How to change the desktop on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: from wallpaper to deep customization

The desktop of your smartphone is the business card of your device, the first thing you see when you unlock. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro with the MIUI shell, customization is limited only by your imagination: from simple wallpaper change to complete interface redesign with launchers and themes. But many users face problems - there are some options in standard settings, some changes are reset after the update. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to change the desktop, including hidden features of MIUI 12/13/14 and bypass system restrictions.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro features its MediaTek Helio G90T processor, which places some restrictions on third-party launchers (such as animation lags), and we’ll take this into account in the guidelines. We’ll also look at how to avoid typical errors: why new wallpapers don’t apply, how to return the standard look after unsuccessful experiments, and what to do if app icons are lost after a change of the theme.

1. Standard wallpaper change via MIUI

The easiest way to upgrade your desktop is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which don't require additional apps to be installed, and all changes will persist even after you reboot your device, but there's a limitation: you can only change the background, but not the location of icons or menu style.

To replace the wallpaper:

1. Touch and hold any free space on your desktop with your finger.
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear toolbar – select the item “Wallpaper”**.
3. The system will offer options: “Gallery” (your photo), “Themes” (built-in wallpaper) or “Live wallpaper”** (animated).
4. Select your favorite background and click “Apply”**. the system will ask if you want to install wallpaper only on the desktop, only on the lock screen or on both screens.

If you want to use your own image but it doesn’t fit the resolution, MIUI will automatically crop it under the Redmi Note 8 Pro screen (resolution 2340×1080). To avoid distortion, crop the photo in the proportion of 19.5:9 (for example, in the Google Photos app).

💡

If the wallpaper looks blurry, try turning off the Adaptive Brightness option in the screen settings – sometimes it affects image rendering.

MIUI 14 has introduced Super Wallpaper, a dynamic background image that changes with the time of day or the weather, to activate it:

1. Go to the Settings → Wallpaper → Super wallpaper.
2. Download your favorite package (for example, "Earth" or "Mars").
3. Apply it – now, when scrolling between desktops, there will be a smooth transition between different image angles.

2.Use of MIUI themes for deep customization

Topics in MIUI — It's not just wallpaper, it's full-fledged design packages that change app icons, notification panel style, fonts and even system sounds. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, you can install themes as official themes from the store. MIUI Themes and third-party (through the APK-file).

To change the subject:

1. Open the “Themes” app** (brush-shaped icon).
2. In the “Recommended” or “Category” section, select your favorite topic.
3. Click "Apply"** - the system downloads and installs all the design elements.

If you don’t like the changes, you can return the standard look in the same application by selecting the “Default” theme**. Note: some themes can slow down the interface, especially if they contain animations or complex graphic elements. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with 6 GB of RAM, this is unlikely, but on modifications with 4 GB, slowdowns are possible.

The table below compares the popular themes for the Redmi Note 8 Pro by key parameters:

3.Installation of a third-party launcher for total freedom

If MIUI isn't enough, you can install an alternative launcher, a program that completely replaces the standard desktop interface.

• 🔹 Nova Launcher – flexible settings for icons, gestures and animations.
• 🔹 Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for gaming smartphones (suitable for Redmi Note 8 Pro with 60Hz support).
• 🔹 Lawnchair - imitation of pure Android with the function "Pixel icons».
• 🔹 Microsoft Launcher - Integration with Windows (Sync notifications, access to PC files).

To set up the launcher:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click “Home”** – the system will prompt you to select the default launcher.
3. Select a new launcher and confirm the action.

Important! On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MediaTek Helio G90T, some launchers may not work smoothly, such as Action Launcher, which sometimes causes a freeze when opening application folders.

• Turn off animations in the launcher settings.
• Reduce the number of desktops to 3-4.
• Use static wallpaper instead of living.

Backup your current desktop settings |

Check the compatibility of the launcher with MIUI 12/13/14|

Disable battery optimization for launcher in settings|

Remove unnecessary widgets from the standard desktop

-->

If after installing the launcher, the icons of system applications (for example, Settings or Phone) are missing, do not panic. They are not deleted, they are simply hidden.

1. Open the menu of all applications (usually swipe up on the desktop).
2. Find the right application, hold its icon and drag it to the desktop.

4. Customization of widgets and shortcuts

Widgets are mini-programs on the desktop that show weather, time, notes, or control music. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, they can be added either through standard MIUI facilities or through third-party launchers.

To add a widget to MIUI:

1. Touch and hold the free space on the desktop.
2. In the bottom menu, select "Widgets"**.
3. Scroll through the list and select the one you want (like “Weather” or “Calendar”).
4. Hold the widget and drag it to the desktop. Some widgets (like the Clock) allow you to resize — pull around corners after placing.

Useful widgets for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🌡️ Weather from AccuWeather – accurate forecast with animation.
• 🎵 Musixmatch – displays the lyrics of a song that plays in the player.
• 📝 Google Keep – Quick Notes Right on the Desktop.
• 🔋 Battery Widget Reborn - detailed battery charge statistics.

If the widget isn’t updated (for example, the weather shows old data), try:

1. Remove the widget and add it again.
2. Check permissions for the widget application in Settings → Apps → Permissions.
3. Reboot the smartphone.

💡

Widgets from third-party apps (like Spotify or Telegram) may not work if the app is closed in the background.Add it to the battery optimization exceptions.

5. Hidden MIUI functions for the desktop

MIUI hides some options that can be useful for fine-tuning the interface, such as resizing the icon grid, disabling automatic alignment, or even hiding the Google search bar.

To open the hidden settings:

1. Touch and hold the free space on the desktop.
2. Select “Desktop Settings”** (cog icon).
3. Here you'll find the options: 📏 Grid size – changes the number of icons in width and height (maximum) 5×6). 🔄 Self-Sort – If you disable, new app icons won’t automatically be added to your desktop. 🖼️ Hide the search bar – removes the Google bar from the home screen. 🎨 Folder Color – Changes the background of folders with applications (transparent, colored or blurred).

Another hidden feature is the "No Bezel" mode, which removes the bottom navigation bar (if you use gesture controls) to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Select "Hide the bottom panel"**.
3. Now, the swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen will open the app menu, and the desktop will become visually larger.

To create a widget in KWGT:

1. Install KWGT Kustom Widget Maker.
2. Open the app and select “Create a new widget”**.
3. In the editor, add elements (text, image, weather forecast) and adjust their appearance.
4. Save the widget and add it to your desktop as a regular widget.

Example of a simple widget for the Redmi Note 8 Pro (showing battery power and time):

[Time]


Text: $df(h:mm)$




Font: Roboto Bold




Size: 30




Color: #FFFFFF





[Battery]




Text: $bi(level)%




Font: Roboto Light




Size: 20




Color: $if(bi(level) > 30, #4CAF50, #F44336)$

To automate the change of wallpaper on a schedule, use Tasker:

1. Create a task with the action “Display → Set Wallpaper”**.
2. Specify the path to the wallpaper folder (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Wallpapers).
3. Set the trigger by time (for example, 8:00 and 20:00).

💡

KWGT and Tasker require root rights only for certain features (e.g., system font changes). On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, most features work without root, but full control may require unlocking the bootloader.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a desktop