If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, you've probably noticed a strange icon on the app menu that says Themes. Many users don't understand why they need it, and even delete it, considering it an unnecessary block. In fact, this is one of the key applications of MIUI, the Xiaomi brand shell, which allows you to radically change the appearance of your phone in just a few clicks.
In this article, we will go into detail about what Themes is, how it works, where to get themes and how to install them. You will learn whether you can uninstall this application without consequences, how to create your own theme and why they sometimes don’t apply. And we will give you some tips on how to avoid common mistakes when working with Themes and make your Xiaomi truly unique.
What is the Themes app on Xiaomi and why it is needed
Themes (sometimes called Themes in Russian) is a standard MIUI application that is responsible for the visual design of the smartphone interface.
- 🎨 Wallpaper on the main screen and lock screen
- 📱 Application icons (their shape, color, style)
- 🔄 Animations when switching between screens
- 🎵 The sounds of notifications, alarm clock, keyboard
- 📊 Style of menus, notification panels and other system elements
Themes is essentially the Google Themes on pure Android, but with much more features. Unlike standard themes in other shells, you can change not only the color scheme, but also completely redesign the interface design, making it look like iOS, Windows Phone or even custom firmware like LineageOS.
It is important to understand that Themes only works on MIUI-enabled smartphones (all Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO models, and some other brands’ devices, such as Black Shark). On phones with pure Android or other shells (e.g. ColorOS on Oppo or One UI on Samsung), this application is either missing or has limited functionality.
Where is the Themes app and how to open it
Finding Themes on your Xiaomi smartphone is easy. It is set by default and is usually located:
- 📱 In the application menu (list of all programs)
- 🔍 Search (swipe down the main screen and type "Themes")
- ⚙️ In Settings: Go to Settings → Topics
If you can't find the app, it may have been disabled or hidden to bring it back:
- Open Settings → All applications.
- Find the Themes (or Themes) list.
- Click Enable if the application is disabled.
- If it's hidden, click Show.
On some models (e.g. POCO F3 or Xiaomi 11T), the app may be called Theme Manager or have a different icon, but the functionality remains the same. If you have custom firmware installed (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or PixelExperience), Themes may be missing or not work properly.
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If ThemesSuddenly disappeared after an update, try clearing its cache in Settings → Apps → Themes → Storage → Clear Cache.
How to use Themes: step-by-step instructions for beginners
It's very easy to work with Themes, but newcomers may have questions.
- Open the Themes app (a palette or brush icon).
- Select a section: 🖼️ Wallpaper - to change background images. 🎨 Themes – to install ready-made themes of design. 📱 Icons – to change the icons of applications. 🎵 Sounds – to customize notification melodies. 🔄 Fonts - to change the system font.
Find the topic you like.
Click on the subject.
Apply
Download
Wait.
Reboot the phone.
Some themes can weigh up to 50 to 100MB, so check before downloading to see if there is enough space in the phone’s memory. Also pay attention to ratings and reviews – this will help avoid installing low-quality or cluttered themes.
Check the free space on your phone | Connect to Wi-Fi (themes can weigh a lot) |Close all background apps |Close backup your current settings (in Settings → Themes → Backup)
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Where to download themes for Themes on Xiaomi
The main source of themes is the Themes app itself, which has a huge library of both free and paid options, but many users search for them outside the official store.
| Source | Pluses | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Themes' official store | ✅ Safe, verified by Xiaomi✅ Automatic update of topics | ❌ Limited selection of free themes❌ Lots of ads. | Built into the appendix |
| Mi Theme Store website | ✅ More than in the app.✅ There are unique designs. | ❌ Registration is required❌ Not all topics are compatible | themes.xiaomi.com |
| Telegram channels (e.g. MIUI Themes) | ✅ Free themes.✅ Quickly Update the Collection | ❌ Risk of viruses❌ You need to install it manually. | Searching Telegram |
| XDA Developers and 4PDA Forums | ✅ Unique themes from developers✅ Support for old models | ❌ Hard to find.❌ Root rights are required for some topics | XDA, 4PDA |
⚠️ Note: By downloading themes from unofficial sources, you risk getting a virus or malware. Always check files with antivirus before installing. Some themes may require permission to install from unknown sources (included in Settings). → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications).
If you downloaded a theme in.mtz format (standard MIUI theme format), you can install it manually:
- Open Themes and go to Profile → Import.
If the theme is set but the icons or wallpaper haven’t changed, try:
- Reboot the phone.
- Manually apply changes to Settings → Topics → My themes.
- Delete the topic and install it again.
On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi A1/A2/A3 or POCO F1 with Android One), the Themes app does not work correctly or is not at all, since these devices use pure Android without MIUI.
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If a theme doesn’t apply, first check it’s compatible with your version of MIUI. This information is usually listed in the theme description.
How to Create Your Own Theme for Xiaomi
If you don't like ready-made themes, you can create your own.
- Preparation of materials: 🖼️ Wallpaper (permission not less than 1080×2340 modern-day smartphones). 📱 Icons (in.png format, size) 192×192 or 256×256). 🎵 Sounds (in format.mp3 or.ogg). 🔤 Fonts (.ttf or.otf files).
.mtz
- MIUI Theme Editor (for PC)
- Mtz Builder (Android-application)
- Test the topic on your phone.
- Upload themes to the store (if you want to share them with other users).
Creating a really high-quality theme may require learning the structure of MIUI files and even basic graphics editor skills (such as Photoshop or GIMP), but even without deep knowledge, you can assemble a simple theme from ready-made elements.
If you don’t want to understand manual assembly, you can use online theme builders, such as:
- 🌐 MIUI Theme Editor Online
- 🌐 Official Theme Editor from Xiaomi
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If you want to create an iOS-style theme, download a ready-made pack of icons from Flaticon or Icons8 and then pack them into.mtz with Mtz Builder.
Can I remove Themes and what happens if I do?
Technically, you can remove Themes, but it is not recommended to do so.The application is deeply integrated into MIUI, and its removal may result in:
- 🔄 Interface failures (icons may disappear, wallpaper will reset).
- 📱 Errors in updating MIUI (The system may require the recovery of deleted files).
- 🔧 Problems with other system applications (e.g. Launcher or Security).
If Themes is bothering you, it is better to disable it, rather than delete it:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Themes.
- Click Disable (or Remove Updates if you want to return the factory version).
⚠️ Note: On some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), deleting Themes can lead to a bootloop.
If you have deleted Themes and encountered problems, you can restore it:
- Through the Mi Flash Tool (complete flashing).
- With ADB (if you have a backup system).
- By installing.apk from the official firmware (root required).