How to change the size of icons on the Xiaomi desktop: all the ways for MIUI 12, 13 and 14

Standard icons on Xiaomi’s desktop can seem too small to be comfortable to use or, conversely, take up half the screen. This is especially true for owners of devices with large displays (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13 Ultra), where icons are lost in the vastness of the screen. Fortunately, MIUI offers several ways to adjust the size of icons – from standard settings to hidden features for power users.

Many users don’t even realize that icon sizes can be changed without installing third-party launchers. In this article, we’ll look at all the methods available, from basic theme settings to manually editing system settings. You’ll also learn how to return standard sizes if experiments went wrong, and what nuances are important to consider when rescaling icons on different versions of MIUI.

Before you start settings, make sure your device has the latest firmware version installed. Some features may not be available on older MIUI builds 11 and below. Also remember that changing system settings manually (via ADB or engineering menu) can cause crashes. We recommend trying out standard methods first.

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1. Standard method: setting up through "Themes"

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI functionality. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12 firmware and later. You do not need root rights or additional applications.

Open the Themes app (brush icon) and go to My profile → Desktop settings. Here you will find the icon size slider, which allows you to smoothly adjust the scale from 80% to 120% of the standard size. Changes are applied instantly — you can immediately evaluate the result.

• 🔍 Where to look: Topics → My profile. → Desktop settings → Size of badges
• ⚙️ In the same menu, you can change the size of the signature font under the icons
• 📱 Limitation: Maximum size (120%) may not be enough for users with vision problems

If you don’t have a slider, update the Themes app via Google Play or Mi App Store. On some devices (e.g. POCO F5), this option is hidden in Settings → Screen → Screen Size of screen elements.

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2.Use of third-party launchers for flexible setup

The standard MIUI settings limit the size range of icons. If you need to set non-standard values (e.g., 150% or 60%), you will have to use alternative launchers.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – supports scaling from 25% to 200%, flexible desktop grids
• 🎨 Apex Launcher – allows you to change the size of icons and folders separately
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – optimized for Xiaomi devices, retains corporate identity MIUI

Once you install the launcher, go to its settings (usually long desktop tap → Settings). Look for sections like Desktop → Icon Size or Appearance → Icon Scale. Nova Launcher, for example, allows you to set the pixel size for precise fit.

Important: When using third-party launchers, some MIUI features (such as gestures or system widgets) may not work properly. Check compatibility with your Xiaomi model before installing.

Download APK from the official website | Make a backup of current settings |Disable battery optimization for launcher |Check compatibility with MIUI-->

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3. Hidden MIUI settings: engineering menu and ADB

For experienced users who are ready to work with system parameters, there are two advanced methods: through an engineering menu or ADB commands. These methods allow you to set an arbitrary size of icons outside the standard range of 80-120%, but require caution.

Method 1: Engineering Menu (CIT)

1. Open the phone app and type ##4636##
2. Go to Phone Information → Menu for testing
3. Find the parameter. desktop_icon_scale (may be called otherwise)
4. Enter the value from 0.8 (80%) to 1.5 (150%) and restart the device.

Method 2: ADB teams

adb shell settings put secure icon_scale_factor 1.3

Where 1.3 is the desired scale factor (1.0 = standard size) and after you complete the command, restart the smartphone.

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4. Optimal icon sizes for different Xiaomi models

The size of the icons depends not only on personal preferences, but also on the physical characteristics of the screen of your device.

For devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 14) You can use smaller icons, and they'll look sharper with technology. HDR10+ And it's very contrast-intensive. IPS-matrices (e.g. Redmi) 12C) It is better to stick to the size 100-120% legible.

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On Always-On Display devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro), changing the size of the icons does not affect the display of information on the locked screen. These elements are configured separately in Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.

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Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing icon sizes, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If the icon size changes ADB or the engineering menu desktop began to lag, return the standard settings command adb shell settings delete secure icon_scale_factor and clear the launcher's cache.

• 🔄 Icons Reset After Rebooting: This Is Due to Optimization Conflict MIUI. Turn off autocleaning for launcher in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery
• 🖼️ Blurred icons when zooming in: Install a high-resolution icon package (like the Pixel Icon Pack) from Google Play
• 📂 No change in folder size: In standard launcher MIUI folder size is tied to the size of the icons. Use Nova Launcher for a separate setup.

If after all the manipulations the icons are displayed incorrectly (for example, cropped or superimposed on each other), try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or your current launcher)
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data

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6. Additional tweaks: desktop grid and indentations

Resizing icons is only part of customizing your desktop, and for full screen space optimization, also set up:

• 📏 Desktop grid: In Settings → Desktop → The grid of the desktop can be selected the number of rows and columns (from 4×4 before 6×6)
• 🔲 Retreats at the edges: Nova Launcher has a Desktop setting available → Padding for field management
• 🎨 Icon Style: In Themes → Icons can be downloaded from alternative packages (e.g. Minimal O or Whicons)

On devices with MIUI 14, a dynamic icon feature has been introduced that changes color depending on the wallpaper. To turn off this effect (it can distort the perception of size), go to Topics → Desktop Settings → Dynamic icons and deactivate the option.

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The combination of enlarged icons (120%) with a 5×5 grid and minimal indentations allows you to place 20% more shortcuts on the screen without losing convenience.

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7. Resetting settings to standard values

If the experiments with the size of the icons led to chaos on the desktop, you can return everything “as it was” in several ways:

Method 1: Through the theme settings

1. Open Topics → My Profile → Desktop Settings
2. Move the slider Size icons to 100% position
3. Click Apply and restart the device

Method 2: Resetting the launcher

For complete reset (including the location of the icons):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → MIUI Launcher
2. Select Warehouse → Clear the Data
3. Confirm the action – the desktop will return to the factory settings

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the launcher data will remove all folders, widgets and icon locations on the desktop. Pre-take screenshots of the current layout to quickly restore it manually.

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FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions