Themes downloaded from third party sources are not supported. Installing applications from third party sources

« Themes from third party sources are not supported"- this message will be seen on the screen of their Xiaomi Android devices by users who tried to download a theme to a smartphone or tablet not from the official market of the manufacturer, but from any other resource. Since January 1, 2014, Xiaomi has introduced a ban on uploading themes and other components of its own to the market from third-party sites in order to protect the copyrights of designers and provide more favorable conditions for developers and further development of the interface. Downloading is permitted only from designer.xiaomi.com. As for users, they, in turn, can download themes exclusively from the official Xiaomi market.

It doesn’t matter at all from which resource - paid or free - the user is going to download the theme he likes to his Xiaomi. In any case, he will receive the message “themes from third party sources are not supported.” But it is only ordinary users who encounter this problem. Available three ways to circumvent this prohibition:

Register as a beta tester;
Register as a designer;
Use the MIUI Theme Editor.

Today we will teach you how to register and remove restrictions absolutely safely. You can choose any of the proposed options.

Register as a beta tester

1. Register a Mi account via (it's free);
2. Set a colored avatar on your Mi account;
3. Send a report about any problem that arises when using MIUI (you can write in Russian) to the "Reports with a screenshot of the problem" section;

4. Wait until Xiaomi lifts the restriction (it's only 2-3 days) and become a beta tester.

Officially registering as a beta tester removes restrictions on downloading themes from third-party resources, eliminating the need to see the message “Themes from third-party sources are not supported.”

Registration as a designer

Once you have received confirmation that you are registered as an app designer, you can import any themes from your Android device without any restrictions.

Applying third-party themes using MIUI Theme Editor

If you don’t want to waste time registering and approving a designer or beta tester account, there is a third way to bypass the “themes from third-party sources are not supported” ban. This method involves installing the program MIUI Theme Editor. MIUI Theme Editor is the official theme editor from Xiaomi, designed for users to create their own themes. So to apply a third party theme you need to do next steps:

announcement …

Have you downloaded a theme for MIUI, but you don't know how to install it? Or maybe the message “Themes from third party sources that are not supported” appears? Learn how to install MIUI themes downloaded from the Internet.

Update (03.2018): Description of installing themes has been added using the Mi Theme Editor.

One of the many benefits of the MIUI overlay is the vast possibilities of personalizing the system and tailoring everything to your needs in Xiaomi devices. An extensive skinning engine allows you to change themes that change not only the appearance of icons or wallpapers, but also change the layout and color of settings, notification bar and other system apps.

Themes can be downloaded from both the official Themes app and various websites and blogs discussing the topic of MIUI system and Xiaomi devices. An example is the official MIUI forum. Installing skins from the official store in the Themes app is very simple - just select a theme and confirm installation. And what should we do with the themes that we download as a .MTZ file from the web?

Manual installation of motifs in MIUI

If you downloaded a theme from the Internet, such as from the themes section of the official MIUI forum, you will receive a .MTZ file. The first thing you need to do is, of course, send this file to the phone's memory, for example via a USB cable.

After submitting the topic, go to the application "Theme" and then select a tab on the home screen "Offline". It is marked with a blue icon with a downward arrow.

At this point, you can switch between those that are already installed on the system (local themes). Here you can also install themes from your phone's local memory. To do this, click the button "Load theme" at the bottom of the screen.

A file browser window will appear - browse to the file now .MTZ with the motif downloaded and copied to the phone. Once the file is selected, the theme will be added to the Offline tab. To activate it, simply select it and confirm with the button "Apply".

Help! Error message "Third party themes are not supported" is displayed when installing MIUI theme

Unfortunately, there is one problem. By default, you can only install skins from the official Themes app. When we try to manually install a theme downloaded from the Internet, an error will appear "Themes from third party sources are not supported". This is due to the fact that MIUI blocks the manual installation of motifs for some time.

Everything is connected with the change in the MIUI motive rules, which took place already in 2014. In order to enhance the copyright protection of theme creators, Xiaomi has decided that it will be prohibited to install any skins from outside the official application "Theme". Therefore, by default, skins can only be installed by the Themes application, downloading only those that are in the official catalog.

