Users of the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO ecosystem often face a situation where internal storage is overflowing with junk files. One of the most voluminous categories of data that owners forget about is graphical design packages. Themes can take up hundreds of megabytes and even gigabytes of free space, especially if you like to change the visual style of your device often. Standard cleaning through Security does not always effectively remove all the remnants of old shells, leaving “tails” in the system folders.
The removal process is not always intuitive, as the Themes application interface has its own navigational features. Unlike regular applications that are removed through settings or long-pressing an icon, graphics packages require an approach through the built-in content store. Incorrect deletion or attempts to erase system files through the explorer can lead to boot interface display errors or even to a cyclic reboot. In this material, we will detail secure cleaning methods, cache and hidden directories.
You don't have to be a tech guy to clean up your file system, we've developed step-by-step algorithms to help you free up space and speed up your smartphone, and it's important to understand the difference between deleting the theme and cleaning the cache, and knowing which files you can't touch. Here are some proven ways to use current versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS.
Removal through the Topic Appendix
The safest and most effective way to get rid of unnecessary design is to use the Themes app, which ensures that the system will rewrite the paths to the files correctly and replace the remote package with the standard or other package you choose. Attempting to delete files manually through the explorer without first untieing the theme in the settings can lead to black squares instead of icons or launcher failures.
To start, open the Themes app on your desktop. It usually has an icon in the form of a brush or flower. In the lower right corner of the screen, find and click on the Profile icon. This shows all your activity: uploaded fonts, wallpaper, ringtones and, in fact, themes. Go to the Theme tab to see a list of all the packages ever installed or downloaded.
Find the theme you want to delete in the list. Please note that both paid and free options can be displayed here. Click on the thumbnail of the theme you want to open the preview page. At the bottom of the screen, next to the Apply button, there should be a Remove button (basket icon or text) and clicking on it will trigger the uninstallation process.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
If there is no delete button, it means that the theme is currently active. Xiaomi system prevents you from removing the currently used design package. You need to first switch to any other theme (for example, standard "Classic" or "Default"), and only then return to profile and delete the unnecessary file. This is a critical nuance, ignoring which blocks the cleanup function.
Cleaning cache and residual files
Even after the theme is properly removed through the application, the device may still have residual files in its memory, such as log files, thumbnails, previews, or temporary data that Themes created during the operation, and over time, many of these tails accumulate, and they take up precious space that can be used for photos or applications.
For deep cleaning, use the built-in Cleanup tool. Go to the Safety app (green zipper icon) and select "Clean up." The system will analyze the device and suggest removing garbage. However, for a more subtle setup, go to Settings → Apps → All Applications → Topics. Here you select Memory and click "Clean up the cache" button.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the "Clear Cache" button with the "Erase Data" button. If you click "Erase Data", the Themes app will return to the factory settings, and you will have to re-sign in to the Mi Account, and all local registration settings will be reset.
It is also worth checking the MIUI/theme folder through the file manager if you have access rights or use an advanced conductor like MT Manager. However, the average user should limit himself to regular cleaning tools to avoid damaging the structure of the system files. Regular cleaning of the cache helps to avoid lags when scrolling through the theme directory.
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Use the Deep Cleanup feature in the Security app once a week to automatically find remnants of deleted ones. APK-file-package.
There's also a hidden preview cache that's stored in the Android/data/com.android.thememanager folder, and it's safe to clean that directory, but then the previews of the previews in the store can be reloaded the first time you open it, which is consuming traffic, so it's best to do this only when you connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Work with the file system and conductor
For advanced users who are not afraid to work with the file structure of Android, a method of manual folder verification is available. Sometimes a topic is removed from the list of applications, but its files are physically stored, this can be due to a malfunction of the file system or errors when updating the firmware MIUI.
Open the standard Explorer app or download a more functional one, like File Manager+. You need to go to the root directory of the internal drive. Look for a folder called MIUI and inside it is theme. This is where all downloaded design packages are stored. Files can have the.mtz extension or be packaged into special archives.
If you see files with titles that match deleted themes, you can try to delete them. But before you do, make sure that they are not in the Topic app. MIUI/theme_cache. It stores temporary data. Cleaning up the contents of this folder is usually safe and helps if the themes stop loading or are displayed with errors.
| folder | Description of the contents | Can I remove it? | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI/theme | Main files of established topics | Only if the topics are removed from the app | High (interface failure) |
| MIUI/theme_cache | Temporary previews and miniatures | Yes, it's safe. | Low (reboot previews) |
| Android/data/.../cache | Cash of the annexes Topics | Yes, through the app settings. | Low. |
| MIUI/.theme | Hidden system settings of design | No. | critical |
What if the MIUI folder is not visible?
Problems with undeletable topics
Sometimes users encounter a bug when the theme is not deleted: the delete button is inactive, or the process hangs in the middle. This is a common problem on smartphones with overflowing memory or if there are errors in the structure of the theme file itself. If the standard method does not work, alternative solutions should be applied.
The first step is to try to apply a standard theme. Go to profile, find the Classic or Default theme and apply it. Once you've successfully used it, try to delete the problem package again. If that doesn't work, it might be corrupted at the file system level, and then rebooting the device to Safe Mode will help.
To enter Safe Mode, press the power button, and then hold your finger on the Turn Off button on the screen for a long time until the suggestion to go to Safe Mode appears. In this mode, third-party themes do not work, and the system uses a basic interface. Here you can try to delete the problem file through the Themes application. If this does not help, then the last measure is a complete reset.
⚠️ Warning: Before entering Safe Mode or resetting settings, be sure to back up important data as unsaved changes in system settings may be lost in the process.
The problem may also be in the crowded cache of Google Play or the Mi Account itself. Try to clear the Accounts and syncs in your phone settings. Sometimes, dissynchronizing the statuses between the server and the device blocks content management.
Reset theme settings to factory
If the chaotic installation and removal of themes has led to the fact that the interface is unstable, fonts “float”, and icons are gone, you need a complete reset of the theme settings. This will not delete your personal files (photos, contacts), but return the visual style of the smartphone to the state “out of the box”.
Go to the Topics app, go to Profile. In the upper right corner, click on the settings icon (cogs). In the menu that opens, find Reset or Restore default theme. The system will warn you that all changes will be canceled. Confirm the action.
Once reset, the phone can reboot. This is normal behavior, because the system needs to reassemble the GUI. If the problem persists after reset, the system's theme section itself may be damaged, and in that case, you may need to update the firmware through the Wipe All Data Recovery mode, but this is a radical measure.
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Resetting theme settings is an effective way to fix visual bugs without losing user personal data.
Removing System Themes and Modifying
System themes preinstalled by the manufacturer and themes installed through modified versions of applications (e.g. Themes Mod for regional restrictions) deserve special attention. It is impossible to remove standard system themes in the usual way, since they are part of the firmware.
Removing system components requires Root (superuser) rights and specialized software, such as System App Remover, but we strongly recommend that users do not do this. Removing a key system theme can cause the phone to stop booting (bootloop), and it can only be restored by flashing through the computer.
If you are talking about themes installed through a modified theme store (to bypass regional locks), you need to delete them through the same application through which they were installed. APK-File, install again, delete the theme through the profile, and only then delete the application itself.