How to remove the theme from Xiaomi phone if it is installed as a system

You have downloaded a beautiful theme for Xiaomi through MIUI Theme Store, but it's been crooked, is it slowing down, or just disliked? The problem is that many themes aren't set like normal themes. APK-files and are integrated into system files MIUI. Standard removal through "Settings" → Themes often don’t work – the Delete button is simply missing, and a factory theme reset returns only visual elements, but doesn’t clear the cache and residual files.

In this article, we will analyze all working methods of removing themes on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO — From simple (through the settings menu) to radical (using the ADB And manual editing of system folders, and focus on topics that are set as "systemic" and not deleted by standard methods. MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).

Why the topic cannot be removed in the standard way

V MIUI Themes are divided into two types:

• 📦 Common themes – set as separate packages in /data/app/ They're removed from the Topics menu, which is usually custom themes. MIUI Theme Store or Third Party Sources.
• 🔧 Systemic topics – integrated into /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemTheme/ or /vendor/overlay/. They can be pre-installed by the manufacturer (e.g. Mi Fan Festival) or set as “deep” themes with changing icons, fonts and animations.

The problem is that Xiaomi often blocks the removal of system themes through the interface, even if they have been installed by the user.

• 🔒 Protection of system files — MIUI Limits access to folders /system and /vendor rootless.
• 🔄 Caching – even after the topic is “deleted”, its elements may remain in the /data/system/theme/.
• 📱 Overlay Packages – Some themes use the Android Overlay mechanism, which requires you to disable via ADB.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system themes without backup can cause interface failures (e.g., missing icons or fonts).If you are not sure about your actions, use the factory theme reset method (section 3).

Before you start radical methods, check if your theme is a standard upgrade. For example, Mi Fan Festival or Dark Mode Pro themes can be part of the firmware and cannot be completely removed without losing functionality.

Method 1: Remove from the "Themes" menu (for normal topics)

If the theme is installed as a regular app, try removing it in the standard way:

1. Open the "Themes" app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the section My → Established.
3. Find the right topic and click on it.
4. In the upper right corner, tap three points (⋮) and select "Delete".

If you don't have a "Delete" button, it's a system theme.

• 🔹 Try resetting the theme to the factory: Settings → Display. → Topics → Standard.
• 🔹 Clear the cache of themes: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) may not have the "Delete" button even for common themes.

If the theme is not deleted, but you see it in the list of applications (Settings) → Apps, try it out:

1. Find a topic in the list (the title usually contains com.android.theme or miui.theme).
2. Click "Delete Updates" (if the button is active).
3. Then select “Disable” (this hides the topic, but does not delete files).

Method 2: Removal through ADB (system-theme)

If the theme is set as a system, it can be removed using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method works without root, but requires the inclusion of debugging by USB.

Step 1. Enable debugging over USB:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Turn on "Debugging by" USB" and confirm the authorization.

Step 2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
2. Open the command line (Win + R → cmd) and go to the folder with adb:
3. Check the connection of the device:
4. Run the command to delete the theme (replace package.name with the real name of the package):

How to find out the name of the theme package?

• 🔍 Use the team:
• 📌 Or check through App Inspector (analysis app) APK).

⚠️ Attention: Teams with flag --user 0 Remove the theme only for the current user. Complete removal of the system theme will require root or custom recovery rights.

If the theme is still displayed after executing commands, clear the cache:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

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Before use ADB Check if it is blocked. USB-Port in Security Settings (Settings) → Passwords and security → Lockdown USB). Some Xiaomi firmware requires additional permission for debugging.

Method 3: Resetting themes to factory settings

If the theme is not deleted, but you want to return the standard look MIUI, discharge:

1. Go to Settings → Themes.
2. Select "Standard" (or "Default" on global firmware).
3. Confirm the reset.

If this doesn’t help, do a deep reset:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset Theme Settings (not to be confused with a full phone reset!).
3. Confirm the action.

Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) may not have this item.

• 🔧 Use it. ADB discharged:
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting themes does not delete themes from the phone's memory, but only returns visual settings to factory settings.

After resetting themes, some elements (such as wallpaper or fonts) may remain changed. MIUI saves user settings in /data/system/users/0/.

Method 4: Manually delete theme files (root required)

If you have root rights or custom recovery (TWRP), You can manually delete the theme files. This method is the most effective, but requires caution.

Step 1: Getting root rights:

• 📌 Use Magisk to unlock root (instructions for Xiaomi are available on the Internet) XDA Developers).
• 🔧 Or set it up. TWRP for your model.

Step 2: Delete files to topics:

Theme files can be in the following folders:

• /data/app/com.android.themes-* — routine.
• /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemTheme/ — system-themes.
• /vendor/overlay/ — Overlay themes (change icons, fonts).
• /data/system/theme/ — cache and temporary files.

For removal:

1. Open Root Explorer (or TWRP File Manager).
2. Go to one of the folders mentioned.
3. Delete the theme folders (e.g. com.android.theme.iconpack.festival).
4. Clear the folder. /data/system/theme/.
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system or /vendor This can lead to bootloop. Always backup (nandroid backup) TWRP) change.

If the theme still appears after removal, check:

• 🔄 Cache of the "Themes" app (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Clear the cache).
• 📌 The presence of duplicate files in /data/app-lib/.

Method 5: Use MIUI Theme Editor (for experienced users)

MIUI Theme Editor is a theme editing and deleting tool that works at the system file level. It requires root or TWRP, but allows you to point-to-point remove elements of the themes without risking damage to the system.

Step 1 Installation MIUI Theme Editor:

1. Download the latest version from XDA Developers.
2. Install. APK (Permission to install from unknown sources is required).
3. Provide root access at the first start.

Step 2: Deletion of the subject:

1. Open up. MIUI Theme Editor.
2. Go to the "Theme Management" section.
3. Select the topic you want to remove.
4. Click "Delete all files".
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

Advantages MIUI Theme Editor:

• 🔹 Allows you to remove individual elements of the theme (for example, only icons or fonts).
• 🔹 Automatically cleans the cache after removal.
• 🔹 Supports the restoration of standard themes.

⚠️ Attention: Some versions MIUI Theme Editor may not work on the latest firmware MIUI 15.Pre-use check compatibility on the developer forum.

If MIUI Theme Editor doesn’t find your theme, try it out:

• 🔍 Manually specify the path to the theme files in the application settings.
• 📌 Update the theme database through the menu "Update".

Method 6: Completely reset your phone (extreme method)

If none of these things work, you'll have to completely reset your phone to factory settings, which will delete all the themes, but also erase all the data on your device.

How to perform the reset:

1. Backup important data (Settings) → Google → Backup or through Mi Cloud).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select "Erase all data."
4. Enter your password (if required) and confirm the reset.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will reboot and return to factory settings.
• 📱 All topics, including system ones, will be removed.
• ⚠️ When you first start, do not restore data from a backup if it contains theme files.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) After the reset, you may need to re-activate your Mi Account to unlock the downloader.

If the theme reappears after the reset, it means that it was pre-installed in the firmware.

• 🔧 Install custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience).
• 📌 Turn off automatic theme updates in Settings → Topics → Settings → Auto-update.

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A complete reset is a last resort, and try all other methods before using it, since resets not only removes topics, but also all user data.

How to avoid problems with topics in the future

To avoid the impossibility of removing topics, follow these recommendations:

• 🔍 Check reviews before installing the topic in MIUI Theme Store.com users often complain of bugs or inability to delete.
• 📌 Use Test Mode: Some themes can be applied 15 minutes before final installation.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic theme updates in the settings MIUI Theme Store.
• 📱 Install topics only from official sources (avoid them) APK off-site).

If you are experimenting with themes frequently:

• 🔄 Regularly clean the cache of the application "Themes".
• 📌 Create backup copies through TWRP before setting new topics.
• 🔧 Use light themes without deep changes to system files.

On some Xiaomi firmware (for example, the Chinese version) MIUI) The themes can be installed as part of the system updates, in which case removing them will cause a crash, and the only way out is to roll back to the previous version of the firmware.

If you are faced with a topic that is not removed in any way, check:

• 🔍 Is it part of the firmware (for example, the theme for Mi Fan Festival).
• 📌 Does the antivirus block it or MIUI Optimization (turn off in the developer settings).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing themes on Xiaomi