How to change icons on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: the complete guide

Modern smartphone users pay great attention to personalizing the interface, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 provides a wide range of options. The standard shell MIUI installed on the device allows you to change the appearance of the system almost beyond recognition, ranging from fonts to application system icons. The process of replacing graphic elements does not require root rights and can be done by any owner of the gadget in a few minutes.

There are several ways to do this, from using an in-built theme store to installing specialized launchers from third-party developers. Each method has its own features, advantages and limitations that directly affect the stability of the operaonic system. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available algorithms for customizing the interface on your model.

Before you start taking action, you need to understand that the visual component is just the tip of the iceberg. Deep system tuning can affect power consumption and performance, so it is important to follow the sequence of steps and carefully choose the sources of loading graphic resources to avoid software conflicts.

Use of the built-in “Themes” application

The easiest and safest way to change the appearance of the desktop is to use a regular tool from the developers of MIUI. Themes app is preinstalled on every Redmi Note 7 device and contains a huge database of user designs.

At the top of the screen, you'll see a search bar and a few categories. We're interested in the section where you can choose a particular style. Often users look for specific icon packages, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem, icons are usually bundled with wallpaper and widgets as part of a single theme.

Once you select your favorite option, click Download and then Apply. The system will warn you that wallpaper, lock screen and icons will be changed. If you are only interested in changing the graphics of applications, some themes allow you to select components selectively, although in newer versions of MIUI this feature is often hidden.

• 🎨 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
• 🔍 Type a keyword in your search, such as “Minimal” or “iOS».
• ⬇️ Press the download button next to your favorite option.
• ✅ Confirm the application of changes by clicking the button "Apply».

⚠️ Note: some topics may contain ads or require you to watch videos to unlock full functionality.

It’s important to note that a standard theme store can run unstable in some regions, and if you encounter a connection error or an empty list, you may need to change the region in your phone’s settings to India or Singapore, which often helps unlock access to a full directory of graphical shells.

Installation of third-party launchers

If the built-in MIUI isn’t good for you, an alternative shell is a great solution, and launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Smart Launcher completely replace the desktop and provide flexible settings for each interface element, giving you complete control over the visual style of the device.

Once you install the app from Google Play Market, the system will prompt you to select the primary one, you will need to allow access to contacts and storage, and confirm the change of the home screen in the system menu, without this step, the new interface will not activate.

Inside third-party launchers, there are often separate icon stores or the ability to download packages manually.You can mix styles to create unique combinations not available in Xiaomi's standard shell.However, it's worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more battery resources.

To replace a specific icon in such launchers, you usually need to pinch your finger on the icon, select “Edit” and then “Replace the icon.” A gallery of available styles or image files will open, which allows you to achieve maximum personalization, turning the Redmi Note 7 into a unique device.

Hand-mounted APK-icon-pack

For advanced users who want to install a specific icon pack without changing the whole theme, there is a manual installation method..apk files with graphics only can be found on specialized forums or modified sites, which requires caution and antivirus file verification.

After downloading the file, you must go to the Settings menu → Advanced Settings → Privacy and allow the installation of applications from unknown sources for your browser or file manager. Without this permission, the system will block the launch of the installer.

Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions. Unlike those, such packs often don’t have a management interface and simply add a set of icons to the system, which can then be activated through the Topics app in the Profile or My Resources section.

⚠️ Attention: installation APK-Files from unverified sources carry the risk of malware infecting the device.

If you have a new pack installed, you should consider that manual installation can lead to version conflicts. If after installing a new pack, the phone starts to work slower, try clearing the cache of the Themes app or removing newly installed components. System stability should always be a priority over appearance.

Setting the size of the grid and fonts

When you change the graphics, you often need to adjust the layout of the items, and in Redmi Note 7, the screen settings menu is responsible for that, so to change the number of icons in a row, you need to pinch with two fingers on your desktop or pinch an empty area.

In the menu that opens, select Settings (usually a gear) where you can resize your grid from 4x6 to 5x7, so you can put more shortcuts on one screen, and you can also adjust the font size and boldness, which affects the readability of the icon signatures.

Change the font size is made through the Settings path → Screen. → Text size. You can see real-time changes when you move the slider, and this is especially true when you use graphics that are non-standard, where signatures can blend in with the background.

• 📱 Make a swipe with two fingers on your desktop.
• ⚙️ Click on the settings icon in the lower right corner.
• 📐 Choose the appropriate grid format (e.g. 5 columns).
• 🔤 Adjust the size of the text for better readability.

Remember that too small a grid can make the interface uncomfortable to control one hand. The ergonomics of using a smartphone should not suffer from the desire to accommodate the maximum information on the screen. The optimal choice for the Redmi Note 7 with its diagonal is considered a grid 4x6 or 5x6.

Solution and Display Errors

In customization, users often encounter artifacts: icons can become black squares, stop changing size, or disappear after a reboot, most often due to the system caching old graphics, the solution lies in cleaning the data of the application responsible for the topics.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the “Themes” (or “Themes”) list. Click “Clean” → “Clear all data.” Don’t worry, your downloaded themes won’t be deleted, but the current style will reset and you will need to choose it again.

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Before replacing icons, take a screenshot of the current location of the apps, which will help quickly restore order on the desktop if the new theme breaks the folder structure.

Another common problem is the theme’s incompatibility with the Android or MIUI version. If the theme is created for an older version of the shell, some elements may not display correctly, in which case it helps to find updates for the theme itself in the user profile.

⚠️ Warning: If after installing the theme, the phone goes into an endless bootloop, press the volume button down and power to enter Recovery mode, then reset the settings (Wipe Data!

Also worth mentioning is the problem with notification icons. Once the topic is changed, the message icons in the status bar can turn white or invisible. This is treated by switching the icon style in the Settings menu → Notifications and status bar → The icon in the status bar where you want to select the “Show icon” option.

The impact of customization on productivity

Many users wonder how much the replacement of icons affects the speed of the Redmi Note 7. Standard MIUI themes are optimized and have little impact on performance. However, "heavy" third-party launchers with live icon animation can load the processor and RAM.

If you notice your phone is running slower, opening a menu with a delay, or running out more often, look at the resources you have installed. Live wallpaper combined with dynamic icons is a guaranteed way to increase battery power consumption.

For weak devices or memory shortages, static images and light launchers are better. MIUI has an Acceleration feature that helps free up RAM, but it doesn't always cope with heavy graphics shells.

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The optimal balance between beauty and speed is to use static themes from the official store without unnecessary widgets on the desktop.

Check your list of running apps regularly. If the launcher consumes a disproportionate amount of resources, consider returning to standard design or finding a lighter one. System stability is more important than visual effects.