How to Theme the Android System UI on Your Nexus 5

When it comes to theming your Android device, it's the little touches that count the most. That's why developer SArnab created the Android Theme Engine, an Xposed Module to theme those hard-to-reach corners of the Android System that often go untouched with other themes.

So, if you've ever had a hankering to theme things like power menu icons and status bar elements, you should definitely give this one a try. While the module is still in its early development stages, it can already add quite a bit of personal flair to your device, and more theming options are rolling in fast.

Theming with Android Theme Engine is a breeze, too—just make sure you're rooted with the Xposed Framework installed and Unknown Sources enabled.

Step 1: Install Android Theme Engine

SArnab's Xposed Module can be installed like any other—just head to the Download section of your Xposed Installer app to begin. From here, search Android Theme Engine and tap the top result. Swipe over to the Versions tab, then hit the Download button on the most recent entry to launch the installer.

How to Theme the Android System UI on Your Nexus 5

Next, tap Install on the following screen. When it's finished with that, you'll get a notification from Xposed that tells you the module you just installed needs to be activated. So tap the Activate and Reboot button, and Xposed will take care of the rest.

Step 2: Disable Ads (Optional)

When you get back up, you'll notice that Android Theme Engine is ad-supported. This is evidenced by a floating sidebar that shows a tray of ads when tapped. But the developer has been kind enough to offer you an option to disable these ads. Keep in mind though, that this is how the project is funded, so consider leaving some of the less intrusive ads enabled.

When you first launch Android Theme Engine, the app will ask for Superuser privileges. Hit the Grant button on this pop-up.

Next, tap the Settings button near the top-right of the app's main screen. Towards the bottom of this menu, you'll find all of the different types of ads the module uses. Just untick the boxes next to any types of ads that you'd no longer like to see, and they'll immediately disappear.

Step 3: Theming Various Aspects of the System UI

Starting from the top, you can enable Signal Bars theming by ticking the first box. This opens up the next menu item, Select Theme, so tap that. Here, you'll get a list of all the available signal bar icons that you can apply to your phone's status bar. Choose the one that looks best to you.

This method of enabling a theme—via the first check box, then selecting the theme you want to apply—is the same throughout Android Theme Engine. As such, I'll simply highlight the rest of the options for you. Note that some of these options might not work on every different phone model and ROM, but I can show you the ones I've had success with on my Nexus 5 running stock Android.

Next, you can try enabling Quick Toggles Themes, but I haven't had much success with this option yet. The same goes for Wifi Themes, though I was able to get this one working on a Galaxy S5.

Next, if you head to the Framework tab, you can access even more theming options. Power Menu Icons will theme the icons that appear when you long-press the power button on your Nexus 5. Various themes are available that can change the look of the toggle switches throughout the OS, but some are not compatible with the Nexus 5.

If you head to the Miscellaneous tab, you'll find some of the more fun theming options. You can opt to Show Clock in Lock Screen Status Bar, and you can even change the color of the system clock that appears at the top of every screen, or hide it altogether.

Tick the box next to Enable Custom Text On Status Bar to open up the option that will allow you to type any text that will appear inside of your status bar. This text can be centered on the left edge of the status bar, or even replace the system clock.

When you're satisfied with your selections, tap the Refresh icon at the top of the screen. This will restart the System UI so that your changes can come into effect. Some options in Android Theme Engine theme elements outside of the System UI, so if you notice anything missing, you might have to perform a reboot.