Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face an intrusive offer to install a new design theme or banner ads inside the Themes system app, part of the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS, designed to monetize the software. However, for many users, constant notifications and visual noise become an annoyance that prevents comfortable use of the gadget.
Completely remove the System Application "Themes" without using root rights or ADB-It is not possible to use commands because it is deeply integrated into the Android shell from the Chinese manufacturer, but there are a number of effective settings to minimize its impact, disable ads and return the classic look of the menu. In this guide, we’ll break down all the available methods, from simple switches in settings to more advanced locking methods.
Before you start making changes, it is important to understand that disabling themes does not mean removing the design function completely. You will still be able to change wallpaper or fonts, but you will stop receiving advertising offers and intrusive recommendations. It is important to follow the sequence of actions described below so as not to disrupt the system settings of the interface.
Disabling Advertising in the Application Topics
The most common user request is not to completely remove the application, but to get rid of banner ads that appear on the main screen of the theme store. To turn off themes on Xiaomi in the context of advertising, you need to change the personalization settings within the application itself. This action will not disrupt the system, but will make the interface cleaner.
Open the Themes app on your device. In the upper right corner of the screen, you'll see the profile icon or avatar that you need to click on. In the menu that opens, select Settings. Here you're interested in the section related to personalization and recommendations. This block is where the switches that display promotional materials are hidden.
- 📱 Find the item “Get recommendations” and move the slider to an inactive state.
- 📉 Turn off the “Show Ads” option if it is present in your shell version.
- 🔒 Uncheck the box on “Engage in the User Experience Improvement Program” to stop collecting statistics.
⚠️ Note: After updating the operating system MIUI or HyperOS privacy settings may reset to factory values.We recommend periodically checking this menu section to prevent ads from reappearing.
Additionally, you should pay attention to the About section inside the theme settings. Sometimes there are additional switches that are responsible for push notifications about discounts or new items. Disabling notifications in this section is critical for those who want silence. If you use free themes from third-party sources, make sure that they do not require constant connections to the developer servers to verify the license, as this can also generate traffic and background activity.
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If you can’t find settings inside the app, try clearing its cache through the Apps menu in the phone’s general settings, and then re-enter the theme settings section.
How to turn off automatic wallpaper change (Carousel)
Often, when people ask how to turn off topics, they mean the obsessive wallpaper carousel feature, which constantly changes the image on the lock screen and shows news or advertising. This feature is part of the theme service and can be disabled separately. It consumes traffic and can be annoying if you prefer a static image.
To manage this feature, go to your smartphone Settings. Search for the settings for "Carousel" or search for Wallpaper and Personalization (the path may differ in HyperOS). Inside, you will find the item responsible for "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Glance", clicking on it, you will be taken to the content management menu of the lock screen.
You need to find the "Enable wallpaper carousel" switch and deactivate it. The system may try to convince you to stay by showing a preview of beautiful pictures, but persistently turning off will result in the return of standard static wallpaper. It is also useful to remove the tick from the "Show content on a locked screen" item if it remains active.
- 🖼️ Open the Settings. → Wallpaper and personalization.
- 🚫 Click on the item "Carousel wallpaper».
- ⭕ Turn off the main activation switch of the service.
- 🗑️ If you wish, delete the loaded carousel packets in the device memory.
☑️ Checking the Carousel shutdown
It is important to note that in some regions and firmware versions, this feature may be called Wallpaper Carousel or Glance for Mi. If the standard way to disable it is not possible, you can use the method of disabling through application settings, which will be discussed below. Resetting the settings of the Themes application itself can also help if the function is blocked or does not work correctly.
Managing App Permits and Notifications
A more radical but safe way to limit the impact of the theme service is to ban notifications and limit background activity. Android allows you to flexibly manage the rights of each system component. This will not remove the application, but will make it virtually invisible to the user in everyday use.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, find the Themes app. Click on it to open the management page. Here you are interested in Notifications. Disable all notification categories: Important, Normal, Advertising and any other notifications that the system offers.
| Control parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Off. | Banners and offers will be lost |
| Auto-start | Forbidden. | The app won't start on its own. |
| Access to data | Only Wi-Fi. | Savings in mobile traffic |
| Background activity | Limited. | Reduced battery consumption |
Next, look for Other Permissions or Application Permits. You can deny geolocation, microphone (if you need to), and contacts. However, don't turn off storage completely if you plan to change wallpaper sometimes, otherwise the app won't be able to read your photos to install them on the desktop. Also limit network access if your version of the shell allows you to choose "Only via Wi-Fi" or "No access", although a complete ban on the network can cause widget errors.
Using Classic Style and Resetting Themes
If your goal is to bring back the original, stock-based interface you had when you bought your phone, you'll need a theme reset feature. Often users install experimental themes that may contain bugs, incorrectly display icons or fonts, and don't know how to get back to standard. Xiaomi shells have a built-in option for this.
Go to the Topics app. Go to the Profile tab. Select My Themes. In the list of installed designs, you will always find a theme called Classic, Default or Standard, marked with the home icon. Pressing the Apply button will return all icons, fonts and system colors to factory values.
New versions of HyperOS also offer deep customization via Settings → Wallpaper and personalization menus, where you can customize the icon style by selecting Classic or Material You, which will change the shape of app icons without having to download third-party themes.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party themes downloaded from unverified sources may contain malicious code or lead to unstable interface operation (launcher departures.
If the standard theme is not applied or the interface is error-prone (black screen, missing icons), try to clear the data of the Themes app. → Annexes → All applications → Topics → Memory and press Clear Data. After that, the phone can restart the launcher, and the theme will reset to the standard one.
Advanced Methods: ADB and Hidden Settings
For power users who are not comfortable with standard methods, there is the option of completely disabling or freezing the Theme app through ADB debugging, a technique that requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having basic command line knowledge, which allows you to hide the application from the installed list, effectively removing it for the user, but leaving it on the system in case of need.
To start, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in advanced settings, enable USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your PC and use the command to search for the package name:
adb shell pm list packages | grep themeUsually, the package is called com.android.thememanager or com.miui.thememanager. To disable it, use the command:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.thememanagerRisks of using ADB
This method is effective for removing ads and ikonki apps from the menu completely. However, remember that system updates can restore the package. Also in HyperOS, system protection has become stricter, and disabling some components can lead to errors in the lock screen or widgets. Use this method only if you understand the consequences.
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The ADB method allows you to completely hide the TOM application, but it requires caution. For most users, a standard disablement of notifications and recommendations is enough.