Recorders on base Android 10 have become a popular solution for car owners, combining the multimedia capabilities of a smartphone and the functionality of a car audio system. However, the standard interface design does not always suit users - some want a darker theme for comfortable viewing at night, some lack bright accents, and some are simply tired of the factory design. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to change the theme on such devices, taking into account the firmware features and manufacturer limitations.

It is important to understand that radios, even on the same version of Android, can differ significantly in customization capabilities. This depends on firmware (for example, Pumpkin, Joying, Xtrons), the manufacturer's policy and the availability of root access. In some places, changing a theme comes down to choosing from several pre-installed options, while in others you will need to install third-party launchers or even flash the firmware. We will consider solutions for all scenarios - from simple to advanced.

Why there may not be an option to change the theme on the radio

Many users are faced with the fact that there is simply no “Themes” or “Design” section in the settings of their radio. There are several reasons:

  • 🔧 Limited firmware from the manufacturer. Most Chinese radios come with stripped-down versions of Android, where standard customization functions are removed for stability.
  • 📱 Lack of a launcher with theme support. Unlike smartphones, which use Google Launcher or Nova Launcher, radio tape recorders often have simplified shells without such options.
  • 🔒 Locking system settings. Some firmware (for example, on Pumpkin Android 10) hide access to changing themes through settings.db or overlay.
  • 🛠️ Old version of Android. Even if the radio is positioned as "on Android 10", the real version may be lower (for example, Android 9 with a shell for 10).

Before trying to change the theme, check real firmware version. To do this, go to in Settings → About phone → Android version. If it says Android 9 or below, many instructions for version 10 will not work. Also pay attention to the name of the radio model - some brands (for example, Atoto or Dasaita) offer proprietary themes in their applications.

📊 What radio do you have?
Pumpkin
Joying
Xtrons
Atoto
Dasaita
Other
I don’t know

Method 1: Standard change of theme through settings (if available)

On some radios (for example, Joying Tesla-Style or Atoto A6) the option to change the theme is built into the system settings. Here's how to find it:

  1. Open Settings (gear icon on the home screen or notification panel).
  2. Go to the section Screen or Display.
  3. Look for the submenu Themes, Design Style or Color Scheme.
  4. Select one of the available themes (usually there is Light, Dark and 1-2 proprietary options).
  5. Confirm the changes and reboot the radio if necessary.

If there is no such section, try an alternative path:

  1. Press an empty area on the main screen → Screen settings.
  2. Select Wallpaper and theme style (on some firmwares).
  3. Scroll down - sometimes the option is hidden under Advanced.

Are all tabs open in "Settings"?

Have you checked the "Screen" and "Appearance" sections?

Have you tried an alternative path through the launcher settings?

Has the radio been rebooted after the changes?-->

A bug is often encountered on radios Pumpkin with Android 10: after changing the theme, some application icons become invisible on a dark background. In this case, installing an alternative launcher (more on this below) or manually replacing icons via Icon Pack.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, Malaysk or Hal9k), choosing a dark theme may cause navigation applications to malfunction (for example, Yandex.Navigator or Google MapsBefore the trip, check the display of maps in the selected theme!

Method 2: Installing a third-party launcher

If the standard settings do not allow you to change the theme, the most reliable way is to install alternative launcherThis application replaces the standard shell. Android, offering advanced customization options. For radios on Android 10, the following are suitable:

  • 🌈 Nova Launcher —supports a dark theme, adaptive icons and gestures. There is a free version with basic functions.
  • 🎨 Action Launcher —allows you to change color schemes, fonts, and even transition animations.
  • ⚡ Lawnchair —a lightweight open-source launcher, optimized for weak devices (relevant for radios with 1-2 GB of RAM).
  • 🖼️ Apex Launcher —good for radios with low-resolution touch screens (for example, 800×480).

Installation instructions:

  1. Download the APK file launcher from the official website or a trusted source (for example, APKMirror). For radios without Google Play, this is the only option.
  2. Transfer the file to a USB drive or SD card connected to the radio.
  3. Enable installation from unknown sources: Settings → Security → Unknown sources (on some firmware the path may differ).
  4. Run the APK file through any file manager (for example, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
  5. After installation press Home (or Home) and select the new launcher as the standard one.