However, there are two ways to bypass the “Third-party themes are not supported” error and unblock manual installation of themes. You can do this by using the Mi Theme Editor app which will force you to install the theme or you can register your account as a theme creator (MIUI Designer) which will open the option to install any themes in our account.

Method #1 – Convert and Install Theme Using MI Theme Editor App

The first, easier way is to use the Mi Theme Editor app. This application allows you to import a downloaded theme from the Internet and force install it. You don't need to register as MIUI Designer, just download the app and use it to install themes. The MI Theme Editor app is available on the Play Store for free.

Download MI Theme Editor

After downloading the app, launch it, and then on the Home screen, tap "View", to search for a topic in your phone's memory. Now select the .MTZ file with the theme that you don't want to install normally with Themes app.

After selecting the theme file, tap OK and then on the MI Theme Editor main screen, select the option "Start". Editing options will now be available as the MI Theme Editor app allows you to change themes. However, we don't want to change anything, so we ignore all the editing options and select "Next" in the lower right corner.

In the next step we can confirm the export of the theme. Leave the default settings and select the option "Ready". A message will appear. “Your topic has been saved. Do you want to install it?(Your theme is saved. Do you want to install it now?).

Select the option " OK " to confirm the theme installation. The topic will be set, omitting the message about the unsupported third-party motive.

Now just go to the app "Theme" in MIUI and go to the tab "Offline" where all installed themes are displayed. In the list of locally installed themes you will find a theme exported by the MI Theme Editor - just select and activate it.

Method #2 – Unblock unofficial themes by registering as a MIUI designer

If you don't want to use a theme conversion app, an alternative way is to register your account as a MIUI Designer. It turns out that manual installation of themes is not completely prohibited and blocked. The manually adding themes feature still exists. You can unlock it by registering as a theme creator. Then we will get designer status and this feature will be unlocked on our Mi account. Then there will be no need to use the Mi Theme Editor app and you can add themes directly downloaded from the Internet using the official Motifs app.

Register as MIUI Designer

Then, on the login screen, sign in to the same Mi account that you use on your phone. If you don't have a Mi account yet, you must first set it up and sign in to it on your phone (Settings > Accounts).

After logging into your Mi account, a selection screen will appear where you have to choose whether you register as an individual or as a company. choose "Individual designer".

In the next step, a short form will appear in which you must fill in all the fields with real data, especially the photo field.

Designer name- your nickname
Real name- real name and surname
Mobile phone number– your phone number (precede it with +48 forwarding to Poland)
Personal photo- a photo where you can see your face
Permanent Address— you can leave it blank (the field is not required)

We recommend paying special attention to the picture in which your person should be present. Posting a photo of an actor, singer, celebrity, or cat or dog will likely result in your registration being rejected, as moderators confirm.

After filling out the form, click the green register button. Your application will be submitted and you will have to wait while your details are verified. As a rule, it lasts no more than 3 days. You will receive an email and SMS confirming your registration as a designer.

When this happens, log out of your Mi account on your phone and log in again. You can do this by going to "Settings > Accounts". After logging in, you can install themes from a file using the method described at the beginning of the article. There will no longer be an error in installing themes from external sources.

It says “Themes from third party sources are not supported”

« Themes from third party sources are not supported"- this message will be seen on the screen of their Xiaomi Android devices by users who tried to download to smartphone or tablet theme not from the official market of the manufacturer, but from any other resource. Since January 1, 2014, Xiaomi has introduced a ban on downloading themes and other components of its proprietary MIUI firmware from third-party sites to the market in order to protect the copyrights of designers and provide more favorable conditions for developers and further development of the interface. Downloading is permitted only from designer.xiaomi.com. As for users, they, in turn, can download themes exclusively from the official Xiaomi market.

It doesn’t matter at all from which resource - paid or free - the user is going to download the theme he likes to his Xiaomi. In any case, he will receive the message “themes from third party sources are not supported.” But it is only ordinary users who encounter this problem. Available two ways(and both are absolutely official), allowing you to bypass the ban:

Today we will teach you how to register and remove restrictions absolutely safely. You can choose either option - they both work.

Register as a beta tester
1. Register a Mi account via email (it's free);
2. Set a colored avatar on your Mi account;
3. Send a report about any problem that arises when using MIUI (you can write in Russian) to the “Reports with a screenshot of the problem” section

4. Wait until Xiaomi lifts the restriction (it's only 2-3 days) and become a beta tester.

Registration as a designer

We go through the process of registering a Mi account, as in the first method, or by number phone a;
Go to http://designer.xiaomi.com/ and click on Login Now (button on the right)
Enter your number phone number/email address to which the account was registered and password, after which we log in to the site as a registered user
In the window that opens, select the top field - “Individual designer”, click
Enter your data

A) Nick - Designer name
B) Your name in English letters - Real Name;
B) Full number phone a - Mobile Number;
D) Your real photo - Personal photo.
D) Permanent address of residence (optional);
G) Click on the green button - confirm the information entered and the desire to register as a “free designer”.

We are waiting for the data to be verified and a confirmation from Xiaomi will be sent by email (about 2-3 days).

Once you have received confirmation that you are registered as an app designer, you can import any themes from your Android device without any restrictions.

How to bypass the ban and what to do if your smartphone or tablet says “Themes from third-party sources are not supported”

When developing the Android operating system, it was assumed that the choice would be made primarily through the Google Play application store, although the ability to install programs from other sources is also provided, but it is disabled by default.

Allow installation from unknown sources

To install programs not only from Google Play, but also in the form of installation files from other resources, you need to give permission to install from unknown sources. To do this you need:

Go to section " Settings» — Applications > Settings.
Go to section " Safety» — Applications > Settings > Security.
Check the box " Unknown sources allow installation of applications from unknown sources»

How to install an .apk file on Android from a third-party source

A file with the extension .apk is an executable application file for the Android operating system. In this format, programs for Android are distributed through application stores, and they can also be downloaded manually onto a smartphone or tablet from specialized sites, and then launched for execution.

For example, you saw an application you liked available for download on the website, but you are used to installing programs through the Google Play Market, and now you have downloaded the installation file, but what next? It needs to be installed on your device, to do this do the following:

Now the application is installed and you can use it as you wish. It is worth warning that by installing applications downloaded as .apk installers, an inexperienced user runs the risk of infecting their device with a virus. There are a lot of .apk programs distributed online with tempting offers, such as: update your Android to the latest version, install Flash Player, win the lottery, install a super erotic game, etc. Beware of installing such programs; such offers have only one goal - to introduce a virus into your smartphone or tablet. Download .apk files only from reputable sites.

Third Party App Stores

If for some reason you are not satisfied with Google Play, although with its gigantic assortment it is unclear what may not suit you, then you can always use third-party application stores that many well-known Internet companies have, for example Yandex. However, the variety of programs in such stores will always be inferior to Google Play.

If you still decide to use programs from third-party stores, then you need to consider the following things:

Download the store client only from an official source, for example. On fake websites, attackers may offer some special client in which all applications are free and without advertising.
Each store has its own rules, often different from the Google Play rules you're used to.
Third party stores may require additional registration and may not operate in some countries.

Xiaomi phones have excellent performance and an affordable price, but another important advantage is their appearance. A stylish case and attractive screen wallpaper are only half the battle, since the standard theme on a smartphone quickly gets boring. Xiaomi decided to attract users with a unique proprietary shell, which has many themes for settings. Therefore, many users are interested in how to install themes for MIUI quickly and where they can even be found.

We use ready-made themes

Typically the device has 2 factory themes, one of which is currently owned by the user. Changing them is quite simple.

Find the “Settings” shortcut.
Next: “Personal” – “Themes”.
We find ourselves in a separate window with several tabs. On the left side or top there is a “Built-in” item. It may also be called “Downloaded”, in rare cases – “Installed”.
After clicking, we see a list of these topics. Click “Install” on any one you like. If there is no such button, then “Activate”.
Ready. We return to the main screen and see how the phone has changed.

