How to Change Icons on Xiaomi: From Standard Themes to Manual Replacement via ADB

Not all Xiaomi users like standard MIUI icons, some want to refresh the interface, some want to make it more minimalistic, and some just get tired of the same icons after updating the firmware. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several ways to change them, from simple built-in tools to advanced methods for power users.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to change icons on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones - from installing ready-made themes from the Mi Theme Store to manually editing system files via ADB. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12-15) and smartphone models, and also tell you how to avoid typical customization errors.

1. Standard way: using themes from the Mi Theme Store

The easiest and safest method is to install ready-made themes from the official Mi Theme Store, which doesn't require root rights or technical skills, and the result is instantaneous. Here's how it works:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush) on the home screen.
• 🔍 In the search box, type a query, for example: “minimalist icons», «3D Icons or "dark icons».
• 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply. Icons, wallpapers and even fonts will change automatically.
• ⚙️ To apply only icons, not the whole theme, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. → Icons.

Note that some themes may be paid (between 50 and 300 rubles), but most free options look just as good, and MIUI 14/15 also introduced the “Mix Theme” feature, which allows you to combine icons from one theme with wallpaper from another.

Installation of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Hyperion)

If you don't like the built-in themes, you can install a launcher from Google Play, popular options are Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher and Hyperion Launcher, which allow you not only to change icons, but also to customize animations, gestures and even hide unnecessary applications.

Instructions for setting:

1. Download a launcher (like Nova Launcher) from Google Play.
2. Run it and select it as the default launcher (the system will prompt you to do this automatically).
3. Go to the launcher settings (Long click on the desktop → Settings).
4. In the Appearance section, select the Icon Style and download the icon pack (e.g. Whicons, Fluxo or Minima).
5. Apply changes – the icons will be updated immediately.

The advantage of this method is that you get full control over the interface, including icon size, indentations, and even folder shape. The disadvantage is that some system icons (such as Settings or Phone) can remain unchanged if the icon pack does not support them.

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In Nova Launcher, you can configure adaptive icons – they will automatically adapt to the form of the selected pack, even if there is no exact match for any application.

3. Manually modifying icons via ADB (for power users)

This is a way for those who are willing to dive into technical details, and it allows you to replace any system icons, including those that do not change through themes or launchers.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Xiaomi drivers.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
• 🔧 Root rights (not necessarily, but simplifies the process).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute a command to check the connection: Adb devices Make sure the device appears in the list.
2. Download the icon pack in.png format (the resolution must match the original, usually 108x108 or 192x192).
3. Use the command to extract system icons (example for the Settings icon): adb pull /system/app/Settings/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_settings.png
4. Replace the original file with your own and download back: adb push new_icon.png /system/app/Settings/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_settings.png
5. Reboot your smartphone.

Important: Incorrect actions through ADB can cause system failure. Always back up the original files before replacing them.

4.Magisk modules (root required)

If your smartphone has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk is installed, you can use special modules to replace the icons.

• 🔄 MiuiHome Mod – allows you to customize the launcher MIUI, including icons, animations and gestures.
• 🎨 Iconify is a universal module for replacing icons at the system level (works even with system applications).
• 🔧 Xiaomi.eu Customizer – a set of tools for deep customization MIUI, including icons, fonts and statusbars.

How to install the module:

1. Download the module file (usually in.zip format) from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click Install Module and select the downloaded file.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

Warning: Not all modules are compatible with the latest versions of MIUI 14/15. Check user reviews on thematic forums before installing.

5. Change icons via APK editor (for individual applications)

If you only need to change an icon for one particular app, you can use an APK editor, such as APK Editor, which does not require root rights, but has limitations: the modified app will have to be installed manually, and updates through Google Play can reset the icon.

Instructions:

1. Download APK Editor from Google Play.
2. Select the application you want to change and click the APK Select.
3. In the editor go to the Resources section → Drawable and find the icon file (usually ic_launcher.png or ic_launcher_foreground.png).
4. Replace the file with your own (the resolution must match!).
5. Save the changes and install the modified APK.

Note that this method is only suitable for third-party applications. System applications (for example, Camera or Calls) will not be changed this way - root or ADB will be required.

6. Reset icons to standard settings

If, after experimenting with themes or launchers, icons start to show up incorrectly (for example, some icons are lost or become pixelated), you can return everything to factory settings.

Importantly, if you used ADB or Magisk to replace your system icons, resetting through the settings won’t return the original files, in which case you’ll have to manually restore backups or reflash your smartphone.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you change your icons to Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• ❌ Icons don’t change after the topic is applied 🔹 Check if your smartphone model supports the theme you choose (some themes only work on flagships). 🔹 Clear the app cache Themes (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Clear the cache).
• ❌ The side of the icon looks blurry 🔹 Make sure that the resolution of the new icons is consistent with the original (usually the original) 108x108 or 192x192 for MIUI). 🔹 Use.png icons with transparent background.
• ❌ After updating MIUI Icons dropped 🔹 This is normal system behavior after major updates (e.g., with a MIUI 13 on MIUI (14) Themes and launchers may be dropped. 🔹 Save your favorite icon packs to your device to quickly restore them after the update.

Make sure you have enough space (minimum 500MB)

Make a backup copy of important data

Check the compatibility of the theme/launcher with your version of MIUI

Turn off battery optimization for launcher (if using a third-party)

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If none of the methods worked, perhaps the problem lies in the manufacturer’s limitations, for example, on some POCO models with MIUI for POCO, some customization functions are disabled, in which case you only have to wait for updates or consider alternative firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions