If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, You've probably encountered the term "premium theme" in the settings or the theme store. But what does it really mean? Why are some themes free and others asking for money -- or even requiring a subscription? And most importantly, is it worth paying for a premium registration or you can do with free ones?
In this article, we will explore how premium themes differ from standard ones, where to officially purchase them (and why you should not download from dubious sites), how to install without errors and what to do if the theme does not apply. And also, we will reveal hidden features of premium themes that few people know about, and show how they affect the performance of a smartphone.
Let's get a little bit of terminology out of the way. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, what we mean by "premium theme" is not just a beautiful picture on the desktop, but a full-fledged design package that changes:
What is a premium theme in Xiaomi: the key differences from the usual
A premium theme is not just a background pattern or a set of icons, it's a complex design that involves:
- 🎨 System icons (including application icons, notification panels, switches in the curtain)
- 📱 Animations of transitions between screens and when unlocking
- 🔊 Sound effects (unique alarm clock melodies, notifications, keyboards)
- 📊 System menu style (settings, control center, lock screen)
- 🖼️ Dynamic wallpaper (with support for paralax effect or change depending on the time of day)
Unlike free themes, premium versions are often developed by Xiaomi’s official partners (such as Mi Design Team) or undergo strict moderation.
- ✅ Compatibility with the latest versions MIUI (including MIUI 14/15 hyperos)
- ✅ Absence of viruses and hidden mining (relevant for those from the official store)
- ✅ Optimization for battery saving (dark topics with the AMOLED-optimization)
But there’s a flip side: some premium themes can slow down the interface, especially on budget smartphones (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3). The fact is that complex animations and highly detailed icons require more CPU and RAM resources, such as the Xiaomi theme Neon Glow, which increases the load on the user. GPU on ~15% when scrolling through the menu.
⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is older than 2020 (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A2 or Redmi Note 7, check the requirements in the description before buying a premium theme. MIUI 12+ 4 GB of RAM, otherwise the interface will “brake».
Where to officially buy premium themes for Xiaomi: 3 proven ways
The safest way to get a premium theme is to get it from official sources.
- The shop that MIUI (Settings → Topics: Free and paid themes are available here, prices range from 50 to 300 rubles per topic, you can pay through Mi Account (tied bank card) or Google Pay.
Important: when you buy a theme, you get a license for 1 account. If you reset your smartphone to factory settings or change your Mi Account, you will have to buy the theme again. Except for themes tied to the device (for example, bonus ones when buying Xiaomi 13).
| Source | Cost | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Theme Store | 50–300 ₽ topically | ✅ Official support✅ Security | ❌ Account binding❌ No refund. |
| Subscription of Mi VIP | 199 ₽/month | ✅ Access to all topics✅ Bonuses from Xiaomi | ❌ Auto-extension❌ Not all topics are included |
| Promotions | Free of charge. | ✅ Savings✅ Unique themes | ❌ Limited time.❌ We need to keep an eye on the news. |
⚠️ Warning: Do not buy premium themes from third-party sites (such as AliExpress or Ozon) that often sell pirated copies that may contain viruses or not work after an update. MIUI. Theme Store is the only legal way.
How to install a premium theme on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions
Installing a premium theme is not much different than installing a free one, but there are a few nuances. Follow this guide to avoid mistakes:
Check the version. MIUI (It should not be below the topic specified in the description)
Connect to stable Wi-Fi (themes weigh 10–50MB)
Release 100+ MB of memory (in case of cache)
Battery charge > 30% (to avoid interruption of installation)-->
- Download the theme: Open the Themes app (brush icon). Go to Premium or search for the theme through search. Click on the price tag and pay (if the theme is paid).
- Apply the topic: After download, click Apply. Wait 10 to 30 seconds - the system will update the icons and animations. If the theme does not apply, restart the smartphone (Long hold of the power button) → Reboot).
Customize the details
- In some themes, you can change the accent color or style of icons in Settings → Topics → Set up the current theme.
- For dynamic wallpaper, enable the Paralax effect option in the lock screen settings.
If the theme doesn’t work properly after installation (for example, the icons haven’t changed or the animations are twitching), try:
- 🔄 Reset the app cache Topics (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
- 📱 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (some topics require fresh software).
- 🚫 Disable battery optimization for the Topics app (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Topics → No restrictions).
