Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is one of the most popular ways to make the use of the gadget more comfortable and aesthetic. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often face the desire to replace standard icons of programs with more original or thematic options. The MIUI shell provides ample opportunities for visual tuning, but the process of changing icons has its own nuances that are not always obvious to beginners.
Unlike standard Android, where third-party launchers are often required to change the appearance, Xiaomi’s ecosystem allows for deep customization with regular means. You can completely change the visual style of the system by downloading a finished theme, or you can point-to-point replace the icon of a particular application through settings, which gives the user the flexibility to choose between global changes and point settings.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods for replacing graphical interface elements. We will look at working with an official theme store, manually setting shortcuts and using third-party applications for advanced users. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to create a unique desktop design that will reflect your personal style.
Use of the official MIUI theme store
The easiest and safest way to change the look of icons is to use the built-in Themes app, which is an integral part of the MIUI shell and contains thousands of free and paid designs, each theme includes a set of icons, wallpaper, sounds and widgets, which ensures the integrity of the visual style of the system.
To get started, you need to run the Themes app on your smartphone. In the main menu, you will see sections with popular designs and categories. If you are interested in changing only icons, you should use a search or filter. Type a keyword into the search bar, such as "iOS icons" or "Neon" to find the corresponding packages.
Once you have selected the right theme, click Download and then Apply. The system will tell you which components of the theme you want to activate. It's important to be careful: if you want to save your wallpaper and sounds, just tick the icons against it. This will introduce a new style of icons without touching.
After the changes are applied, the desktop will reboot, and you will see an updated view of all supported applications.
⚠️ Note: Not all apps support automatic icon replacement through themes. System programs and popular social networks change 99% of the time, but rare or specific apps may remain with a standard icon.
Manual replacement of icons for a specific application
If you don't like any of the themes you've got ready for you, but you want to change the icon of a particular program, MIUI lets you do it manually. This method is ideal for those who want to create a mix of different styles or highlight frequently used applications. The process does not require root rights and is executed through a standard settings menu.
To get started, look up the app shortcut on your desktop that you want to change. Click on it and hold your finger until the context menu appears. In the action list, select Change the icon. A gallery of available options will open, including standard icons from the current theme and additional sets if they were previously downloaded.
In the window that opens, you'll see a list of all the graphics available, pick your favorite and confirm the action, the changes will take effect instantly, and this is especially useful when you need to visually highlight important contacts or work tools.
☑️ Pre-replacement checks
It is worth noting that the set of available manually replaced icons depends on the theme currently active. If the list does not contain the desired image, first apply the theme that contains the style you want, and then make a manual replacement for individual applications.
Creating custom icons through the Gallery
For users looking for maximum uniqueness, Xiaomi’s shell offers the feature of creating your own shortcuts.You can use any image from your Gallery as an icon for the app.This allows you to use photos, brand logos or any other graphics files.
The process starts in the same way as the previous method: long-click on the app shortcut and select the item Change the icon. However, at the bottom of the screen or in a special section of the icon gallery, you need to find a button to add a new image (usually indicated by the plus or the word "Gallery").
The system will suggest selecting a photo from the device's memory, and then you can select the image, and you can do basic editing, framing, reshaping (circle, square, rounded square) and filtering, which gives you complete control over the shortcut's appearance.
Path to setup: Desktop → Long-pressed shortcut → Change icon → Gallery → Selection of photo → Trimming → OKUsing custom images can slightly increase the RAM consumption of the launcher, as the system needs to render unique graphics. However, on modern models of Redmi and Poco, this effect is almost imperceptible in everyday use.
Application of third-party launchers for deep customization
MIUI is powerful, but sometimes not enough, and in such cases, third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher come to the rescue, replacing the desktop entirely, providing limitless options for customizing icons, desktop grids and animations.
After installing a third-party launcher from Google Play, you need to assign it to the main one. Xiaomi will ask permission to use the new launcher by default. After that, you will get access to the settings of the new interface, where you can download icon packages (.apk or through built-in launcher stores).
One of the main advantages of third-party launchers is the ability to batch icons. You can download a pack of thousands of icons and apply it to all applications at once, and the missing ones are replaced manually. In addition, many launchers allow you to create shortcuts folders with their own design.
| Launcher | Flexibility of setting | RAM consumption | Sign support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Tall. | Average. | Complete. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Medium | Low. | Basic |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Automatic. | Optimal. | Expanded |
| NIAGARA | Minimalistic. | Minimum | Simplified |
⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers on MIUI You may have problems with the control gestures (return swipes or menus) and it is recommended to switch to the classic three-button management or adjust the gestures in the launcher itself.
Setting up the display and size of icons in MIUI
When icons change style, you often need to adjust their size and location on your desktop, and Xiaomi has a separate desktop settings menu that allows you to customize the interface to any screen size and user preferences.
To get into the menu, pinch your two fingers on your desktop (put your fingers together) or tap and hold the empty area. In the lower corner, a Settings button (cog) will appear. Here you can change the desktop grid from 4x6 to 5x7, for example, which will make the icons smaller and allow you to host more applications.
Also available on this menu is the option of Enlarged Icons, which if you activate this feature, all the icons of the applications will become larger, and the captions under them may disappear or decrease, which is useful for users with reduced vision or for those who prefer a minimalist design with large elements.
Why do icons look blurry?
Remember that changing the size of the grid can confuse the location of the widgets. After zooming the icons, check if the widgets of weather, watches and news are displayed correctly, and if necessary, correct their position.
Solving problems when changing icons
Users may face a variety of challenges in personalization, and one of the common problems is when the icon has changed in the app menu but remains old in the folder or widget, which is due to the system caching graphic elements.
To solve the problem, try restarting your smartphone. If that doesn't work, clear the Themes app cache and System Launcher. You can do this through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps. Find the right app, go to Memory and click Clear Cache.
Another problem is that there is no "Change icon" button with a long press, which can happen if the "Simple Mode" mode is activated or if a third-party launcher is used that intercepts control, in which case you need to go back to the standard MIUI launcher or look for settings inside the third-party launcher itself.
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Tip: If you change themes frequently, back up your desktop settings through your Mi Account. This will quickly restore the familiar location of the icons after resetting or flashing.
Also, consider that some MIUI system updates can reset customization and return a standard set of icons. After a major system update (for example, switching from MIUI 13 to 14), it is recommended to recheck the applied themes.
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Key takeaway: Most icon-change problems are solved by rebooting the device or cleaning the launcher cache. Icon compatibility depends primarily on the quality of the theme itself, not the smartphone model.