Xiaomi’s home screen is the business card of your smartphone that you see every time you unlock. The standard MIUI shell offers many personalization options, but not everyone knows how to use them. From boring factory wallpaper to chaoticly scattered icons, many put up with an uncomfortable interface simply because they don’t know how to change it.
In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to transform the main screen: from basic settings (change of wallpaper and rearrange icons) to advanced tricks (install custom launchers, hide system applications and customize animations). MIUI (12 to 15) and popular models - Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and others.If you want to make your smartphone unique or just easier to use, this guide is for you.
1. Basic setting of the main screen: wallpaper and icons
To start with, the simplest of them is changing wallpaper and managing icons, which are available out of the box and don’t require any additional apps to be installed, and even if you’ve never set up Xiaomi before, the next steps seem intuitive.
To change the wallpaper on the main screen:
- 📱 Long pressing on the free screen space → Select "Wallpaper" (or "Themes" in older versions) MIUI).
- 🎨 Scroll down to the "My Wallpaper" or "Gallery" section to upload your own image.
- 🔄 Click "Apply" and select where to display the wallpaper: on the home screen, lock screen, or both.
- ⚙️ In some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) available option "Washing wallpaper" for the lock screen - turn it on for a modern look.
For the management of the badges:
- 📌 Long tap on the icon → Drag it to the right place or folder.
- 🗑️ To remove the icon (not the app!), drag it up to the "Delete" label".
- 🔍 If the desired application is not on the screen, swipe up to open the application menu and find it there.
⚠️ Note: Removing the icon from the home screen does not remove the application itself. To uninstall the program, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management.
2. Set up the weather widget and clock
One of the most prominent features of Xiaomi’s home screen is the weather widget with a clock, which displays temperature, city and current time by default, but can be customized or removed.
To change the widget:
- Long press on the free screen space → "Widgets".
- Find the Weather or Clock widget (depending on the model).
- Drag it to the main screen. The existing widget will automatically be replaced.
- Click on the widget → “Settings” (cogs) → select city, units of measurement (Celsius / Fahrenheit), display style.
If you don't need a widget,
- Long tap on the widget → “Delete” (or drag it to the basket at the top of the screen).
| Xiaomi model | Supported weather widgets | Can we change the size? |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11/12 | Standard, minimalistic, with a 5-day forecast | Yes (2×2 or 4×2) |
| POCO X4/X5 | Standard, with precipitation animation | No (fixed size) |
| Xiaomi 13/14 | Standard, minimalistic, with clocks in a circle | Yes (3 size options) |
| Black Shark 5 | Only hours without weather. | No. |
⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F4) The weather widget may disappear after the update MIUI. To return it, restart your smartphone or update the Weather app via Google Play.
3. Hiding system applications and cleaning the screen
Many Xiaomi users are annoyed by the abundance of pre-installed apps (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps) that can’t be removed by standard means.
Ways of concealment:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 📵 Select an unnecessary app (e.g. Mi Pay) → "Disable it (this will hide it from the menu, but will not completely remove it).
- 🗃️ For complete concealment, use folders: create a folder (for example, “Unused”) and move all unnecessary icons there.
For advanced users:
- 🛠️ Install. ADB and execute the command: adb shell pm hide com.miui.browser (replace com.miui.browser with the desired application package).
- 📱 Use launchers like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher, which let you hide apps without rooting.
Make sure that the application is not used by the system|Make a backup copy of the data|Check the name of the package (via App Inspector)|Use a reliable method (ADB launcher)-->
On models with MIUI 14+, disabling system applications via ADB may cause Xiaomi services (e.g., push notifications) to crash. Check compatibility on 4PDA forums before using this method.
4. Installation of a custom launcher for full customization
If standard MIUI settings seem limited, the best way to transform the main screen is to install an alternative launcher.
- 🌟 Nova Launcher - flexible customization of icons, gestures, animations.
- 🎨 Hyperion Launcher – Minimalist design with themes support.
- 📱 Lawnchair – Pixel-style launcher with adaptive icons.
- 🔧 Smart Launcher 6 – Automatic Application Sorting and Smart Search.
How to install and configure the launcher:
- Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
- After installation, click Home → select the new launcher as the main one.
- In the settings of the launcher (Nova Settings)Configure: 🎯 Desktop → Change the size of the grid (for example, 5×6 for more icons). 🖼️ Look & feel → customize the style of icons (adaptive, round, square). 👆 Gestures & inputs → assign gestures (for example, swipe up to search).
💡
If you lose your weather widgets after installing the launcher, reinstall the Weather app from MIUI or use alternative widgets (e.g. Overdrop or Chronus).
Disadvantages of custom launchers:
- ⚠️ Certain functions MIUI (For example, "Dual Application" may not work properly.
- 🔋 Launchers consume additional RAM (especially Nova Launcher with animations).
- 📱 On models POCO shelled POCO Launcher may need to disable the standard launcher through Settings → Annexes.
5. Change the style of icons without a launcher
You don’t want to install a third-party launcher, but you dream of unique icons? MIUI has hidden opportunities for this!
Ways to change icons:
- 🎨 Use Themes. MIUI: Go to Settings. → Topics: Select the theme with your favorite icons (e.g., "Dark Mode" or "Minimalist"). Use only icons without changing wallpaper and fonts (option "Apply partially").
Google Play
CandyCons
Fluid
MIUI Launcher
Icon Changer
Android 8.0+
How to return standard MIUI icons?
Limitations:
- ❌ Not all icon packages are compatible with MIUI Launcher (a standard icon can be displayed).
- 🔄 After updating MIUI Custom icons can be dropped.
6. Additional tricks: animations, gestures and hidden features
Xiaomi's home screen hides some useful features that few people know about.
Transition animations:
- 🌀 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Window animation.
- Select 1x for quick transitions or 0.5x for instant application opening.
Gestures on the main screen:
- 👆 Enable "Double Touch to Wake Up" in Settings → Lock screen → Additionally.
- ☝️ Set up a gesture for Google Assistant in Settings → Home screen → Gestures.
Hidden folders:
- 🔐 Create a folder and call it ".nomedia" (with a dot at the beginning) and it will disappear from the home screen, but it will remain in the app menu.
- 📂 To return the folder, rename it through the file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager).
Mode "Light" (for weak smartphones):
- ⚡ Enable "Light Mode" in Settings → It's going to take away animations and simplify the interface, speeding up the work on older models. 9A, POCO M3).