How to completely remove the theme from Xiaomi Redmi: from standard methods to deep cleaning

MIUI themes are one of Xiaomi's firmware features, but they don't always work properly. Redmi users often face problems: the theme doesn't get removed from menus, artifacts remain after a reset, or the system completely forgets the standard design. In this article, we'll look at all possible ways to remove themes from basic to advanced, including manual cleaning of system files and working with ADB.

It’s important to understand that the process differs depending on the MIUI (global, Chinese, custom) version and the Redmi model. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro (2021) with MIUI 14, the theme reset algorithm has changed dramatically compared to the Redmi 5 (2017) on MIUI 9. We took these nuances into account and collected current methods for devices of 2018-2026 release.

1. Standard reset theme through MIUI settings

Let's start with the simplest one, the built-in reset functionality, which works on 90% of devices if the theme was installed through the official Themes app.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush and palette).
• 🔍 Go to the section My Themes (My Themes).
• 🗑️ Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Delete theme (Delete Theme).
• 🔄 Select Reset to Standard (Reset to Default).

If there is no Delete theme, it means that the theme is systemic (for example, Dark Mode or Mi Fan Festival), in which case only forced reset will help (see the next section).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 12.5 and later) after the theme is reset, the font or icons may remain changed. ADB (section).

2. Forced reset via "System settings"

If the theme doesn't get deleted in the standard way, try resetting it through system settings, which works even for preset themes, but requires a device reboot.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → About the phone (Settings) → About phone).
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Return to the main settings and select Additional → Developers (Additional Settings) → Developer options).
4. Activate the option Reset interface settings.
5. Confirm the action and restart Redmi.

This method resets all visual settings, including:

• 🎨 Color scheme (dark/light theme).
• 📱 Icon and folder shape.
• 🔤 Fonts and text size.
• 🔳 Transition animations.

Check the backup of important data

Charge your phone at least 50%

Disable password/pattern lock (during the procedure)

Remember the current screen settings (resolution, refresh rate)-->

On MIUI 14 and later, this method may not work due to Xiaomi's restrictions on changing system files, in which case you'll move on to manual cleaning (Section 4).

3. Delete the topic through the Security app

A little-known way is to use the built-in Xiaomi antivirus, which can delete “extra” theme files. This is true if the theme was installed from an unverified source (.mtz file).

How to do this:

• 🛡️ Launch the Security (Security) application).
• 🔍 Go to Optimization. → Deep cleaning (Optimize) → Deep clean).
• 🗑️ Select Unnecessary Files → Topics (Junk files) → Themes).
• ✅ Check all unnecessary topics and click Clear.

This method does not reset the current active theme, but only deletes downloaded but unused files. To completely reset, combine it with the first or second method.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 13 Global Security can remove not only themes, but also the cache of system applications, which will slow down the phone for 1-2 days (until the cache recovers).

4 Manually delete theme files via file manager

If the theme is ingrained and not removed by standard methods, you will need to manually clean it, and this will require a file manager with access to root (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer) or ADB.

The path to the topics files:

/data/system/theme/


/data/user/0/com.android.themes/files/




/sdcard/MIUI/theme/

Instructions:

1. Download and install MiXplorer (available on XDA Developers).
2. Enable Superuser Mode in the application settings.
3. Go to /data/system/theme/ and delete the theme folder (e.g. com.theme.festival2023).
4. Clear the theme app cache in Settings → Apps → Application Management.
5. Reboot Redmi.

On the Redmi Note. 11 and newer (c) MIUI 13+) The path to the topics has changed /data/user_de/0/com.android.themes/. Deleting files from there requires Magisk or patched boot.img.

5.Dumping via ADB (for power users)

If all previous methods failed, direct intervention through ADB remains, which works even on locked devices (without root), but requires a connection to a PC.

Required SO:

• 🖥️ Android SDK Platform-Tools (for the purposes of ADB).
• 📱 Included Developer Mode and Debugging by USB on the Redmi.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).

Teams to reset theme:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes


adb shell settings put secure sysui_theme_default 1




adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.THEME_CHANGED

After the commands are executed:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Open Settings → Screen → Themes and select the standard one.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 pm clear com.android.themes can cause all widgets on the home screen to be reset!

adb shell settings delete secure theme_customization_pkg

This removes the binding to the custom theme at the system level.-->

Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If the theme completely breaks the interface (for example, after a failed installation of a.mtz file), then only Hard Reset remains, which is guaranteed to delete all the themes, but also erase all data from the device.

How to reset:

1. Turn off Redmi.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (control – volume and power buttons).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will boot with clean firmware and a standard theme.
• 📲 You will have to reconfigure your Mi Account, Wi-Fi and apps.
• ☁️ Restore data from backup (if it was created in Settings) → Additionally. → Backup).

- The device is not turned on due to theme failure.

- All the previous methods didn't work.

- The theme was set through custom recovery (TWRP).-->

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after the successful removal of the theme, Redmi users are plagued by bugs.

If system sounds or fonts are lost after the theme is deleted, check the /system/media/audio/ and /system/fonts/ folder. On MIUI 13+, they can only be restored through full flashing.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions