Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer users a huge opportunity for personalization, allowing you to turn a standard interface into a unique visual experience. Often a standard set of graphic elements seems boring or does not fit into the overall style you want to create on your device. Changing the appearance of the desktop is the first step to ensure that the gadget truly reflects your personality and mood.
The procedure for replacing the graphical designations of applications on the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS can seem confusing due to the presence of many hidden settings. Unlike “pure” Android, there are peculiarities of working with system themes and access restrictions. However, by understanding the mechanisms of the work of Tems and third-party launchers, you will have complete control over the visual component of your smartphone.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can change your icons, from the built-in store to advanced methods using third-party software. You will learn how to avoid the typical errors when installing modified packages and which tools are the safest for the system.
Use of the built-in Themes application
The easiest and safest way to diversify the visual range is to use the Themes' regular app, which is pre-installed on every device in the brand. It doesn't require Root superuser rights and is fully approved by the developers. It has thousands of free and paid designs, both officially and independently created.
To get started, you need to launch the app and go to the Profile tab located at the bottom right of the screen. Here you are interested in the Themes section, where you store all the designs you downloaded. Choose your favorite theme, click Apply, and then select the option Set up the theme. In the menu that opens, you can leave only a set of icons, removing wallpaper and other items if you do not need them.
⚠️ Warning: When installing themes from unofficial sources or third-party stores, always check author rating. Some modified packages may contain ads or incorrectly display on new versions of HyperOS.
It is important to note that not all themes support full graphics replacement for all installed applications. Some system utilities may remain in the standard style, which creates a visual imbalance. In such cases, it is recommended to search for themes marked Full Icon Pack or create your own sets through the editor built into the application.
- 🎨 Thousands of free designs available in online catalog
- 🔄 The ability to change style quickly in one click
- 🛡️ Installation security without risk to the system
- ⚙️ Flexible configuration of individual design elements
Setup through third-party launchers
If standard MIUI shell capabilities seem limited, third-party launchers will come to the rescue, special desktop replacement apps that completely change the logic of interaction with the interface and provide access to thousands of icon sets from Google Play.
Once you install the launcher and assign it to the default, the replacement process becomes elementary. You need to go to the settings of the new desktop, find the option Appearance or Icon Style and select the option Library of icons. The system will prompt you to select one of the packages installed, after which the graphics of all applications will change automatically if they are in the database of the selected set.
The feature of using third-party shells is the ability to manually replace the image for each individual application. You can long-term click on the icon, select to modify and specify any picture from the gallery or download a separate.png file. This allows you to create truly unique combinations, combining elements from different styles.
☑️ Check before installing the launcher
Manual replacement of individual icons
Sometimes the user needs to replace the graphics for only one particular application that is out of style. In Xiaomi shells, this can be done without installing additional programs, using the renaming or shortcut function. However, a more reliable way is to use widgets or special utilities to create shortcuts.
Create a new shortcut on your desktop by selecting the shortcut option in the widget menu (or use the Add shortcut function in the editing menu). When you select a shortcut application, the system will prompt you to change its name and, most importantly, the graphic image. Click on the current picture and select a pre-prepared high-quality PNG file from the gallery.
Keep in mind that the shortcut created in this way is technically a separate entity, and if you delete the main application, the shortcut will stop working, and if you update the program, its icon in the application menu will remain the same, but your custom version will show off on the desktop, which creates a certain trade-off between aesthetics and functionality.
| Method | Difficulty | Flexibility | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex Topics | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Tall. | Minimum |
| Hand-substituted | Tall. | Maximum | Absent. |
| Modified APKs | Very high. | Complete. | High-pitched |
Where to get quality images for icons?
Working with icon sets from Google Play
Google Play is full of customized apps that contain only graphics sets. Popular series like LineX, CandyCons or Whicons offer hundreds of unified images, and once installed, it automatically integrates into the system and becomes available for selection in launchers or theme editors.
Many of these sets work on the principle of dynamic generation: if a particular application does not have an icon, the system applies a special filter or mask to its standard logo to fit it into the overall style, which solves the problem of “white spots” when some programs remain with native graphics.
When choosing a suite, pay attention to the number of supported apps (as described in the description) and the regularity of updates. Developers often add support for new versions of popular social networks and instant messengers. It is also worth checking compatibility with your version of Android, as old packages may not work correctly on Android 13/14.
⚠️ Note: Some paid icon sets may not display previews in the launcher settings until you purchase.Use free analogs or demos to test the style before you buy.
Compatibility issues in HyperOS
With the release of HyperOS, Xiaomi has made a number of changes to the interface architecture, including theme management, and users have noticed that some of the older themes that were used on MIUI 14 may be misused or cause desktop malfunctions, due to changing paths to system resources and new security requirements.
The new shell has increased control over changing system files, and if you try to use modified themes that are not from the official store, the system can block their use or automatically roll back changes after a reboot, a security mechanism that prevents malicious code from being introduced through the registration resources.
For owners of HyperOS devices, it is recommended to use only those themes that are marked “Compatible” in the store. If the desired design is only available in the old version, try to find its updated fork from the community. Often enthusiasts quickly adapt popular themes to the new requirements of the system.
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If the signature under the icons disappeared after applying the theme, try to find the item “Hide application names” in the theme settings and switch it. Sometimes resetting the launcher cache through the system settings helps.
Advanced methods and modification of system files
For experienced users who are not afraid to work with system partitions, there is a method of direct replacement of files in the /system/media/theme directory. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and Root rights. It allows you to embed any icons at a deep level, making them part of the system, not just an add-on.
The process involves finding the original icons.miui file or similar resource archive, unpacking it, replacing the desired images and backup. An error at any stage can lead to a bootloop or the disappearance of all icons. So make sure to create a full backup of the System partition before starting work.
Magisk is a safer alternative to direct file editing, and there are ready-made modules that replace system resources when booting without affecting the original partition, making it easy to roll back changes in case of problems by simply removing the module through the manager.
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Direct editing of system files is the best, but it requires high skill, and 95% of users have enough third-party launchers and official themes.