Have you found the perfect theme for your Xiaomi, but want to share it with a friend? Or save a backup before resetting your phone? In this article, we will discuss all working ways to export themes from MIUI and HyperOS - from standard features to hidden chips for power users. We tested the methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra, so the instructions are relevant for most models of 2020-2026.
It's important to understand that the official functionality of MIUI Themes is limited -- Xiaomi doesn't provide a direct share button. But there are workarounds! Some require root rights, others work without them. We've arranged the methods from simple to complex so you can choose the best option. Ready? Here we go!
1. Standard way: export through "My topics"
The safest method, but with limitations, is suitable for those downloaded from the official Theme Store (non-custom) and works on all devices with MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS without additional software.
Algorithm of action:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush)
- 🔍 Go to the My Themes tab (bottom of the screen)
- 📋 Find the right topic and tap on her preview
- ⤵️ Scroll down to the Share Block (if no buttons – the theme does not support export)
- 📤 Click Export and select the method of sending (Telegram, WhatsApp, mail, etc.)
⚠️ Note: The theme itself is not exported, but a link to it in the Xiaomi store. The recipient must download the theme himself. If the theme was removed from the store, the link will become non-functional.
2. Backup of themes through MIUI Backup
Few people know, but the system application Backup saves some user data of the themes.The method does not give a direct theme file, but allows you to restore it to another Xiaomi device after logging in under the same Mi Account.
How it works:
- Open Settings → About the phone → Backup
- Select Local Backup (not to the cloud!)
- Check the Topic item (may be called Personalization)
- Launch backup creation
- The file is saved to /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ with the.mbk extension.
To restore the theme to another device:
- 🔄 Transfer the.mbk file to your new smartphone
- 🔑 Sign up for the same Mi Account
- 📲 Start the recovery from backup
⚠️ Warning: This method works unstable on HyperOS - topics may not recover.Before resetting your phone, check the health on the test backup!
What data does MIUI Backup store?
3. Manual copying of theme files (without root)
For advanced users who are ready to work with the file system, this method allows you to extract full theme files in.mtz format (archive with resources), which can be transferred to another smartphone or saved to a PC.
Where the topics are kept:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.data/
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.cache/Instructions:
Connect your phone to your PC via USB (file transfer mode)
Open the MIUI/theme/.data/ folder
Find a folder with your theme title (e.g. com.theme.name)
Copy theme.mtz file to your computer
To recover, move.mtz back and restart the phone-->
⚠️ Note: Not all themes are saved to.data – some (especially system) can be in protected partitions. If not, try an alternative way:
/data/system/theme/But you will need root rights to access it (see the next section).
💡
Use the FX Explorer or Solid Explorer file manager – they show hidden folders and allow you to work with root directories (if you have root).
4.Export of Root-Righted Thems (Advanced Method)
If you have an unlocked bootloader and root (like Magisk), you can extract any theme, including system ones, which gives you maximum control, but requires caution – wrong actions can lead to a failure of the interface.
Tools required:
- 📱 Root access (check through Root Checker)
- 🖥️ Root Explorer (Root Explorer, Mixplorer)
- 🔧 Annex MT Manager (for editing system files)
Step-by-step:
- Open MT Manager and go to /data/system/theme/
- Find a folder with the title of the theme (for example, default for standard).
- Copy the file. theme_values.xml and the asset folder on SD-map
- Create a.zip archive with these files and rename it to.mtz.
- To install, transfer.mtz to /MIUI/theme/ and restart your phone.
| Type of topic | The path to files | Need root? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom (from the store) | /MIUI/theme/.data/ | ❌ No. | .mtz files |
| System (built-in) | /data/system/theme/ | ✅ Yes. | May not be available on HyperOS |
| Castomy (from APK) | /data/app/com.android.theme/ | ✅ Yes. | APK decompilation required |
| Topics for launcher | /MIUI/theme/.cache/ | ❌ No. | Just icons and wallpaper. |
⚠️ Note: Modifying files in /data/system/theme/ This can lead to a bootloop. Before experimenting, create a full backup through the phone. TWRP or fastboot!
5.Use ADB to extract themes (no root)
If root is not available, but you have access to ADB (USB debugging), you can try extracting themes through the command line. The method works on MIUI 13-14 and partly on HyperOS, but requires skills with the console.
Preparation:
- 🔧 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers
- 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC (official website)
- 📱 Connect your phone and confirm your trusted device
Extract commands:
adb shell
su
cp -r /data/system/theme/ /sdcard/ThemeBackup/
exit
exit
adb pull /sdcard/ThemeBackup/ C:\XiaomiThemes\If the su command doesn't work, you don't have root, so try an alternative route.
adb pull /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/ C:\XiaomiThemes\💡
ADB-The method allows you to extract themes even on blocked downloaders, but without root you will only get custom themes from the folder MIUI/theme/.
6. Exchange of topics through third-party applications
If the standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party tools, and we tested 3 apps that can export and import Xiaomi themes:
- MiXplorer Theme Manager 🔹 Supports.mtz and.apk formats 🔹 It works without root, but requires storage permission 🔹 The interface is in English, but intuitive
- Theme Editor for MIUI 🔹 Allows you to edit topics before exporting 🔹 Save to the Cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) 🔹 The paid version removes watermarks
- Xiaomi EU Theme Port 🔹 Specializes in porting topics between regions 🔹 Requires root for system themes 🔹 Supports HyperOS (Beta Version)
⚠️ Note: Apps from third-party sources (not Google Play) may contain malicious code. Before installing, check the hashes of files on VirusTotal and read reviews on the site. 4PDA.
The only way to share a custom theme between devices with different versions of MIUI is to convert it to a universal.mtz format using Theme Editor, and then manually edit compatibility files in the archive.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When exporting them, users encounter common mistakes, and we've collected the most common and corrective ways to do this:
- ❌ Mistake: “Theme does not support exports" 🔹 Reason: Theme is system-based or downloaded from a third-party source. 🔹 Solution: Use the method with ADB or root (section 4-5).
- ❌ After recovery, the topic is displayed incorrectly 🔹 Reason: Different versions MIUI/HyperOS device-wise. 🔹 Solution: Edit the file theme_values.xml (Remove incompatible parameters).
- ❌ Can't see the file. MIUI/theme 🔹 Reason: The folder is hidden or the theme is stored elsewhere. 🔹 Solution: Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager.
- ❌ When installing.mtz, an error appears: "File is corrupted" 🔹 Reason: Incorrect structure of the archive. 🔹 Solution: Repackage the file through 7-Zip compressively.
If none of the methods worked, check:
- 📌 Version compatibility MIUI/HyperOS both-device
- 📌 Free space in memory (minimum 500MB required)
- 📌 No regional restrictions (some topics are linked to a country's Mi Account)