How to turn off the dark mode on Xiaomi: all ways in 5 minutes

Dark mode on Xiaomi smartphones has become a standard feature since the release of MIUI 10, but not all users like it.Some prefer the classic light interface because of better text readability, some face display bugs in applications, and some just do not like the aesthetics of the black background. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable the dark theme on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices – from basic settings to hidden settings for experienced users.

It’s important to understand that the procedure may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14/HyperOS) and the smartphone model. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most of the brand’s devices. If after changing the settings, some applications continue to display in dark mode – do not panic, this is a feature of their work (for example, YouTube or Telegram have their own theme settings).

Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This information will come in handy if the standard way to turn off dark mode does not work – then you will have to use alternative methods, which we will discuss below.

1. Standard method: through system settings

The simplest and most obvious method is to turn off dark mode through the basic smartphone settings, which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 11 and later, including the latest versions of HyperOS.

1. Open the Settings app** (the gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Scroll down and select the Screen section.
3. Slip on the item Dark Mode (in some versions may be called Dark Theme).
4. Move the slider to the “Off” position or uncheck if checkbox is used.
5. Confirm the action if a pop-up window appears.

Changes are applied instantly – the system interface, standard applications (Calls, Messages, Gallery) and programs supporting the system theme (Google Chrome, Gmail) will switch to light mode. If after that some elements still remain dark, check the settings of individual applications (we will talk about this in the next section).

Slider turned off in the screen settings|Interface. MIUI lightened|Checked the dark theme settings in Google apps|Reloaded smartphone (if necessary)-->

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 Pro+) there are additional options in the Dark Mode menu:

• 🌓 Automatic turn on on schedule – if this feature is active, dark mode will be turned on at a predetermined time (for example, from 22:00 to 7:00.
• 🔄 Follow the system theme – some apps (like WhatsApp) have this option in their settings.
• 📱 Dark mode for the battery - on older versions MIUI It was a dark theme power saving option, and it should be deactivated.

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If after turning off the dark mode in the screen settings, nothing has changed, try to restart the smartphone – sometimes the system applies changes only after the reboot.

2. disable dark mode in individual applications

Even after disabling a dark theme at the system level, some apps may ignore this setting and continue to run in dark mode.This is because many programs (especially from Google and third-party developers) have their own display options.

Special attention should be paid to the applications from Xiaomi — Mi Home, Mi Fit, Gallery. These theme settings are often hidden deep in the menu. For example, in Mi Home, the path will be: Profile → Settings → Appearance → Dark Theme. If you do not find the right item, search by settings (the magnifying icon in the upper right corner).

Google Chrome|YouTube|Telegram|WhatsApp|Other social networks|Other Xiaomi System Apps|No-->

Important: Some apps (like TikTok or Instagram) don’t have manual theme settings and always follow system settings.If they stay dark after disabling mode in MIUI, try clearing their cache in the app’s settings.

3. Reset theme settings to factory

If dark mode is turned off but the interface still looks incorrect (e.g. some elements remain black and others remain white), the theme settings may have gone wrong, in which case resetting the display settings to factory settings will help, which is a safe procedure — it won’t delete your data, but only returns standard colors and fonts.

To perform the discharge:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen.
2. Select Screen Style (or Theme Settings in older versions of MIUI).
3. Scroll down and click Reset Settings (may be called Restore Default Values).
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

Once reset, the smartphone will automatically apply a standard light theme. If the problem was a setting conflict, the interface should become homogeneous. Note that this method does not affect third-party applications - their theme settings will have to be changed separately, as described in the previous section.

4. disable dark mode through the developer (for power users)

If the standard methods didn't work, you can try turning off dark mode through the developer's settings, which is suitable for advanced users, because it requires activating the hidden menu.

First, turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row (you will receive a notification “You became a developer!”).
3. Return to the main settings menu – there will be a new section for developers.

Now turn off the forced dark mode:

1. Go to Settings. → For developers.
2. Find the option Forced to Enable Dark Mode (or Override Force-Dark in English).
3. Set the value "Off."
4. Reboot your smartphone to apply the changes.

This parameter forces the system to force all applications to darken even if they do not support a dark theme. Disabling it often solves problems with incorrect display of the interface. However, be careful - changing other parameters in the developer menu can lead to unstable operation of the device.

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Developer settings allow you to manage the themes in a flexible way, but incorrect changes can disrupt the system, and use this method only if the standard methods did not help.

5 Problems and Errors in Turning Off Dark Mode

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the dark mode is turned off, but the interface still looks like it is turned on.

• 🔄 The theme resets after the reboot, which may be related to Adaptive Brightness or Energy Saving. Turn them off in the screen and battery settings.
• 📱 Only some apps remain dark – check their individual settings (see Section 2) or clear the app’s cache in Settings → Annexes.
• 🖥️ Interface. MIUI It shows the clumsy (artifacts, stripes) -- it's a bug of old firmware versions. MIUI Up to the latest version or reset theme settings.
• 🌙 Dark mode turns on by itself at night – turn off the automatic schedule in Settings → Screen. → Dark mode. → Schedule.

If none of the methods worked, it may be that the problem lies in corrupted system files, in which case the factory reset will help (don’t forget to back up the data!). It is also worth checking the smartphone for viruses – some malware can change the display settings.

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Before resetting to factory settings, try updating your firmware through Settings → About Phone → System Update. Often dark mode bugs are fixed in newer versions of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware dark mode turned on itself and does not turn off, this may be a feature of the new version MIUI. Check the official Xiaomi forums for similar complaints – you may need to roll back on the previous build.

6. Alternative methods: ADB and custom firmware

For users who are not afraid of complex manipulations, there are alternative ways to turn off dark mode, which can be useful if standard methods have not worked or you want to completely remove the possibility of using a dark theme.

Method 1: Disconnecting through ADB

This method requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool, which is suitable for power users, as the wrong commands can disrupt the system.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (you can download from the official website of Android Developers).
2. Enable USB debugging on your smartphone (Settings → Developers → USB debugging).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1 (where 1 — bright-themed, 2 — dark, 0 — system).
4. Reset the device.

Method 2: Installation of custom firmware

If you don't like dark mode in MIUI, you can install alternative firmware, like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which has more flexible theme settings and often no forced dimming, but requires unlocking the bootloader and can take away your warranty.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB These methods are recommended only for experienced users who understand the risks and have a backup of data.

Frequently asked questions

If you don't find the answer to your question, please contact the official Xiaomi forum or support. MIUI/HyperOS — This will help solve the problem faster.