How to Change Badges on Xiaomi: A Complete Customization Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the desire to personalize the device interface immediately after buying. The standard set of icons can seem boring or visually out of style, especially if you are used to pure Android or, conversely, love bright graphics. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide powerful tools for deep customization without the need for superuser rights.

Changing the look of a system is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to make it more user-friendly and intuitive. In this article, we will explore in detail all the ways you can replace graphic elements, from official themes in the Themes app to install third-party launchers, you will learn how to apply the changes selectively to specific applications or change the style entirely, including system fonts.

The process of replacing graphics on Xiaomi smartphones has become much easier with the release of new firmware versions, but there are some nuances here, for example, some methods require an Internet connection, others require the installation of additional files. We will consider each option Step-by-step so that you can choose the most suitable for your model and version of the software.

The official theme store and its capabilities

The easiest and safest way to redesign the interface is to use the built-in Themes app, which is Xiaomi’s official tool, pre-installed on all of the brand’s devices, and it’s a collection of thousands of customizations created by the company and independent designers around the world.

To get started, open the Topics app on the home screen. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the Profile tab or the person icon where your downloads are stored. However, to find new styles, go to the store's home page. You can search for a query like "iOS style" or "Minimal" to find suitable sets. Note that when you load a theme, you'll often want to install multiple components at once: wallpaper, system icons, lock screen, and even sounds.

It’s important to understand the difference between a full theme and a separate set of icons. The full theme changes the design of system windows, notification curtains and settings menu. A separate icon package only affects the appearance of applications. Not all themes are compatible with all Xiaomi models, so always check user descriptions and comments before downloading, especially if you have a device with a large camera notch or non-standard resolution.

• 🎨 Thousands of Free Designs from the Community.
• 🔄 Possibility of preview before installation.
• ⚙️ Flexible configuration of components (you can only put icons).
• 🌍 Regular updates to collections.

Step-by-step instructions for installing and applying themes

The process of installing a new design takes only a couple of minutes. Once you have selected your favorite option in the store, click the Download button (usually indicated by the down arrow). Wait for the download to end, then the button will change to "Apply". The system can request confirmation to change the style of the lock screen or fonts - here you can agree with everything or choose a selective installation.

If you want to change only icons, leaving the wallpaper the same, after applying the theme, go to Settings → Lock screen and desktop (the path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI). Here you can turn off the use of wallpaper from the theme, leaving only icons. Also in the “Themes” app in the “Profile” section, you can click on the current theme and select “Setting theme” where the components for activation are ticked.

Sometimes, after you install a new graphic, the old icons may not change immediately, in which case it helps to reboot your smartphone or clear the launcher cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, search the Desktop (or Mi Launcher) list and select Clear → Clear Cache. App data will not be affected.

Using third-party launchers for complete freedom

The built-in tools are good, but they're limited by the Xiaomi store rules. If you want total freedom, use third-party launchers. These are replacement desktop apps that completely change the way the interface works. The most popular options are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and Lawnchair.

Installing a third-party launcher requires additional permits. APK-In the file and installation, the system will issue a warning that the application wants to access desktop management. You will need to click "Allow" and select the new launcher by default. Only then will the possibility of installing third-party icon packages (Icon Packs) from Google Play Market open up.

The main advantage of this method is independence from MIUI updates. Even if Xiaomi closes access to the theme store in your region, third-party launchers will continue to work. However, it is worth remembering that they can consume more RAM than the standard Mi Launcher, which on budget models with 3-4 GB of RAM can cause light slowdowns of animations.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers, some gestures may stop working MIUI, For example, swipe down to search or double tap to turn off the screen.

Comparison of methods of customization of the interface

To make it easier for you to choose the right way to change your appearance, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you weigh the pros and cons of each method according to your needs and level of training.

Solving compatibility and failure issues

A common problem with Xiaomi users is that icons are not displayed correctly after a system update. Some applications may remain with a standard icon while others change, because the theme developer has not drawn an icon for a particular application or package, and in such cases, the use of the Mix Theme feature helps.

Go to the Themes app, go to the profile and select Mix, where you can manually select the icon theme, the lock screen theme, and the system theme separately. If an icon still looks foreign, click on it and hold your finger. In the menu that appears, select Change and select a similar icon from the options offered by the system.

Another nuance is global firmware versions: In some regions (e.g. Europe or Russia), the theme store may be restricted due to GDPR or other regulations. If the store doesn't open or shows a blank screen, try changing the region in your phone settings to India or Singapore, which often restores access to the full directory.

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Tip: Before you make a major interface change, take screenshots of the location of important widgets and folders. After changing the launcher or theme, all icons can stand in one row, and you have to spend time restoring the usual structure.

Advanced configuration via ADB and files

For power users who don’t have enough standard tools, there is a method to replace system icon files via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and having basic command-line knowledge, and allows you to embed graphical elements that are not officially supported by your version of HyperOS.

First, activate the developer mode. Click on the build number seven times in the About Phone section, then in the advanced settings, turn on USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your PC and type a command to access the file system. Be extremely careful: replacing system files can lead to a cyclical restart (bootloop) if files are corrupted.

The replacement command usually looks like copying a theme file to the system directory. For example, the path can be /data/system/theme/. However, we do not recommend using this method for beginners, since an error in one line of code may require flashing the device. safer alternative is using Theme Editor apps available on Play Store which apply changes without root once granted but once granted by ADB permissions.

adb shell pm grant com.example.themeeditor android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

⚠️ Note: Modification of system files through ADB It can disrupt SafetyNet or Play Integrity, which will cause banking applications and Google Pay to stop working.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The safest way to use official themes or proven launchers from Google Play is to avoid downloading modified system files from unverified sources.