App icons on Xiaomi smartphones are the first thing that catches your eye when you unlock the screen. Standard design from MIUI is not popular: some want originality, some want minimalism, and some just get tired of uniformity. Fortunately, the manufacturer and third-party developers offer several ways to customize. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods — from simple themes to manual editing through ADB — that work on Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi flagships 13/14.
It's important to understand that the possibilities for change depend on the firmware version. For example, MIUI 14 has dynamic icon support, but older versions (before MIUI 12.5) may not have some features. Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights — we'll specify where you need it separately. If you're a beginner, start with the first three ways — they don't require technical skills.
Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you avoid mistakes when choosing a method. And if you like experiments, prepare for the fact that some changes may reset after a system update - this is normal for Xiaomi.
Method 1: Using the built-in MIUI themes
The easiest and safest way to change icons is to use one of the official themes. Xiaomi offers thousands of free and paid options, many of which change not only icons, but also fonts, wallpaper, animations. This method does not require root rights and works on all devices with MIUI 11 and later.
To change the subject:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
- 🔍 In the search bar, type in a query, such as “minimalism,” “dark icons,” or «3D pin».
- 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click "Apply." The icons will change automatically.
- 💰 Pay attention to paid themes – some cost from 50 to 300 rubles, but there are often promotions.
If the icons haven’t changed after you’ve applied the theme, check the launcher settings: go to Settings → Desktop → Icon Style and select Themes as the source. Some themes also support adaptive icons, which can be included in the same menu.
⚠️ Note: After resetting settings or updating MIUI To avoid this, save your favorite topic to your favorites (heart icon in the Topics app»).
Method 2: Installation of a third-party launcher
If you don't have enough built-in themes, you can install an alternative launcher, popular options like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, and Hyperion Launcher (optimized for Xiaomi), which not only allow you to change icons, but also customize gestures, hide apps, resize your desktop grid.
Instructions for setting up Nova Launcher:
- Download Nova Launcher from Google Play.
- Set the launcher as the main one: when you first start, click "Always" in the selection window.
- Press your finger on the free desktop space → “Settings” → “Icon Style”.
- Choose one of the icon packages offered (such as Whicons or Moonshine).
For deeper customization, download individual icon packs (like CandyCons or Delta) and apply them to the launcher settings. Some packages support masking – where all icons take on the same style, even if the application does not have its own version in the package.
Download the launcher APK (if there is no Google Play)
Make a backup copy of the current desktop
Check compatibility with the Android version
Disable battery optimization for launcher-->
If you have lags after installing the launcher, try disabling animations in the performance settings (Settings → Additional → For Developers → Animation). Also, some launchers conflict with MIUI Optimization - in this case, disabling this feature through ADB can help (read about this in method 4).
Method 3: Manually modifying icons through the “Badge Editor”
MIUI 12.5 and later has built-in icon editing without third-party apps, which allows you to change icons individually, but doesn't work with all apps, and this method is ideal if you only need to change 2-3 icons, not all at once.
How to edit icons manually:
- 🖼️ Press your finger on the icon of the application you want to change.
- 📝 In the menu that appears, select “Edit” (pencil icon).
- 🎨 Click on the app icon → «Change» → Select a new image from the gallery.
- 💾 Save the changes. The icon will be updated on the desktop.
Limitations of this method:
- ❌ Does not work with system applications (such as Settings or Phone).
- ❌ The changes only apply to the shortcut on the desktop, not to all copies of the icon (for example, in the app menu).
- ❌ When resetting settings or updating MIUI change may be reset.
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If you want the new icon to be displayed in the app menu, create a duplicate shortcut: press the icon → Copy, then edit the copy.
Method 4: Changing icons through ADB (for advanced)
This is a good way for those who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to change the icons of system applications that are not available for editing by standard methods. Attention: incorrect ADB commands can cause MIUI to malfunction, so follow the instructions carefully.
What you'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press "Version" MIUI» → return to "Settings" → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 📁 Folder with new icons in.png format (size recommended) 192×192 pixel).
