How to change icons on the lock screen Xiaomi: all the ways from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

Why Xiaomi Lock screen icons are important – and how to set them up correctly

Xiaomi's lock screen is not just a barrier between you and your smartphone, it's a full-fledged information hub. It displays notifications, quick actions, time, weather and, of course, the icons of the apps you use most often. But what if the standard set of icons doesn't suit you? You might want to remove unnecessary shortcuts, add frequently used apps, or even replace icons with custom images.

In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change icons on the lock screen Xiaomi — from basic settings MIUI and HyperOS to hidden features and third-party solutions. It is important to understand that the capabilities depend on the firmware version and smartphone model: for example, on the Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14, the set of options will be wider than on the Poco X3 with MIUI 12.5.

Before you make any changes, make sure your smartphone is updated to the latest version of the software. This minimizes the risk of bugs and opens up new features. Check the firmware version in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.

Method 1: Standard setting of icons through the lock menu

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI/HyperOS tools. It is suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 11 and Poco F5.

1. Open the settings on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (in some versions – Lock and Password).
3. Select Application Shortcuts or Icons on the lock screen.
4. Slip the icon you want to replace and select a new app from the list.

Note that the default lock screen displays Phone, Camera and Flashlight icons. Some firmware (e.g. HyperOS 1.0) can add up to 5 shortcuts, but not all applications are supported. For example, you can't place Settings or Gallery here, only those programs that are allowed by the system.

Check out the MIUI/HyperOS version

Make a backup copy of important data

Charge your phone at least 30%

Close all background applications-->

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) may have their display order changed. To return the original view, reset the lock settings in the Settings menu. → Lock screen → Resetting settings.

Method 2: Using design themes to customize icons

If you don't have enough standard icons, you can go further and install a custom theme from the Xiaomi Themes store, which will change not only the icons on the lock screen, but also the overall style of the interface.

• 🎨 Open the Themes app (if not, download from Google Play).
• 🔍 In the search bar, type in a query like “lock screen icons” or “minimalist icons».
• 📥 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply.
• 🔄 If the icons are not changed immediately, restart the phone.

Popular topics for customization of icons:

Important: Some themes may conflict with system fonts or animations. If the theme is slowing down after you use it, return the standard design to the Settings menu → Decoration → Reset the theme.

Telephone and camera

Lantern and Google Pay

Social networks (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Others-->

Method 3: Hidden MIUI settings for advanced users

If standard options are not enough, you can use hidden MIUI settings that are not displayed in the main menu.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate the USB Debugging option (optional, but recommended).

Now you can use it. ADB-For example, to change the number of icons on the lock screen, perform:

adb shell settings put global lockscreen_shortcut_count 4

Where 4 is the desired number of shortcuts (maximum 5). Reboot the device to apply the changes.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-commands can cause interface failures. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

Method 4: Third-party launchers and applications for full customization

If the built-in MIUI tools don't suit you, you can install a third-party launcher or a specialized application, for example:

• 📱 Nova Launcher – allows you to configure icons on the home screen and lock screen (a premium version is required).
• 🔧 XIcon Changer – Changes the icons of individual applications, including those displayed on the lock.
• 🎭 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker – to create custom widgets that can be placed on the lock screen.

Example of settings through Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Set it with the default launcher.
3. Go to Settings Nova → Lock screen.
4. Select Set up icons and add the desired applications.

Limitation: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro), third-party launchers may not have full access to the lock screen due to MIUI security policy.

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If the lock icons have not changed after installing the third-party launcher, try disabling battery optimization for this application in the Settings menu → Apps → Permissions → Battery Optimization.

Method 5: Rooting and Deep Customization (for Power Users)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, getting root rights will open up unlimited possibilities to change icons.

• 🖼️ Replace system icons with any images (in.png format).
• 🔄 Change the order and number of labels without restrictions.
• 🚫 Completely remove icons, leaving only time and notifications.

This will require:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (the official Xiaomi tool).
2. Install custom recovery (e.g., TWRP).
3. Switch Magisk to get root rights.
4. Use a root-access file manager (e.g., Root Explorer) to replace icons in the /system/media/theme/default/lockscreen folder.

⚠️ Warning: Rooting voids warranty and can lead to a device blink. On HyperOS models (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the process of unlocking the bootloader is complicated, requiring a wait of 168 hours after the Mi Account is tied.

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Rooting is a last resort. Before the procedure, check if there are any alternative ways to achieve the goal (themes, ADB, launchers).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing icons on the lock screen, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, check if your device has any corporate policy restrictions (e.g., Android Enterprise) in which case the changes are blocked by the administrator.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions