If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or a smartphone POCO, I have probably noticed that the standard designs in MIUI And in the search for fresh design, many people come across the term "premium themes" -- but what does it mean in practice? It's just beautiful icon wallpaper or something more?
In fact, premium themes in the Xiaomi ecosystem are not just cosmetic changes, but full-fledged design packages that transform the device’s interface beyond recognition. They include unique app icons, transition animations, stylized controls, and even sound effects. But there's a nuance: not all premium themes are equally useful, and some may conflict with the version. MIUI or slow down the smartphone.
In this article, we will explore how premium themes differ from free themes, how to install them correctly (including bypassing regional restrictions), and whether to spend money on paid options, and also discuss hidden features of topics that most users do not even know about.
What are Xiaomi premium themes and how they differ from the usual ones
Premium Themes (or Premium Themes) MIUI — These are exclusive design packages that offer enhanced customization over standard themes:
- 🎨 Complete design redesign: not only wallpaper and icons change, but also the style of notifications, quick settings panels, keyboards, and sometimes even system fonts.
- 🔄 Dynamic elements: animated transitions between screens, interactive wallpaper (for example, responsive to the time of day or weather).
- 🔒 Exclusive: Many premium themes are created by renowned designers or as part of a collaboration with brands (such as Marvel or Star Wars themes).
- 💰 Paid access: most premium themes cost between 50 and 300 rubles, although sometimes there are promotions with free distribution.
By comparison, free Themes themes are usually limited to replacing wallpaper, icons and color palettes, and rarely touch system elements like the notification panel or on-screen keyboard. In addition, premium themes are often optimized for specific Xiaomi models (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro).+), While free ones may look blurry on high-resolution devices.
It is important to understand that premium themes are not always compatible with all versions. MIUI. For example, a topic developed for MIUI 14, may not be correctly displayed on MIUI 13 or earlier builds.This is due to the system architecture changes Xiaomi makes with each major update.
Where to look and how to download premium themes: official and informal ways
The official way to get a premium theme is through the Themes app, pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, but there are pitfalls:
- Regional restrictions: In some countries (e.g. Russia), some premium themes may not be available due to geo-blocking.
- Link to Mi Account: To purchase themes requires authorization in Mi Account, and payments are made through Chinese payment systems (for example, Alipay), which is not always convenient.
- Limited catalog: the official store does not present all the premium themes that exist.
Alternative sources:
- 🌐 Third-party sites: for example, Mi-Themes.com or Xiaomi-Themes.ru, where they share both free and paid themes in.mtz format.
- 🤝 Telegram channels: communities like @MiThemes or @XiaomiThemes Regularly share fresh topics, including premium.
- 🛠️ Developer forums: on XDA Developers or 4PDA You can find unique themes created by enthusiasts.
Warning: Downloading topics from unofficial sources can lead to viruses or spyware. Always check files through VirusTotal and read reviews from other users. Be especially careful about topics that require root access or install additional content. APK.
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Before installing a third-party theme, back up the current design in Settings → Topics → My subjects. → Exports. It'll help you quickly get back to where it was when a new topic gets stuck.
Step-by-step: how to install a premium theme on Xiaomi
Installing a premium theme through the official Themes store is intuitive, but unofficial.mtz files will have to be tinkered with.
Download theme file (.mtz) from a trusted source
Check compatibility with your version of MIUI
Create a backup copy of the current theme
Charge your phone at least 50%
Disable the antivirus (can block the installation)-->
Method 1: Through the Topics app (for official premium themes)
- Open the Themes app on your smartphone.
- Go to the Premium tab (or Premium in English).
- Choose your favorite theme and click Buy (or Apply if it is temporarily free).
- Confirm payment through Mi Account.
- Wait for the download and click Apply.
Method 2: Install from.mtz file (for informal topics)
- Download the theme file (.mtz) to your phone.
- Open the Themes app and navigate to My Themes → Imports.
- Select the downloaded.mtz file.
- Confirm installation. If the theme requires additional permissions (e.g. access to storage), provide them.
- After installation, go to My Themes and apply the new theme.
If the topic is not set, try the following:
- 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
- 📁 Check that the.mtz file is not corrupted (try to download it again).
- 🛠️ Update Themes to the latest version via Google Play.
- 📱 Make sure that the phone has enough free space (minimum 500 MB on the system partition).
What if the topic is set but is not displayed correctly?
Hidden Premium Theme Features: What Topics You Didn't Know About Are Able to Do
Many users use premium themes just for the sake of beautiful wallpapers and icons, without even knowing that some of them offer much more.
| Function | Description | Example of support topics |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive wallpaper | Automatically change the color scheme depending on the time of day or weather (use data from the phone sensors). | Dynamic Sky, Weather Mood |
| Font customization | Allow you to replace the system font with a unique (for example, handwritten or futuristic). | Calligraphy, Cyberpunk Font |
| Animated icons | App icons respond to touch or change appearance when notified (e.g., flash). | Alive Icons, Neon Glow |
| Sound bags | Includes unique notification sounds, alarm clocks, and system events (such as thematic tunes from movies). | Star Wars Sounds, Retro Game |
| Hidden gestures | Add undocumented control gestures (for example, swipe on the lock screen to start the camera). | Gesture Control, Swift Actions |
One of the most interesting features is app-themed integration, and some premium themes change the way you look not only at system elements, but also at popular programs like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Google Chrome, and the Dark Cyber theme can add a dark mode with neon accents to all supported apps, even if they didn't have that option in the first place.
