How to share a theme on Xiaomi through the “Themes” app: all ways and life hacks

You have found a unique theme for your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO Or save a backup before you reset your phone? The Themes app from Xiaomi allows you to export your installed themes to a.mtz file that you can send via messenger, cloud, or even publish to communities. But how to do it correctly if there is no obvious “Share” button in the interface»?

In this article, we will analyze all working ways of exporting themes – from standard functionality to workarounds for older versions. MIUI. You will learn how to save a theme to a file, what restrictions apply to free and paid themes, and what to do if the export button is inactive, and how to avoid errors when installing the transferred theme on another device.

Important: The procedure may differ depending on the version MIUI (from MIUI 12 before MIUI 15) We've taken into account all the nuances to make the instruction work on Xiaomi. 11/12/13/14, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F/X/M and other devices with a shell from Xiaomi.

1.Preparation: What to Know Before Exporting a Theme

Before sharing a topic, check out a few key points, which will save time and avoid disappointment:

• 🔹 Theme type: free themes from the official catalog can be exported without restrictions. paid or premium themes (marked) VIP Pros are often blocked from exporting – they can only be transferred through backup (more on this below).
• 🔹 Version. MIUI: into MIUI 14 and newer export button hidden deeper than in MIUI 12.If you have an old firmware, an upgrade or alternative method may be required.
• 🔹 Developer Rights: Some methods (such as manually copying theme files) require root rights or activated mode. USB-But this is an extreme case, 90 percent of users do without them.

Critical detail: The exported theme (.mtz) is tied to your device's screen resolution.If a friend has another smartphone (e.g. you have a Xiaomi 13 Pro with a smartphone). 2K-It's a display, and he's got a Redmi. 10C s HD+), The theme may not be displayed correctly, stretched or cropped. Solution: Look for themes marked Adaptive).

⚠️ Note: Some themes contain protected elements (fonts, icons with a license) and their export may violate Xiaomi rules. If the theme disappears from the directory, its distribution is fraught with blocking the Mi Account account.

2. Standard method: export of the topic through the “Themes” app

This is the simplest method that works on most devices.

1. Open the “Themes” app** (a brush icon on your desktop or menu).
2. Go to the My Themes tab (or Installed in new versions).
3. Find the topic you want to share and tap into its thumbnail.
4. In the preview window that opens, click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
5. Select Export or Share (name depends on version) MIUI).
6. Wait for the.mtz file to be created (usually 5–30 seconds).
7. Select the method of sending: Bluetooth, messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp), cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) or “Save to Memory of the device”.

File theme weighs from 1 to 10 MB (depending on the complexity of the design), it can be sent to a friend or saved as a backup.

Theme set and active

There is free space on the device (minimum 20 MB)

Internet enabled (for some topics, license verification is required)

Power saving mode is turned off (so that exports are not interrupted)-->

⚠️ Note: If the Export button is inactive (grey), the theme is copyrighted.

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Standard export only works for those downloaded from the official Xiaomi Catalogue Catalogue Custom Themes (installed through APK or MTZ) Requires manual copying of files.

3. Alternative method: manual copying of theme files

If the standard export didn’t work, you can manually find the theme file in the device’s memory, which requires access to a file manager (e.g., Explorer** or Solid Explorer).

The files are stored along the way:

/sdcard/MIUI/theme/.data/


or




/internal_storage/MIUI/theme/.mtz/

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager with access to hidden folders (enable the display of hidden files in the settings).
2. Go one of these paths. The.data or.mtz folder can be hidden -- manually search it.
3. Find a file with the.mtz extension and the title of your theme (e.g., DarkNebula.mtz).
4. Copy the file to a convenient location (like the Download folder) and share it through any channel.

If the folders MIUI/theme No, then:

• 🔸 Themes are not saved locally (this is the case with cloud themes).
• 🔸 You've got an old version. MIUI (before MIUI 10), path: /data/system/theme/ (root).
• 🔸 The theme is system-specific (e.g., standard Default or Dark Mode) and is not exportable.

