Creating themes for Xiaomi: a complete guide from idea to publication in the Mi Theme Store

Xiaomi smartphones based on firmware MIUI They're known for their deep customization, and one of the most popular things is the ability to set third-party themes. But what if you wanted to create your own unique theme instead of using other people's work? It's a process that seems complicated only at first glance. In fact, with the right tools and step-by-step instructions, developing a theme for Xiaomi can even be a beginner.

In this article, we will take you all the way from preparing your work environment to uploading your finished theme to the official Mi Theme Store, learn what programs you will need, how to work with templates, test the theme for errors and optimize it for different Redmi models, POCO And if you've never done design, no problem, we'll recommend free resources for learning and inspiration.

It is important to understand that creating themes for MIUI — It's not just a creative process, it's a technical challenge, and you're going to have to figure out the structure of the files, the formats of the images, and even do a little bit of digging. XML-But don't worry, we'll explain it as simple as possible, without any extra water?

1. What you need to create Xiaomi themes: tools and requirements

Before you start designing, prepare everything you need. Without the right tools, the process of creating a theme becomes an agonizing experience.

Here is the minimum set you will need:

📱 Smartphone Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO on MIUI 12+ (The latest version is preferred. Old firmware may not have new themes.
💻 Windows computer 10/11 macOS (for working with graphic editors).
🎨 Graphic Editor: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (Free, Figma or Krita. Paint.NET is even good for beginners.
📂 Mi Theme Editor – official software from Xiaomi for the assembly of themes (you can download on the official website).
📁 Theme templates (you can download in Mi Theme Editor or find forums like this one) XDA Developers).
🔍 APK-extractor (e.g. APKTool) – to extract resources from existing themes.

Also useful:

🔧 Knowledge of the basics XML (Editing theme configuration files).
🖼️ Icon Library (can be taken from Flaticon or Icons8, But check the license!).
📊 Test devices (if you have the opportunity to test the theme on different models – great).

⚠️ Note: If you plan to publish a theme in the Mi Theme Store, make sure that all the resources used (images, fonts, icons) are commercially licensed or are your author’s work.

You don't have to be a professional designer, because many successful themes are created by enthusiasts with no experience, and the key is patience and attention to detail.

📊 What Xiaomi model do you plan to test your theme on?

Redmi Note 12

POCO X5

Xiaomi 13

Another model

I haven't decided yet.

2. Selection of the theme type: full vs. partial customization

Before you start, decide what type of theme you want to create, and that depends on the amount of work and the skills you need.

All topics for MIUI split:

Type of topic	What's changing	Difficulty	Examples
Full subject matter	Icons, wallpaper, fonts, style of system applications, animations, sounds	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Dark Mode Pro, Neumorphic UI
Partial theme	Icons only / wallpaper only / fonts only	⭐⭐	Minimal Icons Pack, Gradient Wallpapers
Dynamic theme	Automatic change of colors depending on the wallpaper (requires) MIUI 13+)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	ColorShift, Adaptive Dark
Theme for launcher	The main screen only looks like it works with POCO Launcher or Mi Launcher)	⭐⭐⭐	GlassMorphism, Retro Wave

For a first experience, we recommend starting with a partial theme (like an icon pack or a wallpaper set) that allows you to understand the process without going into complex technical details.

If you want to create a dynamic theme, keep in mind that it will only work on devices with a dynamic theme. MIUI 13 and newer. You'll also need a deeper understanding of how Android 12+ handles color extraction from wallpapers.

💡

Before choosing a theme type, explore trends on the Mi Theme Store. For example, in 2026, themes with transparent elements, neomorphic design and adaptive colors are popular.

3. Step-by-step instruction: creating a theme in Mi Theme Editor

Now, let's get to the practice. We'll be creating a theme from scratch using Xiaomi's official tool, Mi Theme Editor.

Step 1: Installation and configuration of Mi Theme Editor

Download Mi Theme Editor from the official website and install it.
When you first start, select the language (there is Russian) and log in via Mi Account.
In the main menu, click Create a new project and select the theme type (e.g. Full theme).