Another little-known fact is that premium themes sometimes contain hidden settings that don't appear in the standard menu. → Display. → Additional theme settings. There may appear new options, for example:
- 🎚️ Adjustment of transparency of the notification panel.
- 🔄 Choosing alternative styles for icons (e.g. round or square).
- 🎵 Customization of the volume of the theme sound effects.
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Not all premium themes support hidden features. Before buying, read the description and reviews – they usually indicate what additional features are included.
Premium Theme Problems: Why They May Not Work and How to Fix It
Even after a successful installation of a premium theme, there may be failures, and here are the most common problems and solutions:
⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to brake or overheat after applying the theme, immediately return the standard design. Some themes contain unoptimized animations that increase the load on the processor.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Subject not applicable | The file is corrupted or incompatible with the version MIUI. | Download the topic again or check its compatibility on the forum. |
| Icons are not clearly displayed | The theme is optimized for a different screen resolution. | Try to find a version of the theme specifically for your model. |
| Animations are slowing down | The effects are too complex for your processor. | Turn off animations in the theme settings or choose an easier theme. |
| Notification panel does not change | Limitation MIUI for certain regions. | Try changing the region in your phone settings to India or Global. |
| Theme flies after update | MIUI Resets settings with large updates. | Keep the theme in My themes and apply it again. |
Especially often problems arise with themes downloaded from third-party sources, the fact that Xiaomi regularly updates the mechanism of the themes, and old.mtz files may cease to function correctly.
- Write to the developer of the theme (if possible).
- Search for an updated version of the topic on the forums.
- Return to the standard topic and wait for corrections in the MIUI.
Sometimes the problem is with other modifications, such as those installed through Magisk, and if you use custom firmware or root access, disable all third-party modifications before installing the theme.
Should you buy premium themes: pros and cons
Premium themes are not cheap, especially if you plan to change them regularly, so let's look at when buying is justified and when it's better to get by with free ones.
The pluses of premium themes:
- ✨ Unique design: Your phone won’t look like everyone else’s.
- 🛡️ Security: Official themes are being tested by Xiaomi for viruses.
- 🔧 Advanced Customization: Access to features not found in free themes.
- 📱 Optimization: Premium themes are usually better tailored to specific models.
Cons of premium themes:
- 💸 Cost: for a year of regular purchases you can spend several thousand rubles.
- 🔄 Instability: Some topics are in conflict with MIUI and cause bugs.
- 📉 Obsolescence: In a year or two, the topic may no longer be supported.
- 🌍 Regional restrictions: Not all topics are available in your country.
The alternative to buying is free premium themes, and Xiaomi periodically distributes paid themes for free as part of the promotions, so that you don't miss these offers:
- Subscribe to Xiaomi’s official social media channels.
- Follow the Promotions and Recommended sections in the Themes app.
- Participate in the forums (for example, on the forums) 4PDA).
If you're not willing to pay, but you want premium quality, look at the themes from the community. Many talented designers put their work out for free on platforms like Behance or Dribbble, and then adapt it for the sake of the community. MIUI.
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Always check screenshots and video reviews before buying a premium theme, and some of themes look beautiful only on promotional materials, but in reality contain few useful changes.
How to Create Your Premium Theme for Xiaomi: A Brief Guide
If you don't like the solutions, you can try to create your own theme, and you don't have to be a professional designer, you just have to follow the simple instructions.
What you need:
- 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with the latest version MIUI.
- 💻 Computer with software MIUI Theme Editor (can be downloaded from the XDA Developers).
- 🎨 A set of icons and wallpaper (can be found on Flaticon or Freepik).
- 📂 Knowledge of the basics of working with graphic editors (Photoshop, GIMP Or even Canva).
Step-by-step process:
- Download the theme template: in MIUI Theme Editor has ready-made templates for different screen resolutions.
- Edit elements: Replace the standard icons with your own (size should match the original); add wallpaper for the home screen and lock screen; adjust the color palette (notification panel background, text color, etc.).
Export the subject
.mtz
Test it.
Share it with the world.
If you don’t want to mess with the editor, you can use online builders like ThemeDIY or MIUI Theme Maker. They offer a drag-and-drop interface where you can assemble a theme from ready-made blocks.
Begin by modifying an existing theme. Download a free theme from the store, unpack it (.mtz is an archive that can be opened through a store). 7-Zip), Change individual items (like just icons) and pack back.