Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the standard size of interface elements does not match their preferences or vision. MIUI and its successor HyperOS provide extensive customization, but not all functions lie on the surface. Changing the dimensions of app icons is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve the ergonomics of using the device with one hand or, conversely, improve readability for people with impaired vision.
Unlike pure Android, where capabilities are often limited to launchers, Xiaomi’s shell allows you to get embedded in the display structure at a deep level. You can adjust not only the images of the applications themselves, but also the desktop grid, as well as system fonts, which together give you complete control over visual perception. It is important to understand that methods are divided into regular, accessible to each user, and advanced, requiring a connection to a computer.
Before we start taking drastic measures like installing third-party launchers, we need to exhaust the capabilities of the Theme tool, which is where the basic functionality for safely modifying the interface without risking disrupting the stability of the operating system is hidden. Next, we will discuss all the available methods, from simple switches to engineering menus.
Standard settings through the Topics app
The safest and most recommended way to change the appearance of icons is to use the built-in Themes app. This method does not require root rights and ensures no conflicts with system processes. In most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, the sizing functionality is built directly into the settings of this application, making the process as simple as possible.
To get started, you need to open the Themes app and go to the user profile by clicking on the human icon in the lower right corner. Next, select Settings, where you can find a slider in the Interface or System Settings section that adjusts the size of the icons. Moving this slider instantly changes the scale of all the shortcuts on the desktop and in the application menu.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions (Global) ROM) This feature may be hidden or absent, in which case the system will prompt you to download the plugin or go to the theme store.
If you don't have a slider, you can use ready-made icon sets. In the theme store, search for "Large Icons" or "Small Icons." Installing such a set (even if you don't use the theme fully) often activates the desired size. After applying the changes, it is recommended to restart the device so that the new display cache applies to all screens.
- 📱 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
- 👤 Click on the profile avatar in the lower right corner.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings and find the Size of Icons section.
- 📏 Move the slider left or right to reduce or increase.
Adjustment of the desktop grid
Often, visual imbalance is not solved by changing the size of the images themselves, but by adjusting the density of the images, so that the grid can place more elements on the screen, or make them larger by reducing the number of cells, and this affects the overall perception of space, and can visually change the size of the icons without distorting their proportions.
To change the grid, you need to pinch the empty space on the desktop before the edit menu appears. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a Settings button (cogwheel) or immediately the Grid item. Here you will see layout options, such as 4x6, 5x6 or 6x9. Choosing a configuration with more columns (for example, 6x9) will automatically reduce the size of each cell, making the icons smaller.
Note that changing the grid also affects widgets. Large widgets can stop fitting into cells of a new configuration or, conversely, take up too much space. HyperOS offers a more flexible system of widgets that can be scaled regardless of the grid, but the basic shortcuts of applications are always tied to the chosen template.
☑️ Checking the grid settings
Once the configuration is changed, the system can suggest optimizing the location of existing icons. You can agree to this to avoid overlapping the elements. If the icons look too small after changing the grid, try changing the screen resolution in the main settings, which will also affect the scaling of the entire graphics.
Use of advanced font settings
Many users don't know that in MIUI, the size of the system font directly affects the size of the signatures under the icons, and in some cases, the size of the shortcuts themselves, because the launcher calculates the indentations and cell sizes based on the height of the text block. By zooming in the font, you automatically increase the area occupied.
To access these settings, go to Settings → Screen → Text and Display. There are two sliders available: Text Size and Font Size. The first changes the scale of interface elements, the second changes the scale of characters only. By combining these settings, you can achieve a close-up effect, where all elements become more readable and massive.
| Parameter | Impact on icons | Impact on text | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text size (S-XL) | Changes indentations and cells | Scaling all the inscriptions. | Standard or L |
| Fat type | Visually weighting the view | Improves readability | If you wish, |
| Endless scrolling | It doesn't. | It doesn't. | Included. |
| Enlarged text | He's changing the grid a lot. | Maximum size | For the visually impaired |
It's worth noting that setting maximum values can lead to the trimming of long application names. If the program name does not fit in the designated area, it will be hidden by an ellipsis. It's critical to check the display of frequently used programs after changing these parameters so that they remain recognizable.
Advanced Method: ADB commands for fine-tuning
For users who don’t have enough standard tools, there is a method to resize icons through the Android debugging bridge (ADB). This method allows you to specify the exact size in pixels, ignoring the limitations imposed by the developers of the interface. MIUI, It requires a computer.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, quickly click on the build number in the About Phone section seven times. Then, in the menu, additionally turn on Debugging over USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC and enter a command to resize the launcher icons. The path to setting up may vary depending on the shell version.
adb shell settings put system launcher_icon_size 120The value of 120 is an approximate size in dp (density-independent pixels). Experimenting with this number can achieve the ideal size. However, using ADB carries risks: an incorrect command can lead to the disappearance of icons or a cyclic reboot of the launcher. Always have the ability to reset settings through safe mode or recovery.
⚠️ Note: Introduce incorrect commands through ADB This can cause the system to be unstable. Write down the initial values before changing them so you can roll back the changes.
If after you use the commands, the desktop has fallen (all the icons have disappeared), try restarting the device. If that doesn't work, use the command to reset a particular parameter or perform a full reset of the launcher settings through the application menu. For most users, standard methods are enough, so ADB should only be used in extreme cases.
Alternative launchers as a solution to the problem
When regular funds are exhausted, third-party launchers come to the rescue, apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to flexibly adjust the size of icons, grid, indentations and even the shape of shortcuts, a radical but effective solution that completely changes the appearance of the smartphone.
Installing a third-party launcher requires special permissions. Once you install the application in the phone's settings menu, select Desktop or App by default and specify a new launcher. In its settings, you will find complete control over the size of the icons, often with pixel accuracy, and the ability to create profiles for different situations.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher: The King of Customization, allows you to change the size of each icon separately.
- 📐 Microsoft Launcher: Great Windows integration and simple grid settings.
- 🧠 Smart Launcher 6: Automatic Sorting and Adaptive Element Size.
The main disadvantage of using third-party launchers on Xiaomi is the possible instability of navigation gestures and background. MIUI aggressively manages memory and can kill the launcher process, returning the standard interface. To avoid this, you need to fix the application in memory and remove all energy saving restrictions for it.
How to fix the launcher in memory?
Possible problems and solutions
During the setup process, users may encounter artifacts: icons may float, text may come across images, or some shortcuts disappear, often due to a system cache or conflicting versions of interface components. The first step should always be to clear the cache of the Theme application and System Launcher.
To clean up, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Search the Work Desktop (or System Launcher) list and click Clear → Clear Cache. Don't confuse "Clean All" with "Clean All" or all icons will be lost. After this procedure, the phone can blink for a second, restoring the interface.
If problems persist after a cache reset, check for updates to the MIUI/HyperOS Themes and components. Scaling errors are often bugs of a particular firmware version that are patched with security patches. In rare cases, removing recently installed themes that may have made changes to configuration files helps.
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If the icons are too big and overlap, temporarily turn on Simple Mode in the screen settings, and then turn it off. This often resets the erroneous interface zoom values.
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Most display problems are solved by cleaning the system launcher cache or returning to the standard design theme.