Step 2: Project structure

After creating the project, you will see the following folder structure:

MyTheme/




├── assets/ # Resources (images, fonts)




├── values/ # Configuration files (colors.xml, styles.xml)




├── drawable/ #Vectoric icons




├── layout/ # Models of system elements




└── preview/ # Preview for theme store

Step 3: Editing the topic elements

🎨 Icons: Replace the standard icons in the drawable/ on their own (.png format, permission) 192x192px).
🖼️ Wallpaper: Add your wallpaper to assets/wallpapers/ (permit 2160x3840px for FHD+ screen).
🔤 Fonts: Place font files (.ttf or.otf) in assets/fonts/ And point them in styles.xml.
🎛️ Colors: Edit colors.xml to change the palette of system elements.

Step 4: Preview and metadata

Before exporting the topic it is necessary to:

Create previews (screenshots of the topic) and place them in preview/.
Complete information about the topic in theme_description.xml (title, author, version, description).
Specify compatibility with versions MIUI into config.json.

☑️ Preparation of the topic for export

Check all images for correct permissionsMake sure that the fonts support the Cyrillic alphabetTest the theme on a real deviceComplete all metadata (title, version, author)

Done: 0 / 4

Step 5: Export and Testing

After completion of the work:

Click Export in Mi Theme Editor and select the.mtz format.
Transfer the file to your smartphone and install through the Topics → Local. → Imports.
Check the display on different screens (if possible).

⚠️ Note: If the theme is imported with an error "Incompatible version" MIUI", open up config.json and edit the "minMiuiVersion" option to the current version of your firmware.

4. Design Guide: How to Make a Theme Popular

Creating a theme is half the battle, and to make it popular in the Mi Theme Store, you have to follow a few rules of design and presentation.

2026 Trends for Themes MIUI:

🌌 Dark themes with accent colors (for example, purple or turquoise on a black background).
🔮 Neomorphic design (soft shadows, convex buttons, "glass" elements).
🌈 Gradients and duotons (smooth transitions of colors in icons and wallpapers).
🖥️ Minimalism (clean lines, lack of unnecessary details).
🌿 Eco-style (natural textures, green shades, organic forms).

Technical requirements for design:

Icons must be in.png format with transparent background, resolution 192x192px.
Wallpaper –.jpg or.png, minimum resolution 1440x2560px (for FHD).
Fonts should support Cyrillic (if the topic is for Russian-speaking users).
The color palette should match Material Design 3 (for better compatibility).

How do you name the topic to be noticed?

The topic name plays a key role in SERPs. Use:

Keywords: "Dark", "Minimal", "Neumorphic", "AMOLED".
The adjectives are "Ethereal", "Luminous", "Quantum".
Style indications: Cyberpunk Edition, Retro Wave.

Analysis of top-end themes in the Mi Theme Store shows that titles often contain the words "Pro," "Premium," "Ultra" -- even if the theme is free -- a psychological device that increases downloads.

Where do you get inspiration for design?

Check out the collections on Dribbble (see by tags #MIUI #Also explore top themes in the Mi Theme Store – pay attention to color schemes and element layout.

5. Testing and debugging: how to avoid mistakes

Even the most beautiful topic may not work properly if you don't do the testing.

Checklist for testing:

📱 Check the display at different screen resolutions (FHD+, QHD+).
🔍 Make sure all icons are loaded (no broken links).
🎨 Check the contrast of the text on a dark/light background.
🔊 If there are sounds in the topic, test their reproduction.
🔄 Check to switch between light and dark theme (if supported).

Common mistakes and how to fix them:

Mistake.	Reason.	Decision
Subject not applicable	Incompatibility with the MIUI version	Edit minMiuiVersion in config.json
Icons don't change.	Wrong paths in drawable/	Check the file names of the icons (must match the standard ones)
Wallpaper stretched	Inappropriate permission	Use wallpaper with an aspect ratio of 9:16 or 9:18
Font not applied	No language support	Add in. fonts.xml android:supportsRtl parameter="true"

Use it for deep testing ADB-team:

adb shell dumpsys activity | grep mCurrentTheme

This team will show you the current theme of the system and help diagnose problems.

⚠️ Note: If you are testing the topic POCO-In the case of devices, note that some interface elements (such as the notification panel) may appear differently than on standard Xiaomi.

