Xiaomi’s Themes app: How it works, where to download and why it disappears from the screen

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, you've probably noticed an app called Themes (or Themes in English) on the menu, and it's not just a customization tool that can dramatically change the look of MIUI in a few clicks, but how does it work? Why does it disappear from the desktop sometimes? And can you install themes from third-party sources without risking security? In this guide, we'll go through everything from basic features to hidden features that are not even written about in the official documentation.

Many users mistakenly believe that Themes are just a collection of wallpapers, and in fact, it is an entire ecosystem that manages icons, fonts, animations, sounds, and even system menu markup, and the functionality of the app varies depending on the version of MIUI and the firmware region. For example, in global versions (MIUI Global), some of the themes can be blocked due to licensing restrictions, while in Chinese (MIUI China) exclusive designs are available. Next, we will explain how to use this tool effectively – and what to do it is absolutely not worth doing.

What is the application “Themes” on Xiaomi and why it is necessary

The Themes app (com.android.themes) is a standard MIUI shell component that is responsible for visual customization of the interface. Unlike stock Android, where the user can only access wallpaper and basic font settings, you can change here:

• 🎨 Application icons (including adaptive packages for third-party programs)
• 📱 System menu style (notification panels, lock screen, settings)
• 🔤 Fonts (including Cyrillic and Asian sets)
• 🎵 Sound circuits (notification signals, alarm clocks, interface sounds)
• 🖼️ Wallpaper and animations (including dynamic wallpaper with paralax effect)

It is important to understand that the Themes in MIUI are packaged, each theme is a set of files with.mtz extensions (for older versions) or.mtz3 extensions (for MIUI 12+), which replace the standard system resources, and some elements (for example, icons) may conflict with third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher).

The app’s main advantage is the ability to download themes directly from the official store without root rights, but there is a downside to this approach: some themes require a connection to Xiaomi’s Chinese servers, which can cause access problems in some regions.

⚠️ Warning: If after installing the theme, the smartphone started to brake or overheat, most likely, the problem is in the animations. → Additionally. → Animate the system and disable unnecessary effects.

Where to find the Themes app and why it goes missing

In most cases, the Themes app is on the desktop or on the menu of all apps, but some users find it suddenly disappearing after a MIUI update or reset.

1. Regional restrictions: In the firmware for Europe (MIUI EEU) and Russia, some functions may be disabled due to legal regulations.
2. System optimization. MIUI sometimes hides underutilized applications. To return Themes, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → All applications and find Themes.
3. Manual removal: Some cleaners (such as Clean Master) may remove system components as unnecessary.

If the app is not on the menu, try restoring it through the hidden MIUI menu:

1. Open the Phone app and type ##4636##.
2. Go to the “Phone Information” section → “Show hidden apps.”
3. Find com.android.themes and turn on the display.

If this method did not work, it remains only to reflash the smartphone or install themes through third-party launchers (we will discuss this below).

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Before resetting, back up your current theme: Open “Themes” → “My Themes” → “Export.” The file is saved in the MIUI/theme/ folder.

How to Set Themes: Step-by-step instructions

Installing themes through the official app is intuitive, but there are nuances that are not covered in the manuals.

Step 1. Open the Topics app and go to the Recommended or Top tab, which shows popular collections sorted by ranking.

• 🆓 — free-theme;
• 💎 — Premium theme (requires purchase through Mi Account);
• 🔒 — Regionally restricted (may not be available without a VPN).

Step 2. Select your favorite theme and click "Apply." The system will automatically download the package and prompt you to choose which items to replace:

Step 3: After application, restart your smartphone. Some elements (such as animations) start working only after the reboot.

⚠️ Note: If the application icons are missing after installing the theme, check the launcher settings. MIUI Sometimes the labels are confused, and you can fix this through Settings. → Desktop → Resetting the mock-up.

Where to download themes for Xiaomi: official and third-party sources

The official MIUI theme store is not the only source of designs, there are alternative venues where you can find unique collections, but it is important to follow safety rules.

Official sources:

• 📱 Themes app – built-in catalog with verified themes (updated weekly).
• 🌐 Website themes.mi.com - the web version of the store, where you can view collections on PC.

Third-party sources (with caution!):

• 🛡️ XDA Developers – a forum where modified themes are published MIUI (root).
• 📦 APKMirror – you can download old versions of the Themes app if it has been deleted after the update.
• 🔗 Telegram channels (e.g, MIUI Themes Collection – Rare topics are collected, but virus risk is higher.

Before installing a theme from an unverified source, check it for viruses through VirusTotal and make sure the file has the correct extension (.mtz or.mtz3). Fake themes may contain malicious code that steals data or displays ads.

How to Create Your Theme for Xiaomi: A Brief Guide

If you don't like the solutions, you can put your own theme together from the individual elements.

• 🖥️ Computer installed MIUI Theme Editor (official utility from Xiaomi).
• 📂 Resource set:.png icons (size) 192×192 pixels, wallpaper (.jpg or.png), fonts (.ttf).
• 🔑 Mi Account with Developer Rights (to upload a theme to the store).

The process of creating the theme:

1. Download and install MIUI Theme Editor from Xiaomi’s official website.
2. Import theme templates through File → New Project.
3. Replace standard resources with your files (icons, wallpaper, sounds).
4. Export the project to the.mtz file.
5. Transfer the file to your smartphone and install through the “Themes” → “Local”.

If you want to publish themes in the official store, you have to go through moderation, Xiaomi checks each theme for compliance:

• 🚫 No copyright infringements (such as Apple or Samsung icons).
• 🎯 All elements must be in a vector (to support different screen resolutions).
• 📏 Icons should have a transparent background and the same style.

⚠️ Attention: Creating themes from scratch requires knowledge XML and JSON, Because some settings (like animations) are manually written in configuration files. If you're a beginner, start by editing pre-made templates.

Theme Problems on Xiaomi and How to Solve Them

Even official topics sometimes don't work properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If the theme is set but some elements don’t apply (such as fonts or sounds), check:

1. Does your version of MIUI support this type of resource (in MIUI 14+, some settings are moved to Settings → Personalization).
2. Does the theme conflict with other modifications (for example, with Magisk modules).
3. Is there enough free space in the section? /system (Systemic topics are required ~100 MB).

If nothing helps, try resetting the theme settings to standard:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

This command will clear the theme app cache, but will not delete downloaded files.

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Before experimenting with themes, always back up Settings → System → Backup, which will allow you to quickly restore your work capacity if something goes wrong.

Best themes for Xiaomi in 2026: our top

The choice of themes in the official store is huge, but most of them are either outdated or poorly optimized. We tested dozens of options and selected the top 5 themes that work stable and look modern:

• 🌌 Dark Matter – dark theme with neon accents and dynamic wallpaper (black hole effect»).

All of these themes are free and available in the official store. If you can’t find them through search, try changing the region of your Mi Account to India or China (in some regions, the directory is limited).

For those who like exclusive design, we recommend you to pay attention to themes from MIUI Poland, they often post unique collections on their website (registration is required).

FAQ: Frequent questions about topics on Xiaomi