How to install MIUI themes from the store

There are several options here:

First: We perform the operation described above. That is, go to “Settings” again. There you can browse some themes ready for download, or go directly to the store from there.
Second: Many launchers have a special “Themes” application. It provides a huge selection of different designs for your smartphone.
Third: make a long “tap” on an empty area of the screen on the desktop, and in the menu that appears, click “Design”.

The following steps are the same for the three methods. An extensive list of topics opens that can be sorted by topic, novelty, relevance, etc.

It is possible to view both paid and free ones. To purchase paid ones, you need a special virtual currency – . It is calculated in dollars.

But the free ones are installed in a couple of clicks. At the bottom, as a rule, we see the “Download for free” icon. After downloading, installation and activation occurs, as is the case with built-in themes.

Let's also not forget aboutGoogle Play. Using the search bar you can find many interesting launchers. They are downloaded similarly to standard applications. There are also quite original themes.

For example, giving a Xiaomi phone an Apple look is a matter of just a few minutes. We also install such solutions in “Personal Settings”.

How to install third-party themes on MIUI

Here the procedure is longer and more complicated, but you won’t have to do anything special or unusual, so let’s get started. First, you need to select specific themes that suit your type of firmware.

For example, MIUI 9 owners are not advised to download themes designed for MIUI 10, as the operating system may malfunction.

We will not name third-party sources for downloading themes; if there is such a need, you can unsubscribe in the comments, we will answer you. In principle, those from the store are quite enough.

Sequential instructions for installing a third-party MIUI theme

Download the theme package, which should end with the extension “ .mtz».
Now open the Themes application and click on your profile(third icon on the bottom right side).
Click on “Themes”. We see images of already saved topics. After scrolling through the entire list, at the very bottom click “ Import».
In the window that appears, select where to download the third-party theme from.
Next, click “Apply”. Ready.

What to do if you get an error when downloading a theme

The fact is that almost all modern smartphones give an error when a person tries to download third-party material. Nowadays, more and more often we receive messages in the mail that even when installing a theme from a company store, it gives an error. In this case, you should try changing the network (from Wi-Fi to mobile) or connecting via VPN.

If you still can’t install the themes, you should resort to another simple option. will help you designer status. This status provides a number of small advantages, which you can read about on the official Xiaomi page (link below).

How to get MIUI designer status in 2019

What will it take? Just send a request to receive design benefits. Let's get started.

Let's go to the official website of MIUI designers.
Click on the inscription “ Register Now».
We are redirected to the authorization page, we need to log in with our data using, as always, login and password.
Select “Individual designer” - Individual designer.
We are redirected to the registration page, where we need to fill out the fields marked with an asterisk. We enter the most banal data: first name, last name, etc.. You also need to attach a photo. Of course, it is advisable to choose your own (your personal photo will not be used anywhere except in the Xiaomi photographer system). In no case use images of nature, animals, architecture, flowers, since every request is subject to manual check.
When everything is ready, click on the big green button at the bottom of the page.
Now we wait. If the result is positive, you will definitely receive a message by email.

Are there any differences in installing MIUI 9 and MIUI 10 themes?

Yes, there are differences. For example, you will not be able to apply themes running on MIUI 9 to MIUI 10; the application will display an error that this theme is not supported by your version of MIUI.

Video instructions

Questions and answers

How long does it usually take to process a request for design status?

On average 2-3 days, but it can last up to a week. You should not constantly email the moderators, this will only cause a negative attitude towards yourself and will not affect the review period in any way.

Are there any age restrictions when obtaining designer licenses?

No, there were no age-related refusals.

Thus, we can see that installing different themes on MIUI is very easy and fast. If you follow the instructions, no problems or malfunctions will arise, and your phone will delight you with a new, interesting, and sometimes thematic look. A good way to cheer up and experiment a little.

If something happens, you can always refer to the above instructions again or write to us in the comments.