How to roll back the theme on Android Xiaomi: 4 proven ways (MIUI 12-14)

You installed a new theme on your Xiaomi, but it turned out to be too bright, slows down the system or just doesn’t like it? You can return the standard interface in a few minutes – if you know the right ways. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of rollback themes on Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones running MIUI 12-14, including hidden features and solutions for cases when the the theme is stuck or not deleted through the menu.

Theme issues on Xiaomi often arise after updating firmware or installing third-party packages from MIUI Themes. Some users experience bugs like a black screen after applying the theme, missing icons or crashing animations. We'll tell you how to avoid these errors and what to do if the standard methods don't work. And we'll share a secret method of resetting themes through ADB, which only experienced users know.

Why can’t the Xiaomi theme be rolled back?

Before we get to the instructions, it's important to understand why standard methods sometimes don't work.

• 🔄 Cash's not cleared — MIUI saves the theme files in the cache, and even after “deleting” they can remain in the system.
• 📦 Damaged theme files – if the theme was installed from an unverified source (not from an official source) MIUI Themes, it can block the reset.
• 🔒 Limitations MIUI — on some firmware (especially Chinese) disabled the ability to reset themes through settings.
• 🛠️ System Errors After Failed Update MIUI Theme menu may not work properly.

If you tried to reset a theme through Settings → Themes but nothing happened, don’t panic. Below we’ve described alternative methods, including manually clearing the cache and using TWRP for advanced users.

Method 1: Standard reset via MIUI Themes (for most users)

It is the easiest and most secure method, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, and is suitable for smartphones with official firmware and unlocked bootloader.

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to My Themes section (the tab at the bottom of the screen).
3. Find an active topic and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, select Remove or Reset to standard.
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If there is no button to delete, try:

• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset theme settings.
• 🔄 Restart the phone and try again.
• 📥 Update theme app through Play Market or MIUI App Store.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI China) may not have a reset button, in which case use Method 2 or Method 3.

Method 2: Clear the theme cache through settings (if the reset doesn’t work)

If a topic is not removed in the standard way, the problem may be cache files.Cache cleaning helps in 70% of cases when the interface is “hung” on one topic.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find them in the list of themes (or MIUI Themes) and open it.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Return to the app menu and select Clear Data (this will remove all downloaded themes!).
5. Reboot the phone.

After the reboot, MIUI will automatically apply the standard theme, if it doesn't:

• 🔧 Try to manually select a standard theme in the Topics app.
• 📱 Install an update to MIUI Themes via the app store.

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If the theme still doesn't reset after clearing the cache, try turning off the internet before rebooting. Sometimes MIUI tries to recover the theme from the cloud.

Method 3: Reset via ADB (for power users)

This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and is suitable if:

• 🔓 You have unlocked the bootloader (Bootloader Unlocked).
• 🖥️ There is access to PCs with installed Xiaomi drivers.
• 🛠️ You are ready to work with the command line.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.themes

Once you have completed the commands, restart the phone, and the system will automatically apply the standard theme.

⚠️ Attention: The uninstall team will remove the Themes app for the current user. MIUI through settings → Updating the system.

Method 4: Recoil through TWRP (if the theme has damaged the system)

This method is a last chance if the theme has caused critical crashes (e.g., the phone is not loading or constantly restarting).

• 🔧 Established TWRP Recovery.
• 📁 Backup (nandroid backup) or standard theme file.
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 70%.

Instructions:

1. Boot to TWRP (Put Power + Volume Up when the phone is off).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Delete folders: /data/system/theme/ /data/data/com.android.themes/

Restore

Reboot the phone.

Important: If you are not sure about your actions, you should contact the service center. Incorrect manipulation of TWRP can lead to complete loss of data.

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Use TWRP only as a last resort, a method that is suitable for power users and can lead to data loss if done incorrectly.

What if none of the methods worked?

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be deeper:

• 📱 Damaged firmware – try to reflash your phone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions are available on the official Xiaomi website).
• 🔄 Conflict with Magisk or Custom Core – Disable modules in Magisk Manager and reboot.
• 🛠️ Hardware failure – if the phone doesn’t load even in Fastboot, contact the service.

Also check:

• 📌 Are there updates for MIUI Themes at Play Market.
• 📌 Are there third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher) that can block themes from changing.
• 📌 Is the mode activated for developers with animation disabled (this can break the display of topics).

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting themes on Xiaomi