How to change icons on Xiaomi phone: from standard themes to custom icons

Xiaomi’s standard desktop icons can get bored quickly — especially if you’ve been using a smartphone for several years. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to change them, from built-in MIUI and HyperOS tools to third-party solutions with complete freedom of customization. But not all methods are equally convenient, and some require caution to avoid disrupting the stability of the system.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change icons to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO – from the simplest themes from the store to manually install custom packs through ADB. We will pay special attention to the nuances for new firmware versions (including HyperOS), where some of the functions moved to other menus, and also tell you how to return everything back if the result does not suit you.

Before you start making changes, check the version of your shell. → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS. The availability of some features depends on this – for example, the classic theme menu disappeared in HyperOS, but new options appeared in the Making section.

Also remember: deep customization (especially with ADB or third-party launchers) can conflict with system updates. If you are not ready for possible bugs, limit yourself to the official methods in the first two sections of the article.

1. Standard themes from Xiaomi store

The easiest and safest way to change icons is to use the built-in theme store.It is available on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the firmware version, but the interface may differ.

In MIUI 14 and older, the theme store is integrated into the design settings. In HyperOS, it's moved to a separate Theme app, which you can find in the app menu or search the system. Here's how it works:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (or go to Settings) → Registration → Topics in MIUI).
• 🔍 In the search bar, type in a query like “icons”, “badges” or style name (for example, “minimalism»).
• 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply. The icons will change automatically along with the wallpaper and fonts.
• 💰 Note: many premium themes require a purchase (between 50 and 300 rubles.

The main advantage of this method is full compatibility with the system. The disadvantage is that the choice of icons is limited to what Xiaomi offers, and if you want unique icons (for example, in the style of iOS or Pixel), you will have to use other methods.

HyperOS doesn’t apply themes to all system applications — some icons (like Settings or Phone) may remain standard, a feature of the new shell that hasn’t been fixed yet.

2. Manually modify icons via MIUI/HyperOS settings

If you don’t need a full theme, just replacing individual icons, MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS have an inbuilt icon editing feature that doesn’t work for all apps, but covers the main ones (calls, messages, camera, etc.).

Instructions for MIUI 14:

1. Press your finger on an empty desktop space → select Desktop Settings.
2. Go to the Icon Style (or Icon Style in some versions).
3. Choose one of the suggested styles (e.g., Round, Square, or Pixel Style).
4. Click Apply - the changes will take effect immediately.

HyperOS is different.

1. Open the settings → design → Style of icons.
2. Choose the option from the list (there are fewer of them than in MIUI).
3. For some applications (such as Camera or Gallery), you can set individual icons – click on the app icon in this menu and select an alternative.

This method doesn't require superuser rights or break the system, but the choice is limited to 5-7 preset styles. If you need more options, read on.

3. Installation of custom packs of icons through launchers

For complete customization freedom, you'll have to use third-party launchers, which allow you to install icon packs from Google Play or hand-held builds.

• Nova Launcher is the most flexible, supports adaptive icons and gestures.
• Lawnchair is a lightweight open source launcher that imitates the style of Pixel.
• Apex Launcher is good for older Xiaomi models (like Redmi Note 8).
• Microsoft Launcher – if you need Windows integration

How to install custom icons through Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play and make it the default launcher.
2. Download a pack of icons (such as Whicons, CandyCons or Delta).
3. Press your finger on the desktop → Settings → Style of icons.
4. Select the downloaded pack in the section of the Pak icons.
5. For individual applications: Press the icon → Change → Icon → Select from the pack.

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Note: Some icon packs may not support the adaptive format (round/square icons).In this case, the icons will be cropped or stretched. Before buying a pack, check the reviews about compatibility with your Xiaomi model.

The advantage of this method is the thousands of free and paid packs on Google Play. The disadvantage: launchers consume additional RAM (especially Nova with animations), which can be critical for budget models (Redmi 9A, POCO C31).

4. Change icons through ADB (for advanced)

If you need to change system icons (such as the icons of the basic launcher Xiaomi), you can use the ADB command. This method requires connecting the phone to a PC and debugging over USB, but does not need root rights.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times on the line with the version, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder on your PC.
4. Open the command line in this folder and type: Adb devices Make sure your phone appears in the list.
5. Execute the command to change icons (example to change the Settings icon): adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.theme.icon_pack.systemui Note: The exact commands depend on the icon pack, usually provided by the custom writer.

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Attention: Incorrect ADB commands can cause the system launcher to crash. Before experimenting, back up via Settings → System → Backup or Mi Cloud. If the phone stopped working properly after the changes, reset the launcher by command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

This is a great way to redesign the system without root, but it requires technical skills and can conflict with MIUI/HyperOS updates.

5. Use of Magisk modules (root only)

If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, you can use modules for deep customization.

• MiuiHome Mods – allows you to change icons, animations and even add new gestures.
• Icon Pack Studio creates custom icon packs right on the phone.
• Xiaomi.eu Theme Manager – Expands the capabilities of a standard theme manager.

How to install the module:

1. Download the module file (usually with the.zip extension) from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
2. Open Magisk Manager → Modules → Install from storage.
3. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
4. Reboot the phone.

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Note: Magisk modules may conflict with system updates. Before installing the MIUI/HyperOS update, temporarily disable all modules via Magisk → Modules → Turn everything off. After the update, turn them back on.

This method gives maximum freedom, but it is only suitable for root-right users. Also note that on some models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi K60) unlocking the bootloader resets all data!

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Before installing Magisk modules, check their compatibility with your version of MIUI/HyperOS on the 4PDA forum. Some modules only work on Chinese (CN) or global (Global) firmware.

6. Reset icons to standard settings

If the experiments with the design went wrong, you can return the standard icons in several ways depending on the method of change:

If none of the methods worked, reset the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Louncher (or com.miui.home).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action - the desktop will return to the factory settings.

On HyperOS devices, resetting the launcher can also return standard widgets and folders on the desktop. To avoid this, back up before reset via Settings → Desktop → Backup.

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Before any icon manipulation, save the current desktop configuration. In MIUI/HyperOS, this is done in the long-press menu → “Backup”.

Frequently asked questions