Personalizing your smartphone interface is the first step to turning a standard device into a unique gadget that reflects your style. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones often face the desire to move away from the usual visual range of MIUI or HyperOS. Fortunately, the Android shell provides ample opportunities for customization without requiring deep technical knowledge or interference with system files.
Changing icons can be necessary for various reasons, from the banal desire to update the appearance to the need to improve the readability of elements on the screen. Modern launchers allow you to change not only the appearance of application shortcuts, but also their shape, size and even animation when you click. It is important to understand that the approaches to solving this problem can vary dramatically depending on the version of the operating system and regional firmware.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can replace graphical interfaces. You’ll learn about built-in theme tools, third-party apps, and manual customization techniques. Android’s flexibility allows you to implement almost any design idea, if you know where to look for the right tools.
Use of the built-in Themes application
The easiest and safest way to change the visual style of your device is to use the Themes app, which is pre-installed on all smartphones of the company, which is integrated deep into the system, which ensures that the interface will work smoothly after the changes are applied. To start work, you need to launch the application and log in to the Mi Account, if necessary for your region.
There are many categories available inside the store, but we're interested in the icon section. Often, developers put icon packs apart from full-length themes, allowing you to combine different styles. When you find the right set, click Download and then Apply. The system automatically replaces the standard images with new ones in all menus and on the desktop.
⚠️ Note: Some topics may be paid or advertised. Check the download terms carefully to avoid accidentally signing up for a subscription.
It should be noted that not all applications can be supported by third-party icon sets. If you have installed a theme, but some shortcuts remain the same, this means that the pack does not have graphic files for a particular software, in which case the system automatically substitutes a standard image or generic icon.
Configure through the design menu
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell and current MIUI builds offer finer customization without loading heavy themes, allowing you to change only icons, leaving wallpaper and widgets unchanged. To access these settings, go to Settings and find Wallpaper and personalization.
Here you will see the icon option that gives you access to the system editor, and unlike third-party themes, you can adjust the parameters of each element individually, you can choose a shape (circle, square, rounded square), and also use a color filter that will make all icons monochrome or, conversely, more saturated.
- 🎨 Color scheme: automatic selection of shades based on wallpaper.
- 🔲 Form: Choosing a geometric basis for all application shortcuts.
- 📏 Size: adjustment of scale of desktop elements.
- 🔄 Animation: Turning on or off effects when unlocking.
Using an embedded editor is the best option for those who appreciate system performance. Third-party themes often consume more RAM resources, whereas native settings work at the interface kernel level without putting additional strain on the processor.
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If you want to quickly return everything as it was, in the Topic menu, go to the profile (human icon) and select “My Themes”, where you can restore the standard set with one click.
Application of third-party launchers
If you don't have enough of the standard shell, third-party launchers will come to the rescue, special applications that completely replace the desktop and app menus. The most popular solutions are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Smart Launcher, and once installed, it will ask for permission to use as the default home screen.
The main advantage of launchers is complete independence from the system limitations of Xiaomi. You can assign your images to any folder or application, change the desktop grid to the smallest detail and create complex gesture controls. To change the icon in most launchers, you need to press the shortcut for a long time, select Edit and then click on the icon image.
However, third-party solutions have their own nuances: Some features, such as swipes to call the curtain or double-pressing to turn on the screen, may not work properly or require additional permissions in the special features menu, and launchers may consume more battery power.
| Launcher | Difficulty | Flexibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Tall. | Low. |
| Lawnchair | Low. | Medium | Low. |
| Smart Launcher | Low. | Automatic. | Average. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low. | Medium | Average. |
⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, system navigation gestures may stop working, in which case it is recommended to temporarily switch to button navigation in the screen settings.
Creating your own application icons
For users who want to create a truly unique interface, there is the option of manually replacing icons. This method does not require heavy apps to be installed, but takes a little longer. The essence of the method is to create a shell shortcut that leads to the desired application, but looks the way you want it to.
To implement this idea, you'll need a shortcut application, like Shortcut Maker or X Icon Changer. The process is this: you select the target app from a list, then upload any image from the gallery as a new icon, and then a new shortcut appears on the desktop.
It's important to understand the technicality of this method. The shortcut created is essentially a separate link app. If you remove the shortcut app, the icons created may stop working or disappear, so it's not advisable to remove the tool you used to modify.
☑️ The algorithm for creating your icon
Installation of icon packages from Google Play
Google Play offers thousands of free and paid icon sets that are compatible with many launchers and some system themes. Unlike full MIUI themes, these packages contain only graphics files. They often require launcher support or the use of special assistant apps.
Popular packages like Whicons, LineX, or CandyCons contain hundreds of redrawn icons of popular social networks and services. Once you install such a package on Google Play, you need to go to your current launcher settings (or the Theme app, if supported) and select the icon style or Icon Pack section.
If you don't automatically use the package you select, you can use an aggregator application like Icon Pack Studio, which allows you to not only use the ready-made sets, but also edit them: change colors, shapes, and even create your own variations based on existing ones, which gives you maximum control over the visual style.
Why do some icons not change?
Problem Solving and Compatibility
Users often face compatibility issues during customization, such as when they update their MIUI or HyperOS firmware, some themes may stop showing correctly, and icons may stop “going” or become unreadable, due to changes in the system launcher code that the developer makes.
Also worth considering is the difference between global and Chinese firmware. Resources for Chinese phones may not work properly on global devices due to differences in system fonts and file paths. If the interface becomes unstable after applying the theme, it is recommended to reset the launcher settings.
To reset your home screen settings, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Desktop (or System Launcher) in the list, click Clear and select Reset. This will return the standard look to icons and widget locations, but won’t delete your personal files or apps.
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Theme compatibility depends on the Android version and shell. Always check the date of the last theme update in the store to make sure it is supported by your version of the software.