How to permanently remove themes on Xiaomi: 5 working ways (MIUI 12-14)

MIUI is one of the most controversial features of Xiaomi’s firmware, allowing you to personalize your smartphone interface to the smallest detail, from wallpaper to app icons, and many users face intrusive advertising, slowing down and unpredictable crashes after installing third-party themes. If you’re tired of constantly notifying about “popular themes” or want to return a “clean” Android interface, this is the guide for you.

Unlike the standard “just uninstall the Theme app” tips, we’ll go through all the options, from the superficial to the radical (including disabling ADB and editing system files). It’s important to understand that some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can affect the warranty, so we’ll start with the safest options and gradually move on to the advanced ones.

This article is relevant for all modern versions of MIUI (12 to 14), including Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13 Ultra).If your smartphone runs on HyperOS, some methods may not work (we will warn about this separately).

1. Method for beginners: disabling themes through MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in system options. It won’t remove the Theme app completely, but it will hide it from the interface and disable the background processes.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type "Themes" (or "Themes" in English firmware).
3. Select the Theme app (icon with brush).
4. Click Disable (if the button is inactive – tap Stop first).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After that:

• 📱 The app icon will disappear from the menu (but will remain on the list of all apps).
• 🚫 Notifications of new topics will cease.
• ⚡ Reduced battery consumption (the application will not work in the background).
• ⚠️ Limitation: standard theme MIUI You will remain active, you will not be able to change it to another.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global POCO X5 Pro) the button Disable may not be available. In this case, proceed to the next method.

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Battery charge of at least 50%

Turn it off. VPN (It can block system settings)-->

Removal of updates to the “Themes” annex

Often, problems with themes arise after automatic update of the system application, and you can return it to the factory version through Settings:

Go along the way: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → ⋮ (three-point) → Remove updates.

If there is no update to delete:

• 🔧 Try to clean the cache first and clear the data.
• 📦 On some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) First, you need to disable automatic application updates in Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI → ⋮ → Settings → Auto-update of applications.
• 🔄 After removing the updates, restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), this method can cause system themes to crash. If the interface is not displayed correctly after removing the updates, return the factory settings via Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings (select Resetting Theme Settings).

3. Disabling themes via ADB (no root)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use USB debugging (ADB), which doesn’t require root rights, but requires a computer and minimal technical skills.

Preparation:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder.

Now run commands in Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux):

adb devices


adb shell pm hide com.android.themes




adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.themes

What these teams do:

• 🔌 adb devices – checks the connection of the device.
• 👁️ Pm hide – hides the app from the menu (does not delete it!).
• ⚙️ pm disable-user – disables all application processes for the current user.

✅ Pros of the method:

• No need to root.
• Reversible (you can return the topics back).
• It runs on 90% of Xiaomi models (except for some HyperOS devices).

❌ Cons:

• When you reset or update MIUI, the themes may be activated again.
• Some firmware (e.g. MIUI EU) require an additional command: adb shell cmd package bg-dexopt-job.

Yeah, often.

I tried it 1-2 times.

No, but I want to learn.

No, I don't plan on.-->

4. Radical method: removing themes through TWRP (root required)

If you are willing to go to extreme lengths and you already have customized Recovery (TWRP), you can completely remove the system application of the themes.This method will irreversibly delete all the theme files, including standard wallpaper and MIUI fonts - use it only if you understand the risks!

Instructions:

1. Download. TWRP For your model (for example, for Redmi Note) 10 Pro. twrp-3.7.0_12-violet.img).
2. Reboot to TWRP (usually by clamping Power + Volume up).
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and use ADB or the TWRP-built file manager.
4. Go to /system/priv-app/ and delete: MiuiSystemUI (responsible for integrating themes into the interface) ThemeManager (theme system core) MiuiHome (launcher, but delete Dangerous – can break the desktop!)

Wipe → Cache

⚠️ Warning: Removing MiuiHome will result in desktop loss!To avoid this, install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) before removing it and make it the default launcher. TWRP (Backup → System).

🔧 Alternatively (less risky): instead of deleting the apps, you can freeze themes through Titanium Backup or Lucky Patcher (root required) and return them back if necessary.

5. How to remove ads in topics without turning them off

If you are annoyed not by the functionality of the themes, but by intrusive advertising in the application, you can turn it off separately - without removing themes. Here are 3 proven ways:

Method 1: through the MIUI settings

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Cleanup.
• 🔍 Slip on the Ad at the bottom of the screen.
• ⚙️ Turn off the option of personalized advertising.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.

Method 2: through editing the hosts file (requires root)

Add the following lines to /system/etc/hosts:

127.0.0.1 ad.mi.com


127.0.0.1 globalapi.ad.xiaomi.com




127.0.0.1 sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com

Method 3: Install a patch through Magisk

If you have Magisk installed, download the Xiaomi Debloat module and select the Remove Ads option when you install it.

💡

If it continues to appear after disabling the ads in the Themes app, check the settings in Google Play Services: go to Settings → Google → Advertising and turn off personalization.

6.What to do if the topics are not turned off?

If none of the methods worked, the problem may lie in:

• 🔒 Blocked bootloader (on new Xiaomi models, it takes up to 7 days to unlock).
• 📱 Regional firmware (on Chinese versions) MIUI Some of the settings are hidden).
• 🔄 Automatic Recovery (some system applications are restored after an update).
• 🛡️ Antivirus or protection MIUI (for example, MIUI Optimization can block changes).

Solutions for complex cases:

1. Flashing to custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) will completely remove MIUI and all its components, but will require unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted.
2. Using an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) won’t remove themes completely, but it will hide their visual impact on the interface.
3. Reverse to an older version MIUI. Some older versions (for example, MIUI 11) Themes are less intrusive. To do this, download the desired firmware from Xiaomi Firmware Updater and run through Fastboot.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When working with themes on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If after disabling the smartphone began to overheat or discharge quickly, check the processes through Settings → Battery → Battery use: Sometimes, disabling system applications leads to endless restart cycles of other services (e.g. miui.analytics), in which case only a factory reset will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions