How to change icons to Xiaomi: from standard themes to custom packs (2026)

Standard MIUI icons on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can get tired after a month of use. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several ways to change them, from simple themes to deep customization via ADB or third-party launchers. But not all methods are equally safe: some require unlocking the bootloader, others can reset after upgrading the system.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to change icons to Xiaomi, from official solutions to advanced tricks for enthusiasts, how to install custom icon packs without root rights, which launchers work better with MIUI 14/15, and why some methods stop working after updates, and how to get it back if something goes wrong.

If you're a beginner, start with the first section about embedded themes -- that's the safest way. ADB-You can do manual editing of system files, and remember to back up before you experiment!

1.Official way: MIUI themes from the theme store

The easiest and safest method is to use Xiaomi’s built-in theme store. It’s available on all MIUI-enabled devices (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13 and later) and doesn’t require any technical skills. The store has thousands of free and paid themes that change not only icons, but also fonts, wallpaper, animations.

To change icons through themes:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the icon tab or find a theme marked "Pack icons".
3. Select your favorite theme and click Apply.
4. Confirm the change in the pop-up window.

⚠️ Note: Some themes may not display icons for third-party apps (such as Telegram or Telegram) correctly. VK). In this case, the icon will remain standard. MIUI The topic may be reset – you will have to reset it.

• ✅ Pros: you do not need to download anything from third-party sources, there is no risk of breaking the system.
• ❌ Cons: Limited selection of icons, not all apps are supported.
• 🔄 Alternative: If the theme store does not have a suitable pack, try downloading the.mtz theme file from forums (for example, the theme file, XDA Developers) and install it manually through the Themes → Local.

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If after applying the theme, some icons have not changed, try restarting your phone or clearing the theme app cache in the settings.

2. Third-party launchers: Nova, Apex, Hyperion

If you don't have enough built-in themes, you can install an alternative launcher, which completely replaces the standard MIUI desktop and allows you to install any icons in.png or.iconpack format.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher is the most flexible, supports gestures, adaptive icons and backup settings. There are free and paid (Nova Prime) versions.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher - similar to Nova, but with a different settings design. Supports changing icons without root rights.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for the MIUI, It has a built-in gamma-ray icon setting.
• 📱 Lawnchair is an open source launcher that mimics the Pixel Launcher, but allows you to install custom icons.

Instructions for installing icons through Nova Launcher:

1. Download and install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Download your favorite icon pack (such as Whicons, Delta or Fluid) – these are usually tagged with the “Icon Pack”.
3. Open the Nova settings (hold your finger on your desktop → Settings).
4. Go to Appearance → Style of icons and select the installed pack.
5. Apply the changes and restart the launcher (you can just swipe down on the desktop).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 10A or POCO M5) Launcher may conflict with system gestures. If after installation Nova swipes stopped working to return, turn off gestures in the system settings (Settings) → Display. → Full screen mode).

Download APK launcher from the official website|Make a backup of the current desktop|Disable battery optimization for launcher|Check compatibility with the Android version-->

3. Manual editing of system icons (for advanced)

If you're willing to take risks, you can replace the icons right in the system files. This method requires root rights or access through ADB, as well as knowledge of the structure of the MIUI folders. On Android 12+ and MIUI 13+ devices, this method can lead to a reset after the OTA update.

Application icons are stored in files with the.apk extension along the way:

/system/app/[app name]/res/drawable-*dpi/

Where *dpi is the screen density (e.g. drawable-xxhdpi for Full HD).

To replace the icon:

1. Download Root Explorer or Mixplorer (with rout access enabled).
2. Find the folder with the icon (for example, for Telegram it can be /system/priv-app/Telegram/).
3. Copy the original icon (for example, ic_launcher.png) backup.
4. Replace it with your icon with the same name and permission.
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: If you replace the icon in the framework-res.apk or miui-systemUI.apk And you get a bootloop, and the only way to restore the phone is to flash it through Fastboot or Recovery. /system before editing!

4.Using ADB to Change Icons Without Root

If you don’t have a root license, but you want to change your system application icons, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-15, but requires a developer mode on and a PC connection.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shoot 7 times) → Additional → For developers).
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download ADB Tools and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.
4. Enter the command to back up the original icon: adb pull /system/app/Calculator/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_launcher.png C:\backup\ (Replace the path with one that is relevant to your application).
5. Place your icon in a folder on your PC and download it back: adb push C:\icons\my_calculator.png /system/app/Calculator/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_launcher.png
6. Change the rights to the file: adb shell chmod 644 /system/app/Calculator/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_launcher.png
7. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

🔹 Important: On new devices (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12 Pro+) section /system It can be protected from recording even through ADB. In this case, only unlocking the loader and obtaining root rights will help.

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ADB-The method is suitable for replacing icons of system applications (calculator, camera, phone), but does not work with launcher or Google services icons.

5. Custom firmware: maximum freedom

If you are willing to go beyond standard methods, you can install custom firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc OS.

• Install any icons via Substratum or LSPosed.
• Change system fonts and animations.
• Use Android 13/14 themes without MIUI restrictions.

But there is a downside:

• ⚠️ Loss of official warranty on most devices).
• 🔋 Possible battery or camera problems (especially in the case of POCO F5 Xiaomi 12T).
• 🔄 Updates will have to be installed manually.

If you decide to use custom firmware, follow this algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader via the Mi Unlock Tool (can take up to 7 days to wait on new devices).
2. Install TWRP Recovery or OrangeFox for your model.
3. Make a full backup through the recovery (Backup → System, Data, Boot).
4. Sweep through firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) and GApps (if you need Google services).
5. After downloading, install LSPosed and the Iconify module to change icons.

📌 Tip: Before installing custom firmware, check its compatibility with your model on the forum XDA Developers or in Telegram chat MIUI Some firmware may not support Widevine L1 (No Netflix in the world HD) module NFC.

6. Restoration of Standard Icons

If after the experiments the icons started to glittle or you want to return everything as it was, there are several ways to roll back:

• 🔄 For those. MIUI: Get into Themes. → Mine. → Current theme and click Reset.
• 📱 For launchers: in the Nova Launcher settings, select Icon Style → Systemic.
• 🛠️ For manual editing: Restore the original files from the backup or reflash the system partition.
• 🔧 For ADB: Repeat the adb push command, but with the original icon.

If the icons are lost after the MIUI update, try:

1. Clear the cache of the Themes and Launcher app.
2. Reinstall theme or pack icons.
3. Reset the launcher settings to factory.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ Resetting theme can result in the removal of all custom wallpaper and widgets. Before reset, take screenshots of the desktop or export the settings through Nova Launcher (if you use it).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing icons to Xiaomi