6.Publishing a theme in the Mi Theme Store: Requirements and process

If you want your theme to be seen by millions of users, upload it to the official Mi Theme Store, but you have to meet the requirements first.

Publication requirements:

🆔 A Mi Account with a confirmed phone number.
📄 The topic should be unique (not a copy of the existing one).
🖼️ All resources must be commercially licensed or your job.
📱 The topic should support MIUI 12 and newer.
🌍 Description should be in English and Chinese (you can use an interpreter).

Publication process:

Pack the theme in.mtz format via Mi Theme Editor.
Go to the Mi Theme Store and log in.
In the section For developers, click Download theme.
Fill in all fields: Title (maximum 20 characters). Description (up to 200 characters). Category (Icons, Wallpaper, Full theme) Screenshots (minimum 3 pieces, resolution 1080x1920px).

3 to 7 days

How to increase the chances of approval?

📌 Use a unique name (check through search in Mi Theme Store to avoid matches).
📸 Take high-quality screenshots on a real device (not renders!).
📝 Write a detailed description in English (you can add hashtags like this #AMOLED, #DarkTheme).
🔄 If the topic is rejected, correct the comments and send them back (usually a detailed error report).

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The better the theme page in the store (screenshots, description, title), the higher its ranking in the SERPs, which directly affects the number of downloads.

7 Monetize and promote your theme

If your theme has become popular, you can make money from it. Mi Theme Store offers several ways to monetize:

Earnings:

💰 Theme: You can set the price from $0.99 to $4.99. Xiaomi takes 30 commission%.
🎁 Free Donation Theme: Include a link to PayPal or Boosty in the description.
📢 Partner Programs: Place advertisements for other topics (contact with authors).
🛒 Selling Sources: You can upload.psd files to Gumroad or Etsy.

How do you promote the topic?

📱 Social networks: Post screenshots in Telegram channels about Xiaomi, VK-communities, Reddit (r/XiaomiThemes).
🎥 Video Reviews: Shoot a short video showing the theme and upload it to YouTube or TikTok.
🤝 Collaboration: Offer Xiaomi bloggers to test your theme in exchange for mention.
🔝 Optimizing for Search: Use Keywords in the Title and Description ("AMOLED dark theme", "Minimal icons for MIUI").

Example of successful promotion:

Author of the topic Neumorphic UI Pro" in a month scored 50 000 downloads, simply by posting screenshots in the Telegram channel @MIUIThemes And on Reddit, it was free, but it had a link to Boosty, where people could support the developer.

⚠️ Note: If you sell a theme, make sure that all the resources used (icons, wallpaper, fonts) are commercially licensed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about creating themes for Xiaomi

❓ Can you create a theme without a computer, just on your phone?

Technically, yes, but it's going to be very inconvenient. Windows/macOS) You can only edit individual elements on a phone (like icons in Pixellab), but you can't assemble a full theme.

❓ Why My Theme Doesn't Show Up in Mi Theme Store After Downloading?

Probable reasons: Moderation topic (may take up to) 7 Disclosure rules (e.g., using someone else's resources without a license) Metadata incorrectly filled in (check out) config.json). If the topic is rejected, you will receive an email with a reason on an email linked to Mi Account.

❓ How to make adaptive icons for different screen resolutions?

Use vector icons in.svg format and convert them to.png of the desired resolutions: 144x144px — for HD screen. 192x192px — for FHD/FHD+. 256x256px — for QHD+. In Mi Theme Editor, you can specify several icon options for different resolutions in drawable-xxxhdpi, drawable-xxxhdpi.

❓ Can you port themes from other launchers (Nova, Apex) to MIUI?

Partly yes, but you’ll have to do it manually: Export icons from the theme for Nova Launcher (usually they lie in the box). /sdcard/Nova/backups). Convert them to the desired format MIUI (permit 192x192px, Import to Mi Theme Editor and collect a.mtz file. Note that system icons (e.g. Settings, Phone) in the MIUI They have different file names, so they will have to be renamed manually.

❓ How to Update an Already Published Theme in the Mi Theme Store?

Update theme through the same download interface: Open your theme in Mi Theme Editor and make changes. Export the new version with the increased version number in the config.json. Upload the.mtz file to the theme page in the Mi Theme Store (Update button).The update is moderated again, but usually faster (1-2 day-day).