How to change application icons on Xiaomi: 5 working ways without ROOT

The standard app icons on Xiaomi smartphones often look monotonous, especially if you use the proprietary MIUI shell with its characteristic design. The good news is that you can replace them with your images even without superuser rights (ROOT). In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from built-in functions to third-party applications that run on MIUI 14/15 and new models of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi 2023-2026.

It’s important to understand that MIUI imposes restrictions on deep customization of the interface — it’s part of Xiaomi’s policy to ensure the stability of the system. However, workarounds exist, and we’ll detail which ones are safe and which require caution. For example, replacing icons through ADB or special launchers support even budget models like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5, while manual editing of system files can lead to failures.

If you want to change your images, and completely transform the look of your smartphone, at the end of this article you will find tips for choosing themes and widgets that will harmoniously complement new icons, and for those who are afraid of breaking something, we have separately highlighted the safest methods with minimal risk.

Why Xiaomi is restricting icon replacement?

The MIUI shell was originally designed with a focus on visual integrity and performance. Xiaomi argues the limitations of customization for the following reasons:

• 🔄 System Stability: Uncontrolled changes to system files can lead to errors or crashes of applications.
• 🛡️ Safety: modification APK-Files (e.g., via apktool) open potential vulnerabilities to malware.
• 🎨 Uniform design: Xiaomi promotes corporate identity, where icons, fonts and animations are subordinated to a single concept.
• 📱 Optimization for weak devices: on budget models (e.g. Redmi) A2) Deep customization can slow down work.

However, users are finding ways around these limitations, such as MIUI 14, which includes support for adaptive icons that can be changed through some launchers, and MIUI 15 (2026) added an experimental Custom Icon Packs feature, but it doesn't work on all devices.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi with a locked bootloader (most official firmware), then modifying system files via Magisk or TWRP This will trigger the Anti-Rollback protection, which can make the phone unusable for updates!

Method 1: Replace icons through the launcher (without ROOT)

The easiest and safest method is to use an alternative launcher, which does not require superuser rights and works on any Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 13C or POCO F5.

• 📱 Nova Launcher – supports icon packages (.iconpack) and allows you to change icons for each application manually.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher – Similar to Nova, but with more flexible icon scaling settings.
• 🔧 Lawnchair – open launcher with support for Adaptive Icons and dynamic themes.
• 🌈 Microsoft Launcher – if you need Windows integration and cloud icon packages.

How this works in practice:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. Download your favorite icon package (such as Whicons or CandyCons).
3. In the launcher settings, select Icons → Icon Package and apply the downloaded set.
4. For manual replacement of individual icons: long-click on the application → Change → Icon → select an image from the gallery.

The advantage of the method: no risks to the system, you can return standard icons in one click. The disadvantage is that launchers consume a little more RAM (on Xiaomi with 4 GB of RAM this is imperceptible, but 2 GB can be critical).

Method 2: Use of icon packs (Icon Packs)

If you don't want to change the launcher, you can use the icon package on top of the standard MIUI Launcher, and you'll need an Icon Pack Studio or Awesome Icons app.

• 🖼️ Create your icons from images (PNG, SVG).
• 🔄 Automatically apply them to all supported applications.
• 🎭 Customize the shape of icons (round, square, rounded).

Step-by-step:

1. Install Icon Pack Studio.
2. Choose Create a new package and upload your images (recommended size is 192×192 px).
3. Assign icons to apps manually or use the Auto-Match feature.
4. Save the package and apply it through the launcher settings (if your launcher supports third-party packages).

Important: Not all applications in MIUI support packet-based icon replacement, for example, system utilities (Settings, Phone, Messages) often ignore such changes, in which case only manual replacement (see Method 4) will help.

- Size not less than 192×192 px

- PNG format with transparent background

- Save in a separate folder.

- File names without Cyrillic and space-->

Method 3: Replacement by ADB (Advanced Method)

If you need to change the icons of system applications (for example, Settings or Camera), and the launchers do not help, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require ROOT, But it involves working with the command line.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock Developer Settings, then enable Debugging by USB).
• 🖼️ Prepared icons in format PNG (The size should be the same as the original, usually 108×108 px 144×144 px).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified.
2. Download the original APK of the application you want to replace (for example, via APK Extractor).
3. Unpack APK with apktool and replace the icon files in the res/drawable-XXXhdpi folder (where XXXhdpi is the screen density of your device).
4. Collect the APK back and install it via ADB: adb install -r name file.apk

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect assembly APK You can always back up the original file! Also note that after you update, MIUI change.

Method 4: Manual editing through Magisk (for experienced)

If you have a bootloader unlocked and Magisk installed, you can replace the icons directly in the system files, which gives you maximum freedom, but you need to be careful.

Conditions required:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (Bootloader Unlocked).
• 📱 Installed by Magisk (version 26.0)+).
• 🛠️ Module MIUI Modding Tools or SystemUI Tuner.

Step-by-step:

1. Install MIUI Modding Tools (available in Magisk Module Repo repository) via Magisk.
2. Go to Settings. → MIUI Modding → Icon Changer.
3. Select the application and download the new icon (PNG and WEBP formats are supported).
4. Reset the device.

Important: Some MIUI 15 firmware may have icon replacement modules that conflict with Mi Share. If wireless data is no longer available after the changes, disable the module or return the standard icons.

Method 5: MIUI Topics (official method)

If you don’t need a spot replacement of icons, but want to completely change the style of the interface, use the built-in MIUI themes. This method does not require any additional tools and is safe for the system.

How to apply the topic:

1. Open the Themes app on your Xiaomi.
2. Select the Icons section or the Full Themes.
3. Find your favorite theme (like Dark Icon Pack or Minimalist Icons) and click Apply.
4. If the theme is paid, you can use free alternatives from the Recommended section.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Automatic update of icons when updating the theme.
• 🎨 A single style for all interface elements (icons, wallpaper, fonts).
• 🛡️ Full compatibility with MIUI (no risk of failure).

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 It is impossible to replace the icons selectively (only the full set).
• 🎭 Limited selection of free themes.

💡

If you don't like any of the themes suggested, try creating your! Themes app has a Theme Editor section where you can combine icons, wallpaper and colors.

How to return standard icons?

If you want to go back to the original look after the experiments, do the following:

• 🔄 For launchers: go to the launcher settings and select Icons → Standard.
• 📦 For icon packages: delete the installed package through Settings → Annexes.
• 🖥️ For ADB/Magisk: reinstall the original APK Disable the module in Magisk Manager.
• 🎨 For those. MIUI: Open the Topics app and select Standard Theme.

If the app stopped working after replacing the icons via ADB or Magisk, try:

1. Clear the app cache (Settings → Apps → Select the app → Clear the cache).
2. Reinstall the original APK (you can download from the APKMirror website).
3. In extreme cases, reset the launcher settings (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear data).

💡

Before any icon experiment, back up important data, and even secure methods (like launchers) can cause labels to be accidentally deleted.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing icons with Xiaomi