How to change icons on the Xiaomi Redmi 9C desktop: from standard settings to customization of MIUI

Xiaomi Redmi 9C with MIUI shell offers users the flexibility to personalize the interface, but not everyone knows how to make the most of this potential. Replacing standard icons on the desktop is one of the most popular requests among smartphone owners of the brand. In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to change icons, from built-in MIUI tools to install third-party launchers and themes.

It's important to understand that the methods vary in complexity and result. For example, using icon packages through Google Play gives more design options, but requires additional software installation. At the same time, standard MIUI settings allow you to quickly change the style of icons without risk to the system. We will also look at hidden shell features that are rarely mentioned in official documentation, but greatly expand the possibilities of customization.

1. MIUI Standard Settings: Quick Change of Icon Style

The easiest way to change the look of icons on Redmi 9C is to use the built-in MIUI 12/13/14 tools. The shell offers several pre-installed styles that can be activated without installing third-party applications.

To change the style of the icons through standard settings:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the query “icons” or “icons».
• 🎨 Select your favorite theme from the “Icons” section (usually they are tagged accordingly).
• 📥 Click on “Apply” to make the changes effective.

Note that not all themes support icon change separately from the overall interface design. If you want to change only icons, look for themes marked “Icons (separately)” or “Icon Pack.” Also, note that after the MIUI update, some themes may be reset to standard settings.

2.Use of launchers: complete freedom of customization

If the built-in MIUI capabilities aren't enough, you can install a third-party launcher. These are special applications that completely replace the standard Android desktop, offering advanced settings, including changing icons. Popular options for Redmi 9C:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – supports icon packages, gestures, grid settings.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher is lightweight and fast, with extensive personalization options.
• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with the Windows ecosystem, minimalist design.
• 🌈 Lawnchair – open source, support for adaptive icons.

Installation of the launcher takes a few minutes:

1. Download the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the app and follow the setup instructions.
3. In the launcher settings, find the “Icons” or “Icons” section.
4. Select an icon package (if required, pre-installe it separately).

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Before installing the launcher, back up your current desktop. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Default Launcher → Backup (not available in all versions of MIUI).

Launchers allow not only to change the icons, but also to customize:

• 📏 The size of the icons and the distance between them.
• 🎭 Animation Effects When Opening Applications.
• 🔒 Hiding unnecessary icons from the menu.
• 📂 Grouping applications into folders with custom icons.

3. Installation of icon packs: how to connect custom icons

If you have chosen a launcher that supports icon packages (for example, Nova Launcher), you can download ready-made design sets from Google Play.

• 🖼️ Whicons are minimalist white icons.
• 🌓 Moonshine – Dark Theme with Contrast Emphasis.
• 🍭 CandyCons – bright and succulent colors.
• 🔺 Delta – geometric shapes and gradients.

To apply the icon package:

Download the package from Google Play|Open launcher settings|Find the section "Icons" or "Icons"|Select the installed package|Apply the changes-->

Not all icon packages cover 100% of apps, and if there is no custom design for some icon, the launcher can:

• 🔄 Use the standard icon.
• 🎨 Apply a mask (trimming to the shape of other icons).
• 🖼️ Offer to create a custom icon manually.

4. Hidden MIUI features: how to change icons without launchers

MIUI hides some customization features that are not obvious at first glance, such as some shell versions that allow you to change the icons of system applications through the theme editor.

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to the section “My topics” → “Edit”.
3. Select “Icons” and click “Add”.
4. Upload your own images for each application (PNG and JPG formats are supported).

Another little-known method is the use of ADB-commands to change system icons. This method requires debugging. USB It's suitable for power users. Example of a team to replace the com.android.settings app icon:

adb shell pm set-icon --user 0 com.android.settings /sdcard/Download/custom_icon.png

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Changing system icons through ADB can cause MIUI to malfunction. Before experimenting, back up your data or restore point to TWRP (if installed).

MIUI 14 also introduced the Adaptive Icons feature, which automatically adjusts the shape of the icons to the chosen style, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Screen Style.
2. Enable the option “Adaptive icons”.
3. Choose the form: circle, square, rounded square or "Follow the topic".

5. Manual icon modification: for power users

If you're ready for a deeper customization, you can manually replace the icon files in the system folders, which requires root rights or access to the file system through ADB. Importantly, improper actions can lead to the ruin of system applications!

Replacement algorithm:

1. Download the archive with icons (for example, from MIUI themes or from sites like iconpacks.com).
2. Connect Redmi 9C to your PC and activate USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the line with the version).
3. Use an ADB or root-access file manager (such as Root Explorer) to go to /data/app/[application packet name]-1/base.apk/res/drawable
4. Replace icon files (usually with.png extension and names like this) ic_launcher.png).
5. Reset the device.

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Before replacing system files, back them up. To do this, copy the original icons to a separate folder on the memory card or to the cloud.

Alternatively, apps like Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker create custom icon shortcuts without affecting system files, and the downside is that duplicate icons (original and custom) will appear on the desktop.

Comparison of methods: which way to choose?

To make the choice easier, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

For most Redmi 9C users, the best solution is a combination of a launcher (like Nova) and an icon package, which gives you maximum freedom without risk to the system, and if you want minimal changes, you can use the built-in MIUI themes.

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Before any manipulation of system files, check if this will violate the warranty on the device. On Xiaomi Redmi 9C, unlocking the bootloader or obtaining root rights resets the warranty!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When changing icons, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: If the icons reset to standard after changing the icons through the launcher, check if the default launcher settings have reset. → Annexes → Default launcher and select your custom launcher.

Other common mistakes:

• 🔄 Icons don't change: Make sure the icon package is compatible with your launcher.For example, Nova Launcher supports most packages, and the standard launcher MIUI — no.
• 🖼️ Blurred icons: Use images with at least a resolution 192×192 pixels. For adaptive icons in MIUI 14 recommended 256×256.
• 🔒 You can not change the system icons: without root rights or ADB You can't replace system application icons (like Settings or Phone) using launchers with masking function.
• 📱 Launcher brakes: Turn off animations in the launcher settings or try another one (like Lawnchair lighter than Nova).

⚠️ Note: If you change the icons through ADB or manually replace application files stopped opening, restore original files from backup, or reset settings through Settings → System system → Resetting settings (select “Reset Launcher Settings” if available).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions