How to Include a Dark Theme on Xiaomi Redmi: A Step-by-Step Guide

Visual comfort in the evening is becoming a priority for many modern technology owners. The standard white background of the interface, which looks natural during the day, creates excessive contrast in low light conditions, tires the eyes, which is why the function of switching to dark mode becomes one of the most popular settings immediately after buying a new device.

Xiaomi has implemented full-fledged Dark Mode support in its MIUI shell, which is based on the Android operating system, following global trends. However, the implementation of this feature may vary depending on the firmware version and the region for which the gadget is released. Users often face a situation where the standard switch is not on the menu, or it works incorrectly, leaving some applications light.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to activate night mode, from the standard system tools to advanced methods of setting through third-party resources, you will learn how to make the interface not only dark, but also truly comfortable for perception, and how to circumvent the restrictions imposed by regional versions of firmware.

Standard Activation Method through System Settings

The easiest and safest way to change the color scheme of the interface is built directly into the menu of your smartphone. First, you need to open the main menu and find the Settings application, which is usually represented by the gear icon, then you should scroll down to the Screen or Display section, where the main brightness and color reproduction parameters are located.

Inside this section, you'll need to find Dark Mode. In current versions of the MIUI shell, this switch is often displayed at the top of the screen or has a separate menu with additional options. By clicking on it, you instantly translate system applications, notification curtain and settings menu into a dark color gamut.

⚠️ Note: Global versions of firmware (Global) ROM) switch may not be available if the region is installed in China, as in the Chinese version MIUI This function is often hidden or implemented differently.

If you don't find the switch in the display section, try searching by settings. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the settings screen and type in the "dark" request. The system will offer you the menu item you want if it's available in your version of the software, which is especially true for devices where menu items have been moved during updates.

Using theme center to customize the interface

A unique feature of the Xiaomi ecosystem is a powerful built-in tool for changing the appearance of the theme Center. It is not just a catalog of pictures, but a full-fledged platform that allows you to change fonts, icons, sounds and, most importantly, system colors. To navigate to this section, you just need to find the application of the same name on your desktop or in the Tools folder.

Inside the app, go to the Profile tab (the little man icon), and then select the Topic section. Here in the search bar you need to enter the query "Dark" or "Black". You will be offered thousands of design options, many of which are designed specifically to reduce eye strain and save battery life. AMOLED-screen.

The theme you choose must be downloaded and applied. Once you apply the theme, the entire smartphone interface, including standard apps like Calendar, Watch and Gallery, will change color. It is important to note that some third-party themes may not affect system settings, leaving them light, so always check the preview before installing.

Consider that using third-party themes can affect device performance, especially on entry-level models. Heavy graphics and complex animations can consume more CPU resources. If you notice a twitch in the interface or quick discharge after installing the theme, it is better to go back to standard design or choose a lighter theme.

Setting up an automatic switching schedule

Manually switching between light and dark theme quickly becomes inconvenient, as it requires constant action from the user. Fortunately, the MIUI shell allows you to automate this process. The Settings menu -> Screen -> Dark Mode often has an option "Schedule" or "Automatic".

By activating this feature, you can choose between sunset and dawn, and the smartphone will use your geolocation and time of day to switch the subject at the right time, providing maximum comfort: the screen stays bright and contrasting during the day, and smoothly shifts into sparing mode at dusk.

Alternatively, you can set your own time slot, you can set specific hours, like 20:00 to 7:00, when the topic will be forced to turn on, which is useful if you are in a windowless room or in another time zone, and automatically determining the sunset time does not work properly.

For those who prefer full control, it is possible to create scenarios through the Security app or third-party automation utilities, but regular MIUI funds are usually sufficient for most use cases, the main thing is to make sure that access rights to geo-location for system services are not limited.

Forced activation via engineering menu and ADB

In situations where developers have hidden a dark theme switch in a particular firmware version, more advanced methods can be used, such as ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having basic command-line knowledge.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings -> About the phone and seven times quickly click on the build number (MIUI After the message “You became a developer” appears, go to Advanced Settings -> For developers and include the Debugging item USB.

Connecting the phone to the PC, execute a command to enable a dark theme through ADB Specific commands may vary depending on the Android version, but it is often used to change system settings through the settings database. ui_night_mode.

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 2

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-Incorrectly changing system flags can lead to unstable interface operation or cyclical reboot of the device.

There is also a method of activation via a hidden engineering menu, available in code ##6484## (may vary on different models). However, in modern versions of MIUI, access to deep display settings is often closed from here, so ADB remains the most reliable software method for power users.

Comparison of methods of activation of dark theme

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your skills and goals.

As you can see from the table, the best option for the average user is to use the Center theme or standard switch, which ensures the stability of the system and does not require special knowledge. Methods using ADB should be considered only in extreme cases when other options are not available.

Also worth mentioning are third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher.They only allow you to change the desktop and app menus, but don't affect system windows, notification curtains and settings.This can be a compromise if you like a dark desktop, but the system theme remains light.

Solving common problems and bugs

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may have trouble turning on a dark theme, and one of the common problems is bald spots, where some applications are white, because not all app developers have optimized their software to support Dark Mode.

In the MIUI dark mode settings, there's often a list of apps that you can force on or off the theme for. Go to the dark mode menu, find the Individual Apps and check the list. Here you can manually add those programs that didn't switch automatically.

Another problem is the incorrect display of colors in photos or videos. In a dark theme, some shades may look faded or inverted. If you are processing a photo, it is recommended to temporarily turn off a dark theme or use apps with their own internal theme setting that ignores the system.

💡

If the fonts become poorly readable after turning on a dark theme, try changing their style or thickness in the Topics app -> Profile -> Fonts.

Also worth noting is the impact of the theme on autonomy. AMOLED, And the color black, which is used in many Redmi and Xiaomi models, means the pixels are off. It really saves battery power. IPS-There will be almost no savings in screens, since the matrix illumination works constantly.

The Theme's Impact on Eye Health and Autonomy

Going dark is not just a matter of aesthetics, it's also a matter of health care. Blue light emitted by a white background suppresses melatonin production, which can disrupt circadian rhythms and impair sleep quality. Using a dark interface in the evening reduces this load.

In addition, the decrease in white background brightness reduces the total amount of light that enters the eyes, which is especially important for people with increased sensitivity of the retina or those who spend many hours at a time at a smartphone, the comfort of reading text in a dark background is subjectively higher in most users.

In terms of energy saving, as mentioned, the dark theme is a powerful tool for extending the life of a smartphone. On devices with AMOLED-matrixes (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, Xiaomi 11/12/13), the difference in autonomy between a light and dark theme can reach 10-15% in active use scenarios.

💡

Dark subject on AMOLED-The screens save a lot of battery power, as the black pixels are physically turned off and do not consume energy.

But contrast is important. In a bright sunny day, a dark theme can make the screen unreadable due to glare and black, so automatically switching to time of day or light is the smartest choice.