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If you can’t find the.data folder, try connecting your phone to your PC and using a Explorer. Windows/macOS. Sometimes, mobile file managers don’t show hidden system directories.

4. How to install the received theme on another Xiaomi

You sent a.mtz file to a friend, but he doesn't know how to install it? Here's a step-by-step guide for the recipient:

1. Download the theme file (.mtz) to your device (for example, via Telegram or Mi Cloud).
2. Open the file manager and find the downloaded file. Tap it.
3. The system will prompt you to open the file through the “Themes” application** – confirm the choice.
4. Wait until the unpacking (may take up to a minute).
5. Click Apply to activate the theme. If the button is inactive, then the theme is incompatible with screen resolution or version. MIUI.

If the installation error "Can not apply the theme"**, the reasons may be as follows:

5. Export of themes through backup (for paid themes)

If the subject is paid or VIP, The default export is blocked, but there's a workaround, backup via Mi Cloud or locally, which saves all settings, including topics, but requires authorization under the same Mi Account.

How to make a backup:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Choose Local Backup or Mi Cloud.
3. Make sure that the Topic item is marked in the reservation data list (or Personalization in new versions).
4. Start backing up. It'll take 2-10 minutes.
5. After completion, the backup file can be found in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.

How to Restore a Theme on Another Device:

1. Sign in with the same Mi Account as the original phone.
2. Go to Settings. → Backup → Restore.
3. Select the right backup and confirm the recovery.
4. After the reboot, the theme will appear in the My Themes section.

⚠️ Note: Backup recovery will reset some settings (such as wallpaper or icon location) to the state at the time of backup creation.We recommend using this method only for transferring themes, not for regular backup.

6. Advanced method: installing themes through ADB (skilled)

If the topic refuses to be set in a standard way, you can use it. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This requires connecting your phone to a PC and basic command line knowledge, but guarantees you can install even "stubborn" themes.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers (you can download from the Xiaomi website or through the SDK Platform Tools).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers).
• 📄.mtz theme file moved to the platform-tools folder on PC.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd on Windows or Terminal on the macOS/Linux) Go to the folder with the platform-tools.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Set the theme with the command: adb install -r -d Name file.mtz Replace the name file.mtz with the real name.
5. After successful installation, restart the phone.

If there is a mistake INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_APK, signifier:

• 🔴 The theme file is corrupted (try to download again).
• 🔴 Theme is incompatible with your version MIUI (Check the version matching).
• 🔴 There are not enough rights on the device (root for system themes is needed).

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If ADB does not recognize the device, try reinstalling drivers or using another USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).

7.Where to Look for Custom Themes for Xiaomi (and How to Securely Install Them)

The official Themes directory is not the only source of designs for Xiaomi. There are communities where users share unique themes, icons and animations. But beware: unofficial.mtz files may contain malicious code.

Verified sources:

• 🌐 XDA Developers (Section Xiaomi Themes) – here you can find themes for specific models.
• 🌐 Telegram channels like @MiuiThemes or @XiaomiThemes — They often post adaptive themes.
• 🌐 GitHub – Look for repositories marked MIUI Theme (e.g., Theme, MIUI-14-Themes).

Safety rules for installing custom themes:

1. Check the reviews and rankings of the topic in the community.
2. Scan the.mtz file via VirusTotal before installing it.
3. Do not install topics that require root rights or access to contacts/SMS.
4. Create a Recovery Point (TWRP) before experimentation.

After installing a custom theme, it may be necessary to:

• 🔧 Manually apply fonts through Settings → Additionally. → Fonts.
• 🔧 Reboot the phone to display animations correctly.
• 🔧 Disable battery optimization for the Themes app** (Settings) → Battery → Optimization).

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and we've collected some of the most common ways to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Reset theme settings through Settings → Topics → Reset.
• 🔄 Clear the cache of the “Themes” application** (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🔄 Reverse to the old version of the Themes app (download) APK APKMirror).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions