How to Increase Shortcuts on Xiaomi Desktop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users great flexibility in the interface setting. However, the standard size of icons and text can be uncomfortable for people with visual impairments or simply for those who prefer large controls. Increasing shortcuts is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to make interaction with the device more productive.

In this article, we'll go into detail about all the available methods for scaling interface elements, how to resize your desktop grid, enlarge the font throughout the system, and use built-in accessibility features. It's important to understand that menu item names may vary slightly from one firmware to another, but the logic of the action remains the same.

Resizing the desktop grid

The easiest and most effective way to make icons bigger is to change the density of their location. By default, the system tends to fit as many apps as possible on the screen, making them small. Changing the grid configuration automatically scales all application shortcuts.

To do this, you need to pinch the empty area on the desktop with your finger. You will see the bottom menu where you need to select the Settings item (or the gear icon). Next, find the Grid Size (or Layout) section. Here you will be offered options, for example, 4x6, 5x6 or 6x9. By choosing a option with fewer cells (for example, 4x5 or 4x6), you force the size of each icon to increase.

It's worth noting that changing the grid only affects the desktop, and inside folders or in the App Drawer menu, icon sizes can remain the same, as they often use a fixed display algorithm, but this is the most effective method for quickly accessing frequently used programs.

Adjust font size and display

Often the problem is not just the size of the labels themselves, but the captions underneath them, and if the text is too small, the user has to peer, which causes eye fatigue, and a global resizing of the font will solve this problem.

Go to the Settings menu, then select the Screen (or Display) section. Find Text Size and Display. Here you will see a slider that changes the size of the font throughout the system, including application names, settings menus and messages. Scaling text automatically makes the area under the icon larger, which visually enlarges the entire element.

The menu also often features the option of Display Element Size (or DPI), which, unlike a simple font, increases all graphical interface elements: buttons, input fields, indentations and, of course, application icons, which is the most powerful tool for people with poor eyesight.

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After changing the DPI, it may be necessary to restart the smartphone so that all applications correctly display the new interface scale.

Use of the simple regime

Xiaomi and Redmi have a special mode designed specifically for older people or users who have difficulty seeing small details, which radically changes the interface, making it as large and clear as possible.

To activate it, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Simple Mode (in some versions of MIUI it is immediately in the main settings menu or in the Screen section). Once turned on, the interface is transformed: the icons become huge, occupying a significant part of the screen, the font increases to maximum values, and unnecessary visual effects are removed.

In this mode, the desktop is simplified to a minimum. Usually only the most necessary applications are available, and navigation is carried out through large buttons. The simple mode is ideal for temporary use or for transferring the phone to children and older generations, since the risk of accidentally removing an important application or getting confused in the menu is reduced to zero.

Functions of special opportunities for visually impaired

If standard settings are not enough, Android offers deep accessibility tools that not only increase shortcuts, but also customize the behavior of the system to the specific needs of the user.

In Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Options (or Accessibility) you can find zoom in, which allows you to use an on-screen magnifier or set volume buttons to zoom in on a specific area of the screen, and it doesn't change the size of the icons all the time, but it allows you to quickly see the item you want.

Also worth paying attention to the Contrast and Color Inversion settings. While they don't change the physical size of shortcuts, high contrast makes icon boundaries clearer, making it easier to find them in a motley background. Turning on the Delete Animations option also helps focus on the content, making transitions between screens sharper and clearer.

Application of themes and third-party launchers

Xiaomi’s standard launcher is good, but sometimes its customization capabilities aren’t enough. Themes store features designs that were originally designed with large icons and widgets.

When searching for a topic, look for screenshots in the description. Many authors create themes in the style of Big Icons or Elderly Mode. Installing such a theme will replace not only wallpaper, but also system icons with larger and brighter counterparts, and can change the widget of the watch and calendar to more readable.

If the built-in tools don’t satisfy, you can install a third-party launcher from Google Play, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, in their settings you can manually set the grid size to within millimeters, change the size of the signature font regardless of the system, and even create separate shortcuts-widgets of any size.

⚠️ Note: When installing themes from unverified sources or third-party launchers, be careful with permissions.Some themes may contain ads or request access to personal data, which poses a threat to the security of your account.

Solution and resetting of settings

Sometimes, after updating the firmware or installing a new theme, the display settings can get lost, the icons become microscopic or overlap, in which case resetting the launcher settings helps.

Go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find System Launcher (or Launcher) in the list. Click Clear → Reset. This will return the grid and dimensions to factory values, after which you can reconfigure the comfortable scale.

If the problem is software-based and not solved by standard methods, it may be the cache of the system that is to blame: Clearing the cache through the Recovery Mode menu or simply restarting the device often eliminates visual interface bugs.

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Resetting launcher settings is a secure procedure that won’t delete your apps or personal files, but will return the original look to the desktop.

⚠️ Note: Do not set the grid resolution too low (e.g, 3x3) on low-resolution screens, as this can cause some interface elements to go beyond the visible area of the screen.