How to change the desktop on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: from wallpaper to widgets

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 It is still a popular smartphone due to its balanced performance and flexible firmware. MIUI. However, many users have difficulty trying to customize the desktop, whether it’s changing wallpaper, adding widgets or changing icons. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to transform the home screen, including little-known chips. MIUI 9/10/11, Those who work on this model.

It's important to understand that the customization options depend on the firmware version. MIUI 12+ Super Wallpapers is available, but Redmi Note 5 doesn't officially support it, but it has unique features like Theme. → Animation effects that are missing from the new models, and we will look at both basic methods (through standard settings) and advanced methods using third-party launchers and hidden options. MIUI.

1. Standard wallpaper change via MIUI settings

The most obvious way to change the background of the desktop is to use built-in tools. On the Redmi Note 5, this is done through the Themes menu, which offers both static images and dynamic wallpaper with paralax effect.

• 📱 Long pressing on the free space of the desktop → pick Wallpaper.
• 🎨 In the bottom bar, switch between categories: Device (built-in wallpaper), Themes (online gallery) or Gallery (your photo).
• 🔍 For dynamic wallpaper tap on Live wallpaper - there are options with particle animation or weather effects.
• ✅ After selecting, click Apply and specify where to install the wallpaper: on the desktop, lock screen or both at once.

Please note: if you download wallpaper from the Topics section, it is automatically optimized for Redmi Note screen resolution. 5 (2160×1080). This prevents the image from stretching or cropping, but for best results, it is recommended to use your own photos with an aspect ratio. 18:9.

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To prevent wallpaper from moving when scrolling screens, turn off the paralax effect in Settings → Desktop → The effect of scrolling wallpaper.

V MIUI 10 and later, we have Automatic Wallpaper Change, which cycles the background according to the time of day:

1. Open Topics → Wallpaper. → Settings (cog icon).
2. Turn on the Automan switch and select the folder with images.
3. Set the interval (every 30 minutes, 1 hour or when unlocked).

2. Installation of third-party launchers: Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and others

If standard facilities MIUI You don't like it, you can completely replace the desktop shell with alternative launchers:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher - flexible customization of icons, gestures and animations. Supports iconpaks and adaptive wallpaper.
• 🪟 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, Continue on PC widget and minimalist design.
• 🎨 Action Launcher – unique chips like Shutters (fast actions when swiping on the icon) and Covers (hiding folders behind one icon).
• 🔄 Lawnchair is an open source launcher that mimics Google’s Pixel Launcher.

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click Home and select the new launcher as standard.
3. In the launcher settings (Long press) → Settings) configure screen markup, transitions and widgets.

On the Redmi Note 5 with MIUI 9 Some launchers may conflict with system animation, causing slowdowns. In this case, turn off Windows animation in Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

3. Customize widgets and shortcuts on the desktop

The widgets on the Redmi Note 5 allow you to quickly access information without opening apps, such as displaying weather, calendar, notes or a smart home control panel to add a widget:

1. Long press on the free space of the desktop → Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list and select the one you want (like Weather or Shortcuts).
3. Drag the widget onto the screen and adjust its size (stretch your fingers).

Some widgets have additional options, for example, in the Weather widget you can:

• 🌡️ Change the source of data (ACCWeather, Yahoo! or system).
• 📍 Specify several cities to display.
• 🎨 Choose a display style (minimalistic, detailed, with animation).

Weather (4×2) forecasted 5 days|

Control panel (3×1) quick access Wi-Fi/Bluetooth|

Notes (4×1) synchronized with Mi Account|

Calendar (4×3) mapping-->

If the widget doesn’t update automatically (for example, the weather shows outdated data), check:

• 🔄 Synchronization settings in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account.
• 📶 Internet connection (widgets require background traffic).
• 🔋 Battery Optimization: Add the widget app to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimization).

4. Change application icons without root rights

Standard. MIUI It doesn't allow you to change app icons directly, but there are workarounds.The most effective methods for the Redmi Note 5:

Method 1: Using icon packs in Nova Launcher

If you have installed Nova Launcher, you can apply the icon themes:

1. Download the icon pack from Google Play (such as Whicons or CandyCons).
2. Open the Nova settings → Icon style.
3. Select the downloaded pack and apply it.

Method 2: Manual replacement through labels

For individual icons:

1. Install the Icon Changer app (such as Awesome Icons).
2. Select the app you want to change the icon.
3. Upload a new image (at least resolution) 192×192 px).
4. Create a shortcut on your desktop – the original icon will remain in the app menu.

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When you manually replace icons through shortcuts, the original icons remain in the app menu. To hide them, use the Hide Apps feature in the launcher settings (available in Nova Launcher Premium).

On the Redmi Note 5 with MIUI 9 there is a bug: after changing icons through third-party apps, they can be reset after rebooting.To avoid this, turn off optimization for the launcher in the battery settings.

5. Hidden functions MIUI desktop-based

MIUI It contains some non-obvious features that allow you to customize the interface more deeply. These features are not documented, but run on the Redmi Note 5:

• 🔄 Double tap for sleep: activated in Settings → Desktop → Double tap to lock, allows you to lock the screen with a double tap over an empty space.
• 📂 Hidden folders: Create a folder, call it.nomedia (with a dot at the beginning) – it will disappear from the gallery, but will remain on the desktop.
• 🎯 Gestures on the desktop: in Settings → Additionally. → Gestures can be configured to swipe applications (for example, swipe up opens the camera).
• 🖼️ Transparency of the notification panel: in Settings → Screen. → Status bar enable Transparency for the effect of "immersive" display.

Another great thing is left-handed mode, which brings the navigation bar to the right side, which is convenient when you use one hand. → System system → Language and input → Left-handed mode.

For advanced users, there is an opportunity to change DPI (The pixel density of the screen, which affects the size of the icons and fonts, is done through the developer settings (Minimum width). 5 — 400-440 DPI.

Problems and Solutions: Why are changes not applied?

When customizing your desktop on Redmi Note 5, users often encounter common errors. Let's consider the most common and ways to fix them:

If after installing a third-party launcher, standard widgets are missing MIUI (For example, weather or calendar, this is because they're tied to a system launcher:

1. Return to the standard launcher (Settings) → Annexes → By default. → Launcher).
2. Add the widgets you need to the screen.
3. Activate the third-party launcher again - the widgets will remain in place.

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After the update MIUI Desktop settings have disappeared, reset the com.miui.home app cache via Settings → Annexes → Application management → All applications → Launcher (three-point icon) → Clear the cache).

7. Alternative methods: ADB and custom firmware

For users willing to go beyond standard settings, there are advanced ways to customize through ADB Or custom firmware installation, which requires technical skills and can affect warranty.

Change of system parameters through ADB

With the help of ADB (Android Debug Bridge) you can:

• 🔧 Change the number of icons on the screen.
• 🎨 Set system themes without restrictions.
• 🔄 Disable unnecessary animations.

Example of a command to increase the number of icons in the dock panel from 4 to 5:

adb shell settings put secure sysui_dock_icon_count 5

Attention, misuse ADB You can crash your system. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Installation of custom firmware (TWRP + Custom ROM)

Redmi Note 5 (codenamed Whyred) has firmware like:

• 🤖 LineageOS – pure Android without imposed features MIUI.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience – a shell that mimics the Google Pixel.
• 🔥 Havoc-OS – Maximum customization with Substratum support.

Installation process:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.
2. Install the custom TWRP recavator.
3. Sweep through the selected firmware and GApps (Google services).

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Before the firmware check compatibility ROM Redmi Note 5 (code whyred) Incompatible firmware can cause a device to fail.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a desktop