Step-by-step:
- Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the command to copy the original icons (example for the Settings app): adb pull /system/app/Settings/Settings.apk This will create a backup copy. APK-PC-file.
- Use the APK Editor program (such as APKTool) to edit icons in the Settings.apk file.
- Once you have replaced the icons, reassemble the APK and install it back: adb install -r Settings.apk
⚠️ Attention: Systemic change APK-File files can lead to bootloop. Before experimenting, create a full backup through the TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.
If you don’t want to take risks, you can change the icons only for the current user through the command:
adb shell pm grant com.android.launcher3 android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSThis will allow the launcher (like Nova) to change the system icons without editing the APK.
Method 5: Using the Xposed Framework (requires root)
For the most experienced root-rights users, the Xposed method is available, which allows for the flexibility of customizing icons, including dynamic change depending on the time of day or the theme of the design, but this method only works on devices with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed.
Required components:
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader and root rights (instructions for Xiaomi are available on the Internet) XDA Developers).
- 📦 Installed Xposed Framework (version for your Android).
- 🎯 Xposed Icon Changer or GravityBox.
How to change icons through Xposed:
- Install GravityBox [MM] via Magisk Manager.
- Restart your phone and open the GravityBox app.
- Go to Media Tweaks → Icon Packs.
- Select an icon package (like Ninja or Lines) and apply the changes.
Advantages of this method:
- ✅ It works with all applications, including system.
- ✅ Supports dynamic icons (color change depending on wallpaper).
- ✅ You can adjust the size, shadow and animation of icons.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Requires root, which deprives of warranty and can cause problems with the MIUI OTA-update.
- ❌ Some Xposed modules conflict with Google Pay and banking apps.
What if the phone does not turn on after installing Xposed?
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To make it easier for you to decide, we've put together the main pros and cons of each method in the table: Focus on your skills and goals: if you need to quickly and safely choose themes or launchers; if you want complete control, you'll have to deal with ADB or Xposed.
| Method | Difficulty | Need root? | Does it work with system icons? | Risk of failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI's built-in themes | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | ❌ Partially. | ⭐ (low-key) |
| Third-party launchers | ⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ❌ No. | ❌ No (only labels) | ⭐ (low-key) |
| MIUI badge editor | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⭐ (low-key) |
| ADB (replacement of APK) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ❌ No, but you do. ADB) | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐ (high-end) |
| Xposed Framework | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (high-pitched) |
If you’re a beginner, start with MIUI or Nova Launcher. These methods don’t require technical knowledge and are easy to roll back. For power users, the best option is ADB (if you don’t want to lose your warranty) or Xposed (if the warranty is no longer important).
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On devices with MIUI 14 and later, some system icons are blocked for change even through ADB. In this case, only a complete flashing with a modified theme will help.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When you change your icons to Xiaomi, users often encounter common mistakes, and we've collected the most common ones and ways to fix them.
Problem 1: After applying the theme, the icons have not changed.
- 🔹 Check if the Theme mode is enabled in the launcher settings (Settings) → Desktop → Badge style).
- 🔹 Restart your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.
- 🔹 Remove the cache of the “Themes” application (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Clear the cache).
Problem 2: The launcher (Nova, Apex) is either lagging or flying out.
- 🔹 Turn off animations in the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers → Animation. = Off.).
- 🔹 Clear the launcher cache and reboot the phone.
- 🔹 Try another launcher - some are poorly optimized for MIUI.
Problem 3: After editing through ADB, the phone doesn’t turn on.
- 🔹 Go to Fastboot Mode (Food) + Loudness down) and re-show the original boot.img:
- 🔹 If this doesn’t work, do a full reset via the Mi Flash Tool (PC required).
Problem 4: The icons dropped after the MIUI update.
- 🔹 This is normal behavior – Xiaomi resets customization with major updates.
- 🔹 Save theme settings to your favorites or export the launcher config (in Nova Launcher this is done through Backup»).