How to change the size of the icons on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Personalizing the smartphone interface is not just a whim, but a way to make interaction with the device more comfortable and efficient. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often face the desire to increase or reduce the interface elements so that they are better read or take up less space on the screen. The standard shell MIUI provides ample opportunities for customization, but the function of changing the size of the icons is not always obvious to the beginner.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to transform the desktop, from built-in grid settings to the use of third-party launchers and themes. You will learn how to adapt the interface to your vision or simply refresh the appearance of the gadget without installing complex modifications. The flexibility of the system allows you to solve these problems in several ways, each of which has its own characteristics.

Before we make any changes, it’s worth noting that the result can vary depending on the Android version and the specific firmware modification (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS). Some methods work on all devices, others require certain applications on the system. Let’s look at the basic methods that will help you achieve the desired result.

Configure the desktop grid through the standard menu

The easiest and safest way to affect the visual perception of icons is to change the density of their location on the screen. In the MIUI shell, this is done through the setting of the grid. When you reduce the number of cells in the grid, the system automatically increases the size of each element to fill the available space. This is a standard method that does not require the installation of additional software.

To access these settings, you need to pinch the empty area on the desktop. You will see a lower menu where you should select the Settings item (the gear icon). In the menu that opens, find the Grid section. Here you will be offered several layout options, such as 4x6, 5x6 or 6x8. By choosing a option with fewer columns (for example, 4x6 instead of 6x8), you visually increase the size of the icons, making them larger and more noticeable.

Notice that changing the grid affects not only the size of app icons, but also the widgets. A larger grid allows you to place more elements, but they will be smaller. A smaller grid makes the interface more spacious, but reduces the number of cells available. It's a trade-off between roominess and readability of elements.

It's important to understand that this is a relatively proportional way of resizing, and if standard icons seem too small to you, even on a 4x6 grid, you'll have to use other zooming methods, which I'll talk about later, but for most users, grids are a good solution.

Using themes to change the style of icons

Themes is a powerful tool in Xiaomi’s ecosystem that allows you to radically change the look of the system. Many users do not know that there are themes in the catalog that not only change the wallpaper, but also offer icons of a completely different size and shape. Some designers create packages with enlarged icons for better visual perception.

To find the right theme, open the Themes app and go to the search section. Type in queries like "Large icons," "Big icons," or just experiment with popular categories. Be sure to check the preview before installing: the theme screenshot gallery will show what the app icons look like. Once you apply the theme, the icon size will change globally for the entire system.

• 🎨 Customization: Themes allow you to change not only the size, but also the shape, color scheme and style of drawing icons.
• 🔄 Security: Using an official theme store is safe to guarantee the device and stability of the system.
• 💾 Weight: Some heavy topics can take up a significant place in memory, which is worth considering on budget models.

It's worth noting that not all themes support resizing icons independently of other elements. Often, the fonts and notification bar are changed along with the icons. If you only need to change the size of the icons, leaving the rest of the interface as standard, this method may be redundant, in which case you'd better use a built-in theme editor.

Scaling through font settings and display

In Android and MIUI, there is a direct correlation between the size of the system font and the size of some interface elements, including text signatures under icons. Although this method does not change the graphic image of the icon itself, it affects the overall composition of the desktop. Enlarged font often leads to the system counting indentations, and the icons become visually more massive due to the surrounding space.

To set up, go to Settings → Screen → Text Size. As you move the slider, you will see real-time changes. In some firmware versions, the UI Element Size or Enlarged Text option is also available here. Activating these features can cause the icons in the app menu and desktop to become larger to match the new proportions of text.

⚠️ Attention: Excessive font enlargement can cause app names to stop being placed under icons or to be cropped. the interface may become less neat.

This is particularly relevant for people with visual impairment, and the combination of a large grid and a larger font gives the best readability result, but if your goal is purely aesthetics and you want to keep the text compact and the icons large, it's not going to work, because it affects the whole system globally.

Use of third-party launchers for complete freedom

If standard MIUI capabilities don't suit you, the most effective solution is to install a third-party launcher.The launcher is an application that completely replaces the desktop, app menus, and often the control panel. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair provide detailed control over every pixel on the screen.

Once you install a launcher (like Nova Launcher) and assign it to the default, you get access to advanced settings. In Settings → Desktop → Grid, you can set any number of rows and columns. But the main advantage is that you can adjust the size of the icons separately from the grid, you can make the grid rare, and the icons inside of it huge, or vice versa.

The use of third-party software has its consequences. The MIUI shell is deeply integrated into the system, and replacing the launcher can lead to the disappearance of some branded chips, such as specific gestures or widgets "Always on the screen." In addition, third-party launchers can consume more RAM, which on budget smartphones Redmi with 3-4 GB of RAM can cause micro-slug.

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Before installing a new launcher, take a screenshot of the location of your widgets and folders. Rebuilding the usual structure after changing the launcher can take a long time.

Topics Editor: fine tuning without installing new software

There's a hidden tool in the Xiaomi theme store called Theme Editor (or Mix & Match in some regions), which allows you to combine elements from different themes, you can take icons from one theme where they're larger, and leave wallpaper and fonts as standard, and it's the middle ground between a complete theme change and standard settings.

Go to the Themes app, go to profile (human icon) and select Theme Editor. Select Icons and browse-are available packages. Applying different packages, you can find one where graphic elements are drawn larger or have thicker contours, which visually enlarges them. After selecting the set, click Apply.

The good thing about this method is that it doesn't disrupt system processes. You stay within the native shell, but you change the visual component of the native shell. However, finding a theme with the increased size of the icons can be difficult, because most designers adhere to Android standards for compatibility.

⚠️ Note: When using the theme editor, some icons of new applications may not be supported by the selected package and displayed as standard.

Compatibility issues and visual artifacts

When icons are resized aggressively, especially through third-party launchers or custom themes, users may experience visual defects; icons may “climb” outside their cells, overlapping names or adjacent elements; and blurring (soap) at icon boundaries may also occur if the system stretches a small picture to a large size.

In addition, some Xiaomi system applications (calendar, weather, security) have dynamic icons that may not display correctly when zooming out of the box. Date numbers may be cropped and weather indicators may shift, in which case it is recommended to go back to standard settings or look for updated versions of themes.

If you notice that after the changes, the phone started to work slower or the interface began to twitch, probably the chosen method is too resource-intensive for your device, in this case, it is better to limit yourself to a standard grid setting, which is guaranteed to be optimized by Xiaomi engineers for your processor model.

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The optimal balance between size and performance is achieved using a standard 4x6 or 5x6 grid without installing heavy third-party launchers.