Dark mode on Xiaomi smartphones not only reduces the load on the eyes in the evening, but also saves battery power on devices with a high-powered smartphone. AMOLED-However, many users face problems when setting it up: somewhere the option is hidden in the depths of the menu, and somewhere requires additional manipulation. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to include a dark theme on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO — From standard settings to hidden chips MIUI 14/15.
It's important to understand that the interface can vary depending on the firmware version and device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 15, the path to settings will be shorter than on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that work on 90% of the current devices of the brand. If your model is released after 2020, chances are that all the methods in this article will suit you.
1. Standard method: through display settings
The most obvious and quickest method is to activate the dark theme through the basic settings, which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 11 and later, including the latest firmware versions.
- Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
- Go to the Screen section (or the Display on some models).
- Select Dark Theme (may be called Dark Mode or Night Mode).
- Activate the switch to the position VL.
On some devices (e.g. POCO F5), additional options are available in the same menu:
- 🌙 Automatic turn on schedule (sunset/dawn or user time).
- 🎨 Contrast adjustment – allows you to make a dark topic deeper or, conversely, slightly “lit up".
- 🔄 Exceptions for individual applications – useful if some programs display dark mode incorrectly.
☑️ What to check before turning on a dark topic
If after turning on a dark theme, some system applications (such as the Camera or Gallery) remain bright, don’t be afraid. This is a feature of MIUI: some of Xiaomi’s built-in services have their own theme settings, which you will have to configure separately.
2. Quick activation through the notification panel
Not everyone knows, but you can activate a dark theme in two taps without going into the settings.
- Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
- Find the Dark Theme icon (usually a crescent moon) 🌙 If you don't have one, tap it on a pencil (Edit) and add it by hand.
- Tap the icon to turn on or off mode.
This is useful if you need to switch between light and dark subject matter quickly depending on the lighting, for example, in the daytime you can use a light theme for better readability outside, and in the evening you can use a dark theme for eye comfort.
⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A s MIUI 12) The dark theme icon in the notification bar may not be available by default, in which case it will have to be added manually via quick settings editing.
3. Dark theme for individual applications
MIUI allows you to flexibly configure dark mode not only for the system but also for individual programs, which is useful if a dark theme looks uncomfortable or malfunctions in some application.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select the app you want (such as YouTube or Telegram).
- Slip on the item Dark theme (or display style).
- Choose one of the options: 🌓 Follow system settings (recommended for most cases). 🌙 Always dark (forcedly includes dark mode). ☀️ Always light (disables dark theme for this app).
This setting is especially relevant for social networks and instant messengers, for example, on Vkontakte or WhatsApp, a dark theme may not be displayed correctly on some versions of MIUI, in which case it is better to set the mode for them to follow the system settings or turn off the dark mode altogether.
| Annex | Recommended theme setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Follow system settings | The app itself also has a separate dark theme setting. |
| Telegram | Always dark. | The messenger has its own night themes with additional settings. |
| Google Chrome | Follow system settings | In the browser, you can additionally enable dark mode for web pages. |
| MIUI camera | Always bright. | The camera’s dark interface can make it harder to set up shooting parameters. |
4. Hidden settings: forced inclusion of dark theme
If your device is not able to use a dark theme (for example, due to a firmware bug or manufacturer limitations), you can try to force it to activate through Developer Mode, which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and newer, but requires caution.
First, turn on the developer mode:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will receive a notification "You became a developer").
Now activate the forced dark theme:
- Go back to the basic settings and open Additional → for developers.
- Find the option to Forced Enable Dark Theme (or Override Force-Dark).
- Turn it on and restart the device.
On some devices (such as Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite), after applying a dark theme through the Themes app, the system font or icons can be lost, in which case resetting themes to standard ones will help:
Settings → Topics → My Themes → Reset to Standard6 Dark Theme Problems and Their Solutions
Even after successfully incorporating a dark theme, Xiaomi users may face some problems, including the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The dark theme is turned on, but after a few minutes it is reset to light. | Conflict with energy saving or automatic schedule | Turn off automatic switching to Settings → Screen → Dark theme |
| In some applications, there is a bright background | The app does not support dark theme or has its own settings. | Check the theme settings inside the app itself or set “Always Dark” in MIUI. |
| Dark theme works, but the battery runs out faster | On devices with IPS-Dark screens do not save energy | Turn off the dark theme or use it only when the charge level is low. |
| After the MIUI update, the dark theme disappeared from the settings | Resetting settings after an update or firmware error | Reset theme settings in Settings → Themes → Reset or reinstall the update |
On devices with IPS-displays (e.g., Redmi) 9C or POCO M3) A dark theme doesn't give you more autonomy, it's only good for eye comfort. AMOLED-screen (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50), The cost savings of using a dark theme can be 10-15%.
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To check the screen type of your smartphone, type in a model in Google search with the search “AMOLED or IPS”. For example: “Redmi Note 11 Pro screen type”.
7. The Dark Theme in MIUI 15: What's New?
The latest version of MIUI 15 (released in 2026) has several improvements to the dark theme:
- 🌈 Adaptive colors – the system automatically adjusts shades of dark theme to the desktop wallpaper.
- 🔍 Smart schedule – now a dark theme can be turned on not only by time, but also by light level (using a light sensor).
- 🛠️ Fixes for third-party applications – reduced the number of “white spots” in the interface of programs that do not support native dark mode.
- 🎨 Contrast Customization – a slider appeared to adjust the depth of black (from gray to deep black).
If you don’t have this option, try using one of the themes labeled “AMOLED Black” in the Topic app.