Returning the standard MIUI theme to Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

Changed the theme of the design on your Xiaomi Redmi, but the new screensaver, icons or fonts annoying? Or after the system update, the interface began to look different than before? You can return the factory theme MIUI in a few minutes — and this does not always require a reset to factory settings. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from simple rollback through settings to manually installing original themes files via ADB.

It’s important to understand that the process of recovering a standard theme depends on the version of the MIUI and the model of the smartphone. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 14, the algorithm will differ from the actions on the Redmi 5A with MIUI 12. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will be suitable for most devices of the Redmi line, including the latest models of 2023-2026.

If you encounter a “Not Applying Theme” error or if you lose your app icons after you change the theme, don’t panic. 90% of the time, the problem is solved without going to the service center, and the main thing is to follow step-by-step recommendations and not miss training (for example, backup data before resetting).

Why can a standard theme disappear?

Before we return the factory design, we'll figure out why it might have gone missing, and most of the time, it's for three reasons:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: Newer firmware versions sometimes drop custom themes or replace them with current ones from Xiaomi. MIUI 13 on MIUI 14 Many users noticed the change in icons and animations.
• 🎨 Custom Theme Installation: Themes from the Mi Theme Store or third-party sources may conflict with system files, especially if they are intended for a different version MIUI.
• 🔧 Settings reset: Even a partial reset (e.g., only display parameters) sometimes results in the loss of a factory theme if it has been modified.

Less commonly, the problem is that system files are damaged, such as after a failed update via Fastboot or using tools like Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools, which may require a flashing of the device.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone starts to slow down or spontaneously reboot after changing the theme, don’t try to return the standard design through the settings. First, reset the cache in Recovery mode to avoid serious crashes.

Method 1: Recovery through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to return a standard theme through the built-in tools of the system.

• 📱 You have an official firmware installed. MIUI (non-custom).
• 🔄 The theme has been changed through Settings → Topics, not through third-party launchers.
• 📁 System files are not corrupted (no errors when opening theme menu).

Instructions:

1. Open Settings and go to Themes (or Makeup on new MIUI versions).
2. At the top of the screen, tap the My Themes icon (or Theme Management).
3. Find the "Standard" (or "Default MIUI") item in the list and select it.
4. Confirm the application of the theme and wait for the interface to restart (usually takes 10–30 seconds).

If the standard theme is not on the list, try:

• 🔍 Scroll down the list – sometimes hidden amongst user themes.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and try again.
• 📥 Update the Mi Theme Store via Google Play (if installed).

Method 2: Resetting display settings

If a standard theme is not on the menu or if it doesn’t work, try resetting the display settings. This method doesn’t affect user data (photos, messages, apps), but it will return to factory settings:

• 🎨 Color scheme and contrast.
• 📱 Size of fonts and icons.
• 🔄 Transition animations.

How to perform the reset:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Additional settings → Resetting.
2. Select Reset Display Settings (on some models, the item may be called Reset Interface).
3. Confirm the action by entering the unlock password (if required).
4. Wait for the process to be completed and the device restarted.

After reset, check if the standard design has returned. If not, move on to the next method.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, a display reset can also return factory wallpaper to the lock screen.If you used personalized wallpaper, save it in the gallery beforehand.

Method 3: Remove Custom Themes with Mi Theme Editor

If you installed themes from third-party sources (not from the Mi Theme Store), they may conflict with system files. To remove them, you will need the Mi Theme Editor app (available on Google Play), which is suitable for experienced users, as it requires manual intervention.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Mi Theme Editor.
2. Open the app and give it the Super User Root rights if you have them on your device. Without root, the functionality will be limited.
3. Go to the Theme Management tab and find all custom themes (marked as “User”) in the list.
4. Select unnecessary themes and click Delete. For a standard MIUI theme, it will be "System" - you don't need to touch it!
5. Reboot your smartphone.

If the interface doesn’t recover after removing the themes, try applying the standard theme through Settings → Themes again. In most cases, this helps.

Method 4: Manual recovery through ADB (for advanced)

If previous methods have failed, you can return a standard theme through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, and only use it if you are confident in your actions - the wrong commands can cause the system to crash.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version, then return to the Additional settings → For developers).
• 🔌 USB Type C C Cable (original or certified).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device appears in the list, go further.
3. Remove all custom themes (replace themes) theme_package_name The real name of the package, which can be recognized through Mi Theme Editor: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 theme_package_name
4. Reset the launcher settings: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home
5. Reboot the device: adb reboot

After the reboot, the standard MIUI theme should be restored, and if it doesn’t, check if the antivirus is blocking ADB connectivity, or try repeating root commands (if any).

💡

Before working with ADB, back up your data via the Mi PC Suite, which will help you recover information if something goes wrong.

Method 5: Complete reset to factory settings

If none of these methods work, the last resort is hard reset, which will bring the smartphone back out of the box, including the standard theme, but delete all user data.

• 🔄 Other methods didn't work.
• 📱 The device is unstable (hangs, errors).
• 🔧 Are you ready to lose data or have backups.

How to perform the reset:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete All Data (or Reset to Factory Settings).
3. Enter the password from your Mi Account if it is linked to your device.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the smartphone will reboot and you will have to reconfigure it, just like you did after you bought it. The standard MIUI theme will be restored guaranteed.

⚠️ Note: Devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi for the Chinese market) may need authorization via Mi Account after a reset. Make sure to remember the username and password, otherwise you risk being left with a brick".

Table: Method compatibility with MIUI versions

Note that on MIUI 15 (HyperOS), some menu items may be called differently, for example, the "Themes" section has been renamed "Styles", and the display reset is now in "Personalization".

💡

Before any interference with system files (ADB, manual removal of themes), back up your system via Mi Cloud or locally on your PC, which will prevent data loss in case of crashes.

Frequent mistakes and their solution

When you restore a standard theme, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🚫 "Failed to apply the theme": The error occurs due to corrupted theme files. Solution - delete all custom themes via Mi Theme Editor or reset the display.
• 🔄 The theme applies, but after the reboot is reset: The cause of the launcher cache. Clear the data of the com.miui.home application in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 📱 No "Standard Theme" item on the menu: This means that the theme system files are corrupted. Only flashing or resetting to factory settings will help.
• 🔌 ADB Does not see the device: Install Xiaomi drivers manually through the official website or use Mi PC Suite.

If the theme has not recovered after all the manipulations, check the integrity of the system files.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ (settings) in upper right corner.
3. Select Update Checker → Download the full package (if available).
4. Install the update – this will overwrite the damaged files.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions