How to change the menu color on Android: 5 working methods for any smartphone

The color of the system menu on Android is not just an aesthetic element, but an important part of the user experience. From deep black to a transparent gradient, the choice of shade affects readability, content perception, and even battery life (on AMOLEDscreens, dark tones save energy). However, not everyone knows that the color of the bottom navigation bar, the top status bar and even the notification drop-down menu can be changed without root access or complex manipulations.

In this article we will analyze all the current ways to change the menu color - from built-in manufacturer settings to hidden functions Android 14/15 and third-party ones applications. You will learn how to adapt the interface to a dark or light theme, make the panel transparent or set your own color, and also bypass typical limitations on devices Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and other brands. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of shells - MIUI 15, One UI 6, ColorOS 14 and pure Android.

1. Built-in shell settings: the easiest way

Most manufacturers add options to their proprietary shells to customize the interface, including menu color. These settings are usually hidden in the Themes or Appearance sections, but their location may vary depending on the brand. Let's look at the most popular shells.

On devices Xiaomi (shell MIUI) the path to the menu color settings is as follows: Settings → Display → Screen style → Color scheme. Here you can choose between a dark and light theme, and also activate the option "Adaptive color", which adjusts the shade of the panel to the wallpaper. In the latest versions MIUI 15 it became possible to manually adjust the transparency of the bottom navigation bar - to do this, you need to enable developer mode and find the item force_dark_adjust in Settings → About phone → MIUI version (click 5 times to activate).

• 📱 Samsung One UI: Settings → Themes and wallpapers → Colors palettes → select a palette that will automatically change the color of the menu.
• 🎨 Oppo/Realme (ColorOS): Settings → Personalization → Color scheme → "Navigation bar color" option.
• 🔄 Google Pixel (pure Android): Settings → Display → Color scheme → choice between dark/light theme (no manual color adjustment).

⚠️ Attention: On some devices Huawei (shell EMUI), the menu color change may be reset after a system update. Before installing major updates, make a backup copy of your theme settings in Settings → Accounts → Huawei Cloud.

2. Using themes from the app store

If the built-in options are not enough, you can install a third-party theme from official stores. This method works on most shells, except Google Pixel (where only system themes are supported). Let's look at the process using the example MIUI i One UI.

For Xiaomi:

1. Open the application "Themes" (usually pre-installed).

2. Go to the section Store → Popular or use the search for "transparent menu".

3. Select a theme with the desired color for the navigation bar (the description usually indicates whether menu customization is supported).

4. Click "Apply" and confirm the changes.

Important: some themes require purchase, but there are also free options with basic customization. After applying the theme, you may need to restart your device.

For Samsung:

1. Go to Settings → Themes and wallpapers → Themes.

2. At the bottom of the screen, select the tab "Colors" —here you can select a palette that will automatically change the color of the menu and status bar.

3. For deeper customization, download a theme from Galaxy Store (for example, "Theme Park" from Samsung), where custom colors are available.

Skin	Support for third-party themes	Does the menu color change?	Is root required?
MIUI (Xiaomi)	Yes (theme store)	Yes (completely)	No
One UI (Samsung)	Yes (Galaxy Store)	Partially (depends on themes)	No
ColorOS (Oppo/Realme)	Yes (theme store)	Yes (including transparency)	No
Pure Android (Pixel)	No	Only dark/light theme	No

3. Applications for customization without root access

If your shell does not support changing the menu color, you can use third-party applications. They work on the principle of overlaying the system interface and do not require superuser rights. The most reliable options:

• 🎨 Hex Installer (for Samsung): allows you to change the color of the navigation bar, status bar and even icons. Requires activation of developer mode and enabling the option USB debugging.
• 🖌️ NavBar Apps: specializes in customizing the bottom navigation bar - supports gradients, transparency and dynamic colors (on Android 12+).
• 🌈 Substratum (for shells with support Overlay): difficult to configure, but gives maximum freedom. Works on MIUI, ColorOS and some versions One UI.

Instructions for NavBar Apps:

1. Download the application from Google Play.

2. Grant permission to Overlay on top of other apps (in the security settings). data-i="122">Overlay on top of other applications

3. Select the panel style: "Color", "Gradient" or "Transparency".

4. Adjust the hue using the palette or enter HEX code colors (for example, #FF5733 for orange).

5. Activate the changes and restart the device.

Limitations:

- On Android 10 and below, some functions may not work.

- On devices with AMOLED-screens, the transparent panel will be displayed as black (due to the nature of the technology).

- Applications may conflict with navigation gestures (for example, on One UI).

Enable developer mode|Allow overlay on top of other applications|Disable battery optimization for the application|Reboot the device after settings-->

4. Changing color via ADB (for advanced users)

If you need change system colors without root access, but with maximum depth of customization, you can use the command ADB. This method works on most devices with Android 9 and above, but requires connecting to a computer. Important: incorrect commands can lead to failures. interface!

