Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the brand’s most popular smartphones, but even its standard MIUI interface can get tired over time. Want to stand out from other users? Creating your own theme is a great way to personalize your device to your style. In this article, we will analyze the entire process from preparing design layouts to final installing the theme through the built-in MIUI Themer.
It is important to understand that the development of the topic for MIUI It requires not only creativity, but also technical skills. It doesn't have a universal magic tool, it's just a graphics editor, XML-But the result is worth the effort: your Redmi Note 8 Pro will look unique and you will get an invaluable experience customizing Android.
If you’ve never created a theme before, don’t worry: we’ll explain each step in detail, including file preparation, testing, and troubleshooting common bugs, and for experienced users, we’ll provide advanced tips for optimizing the theme for specific elements of MIUI 12/13/14.
1. What you need to create a topic: tools and requirements
Before you start designing, make sure you have everything you need, and without the right tools, it can be delayed or even failed.
Basic requirements:
- 📱 Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro with unlocked bootloader (not necessary, but recommended for testing).
- 💻 Computer: Windows 10/11 macOS (for working with graphic editors).
- 🎨 Programs: Adobe Photoshop or GIMP (for creating icons and backgrounds, Android Studio (for editing) XML-file), MIUI Theme Editor (Official Tool from Xiaomi).
- 📁 Templates: Official.mtz templates of themes from Xiaomi (you can download on the forum) XDA Developers).
A basic understanding of MIUI theme structure will also be required. A theme is an archive with the.mtz extension that contains:
- 🖼️ Graphic elements (icons, wallpaper, animations),
- 📄 XML-files describing styles (colors, fonts, indentations),
- 📂 Folders with resources for different screen resolutions.
⚠️ Note: If you plan to distribute your theme, make sure all graphic elements are created by you or used legally. Xiaomi can block the theme for copyright infringement.
2. Design layouts preparation: where to start?
The first step is to figure out the concept of the theme: Do you want a minimalist style? Or bright neon colors? Maybe a theme in the style of your favorite movie? All the work that you do depends on it.
Design tips:
- 🎨 Color palette: Choose 2-3 primary colours 1-2 Use tools like Adobe Color to match the harmonics.
- 📏 Icon Resolution: For Redmi Note 8 Pro (permission) 2340×1080) optimal size of icons — 192×192 px (with transparent background in.png format).
- 🖼️ Wallpaper: Create options for the home screen and lock screen in resolution 2340×1080 Note that the wallpaper should not have important elements at the bottom - they will be closed by the dock panel.
Example of folder structure for graphic elements:
my_theme/
├── icons/
│ ├── app1.png
│ ├── app2.png
│ └── ...
├── wallpapers/
│ ├── lockscreen.jpg
│ └── homescreen.jpg
└── preview/
└── preview.png (theme preview for MIUI Themer)If you’re not sure about your design skills, you can use pre-made icon sets from sites like Flaticon or Icons8, but don’t forget to check your license!
💡
Save all the source files (.psd,.ai) in a separate folder, which will help you quickly make edits if the theme is not displayed correctly on your smartphone.
3. Working with MIUI Theme Editor: Interface Discussion
MIUI Theme Editor is Xiaomi’s official tool for creating and editing themes, and can be downloaded from the XDA Developers forum or from Chinese sources (e.g. Miui.com), and note that the interface is in Chinese, but with the help of a translator or manuals, this is not a problem.
Main sections of the editor:
| Section | Appointment | What can be customized |
|---|---|---|
| Icon | Application icons | Replacement of standard icons with custom, configuration of the form (round / square) |
| Wallpaper | Wallpaper. | Adding wallpaper for the main screen and lock screen |
| Style | Interface styles | Colors of system elements, fonts, button shapes |
| Lockscreen | Lock screen | Design of watches, notifications, slider unlock |
| Preview | Preview | View the theme before exporting to.mtz |
Editorial process:
- Import your graphics files to the appropriate sections.
- Set up colors and fonts in the Style section (use) HEX-code).
- Check the display of each element in preview mode.
- Export the theme to the.mtz file.
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI Theme Editor is a bug that keeps your icons transparent. If your.png icons are black, convert them to.webp before importing them.
4. Manual XML editing: for advanced users
If you want to customize the topic more deeply (for example, change animations or custom interface elements), you will have to edit the topic. XML-- Manual files:
Steps:
- Unpack the.mtz file with an archiver (this is a regular.zip).
- Open the values folder – here are stored XML-style-file.
- Main files: colors.xml - color scheme, styles.xml - styles of buttons, text, backgrounds, dimens.xml - indentations and sizes of elements.
Example of editing colors.xml:
<color name="miui_color_primary">#FF5722</color>
<color name="miui_color_secondary">#FF9800</color>
<color name="miui_color_background">#FFFFFF</color>After editing:
- Save the changes.
- Archive the folder back to.zip.
- Rename the extension to.mtz.
How to check for XML errors?
5. Testing theme on the Redmi Note 8 Pro
Before the final installation, you need to test the theme.
Testing methods:
- 📱 Local installation: Transfer the.mtz file to your phone's memory. Open the Themes app. Click on the profile icon → My subjects. → Import. Select your file and apply the theme.
- 🔧 Through ADB (For experienced: adb install path/to/your/theme.mtz Make sure the phone is on debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 once you hit the version).