To Nova Launcher to activate the dark theme:

  1. Press an empty area on the screen → Settings.
  2. Go to Appearance → Dark theme.
  3. Select Enabled or Auto (on schedule).
  4. In the section Icon style you can set adaptive icons for uniformity.
Launcher Dark theme support Minimum requirements Features for radios
Nova Launcher Yes (including automatic switching) Android 5.0+, 1 GB RAM Works stably on 800×480 i 1024×600
Action Launcher Yes (with customizable color accents) Android 7.0+, 1.5 GB RAM Supports gestures for quick access to navigation
Lawnchair Yes (but without flexible settings) Android 8.0+, 1 GB RAM Optimized for weak processors (for example, Rockchip PX5)
Apex Launcher Partially (only in the paid version) Android 4.0+, 512 MB RAM Works well on old radios with low resolution

After installing the launcher, some system applications (for example, Radio or Equalizer settings) may open in the standard theme. This is normal - the launcher only changes the shell, but does not affect the system windows. To unify the design, you will need Rutting or installation. data-i="161">(more on this in method 4). Substratum (more on this in method 4).

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If after installing the launcher the radio starts to slow down, try disabling animations in its settings or reducing the number of widgets on the main screen.

Method 3: Using themes via Substratum (for rooted devices)

If your radio rooted (has superuser rights), you can use Substratum is a powerful tool for deep interface customization. This method allows you to change themes not only for the launcher, but also for system applications, the notification panel and even animations.

What you will need:

  • 📱 Radio tape recorder with root-rights (how to get root on Android 10 for radio tape recorders - a separate topic, often requires firmware via TWRP).
  • 🔧 Installed application Substratum (you can download from XDA Developers or APKMirror).
  • 🎨 Theme for Substratum (for example, Swift Black, PitchBlack or Flux).
  • 🔄 Restored system backup (in case of failure).

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Install Substratum and the selected theme (files .apk).
  2. Open Substratum and provide root access.
  3. In the list of themes, select the installed one (for example, Swift Black).
  4. Tick the items you want to change:
    • Framework (main system). data-i="194">Reboot the radio.
    • SystemUI (notification bar)
    • Settings (settings)
    • Applications (eg Music, Radio)
  • Click Build & Enable and wait for the process to complete.
  • Reboot the radio.

    • After the reboot, the changes will be applied. If something went wrong (for example, the icons disappeared or the radio got stuck on loading), boot into recovery and restore the backup.

    ⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, Joying with an Intel Atom processor) Substratum can cause bootloop (infinite reboot) Before use, check the compatibility of your model on the forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA).
    What to do if Substratum does not apply the theme?

    If after clicking Build & Enable the changes are not applied, try:

    1. Clear the Substratum cache in the application settings.

    2. Reinstall the theme (sometimes the files are not fully installed).

    3. Manually select elements for the overlay (some themes require separate activation for each component).

    4. Substratum - the reason for the failure may be indicated there (for example, incompatibility with the Android version).

    Method 4: Manual replacement of system files (for experienced users)

    If neither the launchers nor Substratum give the desired result, you can still manual replacement of system filesThis method requires knowledge of the operation. with ADB, root access and backup. It is suitable for radios where topics are stored as separate files (for example, framework-res.apk or SystemUI.apk).

    Warning: Incorrect actions can lead to k inoperability of the radio. This method is recommended only if you are confident in your skills or it is possible to restore the device through SP Flash Tool/Odine.

    Action algorithm:

    1. Make a complete system backup via TWRP or ADB Backup.
    2. Connect the radio to the PC via ADB (enable USB debugging in the developer settings).
    3. Download modified theme files for your firmware (search on thematic forums, for example, 4PDA in the theme of your radio).
    4. Copy the original files from /system/framework/ i /system/priv-app/SystemUI/ to the PC (for reserve).
    5. Replace the modified files via ADB or Root Explorer: 
      adb remount

      adb push modified_framework-res.apk /system/framework/
      

      adb push modified_SystemUI.apk /system/priv-app/SystemUI/

    6. Change the rights to the files: 
      adb shell chmod 644 /system/framework/framework-res.apk

      adb shell chmod 644 /system/priv-app/SystemUI/SystemUI.apk

    7. Reboot the radio.

    If artifacts occur after a reboot (for example, there is no notification panel or buttons do not work), return the original files from the backup.

    ⚠️ Attention: On radios with processors Rockchip (for example, RK3399) or Allwinner replacement SystemUI.apk often leads to loss of touch sensitivity. In this case, you will need firmware via Rockchip Batch Tool.

    Method 5: Installing custom firmware with theme support

    If all the previous methods did not work, remains firmware for alternative software. Some custom firmware (for example, Hal9k, Malaysk or EmuELEC for cars) initially support changing themes and offer advanced interface settings.

    The advantages of this method:

    • 🔄 Complete flashing of the device with support for modern functions.
    • 🎨 Built-in themes and the ability to install additional ones via Magisk Modules.
    • ⚡ Performance optimization (especially relevant for radios with 1-2 GB of RAM).

    Disadvantages:

    • 🔧 Complexity of the process (requires unlocking the bootloader, installation TWRP).
    • 🚫 Risk of "bricking" (turning the radio into a "brick").
    • 🔄 Loss of warranty (if it is still valid).

    How to flash custom firmware:

    1. Find firmware compatible with your radio model (specify the processor model: Rockchip, Intel Atom, Allwinner etc.).
    2. Download TWRP for your device (if available).
    3. Unlock the bootloader (on some radios this is done via Fastboot command fastboot oem unlock).
    4. Install TWRP via Fastboot: 
      fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

      fastboot boot twrp.img

    5. In TWRP make a full backup (including Boot, System, Data).
    6. Flash custom firmware (usually the file .zip is installed via Install in TWRP).
    7. Clear Dalvik/Cache and reboot.

    After flashing the firmware, a section will appear in the settings Topics or Design stylePopular firmware for radios:

    • 🔹 Hal9k - optimized for cars, supports dark theme and gestures.
    • 🔹 Malaysk - lightweight firmware with a minimalistic design.
    • 🔹 LineageOS for cars - ported version of the well-known firmware.
    ⚠️ Attention: Firmware type EmuELEC or Android TV may not work correctly with car functions (for example, with steering wheel control or CAN bus), before installing the firmware, check on the forums whether the selected software supports your model. radio.

    Solving problems after changing the theme

    Even if you managed to change the theme, problems may arise. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

    Problem Possible reason Solution
    Application icons are not visible on a dark background The launcher or theme does not support adaptive icons Install Icon Pack (for example, Whicons or Delta) or manually change the icons
    Buttons on the notification panel do not work Damaged SystemUI.apk after modification Restore the original file from backup or reflash SystemUI via ADB
    The radio slows down after changing the theme The launcher or theme is too heavy for a weak processor Install a light one launcher (for example Lawnchair) or disable animations in the settings
    The theme in system applications does not change The launcher does not have the rights to change system windows Use Substratum with root or flash custom firmware
    After a reboot, the theme is reset The launcher is not installed as standard Go to Settings → Applications → By default and select the launcher

    If after the changes the radio has stopped responding to the sensor or buttons, try:

    1. Connect via ADB and execute the command to reset the launcher: 
      adb shell pm clear com.android.launcher3

      (replace com.android.launcher3 with the package of your launcher).

    2. Roll back changes via TWRP (if there is a backup).
    3. Reflash the radio via SP Flash Tool or Rockchip Batch Tool (depending on the processor).
    💡

    Before any experiments with themes, make a backup of the current firmware. This will save you from a long recovery in case of a failure.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing themes on the Android 10 radio

    Is it possible to change the theme without root access?

    Yes, but the possibilities will be limited. You can:

    • Install a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher) and select a dark theme in its settings.
    • Use Icon Packs to change icons.
    • Enable dark mode in individual applications (for example, in Google Maps or YouTube).

    However, the system menus and notification panel will remain unchanged.

    Why did the weather and radio widgets disappear after installing the launcher?

    This happens because many launchers do not support widgets from the standard firmware of the radio. Solutions:

    • Install alternative widgets (for example, Weather Timeline for weather or PowerAmp for radio).
    • Return to the standard launcher if widgets are critically important.
    • Try the launcher Action Launcher —it works better with widgets on radios.
    How to return the standard theme if the radio is buggy after changes?

    Rollback methods:

    1. If you used a launcher: go to Settings → Applications, find the launcher, click Clear data and select the standard launcher the next time you start.
    2. If the system files have changed: restore the backup via TWRP or flash the original firmware.
    3. If the radio does not boot: flash it via SP Flash Tool (for Mediatek) or Rockchip Batch Tool (for Rockchip).

    Look for firmware instructions in the theme of your radio at 4PDA or XDA.

    Is it possible to install a theme from the Play Market on a radio without Google services?

    Yes, but with caveats:

    • Download the APK file of the theme from the site APKMirror (for example, Substratum or Icon Pack).
    • Transfer the file to a USB drive and install via a file manager.
    • Please note that many themes require Substratum or root, which may not work on the radio.

    For launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) it is enough to install the APK - they work without Google services.

    What themes are best suited for radios with resolution 800×480?

    For low-resolution screens, the following are recommended:

    • 🔹 Minimalistic themes (for example, Minima or Lines) - without unnecessary details that will be blurred.
    • 🔹 Dark themes with contrasting icons (for example, Moonshine or Darkon) are better readable in the sun.
    • 🔹 Adaptive icons (in Nova Launcher or Action Launcher) - scaled to fit a small screen.

    Avoid themes with small details or light text on a light background - they will be unreadable.