Step-by-step guide:

1. Install ADB drivers on PC (you can download from the website Android Developers).

2. Activate USB debugging on the phone: Settings → About the phone → Build number (press 7 times), then Settings → System → For developers → USB debugging.

3. Connect the phone to the PC and enter in the command line:

adb shell settings put global navigationbar_color "#FF0000"

(replace #FF0000 to the desired HEX code).

4. To change the color of the status bar, use:

adb shell settings put global status_bar_color "#0000FF"

5. Reboot the device.

To return the standard colors, do:

adb shell settings delete global navigationbar_color

⚠️ Attention: On some devices Samsung and Xiaomi changes via ADB are reset after updating the system. Also, this method may not work on shells with fixed colors (for example, EMUI from Huawei).

How to find the HEX code of a color?

Open any graphic editor (for example, Paint or Photoshop), select the desired shade using the eyedropper and copy its HEX code. Alternatively, you can use online services like HTML Color Codes (enter the name of the color in English, for example, "deep purple", and get its code).

5. Manual editing of system files (for root only)

If you have root access, you can manually edit the system files responsible for the interface color. This method gives complete control, but requires caution - an error can lead to "bootloop" (looping loop). It is recommended to first make a backup copy of the partition /system.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).

2. Go to the path /system/framework/framework-res.apk.

3. Copy the file to the internal memory and open it using an archiver (for example, ZArchiver).

4. Find the folder res/values and open the file colors.xml.

5. Find the lines with the names:

<color name="navigation_bar_color">#FF000000</color>
<color name="status_bar_color">#FF000000</color>

Replace the values with the ones you need HEX codes (for example, #FF336699 for blue).

6. Save the changes, move the file back to /system/framework and reboot the device.

For devices with MIUI additional settings may be located in /system/media/theme/default/colors. On Samsung the path will be different: /system/priv-app/SecSettings/SecSettings.apk/res/values.

6. changes

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the color of the menu remains the same. Let's consider typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔄 System cache: After changing the settings, clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Cached data or via recovery.
• 📱 The shell blocks changes: On some devices (for example, Huawei), the manufacturer strictly fixes the color of the menu. The solution is to use ADB or third-party launchers.
• 🖥️ Conflict with navigation gestures: On Android 10+ when gestures are activated, the navigation bar may hide or ignore color settings. Try temporarily switching to buttons.
• 🔒 Manufacturer restrictions: On some models Samsung (for example, series Galaxy A), menu customization is available only in branded themes.

If you use launcher from a third-party developer (for example, Nova Launcher or Action Launcher), make sure that the "Hide navigation bar" or "Gesture simulation" option is not activated in its settings. These functions may override the system color settings.

For devices with Android 12+ and the function Monet (dynamic colors), try disabling it in Settings → Display → Color scheme → Dynamic colors. Sometimes automatic adjustment to the wallpaper blocks manual settings.

7. Alternative methods: launchers and wallpapers with effects

If none of the methods work, you can take a workaround - use launchers that support customization of the bottom panel or wallpapers that visually “merge” with the menu, creating a transparency effect.

Launchers with customization menu:

- Nova Launcher: there is an option in the settings Navigation bar → Color (does not work on all devices).

- Action Launcher: supports adaptive colors for the navigation bar on Android 12+.

- Hyperion Launcher: has a built-in editor interface, including the color of the menu.

Wallpaper with a transparent effect:

Download wallpaper with a gradient that smoothly blends into the color of your menu. For example, if you want a black panel, select wallpaper with a dark bottom. Applications for this are suitable:

- Zedge (section "Gradient". Wallpapers"),

- Backdrops (collection "Dark & AMOLED"),

- WallpapersCraft (filter by color).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing the menu color on Android

Is it possible to change the menu color on Android without root?

Yes, on most devices this is possible using the built-in shell settings, third-party applications (for example, NavBar Apps) or commands ADB. Root is required only for deep customization of system files.

Why did the menu color reset after a system update?

Manufacturers often reset user settings during major updates. To avoid this, before updating, save the current theme to the cloud (if supported) or write down the ones you are using HEX codes flowers for quick recovery.

How to make the navigation bar completely transparent?

On devices with AMOLEDscreens, true transparency is not available (the panel will be black). data-i="248">-displays, you can use the application LCD-displays can use the application NavBar Apps with transparency settings or edit system files via root. In MIUI transparency is enabled in the theme settings.

Will color changing work on an Android tablet?

Yes, that's it. The described methods also apply to tablets (for example, Samsung Galaxy Tab or Xiaomi PadHowever, on some models with Android Go or stripped-down shells, some functions may be missing.

Is it possible to change the color of the menu in games or applications?

No, system menu color settings only affect the Android interface. In games and applications, the navigation bar remains standard (usually black or translucent). The exception is applications with their own implementation of gestures (for example, Fortnite or PUBG Mobile).