Modern users spend a significant part of the day behind their smartphone screens, and bright backlighting of the display in conditions of insufficient light becomes a serious irritant to the eyes. Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 model often wonder how to switch the interface to a more comfortable one for reading in the dark. The implementation of a dark theme not only reduces fatigue, but also on devices with certain types of matrixes can help save battery power.
The process of activating the black mode in the MIUI shell installed on the Redmi Note 4 may vary depending on the firmware version (Global, China or European) and the Android version. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to switch, including standard system settings, use of design themes and hidden functions for developers. You will learn to configure automatic switching on a schedule so that your smartphone adapts itself to the time of day.
Before we start to make changes, it’s worth noting that not all apps can properly display in black unless they’re optimized by developers. However, system menus, settings, gallery, and most popular Xiaomi services fully support color inversion. Let’s look at the basic techniques that will help you make the interface more enjoyable.
Standard design settings in MIUI
The easiest and most reliable way to change the color scheme of the interface is to use the built-in Themes app. This is a system tool that is preinstalled on every Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 device and allows you to manage the visual style without installing third-party software.
When you open the app, look at the bottom navigation bar where you're interested in Profile, and that's where all your downloads, installed themes, and most importantly, customization settings are stored. Going to this section, you'll see a few options, including "Design" or "Theme settings."
The design menu often activates Classic style by default, which implies a light background. You need to switch the switch to Dark. After that, the system fonts, menu backgrounds and notification panels will change their color to black or dark gray. If you did not find such a switch right away, perhaps your version of MIUI requires you to select a specific dark theme from the directory.
It should be noted that the application of a global dark theme through the profile settings may not affect some system applications, such as Phone or Messages, if they use their own design settings, in this case, it is recommended to check the Settings section of the smartphone itself, scrolling down to the screen item.
Some versions of the Redmi Note 4 MIUI firmware have a separate Dark Mode switch in the Screen section, which force the supported apps to black mode, ignoring the theme settings, which is especially handy if you want to keep the wallpaper light but use the dark interface of the apps.
☑️ Checking the theme settings
Using themes from the Xiaomi catalog
If the standard switch is missing or not working properly, the effective solution is to install a specialized theme. The Xiaomi Themes catalog contains thousands of design options created by both official designers and independent artists.
Type "Dark" or "Black" into your search to filter the results. When choosing a theme, pay attention to the preview: it should show black menu background and white text. After selecting the option you like, click "Download" and then "Apply." The system will automatically apply all graphic elements, including icons, sounds and fonts.
It is important to understand that some themes may be paid or require a premium account, but there are also plenty of free quality options. When applying a new theme, the system may suggest saving the current desktop wallpaper or replacing them with those that are included in the theme package.
⚠️ Note: When installing themes from third-party sources or unofficial directories, there is a risk of disruption to the stability of the interface. MIUI, to avoid artifacts or system application failures.
After applying the theme, it is recommended to restart the device, which is necessary to ensure that all Redmi Note 4 system processes correctly pick up new design resources. In rare cases, without rebooting, you can experience white bars in the menu or incorrect font display in some sections.
Set up automatic switching on schedule
One of the most useful features in modern versions of MIUI is the ability to automatically switch between light and dark theme depending on the time of day, which saves the user from having to manually change the settings every evening and in the morning, and you can implement this through system settings or through the Themes app.
To set up the system menu, go to Settings → Screen. You can find "Dark Mode" or "Night Mode" on the menu, and within this menu, you can often choose "Schedule Mode" and activate it, you can select "Down to Dawn" (geolocation is used) or set a specific time, for example, from 20:00 to 07:00.
Alternatively, use the Topics app. Under Profile" → "Scheduling may also be present. If you choose this path, make sure the app has permission to access the location if you want to use the sunset anchor. This will allow the Redmi Note 4 interface to adapt to the natural light in your location.
Why is the dark theme not automatically turned on?
Scheduling is especially important for those who go to bed late, and turning on a bright white screen at night can disrupt circadian rhythms and impair sleep quality, making smartphone use healthier and more comfortable.
The Effect of Dark Theme on the Battery and Eyes
The issue of energy savings when using a dark theme is often discussed in the context of smartphones. However, it is important for the owner of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 to understand the technical features of his device. IPS-matrix, unlike AMOLED-screens where each pixel is individually illuminated.
V IPS-The backlight displays are running continuously throughout the screen area, regardless of the color of the pixel displayed. IPS-The screen is just closed liquid crystals that block the light from the backlight, but the backlight itself continues to consume energy. So the charge savings on the Redmi Note 4 when you turn on the black theme will be minimal or absent, unlike the flagships with the mainframe. AMOLED.
| Parameter | IPS Screen (Redmi Note 4) | AMOLED Screen (Flagships) |
|---|---|---|
| The principle of illumination | General LED panel | Self-luminous pixels |
| Black display | Blocking the light with backlight | Pixel off. |
| Energy consumption (black background) | High (backlighting works) | Low (pixels don't burn) |
| Effect on the eyes | Decreasing bright light in the dark |
While there is no significant energy savings, the benefits to vision are clear: Declining the overall brightness of the interface reduces the strain on the retina, especially in low-light environments, and helps prevent dry eyes and headaches from long-term reading or texting at night.
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Use the 'Paper Mode' feature in combination with a dark theme for maximum reading comfort, which adds texture to the paper and lowers the color temperature, making the screen warmer.
Solving Application Compatibility Issues
Often, users are faced with a situation where some applications remain white after turning on a dark theme, which creates an unpleasant contrast and cuts their eyes, because the developer of a particular application did not provide support for dark design or implemented it correctly.
There is a forced color inversion mechanism in MIUI that can help in such situations. To activate it, you need to go to advanced settings. Open Settings → About your phone and click on the MIUI version several times to unlock the developer menu (if it is hidden). Then go to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers.
In the list of engineering options, find the item "Decoration Theme" or "Forced Theme Application." Enabling this feature forces the system to apply the chosen style to all applications, even if they are not declared compatible. However, be careful: on some interface elements, colors may invert incorrectly, making the text unreadable.
- 📱 Check out app updates on Google Play – developers often add support for dark theme in new versions.
- 🎨 Use third-party launchers that have their own theme settings and can overlap the standard interface.
- ⚙️ Some themes have a separate setting “Invert colors in unsupported apps”, check the settings of the installed theme.
⚠️ Warning: Forced color inversion through the developer settings can cause gallery photos or colors in games to turn negative.Be sure to disable this feature before running multimedia content.
Alternative methods and third-party solutions
If standard MIUI capabilities don't suit you, the market offers a lot of third-party solutions, and one popular method is to use filter applications like Night Shift or Blue Light Filter, which overlay a translucent layer over the entire interface, darkening it.
There are also dedicated launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which allow you to flexibly adjust the colors of folders, dock bar and application menus regardless of the system theme.
For advanced root users, Magisk and Substratum are available, allowing you to modify system resources at a deep level, which allows you to black out everything, including the settings menu, which usually ignores user themes, but using such methods is highly skilled and carries risks.
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Third-party launchers are the best way to customize your desktop if the standard Xiaomi theme seems too limited or boring.