Xiaomi’s proprietary Themes app is a key MIUI customization tool that allows users to redesign their smartphone beyond recognition, allowing them to install unique icon sets, fonts, download animations, sound circuits, and even system wallpapers with adaptive colors. But how do you download it if it’s gone after the upgrade? How do you bring back standard themes when the design experiment went wrong? And why do some themes require payment when they look free?
In this article, we will explore all the nuances of working with the Theme app on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO – from the basic installation to hidden features that are not covered even in the official guides, and find out how to circumvent regional restrictions and where to look for exclusive themes that are not available in the standard directory.
What is the application "Theme" and why it is necessary
Themes is a built-in visual style store for MIUI that allows you to personalize almost every interface element, unlike standard wallpaper or launchers, here changes affect:
- 🎨 App icons – from minimalist to minimalist 3D-animation;
- 📱 System fonts – including exotic Cyrillic variants;
- 🔄 Transition animations – smoothness of opening applications, swipe effects;
- 🎵 Sound circuits – notifications, alarms, keyboard signals;
- 🖼️ Wallpaper with adaptive illumination - automatically adjust to the time of day.
The main advantage is centralized management, all changes are applied systematically, without the need to install separate launchers or patches, but there are pitfalls: some topics can conflict with the shell of MIUI 14+, causing lags or gestural failures.
It's important to understand that the Theme app is not just a skin, it's a full-fledged deep customization tool, for example, the Dark Mode Pro theme not only changes the color palette, but also optimizes battery consumption by using a new battery. AMOLED-screens with black pixels.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For the global market (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G) Some of the topics may be blocked due to licensing restrictions, in which case, changing the region in the settings of the Xiaomi account will help.
Where to download the app “Theme” for Xiaomi
In most cases, the Theme app is pre-installed on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones, but if it isn’t (for example, after resetting settings or installing custom firmware), there are several ways to return it:
- Official Google Play Store: 🔍 Find the app on request MIUI Themes; ⚠️ Make sure the developer is Xiaomi Inc. (avoid clones!); 📥 Download and install. First run, you'll need authorization through your Mi Account.
APK-file:
- 🌐 Go to themes.mi.com;
- 📎 In the Download section, select the version for your model;
- 🔧 Install. APK, Pre-allow installation from unknown sources in security settings.
- Through Mi Community: In some regions (e.g. India), the app is only available through the GetApps branded store. Go to Mi Community → Themes and follow the instructions.
If the app fails to open after installation or if it gives an error "This device is not supported", check:
- 📱 Compatibility with version MIUI (for example, topics MIUI 13 may not work on the MIUI 14);
- 🌍 Mi Account region (some topics only available in China or the EU);
- 🔄 System updates in Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI.
How to Install and Apply a Theme on Xiaomi
The installation process is intuitive, but there are some nuances that affect the stability of the system.
- Open the Theme app: On the home screen, tap the Themes icon (usually stylized to a brush or palette).
- Select a category: 🎭 Recommended – popular themes from Xiaomi; 🖌️ Icons – App icons only; 📝 Fonts - system and user; 🎵 Sounds - Notification melodies; 🌙 Dark topics – optimized for AMOLED.
Viewing and installation:
Tapping on your favorite topic → Apply. The system will automatically download and install all the components. Some of the themes will require a reboot.
If the topic does not apply, check:
- 📶 Internet connection stability (themes weigh between 5 and 50 MB);
- 🔋 Battery charge (at a level below 15%, the system can block changes);
- 🔄 Updates for the Theme app in Google Play.
☑️ Preparation for the installation of the topic
For advanced users: If the theme is installed but not displayed correctly (e.g. icons have not changed), try:
adb shell pm clear com.android.themesThis command will reset the theme app cache without deleting user data.
Top.-5 Free themes for Xiaomi in the 2026 year
Among the thousands of themes available, there are those that combine original design and optimization for the latest MIUI versions.
| Title of the topic | Features | Compatibility | Ratings. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Black | True black background for AMOLED, saves up to 30% of battery life | MIUI 12–14 | 4.9 ⭐ |
| iOS 17 Style | Icons and animations in the style of Apple, adaptive wallpaper | MIUI 13+ | 4.7 ⭐ |
| Material You Dynamic | Dynamic Wallpaper-based Colors (like Android 12+) | MIUI 14 | 4.8 ⭐ |
| Cyberpunk Neon | Futuristic neon accents, animated icons | MIUI 13–14 | 4.6 ⭐ |
| Minimalist White | Clean minimalism, perfect for the job | All versions. | 4.9 ⭐ |
To find these themes, type their names in the Theme app search bar or use the ranking filter. Please note that some themes (such as iOS 17 Style) may require additional permissions to change system icons.
💡
If the theme is paid but you like it, check it on third-party resources (e.g. XDA Developers), and enthusiasts often post free ports of popular styles.
How to Create Your Theme for Xiaomi
If you don't like the solutions, you can develop your own theme.
- PC with MIUI Theme Editor: Official Tool from Xiaomi, available on the themes website. Supports Windows 10/11.
Creation process:
- Open MIUI Theme Editor and import the template.
- Replace the standard icons with your own (resolution 192×192 px, PNG format);
- Set up a color scheme in the file colors.xml;
- Add sounds (MP3 or OGG format, up to 5 seconds)
- Export the theme to.mtz and upload it to your device.
To set your own theme:
- Place the.mtz file in the MIUI/theme folder on the internal drive.
- Open the Theme app → My themes → Import;
- Select your file and apply.
⚠️ Attention: Self-created themes may contain errors that lead to malfunctions in the work MIUI. Before installation, make a backup of the data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
How to get around the limit on the number of topics in the “Favorites”?
Solving problems with the application "Theme"
Even official Xiaomi software sometimes fails, and here are the most common problems and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Subject not applicable | Conflict with the launcher | Install the standard MIUI launcher through Settings → Default Apps |
| The "No Network" error | Block VPN or firewall | Turn off VPN or add themes.mi.com to exceptions |
| Icons don't change. | Cash launcher | Clear the data of the com.miui.home application via ADB |
| The topic disappeared after the update | Incompatibility with the new MIUI | Check the theme updates in the store or install it again |
If the Theme app doesn’t open at all, try:
- Reinstall it through Google Play;
- Reset MIUI settings to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting)
- Install an older version of MIUI (if the problem has occurred after the update).
For devices with unlocked bootloader (bootloader), there is a radical way – install custom firmware with support for themes from Xiaomi.eu. These builds contain an expanded catalog of themes and eliminate regional restrictions.
💡
Always back up your data before resetting or flashing it. Use the official Mi PC Suite software or third-party utilities like TWRP.
Hidden functions of the “Theme” app
Many users are unaware that the Theme app has hidden features that are not advertised in the interface.
- 🔍 Secret topics: Search for #miuihidden and access experimental topics that have not yet been moderated.
- 🎨 Flower Editor: Keep your finger on any topic → You can adjust the colors here, you can manually adjust the palette.
- 🔄 Restore a standard theme: If the interface becomes unreadable after experiments, type default in search and apply the first theme in the list.
- 📁 Manual Installation of Themes: Place.mtz files in a folder MIUI/theme/.custom — They will appear in the My Subjects section.
Another little-known feature is adaptive wallpaper, and some themes, like "Dynamic Earth," change the background to the time of day or the weather, to activate this feature:
- Set theme with the Dynamic tag;
- Go to the settings → Wallpaper → Dynamic wallpaper;
- Enable the option of Automatic Update.
For devices with Always-On Display (AOD), special themes are available that appear on a locked screen. To find them, type in #aod.