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If you don’t like the premium theme, you can refund your money within 48 hours of purchase, and write in support of Mi Community with the reason (e.g., “the topic doesn’t fit the description”).
Hidden features of Xiaomi premium themes that you didn’t know about
Many users set premium themes just for the sake of beautiful wallpaper, without even knowing the hidden possibilities they open.
- 🔍 Hidden gestures: Some themes (like "Dark Fantasy") add additional gestures: Double tap on the lock screen to launch the camera. Swipe down the wallpaper for quick weather access.
- 🎵 Exclusive sounds: Premium themes often include unique audio packages. For example, the Cyberpunk 2077 theme adds futuristic notification and alarm sounds. To turn them on, go to Settings. → Sounds and vibrations → Sound theme.
- 🖥️ Adaptive wallpaper: Some topics (e.g, "AOD Dynamic" supports automatic wallpaper change depending on: "Times of the day (morning / day / night); battery level (at 20%, wallpaper turns red); weather (in the rain, drops appear on the lock screen).
Important: Some hidden premium theme features require developer mode to be enabled. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and tap it 7 times. Then go to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers, activate the debugging option USB and window animation (set the value) 1x smoothly).
How to turn on hidden night mode in premium themes?
Premium Themes: 3 Risks Not Warned About
Despite the upsides, premium themes can create problems if you don't be careful, and here are three of the most common risks:
- Productivity decline: Theme "3D Glass Morphism increases RAM consumption by 200-300 MB, which is critical for smartphones with 3 GB of RAM (for example, Redmi). 8A). If after installing the theme, the phone began to “lag”, check the memory load in Settings → The phone. → Status of the system.
- Custom firmware conflict: If you use unofficial firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), premium themes from the store MIUI They're tied to Xiaomi services and they require the original. MIUI.
- Personal Data Leakage: Pirate themes (downloaded from forums such as: 4PDA) For example, in 2022, a Trojan was discovered in the theme "iOS 15 Style" that sends a message to the Internet. SMS Always check the source!
How do you minimize the risks?
- 🛡️ Install themes only from the official store.
- 📊 Read reviews before buying (especially on performance).
- 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, they fix vulnerabilities.
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If your smartphone starts to overheat or discharge quickly after installing a premium theme, remove it and return the standard design. Prolonged work with a heavy theme can reduce battery life by 10-15%.
Top.-5 Premium theme for Xiaomi in 2026 year: rating by user reviews
Based on the analysis of reviews in Mi Community and Telegram chats, we have compiled a rating of the most popular premium themes for Xiaomi, Redmi and other companies. POCO on 2026 They're all compatible with the MIUI 14/15 hyperos:
| Title of the topic | Price. | Features | Rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Neon Glow" | 250 ₽ | ✅ Neon animations✅ Support for Always-on Display✅ 10 dynamic wallpapers | 4.8 |
| "Dark Fantasy" | 300 ₽ | ✅ Dark design with gold accents✅ Hidden gestures✅ Optimized for AMOLED | 4.9 |
| "Minimal OS" | Free (promotional) | ✅ Minimalist icons✅ No extra animations.✅ Saves battery life | 4.7 |
| "Cyberpunk 2077" | 350 ₽ | ✅ Futuristic sounds✅ Animated wallpaper✅ Support for game mode | 4.6 |
| "AOD Dynamic" | 200 ₽ | ✅ Dynamic lock screen✅ Adaptive wallpaper✅ Low energy consumption | 4.8 |
If you’re not sure which theme to choose, use the theme store preview. Click on your favorite theme and select Preview so you’ll see how it will look on your smartphone before you buy.
Frequent problems with premium themes and how to solve them
Even official premium themes sometimes don't work properly, and here are some of the most common problems and ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Subject not applicable | Incompatibility with the MIUI version | Update the software or write in support with the model of the smartphone. |
| The icons haven't changed. | App cache Topics damaged | Clear the cache (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache). |
| The theme is reset after rebooting | Conflict with battery optimization | Turn off optimization for the Themes app in the battery settings. |
| Animations twitch | Lack of RAM | Close the background applications or choose an easier theme. |
If none of these methods worked, try:
- Remove the theme and install it again.
- Reset the application settings Themes (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Drop it).
- Contact Xiaomi Support via Settings → The phone. → Feedback by attaching a screenshot of the error.
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If the premium theme is updated MIUI It's gone, wait for the developer to update it, usually 1-2 weeks.