → … → Country/region).
• 📥 Download APK topics from a reliable source (e.g, XDA Developers) and manually installed.

Official store Xiaomi Themes|Third-party websites (APKMirror, XDA)|Forums (4PDA, MIUI Russia)|Other-->

Method 5: Reset the settings of the Themes app (if the theme does not apply)

Sometimes the theme is saved but not applied due to a malfunction of the com.android.themes application. In this case, resetting its settings will help:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Themes app** (or Themes) and open its page.
3. Click on “Storage” → “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache”**.
4. Reset the device.
5. Open the Topics app** and check if your topic appears in the My Topics section.

Warning: This method will remove all downloaded themes, including standard ones, and you will have to download them again after reset, and if you have a unique theme from a third-party source, save the file (.mtz) to a safe place first (see Method 3).

💡

Before resetting the Themes app, take screenshots of the current design (wallpaper, icons, fonts) to help restore the appearance faster after cleaning.

Method 6: Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If the theme has been removed but you have a file (.mtz), it can be installed via ADB. This method is suitable for users with unlocked bootloader or root rights.

Instructions:

1. Download ADB Tools and install drivers for Xiaomi.
2. Connect Redmi to your PC and enable USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on version → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Place the theme file (theme.mtz) in the adb.exe folder.
4. Open the command line in this folder and do: adb push theme.mtz /sdcard/MIUI/theme/ adb shell am broadcast -a miui.intent.action.CHANGE_THEME --es theme_pkg_name com.android.theme.default --es extra_pkg_name /sdcard/MIUI/theme/theme.mtz
5. Reset the device.

If the team fails, try an alternative method:

adb shell su


mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/MIUI/theme/theme.mtz /data/system/theme/




chmod 644 /data/system/theme/theme.mtz




reboot

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB with su rights can disrupt the system if the theme files are corrupted. TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.

💡

The ADB method is the only option for recovering themes on locked bootloader devices if other methods fail, but it requires technical skills and can cause system failure if commands fail.

What if none of the methods worked?

If the topic is irretrievably lost, consider alternatives:

• 🎨 Search for a similar theme: The Xiaomi Themes store often has clones of popular themes with different names.Use filters by color and style.
• 🖌️ Creating your own theme: Using the app MIUI Theme Editor (available on the XDA) You can modify existing themes or create a new one from scratch.
• 📱 Launcher usage: Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) and customize the icons/wallpaper manually.
• ⚙️ Recoil MIUI: If the theme was part of the firmware package (for example, in the MIUI 13), you can roll back to the previous version via Fastboot.

If the problem occurred after the MIUI update, check the official Xiaomi forum – sometimes users upload archives with themes for older versions of the firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about themes recovery on Xiaomi Redmi