How to change icons on Android Xiaomi without a launcher: the full guide

Replacing standard icons with Xiaomi is one of the most popular tasks among users looking to personalize their smartphone, but most guides suggest installing third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Action Launcher, which is not always convenient: They may have additional memory and may conflict with MIUI, Some features (such as navigation gestures) stop working correctly. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to change icons on Xiaomi without launchers, including hidden settings. MIUI, ADB-Teams and little-known chips of design themes.

It's important to understand that customization is based on the firmware version, for example, MIUI 14 has an integrated icon editor that was not in MIUI 12, and we'll take these nuances into account and offer solutions for different versions, and you'll learn how to get around the system's limitations if standard methods don't work, and what to do if icons reset to standard ones after the changes.

Why the standard methods don’t work for Xiaomi

The main problem with replacing icons with Xiaomi is the tight integration of MIUI with system components. Unlike pure Android, where launchers easily replace icons through.apk packages, many interface elements are tied to branded services in MIUI:

• 🔹 MiuiHome is a system launcher that can't be completely disabled without root rights. It's not only responsible for icons, but also for gestures, application folders and widgets.
• 🔹 ThemeManager is a theme service that blocks the installation of third-party icons unless they are certified by Xiaomi.
• 🔹 Limitations MIUI: If you replace the icon with a ADB, After the system update, it may be reset.

In addition, new versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 13) have tightened their security policies, and now not only does ADB need to be changed to modify system files, but the bootloader unlocks, which will void the warranty, but there are workarounds, which we will discuss in the following sections.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G Global, some methods may not work due to regional restrictions, in which case we recommend switching to European (EEA) Chinese MIUI via Fastboot.

Method 1: Use the built-in icon editor in MIUI 14

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi has added a limited ability to change icons without third-party tools, a method that works on most modern models: Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 and later.

1. Open Settings → Screen → Style of the lock screen.
2. Select "App icons" (may be called "Icon style").
3. In the list of available styles, select "Tuneable" or "Other".
4. Click Add Icons and select the icon package from the Play Market (like Lines Icon Pack or Whicons).

Note that this method does not allow you to replace the icons individually, only the package for all applications, and some system icons (for example, Settings or Phone) may remain unchanged.

The device for MIUI 14 or newer|Installed package of icons from the Play Market|Lack of third-party launchers|Active Internet connection-->

⚠️ Note: If they reset after a few hours, check the battery optimization settings for ThemeManager. Add it to the exceptions: → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → ThemeManager → No restrictions.

Method 2: Replace icons with ADB (no root)

If your device is working on MIUI 12/13 Or you want to replace the icons selectively, you can use it. ADB-This method doesn't require root rights, but it requires a computer and enabled debugging. USB. Suitable for models: Redmi Note 10/11, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11 Lite and others.

First, prepare the icon files:

1. Download the icon package in.png format (at least 192×192 px resolution).
2. Rename the files by template: com.android.chrome.png (for Chrome), com.whatsapp.png (for WhatsApp), etc. The full list of application identifiers can be obtained through the ADB command: adb shell pm list packages -f
3. Place files in the icons folder on your computer.

Now connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb push icons /sdcard/


adb shell




su -c "mount -o rw,remount /system"




su -c "cp -r /sdcard/icons/* /data/system/theme/default/"




su -c "chmod 644 /data/system/theme/default/*.png"




su -c "reboot"

After the reboot, the icons will change, but this method only works until the next MIUI update. To fix the changes, you need to repeat the procedure after each update.

Through built-in settings MIUI|ADB-team|Third-party annexes|Rooting and full customization-->

Method 3: Using MIUI themes with custom icons

Official theme store MIUI (Topics → Online) contains hundreds of free and paid themes, many of which include unique icon sets, the advantage of this method is full compatibility with the system and no risk of resetting after updates:

• 🎨 Not all themes change icons -- some only touch wallpaper and fonts".
• 🔍 Regional restrictions: in the global version MIUI To access all the topics, change the region to India or China in the Mi Account settings.
• 💰 Paid themes often offer better quality icons, but they can be downloaded for free through third-party sites (e.g. miuithemes.com).

Instructions for the application of topics:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to the Online section and find the theme with your favorite icons (for example, Dark Icon Pack or Minimal UI).
3. Download and apply the theme. If the icons haven't changed, reboot the device.

💡

If the icons look blurry after applying the theme, clear the cache of the MiuiHome app: Settings → Apps → Application Management → MiuiHome → Clear the cache.

Method 4: Applications for replacing icons without a launcher

There are several apps that can replace icons without installing a full launcher, which work through the Accessibility Service and are compatible with most Xiaomi devices on MIUI 12-14.

• 📱 Icon Changer (by Vertumus) – allows you to replace icons one by one, supports adaptive icons.
• 🎯 Shortcut Maker – creates shortcuts with custom icons that can be placed on the home screen.
• 🖼️ X Icon Changer – works through overlay, does not require root, but can conflict with MIUI.

Instructions for Icon Changer:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Enable special options in settings for it.
3. Select the application you want to change and upload the new image.
4. Save the changes and place a shortcut on the home screen.

The downside of this method is that icons are replaced only for shortcuts, not for the applications themselves, so the app menu and notification bar will remain standard icons.

Method 5: Rooting and replacing icons (for advanced ones)

If you are willing to sacrifice the warranty for the sake of full customization, obtaining root rights will open unlimited possibilities for replacing icons. This method is suitable for Xiaomi models with an unlocked bootloader (for example, POCO F3, Redmi K40).

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (via Mi Unlock Tool).
• 📱 Installed by Magisk or SuperSU.
• 🖥️ Computer with ADB and Fastboot.

After obtaining root, follow the following steps:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the folder. /system/app/ or /data/app/ and find APK-The file you want to replace with the icon.
3. Remove the APK to your computer, replace the icons in the res/drawable folder and reassemble the file.
4. Install the modified APK back on the phone.

Advantages of this method:

Full control over all icons, including system ones.

- Ability to use adaptive icons (for Android 8.0+).

Changes will continue after updates (unless they affect system APKs).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) After rooting, Widevine stops working. L1, This leads to a decrease in streaming quality on Netflix and Disney.+ before 480p. To return L1, You will need to roll back changes or use the Magisk SafetyNet Fix module".

What to do if the icons are reset after the update

One of the most common problems with replacing icons with Xiaomi is resetting them after the MIUI update, which is because the system overwrites the theme files or resets the MiuiHome cache. Here's how to return custom icons:

• 🔄 For ADB-Repeat the procedure of replacing the icons (see Method 2).
• 🎨 For those. MIUI: Reinstall theme from the Topic section → My subjects. → History.
• 📱 For apps: Update shortcuts via Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker.

To minimize the risk of discharge:

Turn off automatic theme updates in MIUI settings.

Create a backup of /data/system/theme/ folder via TWRP or ADB.

- Use topics that are marked as “compatible with” MIUI {version}".

adb shell cmd deviceidle whitelist +com.miui.home

This will prevent the launcher cache from being reset.-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing icons with Xiaomi