Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often invest significant time and money in personalizing the interface. Unique themes, live wallpaper and lock styles create the very atmosphere that many choose the platform for, but when you change your device, flash or accidentally reset your settings, all this beauty can disappear in a moment if you do not take care of data security in advance.
Many users mistakenly believe that purchased or downloaded themes are tied exclusively to the Mi Account and automatically recover on a new gadget. This is not always the case, especially if it is a third-party modification removed from the official catalog, or custom builds. Backup is the only guaranteed way not to lose your favorite visual shell.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can save Xiaomi themes, where they are physically written on the system, and how to transfer them to another device, learn how to work with the Android file system, use cloud services, and understand the structure of.mtz files, so that your interface will always remain exactly what you intended it to be.
Where to store theme files in Android
Before you start copying, you need to understand the storage architecture in the MIUI or HyperOS shell. All downloaded and installed themes, fonts and wallpaper are located in the hidden part of internal memory. The standard path to the directory is /MIUI/theme. This is where the main dataset that needs to be extracted for storage.
However, simply copying a folder is often not enough, as modern versions of the system use encryption and caching. Theme files have the.mtz extension, but during installation they can unpack or change their identities. To access this data, you will need a file manager with permissions to access system folders, such as MT Manager or a standard Explorer with the inclusion of hidden files.
It is important to note that newer firmware versions may vary or supplement with subfolders depending on the Android version. For example, on some devices, current data may be duplicated in the directory /Android/data/com.android.thememanager. It is critical to copy the original.mtz files before they are installed if you want to save them as independent archives, not as an established system state.
To navigate, use the following algorithm: open the file manager, go to the root of the internal storage, find the MIUI folder and theme inside it. If you can't see the MIUI folder, make sure that the "Show hidden files" option is activated in the Explorer settings.
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Use a third-party file manager with root rights access if the standard Explorer doesn’t open the MIUI folder or shows an access error when trying to copy.
Manual copying through file manager
The most reliable and time-tested method is manually extracting theme files, which gives you complete control over the data and allows you to create a physical copy of the file on an external medium or in the cloud, independent of the manufacturer's servers.
First, you need to find the theme files themselves. If you downloaded the theme from an official store but haven't installed it, it's in the download folder or cache. If the theme is already installed, you'll need to find its installation file. Often users save.mtz files in a separate folder immediately after downloading so that they don't search the entire system later.
The manual copying process looks like this:
- 📂 Open the file manager and go to internal memory. → MIUI → theme.
- 📂 Find a folder with the desired theme (often called hash codes or) or a file with the.mtz extension.
- 📂 Select the file, click "Copy" or "Move".
- 📂 Insert the file in a safe place: SD-card, to the Backup folder or send yourself to the messenger.
Once you copy, make sure you check the integrity of the file. Try opening it on another device or just look at the size — it doesn't have to be zero. The backup is ready, and now you can safely experiment with other topics, knowing that if anything happens, you can roll back.
☑️ Checking backup copies of the theme
Use of the Mi Cloud cloud service
Xiaomi ecosystem offers a built-in tool for synchronizing settings, which can serve as an automatic means of saving themes.Mi Cloud feature allows you to save a list of installed applications, system settings and, in some cases, theme manager data.
To activate sync, go to your smartphone settings. Find the section associated with your Mi Account and select "Mi Cloud." Here, make sure that the slider opposite to "Themes" or "Theme Manager" is activated, and this action will upload your preferences list to the cloud.
But there are limitations to this method: the cloud stores a “buy list” or “set list” associated with an account, rather than always the heavy resource files themselves. If the theme has been removed from the official Theme Store, it may not be possible to restore it through the cloud, even if sync is enabled.
⚠️ Note: Sync through Mi Cloud does not guarantee the preservation of custom or modified themes that have not passed the Xiaomi certification.
However, for standard themes from the directory, it is a convenient way to quickly deploy the familiar interface on a new phone, just log into your Mi Account on a new device, and the system will suggest restoring the settings.
Comparison of data retention methods
The choice of the way you redundant depends on your goals and technical background, and to make it easier for you to decide, we have prepared a basic method comparison table that will help you weigh the pros and cons of each approach.
| Method | Difficulty | Reliability | Keeps Custom Themes. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual copying (.mtz) | Medium | Tall. | Yes. |
| Mi Cloud Synchronization | Low. | Medium | No (catalogue only) |
| Full system backup | Tall. | Tall. | Yes. |
| Third-party backups | Tall. | Medium | Depends on the rights. |
As the table shows, manual copying of.mtz files remains the gold standard for those using unique content. Cloud methods are good for basic settings, but can fail at a critical moment with rare topics.
Full system backup via Recovery (TWRP) gives 100% results, but requires an unlocked bootloader and SuperUser rights, which is not suitable for every user. For most scenarios, a combination of cloud synchronization and manual saving of high-value files is enough.
Transferring themes to a new device
Once you've saved files, you have to install them on your new smartphone, and if you've used cloud sync, it's automatic. In the case of manual copying, you have to put the.mtz file back into your phone's memory.
Copy the saved file to any convenient folder on the new device. Then open the Themes app. In the upper right corner, click on the profile icon or menu and select "Import" or "Local Topics." The system will scan the memory and find your file.
Once discovered, the theme will appear in the local list, click on it and select "Apply." The interface will change instantly. If the theme doesn't apply and an error is issued, it may not be compatible with your Android version or firmware region.
What to do if the topic is not set?
In some cases, you need to reset the theme app cache before importing it, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Topics → Memory → Clear the cache, which will help the system re-index the file storage.
Compatibility issues and solutions
When migrating themes between different Xiaomi models or different versions of Android, conflicts often arise. The new HyperOS shell has changed the structure of the system fonts and icons, which can cause old themes to display incorrectly.
The main symptoms of incompatibility are: black screen when locked, no icons, a “got” status bar or standard wallpaper instead of thematic, in which case the system automatically rolls back to standard design to ensure the usability of the device.
To minimize the risks:
- 🛡️ Check the theme update date in the description – the latest versions are better adapted.
- 🛡️ Avoid using themes created for Android 10-11, Android-based 13-14 test-free.
- 🛡️ Take screenshots of settings before installing unknowns to know what exactly has changed.
⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from unverified sources may contain malicious code or result in a cyclic bootloop. Always have access to Recovery on hand to reset.
If the problem has already occurred, Safe Mode will help remove the problem theme. Press the off button, and when the "Stop" button appears, press and hold it until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears. In this mode, third-party themes are turned off, and you can safely delete the file.
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The compatibility of the theme depends not only on the phone model, but also on the version of regional firmware (Global, China, EEA).