Dark theme in TikTok not only reduces the load on the eyes in the evening, but also saves battery power on the eyes. AMOLED-But many users are facing a problem: despite the activated system dark mode in the smartphone. MIUI, The app is stubbornly bright, and the reason is because of TikTok's work and the manufacturer's limitations.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for enabling a black interface in an application, from standard settings to bypassing the engineering menu. MIUI (12, 13, 14) model Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO. If you have already tried to enable a dark theme through your account settings, but nothing worked out โ do not close the page: there will be non-obvious solutions.
Why does TikTok not switch to dark mode automatically?
TikTok uses its own theme definition logic, which doesnโt always sync with Android system settings. Here are the key reasons why the interface stays light:
- ๐ฑ Version. MIUI Below 12.5: Old firmware does not have full support for Force Dark Mode (forced dark mode for all applications).
- ๐ Account Settings Conflict: TikTok can ignore the system theme if the user profile clearly has a light mode.
- ๐ ๏ธ Manufacturer restrictions: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO X3 NFC) Have trouble displaying dark themes in individual applications due to optimizing power consumption.
- ๐ฆ TikTok: In versions below 23.5.0, dark mode may not work stable or be completely absent.
Before you go to radical methods, make sure that the problem is not in the trivial things:
โ ๏ธ Attention: If you are using MIUI 14 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, check for updates in Settings โ The phone. โ Update MIUI. In the latest builds, bugs with the display of a dark topic in social networks were fixed.
Method 1: Enable dark theme through TikTok settings
The most obvious, but often ignored, method is that many users don't notice that TikTok has its own display settings, independent of the system.
- Open the TikTok app and tap the profile icon in the lower right corner.
- Press three horizontal lines (โฐ) In the upper right corner to open the menu.
- Select Settings and Privacy.
- Go to Content and Activity Settings โ Dark Mode.
- Activate the Dark switch or select As in System (if you want to sync with MIUI).
If this item is not available or is inactive:
- ๐ Update the app to the latest version on Google Play.
- ๐ฑ Restart your smartphone โ sometimes the settings are only applied after a reboot.
- ๐ซ Make sure that in the settings โ Screen. โ Dark mode on the phone is enabled system dark mode.
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If after enabling a dark theme in TikTok, some elements (such as buttons or text) are displayed incorrectly, try clearing the app's cache in Settings โ Apps โ TikTok โ Storage โ Clear the cache.
Method 2: Forced dark mode via MIUI settings
If TikTok ignores the system settings, you can force it to use the dark theme forcefully. In MIUI 12.5 and later, there's a hidden Force Dark Mode feature that works even for stubborn applications.
- Open the phone settings.
- Go to the Screen section.
- Choose Dark Mode.
- Activate the slider Enable Dark Mode (if it is turned off).
- Put three points on it (โฎ) in the upper right corner and select Additional settings.
- Enable the option to Force Dark Mode for all applications.
Important: This method can cause visual bugs in some applications (e.g. white text on a white background) if TikTok becomes unreadable after activation:
- ๐จ Try to disable Forced Mode and use Method 3 (via Engineering Menu).
- ๐ Check if the app has been added to exceptions. To do this, go back to the Additional Settings and see the Exclusions list for Forced Dark Mode.
What to do if there is no "Additional settings" item?
Method 3: Modify theme through the engineering menu (for advanced)
If standard methods do not work, you can try to change the display settings through the MIUI engineering menu. This method requires caution, since incorrect changes can lead to malfunctions in the interface.
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##36446337## (code may not work on some models).
- If the code doesnโt work, try the alternative: ##4636##, then go to the MIUI Version tab.
- In the engineering menu, find the Display or Screen section.
- Scroll down to Dark Mode Adjustment (or similar in meaning).
- Set Enabled for Force Dark Mode.
- Save the changes and restart the phone.
โ ๏ธ Note: On some devices (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K40) The engineering menu may be blocked, in which case use Method 4 (via ADB). Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose!
Critical: After applying the changes through the engineering menu, some elements of the MIUI interface may not display correctly. To return everything back, reset the screen settings in the Settings menu โ Screen โ Reset screen settings.
Method 4: Using ADB for Forced Dark Mode
For users who are ready for more complex manipulations, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) that allows you to manually specify a dark theme for a specific application, including TikTok.
What you need:
- ๐ฅ๏ธ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
- ๐ฑ Included Developer Mode and Debugging by USB smartphone.
- ๐ USB-cable (preferably original).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your smartphone to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
- Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
- Execute the command to enable forced dark mode for TikTok: adb shell cmd uimode night yes
- If you only need to apply to TikTok, use: adb shell am start -n com.zhiliaoapp.musically/com.zhiliaoapp.musically.activity.SplashActivity --es "theme" "dark"
- Restart the TikTok app.
If the dark theme is not applied after the execution of the commands:
- ๐ Try reinstalling TikTok.
- ๐ฑ Check if it's blocking. MIUI alteration ADB. Please enter: adb shell settings get global force_dark If the result 0, Adb shell settings put global settings force_dark 1
Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Enable developer mode on phone | Activate debugging on USB| Download ADB Tools (platform-tools) | Connect the phone with the original cable-->
Method 5: Install a modified version of TikTok
If none of the above methods worked, the radical solution is to install a modified version of TikTok with a pre-activated dark theme, which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires:
- ๐ Unlock the bootloader (Bootloader).
- ๐ฑ Custom recaveri installations (TWRP).
- ๐ก๏ธ Disabling the application signature verification.
Where to get a modified APK:
| Source | Pluses | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XDA Developers | Proven builds, community support | Registration is required, not all versions are stable | forum.xda-developers.com |
| Telegram channels | Quick updates, Russian-language support | Virus risk, no security guarantee | Search for "TikTok Dark Mod" |
| APKMirror | Official modified versions | Limited functionality of dark theme | apkmirror.com |
โ ๏ธ Attention: Installation of modified APK-Files can lead to a ban on TikTok account for breach of user agreement, and these versions often contain vulnerabilities for data theft!
Alternatively, if you want a dark theme purely for your vision, try using overlays through apps like Night Screen or Blue Light Filter, which don't change the TikTok interface, but reduce brightness and filter blue light.
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Modified versions of TikTok may contain malicious code. Check files through VirusTotal before installing and review forum reviews.
Problem Solving: TikTok Remains Bright
If youโve tried all the ways but TikTok still refuses to go black, check out the following:
- ๐ฑ Smartphone model: On some Xiaomi devices (e.g. Redmi) 7A or POCO M2) A dark topic on social media is unstable due to weak iron.
- ๐ Firmware region: In Chinese (China) ROM) Global and Global (Global) ROM) version MIUI The settings for the dark theme may be different. ROM, Try to switch to Global through MIUI bootloader.
- ๐ฆ Conflict with other applications: Some launchers (like Nova Launcher) or interface customization programs (Substratum) may block system themes.
If nothing works, the last option is to call TikTok for support.
- Open TikTok and go to Profile โ Settings โ Problem Report.
- Select the category Problems with the account โ Other.
- Describe the problem: โDark theme doesnโt work on Xiaomi (specify model) despite the settings enabled.โ
- Attach screenshots from Settings โ Screen and TikTok menu.
Support usually responds within 2-5 days, and in some cases, they can manually activate a dark theme for your account.