Smartphone personalization is not just a fashion nod, it’s a way to make interaction with the device more comfortable and visually enjoyable. Owners of devices based on MIUI and HyperOS often face the desire to replace standard, boring app icons with something brighter, concise or thematic. Fortunately, the shell from Xiaomi provides powerful tools for this without requiring the user to deep technical knowledge or obtain root rights.
There are several proven methods that allow you to completely transform the desktop, you can use the built-in theme store, third-party launchers or even system settings to replace individual interface elements, and it is important to understand that each method has its own peculiarities: some allow you to change everything at once, others give you complete control over each icon individually.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to replace graphical interface elements, and we will look at both the standard system tools and third-party solutions that will help you create a unique design. Whether you want to just refresh the view or completely change the style of navigation, you will find the right solution.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The easiest and safest way to change the look of a system is to use the regular Theme app, a pre-installed tool that is integrated into the MIUI shell on all of the brand’s smartphones, and it brings together thousands of off-the-shelf solutions, where icons are already matched in a single style, ensuring visual integrity of the interface.
To get started, open the app and go to the Topics section. At the top of the screen, you'll see a search bar or categories. Enter a query like "iOS," "Minimal" or "Black" to find the appropriate style. After selecting a theme, pay attention to the preview: usually developers show what icons will look like after installation.
- 📱 Ready-made solutions: thousands of options from the community and official designers.
- 🎨 Components: the ability to download only icons without changing wallpaper and fonts.
- 🔄 Automation: Changes are applied in one click without rebooting.
However, it is worth considering that not all themes change absolutely all icons. Some applications may remain with a standard look if the theme author did not draw them specifically, in which case the system will automatically substitute a standard icon, which can disrupt the overall harmony.
⚠️ Note: When installing themes from unofficial sources or third-party stores, the risk of getting malware increases significantly.Use only the built-in app or proven resources.
Application of third-party launchers
If the built-in capabilities seem limited, third-party launchers will come to the rescue. These are shell programs that completely replace the standard MIUI desktop. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Smart Launcher or Lawnchair provide incredible flexibility in customization.
Once you install the launcher from Google Play, you will need to assign it to the primary.The Xiaomi system can warn you of potential risks several times or limit some features to save energy, so you will need to confirm the selection in the App's default menu.
The main advantage of third-party launchers is the ability to edit each icon individually. You can long-term click on any icon, select Change and upload your image from the gallery or choose from a huge library of icon packages.
- 🖼️ Icon Packages: Support for thousands of sets from the Play Store.
- ⚙️ Deep tuning: changing the size of the grid, indentations and animations.
- 📂 Folders and Groups: Creating Complex Structures for Sorting Applications.
It’s worth noting that using a third-party launcher can slightly increase power consumption, as the system has to keep two interfaces running: the system and the user interface, but on modern Snapdragon or MediaTek processors, this difference is almost invisible.
☑️ Set up a third-party launcher
Replace individual icons through settings
The new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have a long-awaited feature that allows you to change application icons without installing third-party software, which is ideal for those who want to replace just a few icons that are out of style without changing the entire launcher.
To use this feature, go to your smartphone Settings. Find Desktop or Themes (location may vary depending on the firmware version) and see the option of Set of icons or edit system icons.
This method is especially useful if you use a standard theme, but a particular application, such as Telegram or WhatsApp, has a too bright or not suitable design for you.
- 🛠️ Security: System method does not require additional software installation.
- ⚡ Performance: does not affect the speed of the smartphone.
- 🎯 Precision: The ability to change only what is really annoying.
Unfortunately, the list of available replacement applications may be limited to system rules or the region in which the smartphone is released, and in global versions of firmware, functionality is sometimes reduced compared to Chinese counterparts.
What to do if the right option is not on the menu?
Use of icon packs (Icon Packs)
Icon packs are specialty graphics sets designed by designers for mass use, and unlike those, they don't change wallpaper, widgets or fonts, but only the visual design of applications.
You can find these packages on Google Play by asking for "Icon Pack." Once you install the package, you need to activate it, either through the settings of the package itself or through a third-party launcher that supports this feature. Many users create their own sets using graphics editors.
Minimalistic black and white sets are gaining popularity, as well as stylization for old operating systems or game universes, installing such a package is a great way to breathe new life into an old smartphone without complex flashing.
| Package name | Style. | Number of icons | Price. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whicons | Minimalism (White) | 1200+ | Free of charge. |
| LineX | Linear | 3500+ | Paid. |
| CandyCons | Flat (Flat) | 4000+ | Free of charge. |
| Delta | Material design | 2800+ | Free of charge. |
When selecting a package, pay attention to the date of the last update. If the developer has not released new icons for a long time, popular modern applications may not display correctly or remain as standard.
Advanced Customization: Shortcuts and Shortcuts
For users who like full control, there is a method of creating shortcuts. With special applications like X Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker, you can create a new link to the app with any picture and any name.
The idea is that you create a trick for the system, you take an image from the Internet, you label it, and you choose to launch the application, and you create a new icon on your desktop that leads to the old address.
Creation process:
1. Open the application for creating shortcuts.
2. Select the target application.
3. Upload the image (PNG with transparency).
4. Save the label on the desktop.This is the most time-consuming way, because every icon needs to be manually processed, but the result is worth it: you get a completely unique interface that no one else has, and it's ideal for creating themed desktops, like cyberpunk or retro.
⚠️ Note: If you delete the application that you have led the shortcut, the manually created icon will stop working, it will have to be deleted and recreated after reinstalling the program.
💡
Use PNG images with transparent backgrounds to create shortcuts, which will allow icons to look beautiful on any wallpaper without creating a “square spot” effect.
Compatibility issues and visual artifacts
Users often face challenges in customization, and the standard MIUI shell is known for aggressive memory optimization, which can cause third-party launchers to periodically “fly out” returning you to a standard desktop.
To avoid this, you need to set permissions correctly. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your launcher and in the Permissions section, enable autostart and work in the background. Also turn off battery savings for this application.
Another common problem is size mismatch: icons from third-party packages can be too big or small for Xiaomi grid. Launcher settings usually have a scale slider that allows you to adjust the size to system standards.
- 🔋 Energy consumption: complex animated icons plant battery faster.
- 📉 Performance: On older models, an abundance of widgets and launchers can cause lags.
- 🖥️ Resolution: on high-resolution screens DPI (2K, 4K) quality PNG They look better than vectors. SVG.
If you notice that the phone started to work slower after installing the theme, try turning off the live wallpaper and complex transition animations. Often, it is graphical excesses that cause interface brakes.
💡
The stability of the third-party launcher on Xiaomi directly depends on the correct energy saving settings and permissions in the system.