Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the desire to personalize the look and feel of their device, and Redmi 8 is no exception.The standard set of graphic elements can seem boring, especially if you want to distinguish your gadget from the many others. Fortunately, the MIUI shell on which the Android system in these phones is based provides ample opportunities for customizing the interface without the need for superuser rights.
The process of replacing graphical designations can range from simple installation of a finished theme to the use of specialized third-party application launchers. It is important to understand that the methods differ in complexity and end result. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods so that you can choose the most suitable for your model.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The easiest and safest way to change your visual style is to use a regular tool from the manufacturer. Themes app is preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices and allows you to change not only wallpaper, but also graphic elements of the system. To get started, open the menu and find a shortcut called "Themes" or "Themes".
Once you start the program, you will need to log in to your Mi Account if you haven't already. In the search box, type in a query like "iOS icons" or "Minimalist" to find packages with the desired style. Pay attention to the theme ranking and the number of downloads, as this indirectly indicates the quality of the drawing of elements.
When you choose your favorite option, click Download and then Apply. The system will warn you that the wallpaper, lock screen and icons will be changed. Confirm the action, and the interface is transformed instantly. If the result does not suit you, you can return to the standard view through the user profile in the same application.
- 🎨 A huge selection of free styles from the community.
- ⚡ Quickly implement changes without rebooting.
- 🔄 The ability to easily roll back changes at any time.
- 📱 Optimization for Redmi 8 screen resolution.
⚠️ Note: Some topics may contain ads or require you to watch videos to unlock full functionality.
Customization of the individual view through the theme editor
If you don't like the finished solutions, the MIUI shell allows you to create your own combinations. In the Themes app, go to Profile and select My Topics, and you can edit the current set by changing only the graphic elements of the desktop, leaving the system sounds and wallpaper unchanged.
To make a deeper setup, you can use the Customize Theme feature, which allows you to select individual icon packages for specific application categories, such as Social Networks, Games or System Utilities, which gives you the flexibility to create a unique visual style.
But remember, the standard editor has limitations: you can't draw your own icon from scratch inside this menu, but you can choose from pre-installed options or packages that you downloaded before. You'll need other methods to set up your own images, which will be discussed below.
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Before applying a new theme, take a screenshot of your current desktop, which will help you navigate faster if the new icons are too small or poorly readable.
Compatibility is an important aspect. Not all themes are correctly displayed on the Android version installed on Redmi 8. Sometimes there may be artifacts or no graphics for new versions of applications.
Use of third-party launchers for complete freedom
When the standard shell is not enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue, programs that completely replace the desktop and app menus. The most popular options are Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Microsoft Launcher, which allow you to change the shape, size and image of any shortcut individually.
Once you install the launcher from Google Play, you need to give it the necessary permissions and install it as the default app for the home screen. In the new launcher settings, find the "Look" or "Icons" section, and you can download any.apk icon package or use the built-in sets here.
The main advantage of this method is that you can change the image for one particular application, and you can just click on the shortcut, select "Edit" and then select "Icon," and you can select an image from the gallery from the menu that opens, making your interface truly unique.
- 🖌️ Complete freedom in choosing the size of the grid and fonts.
- 🖼️ Possibility of installing any picture from the gallery.
- ⚙️ Flexible customization of gestures and animations.
- 🚀 They often run faster than standard launchers. MIUI.
⚠️ WARNING: When using a third-party launcher, some Xiaomi branded features, such as the Wallpaper Carousel or one-hand gestures, may stop working.Be prepared to compromise between functionality and appearance.
☑️ Check before installing the launcher
Comparison of methods of customization of the interface
The choice of method depends on your goals and level of technical training, and to make your decision easier, we have prepared a comparative table of the main ways to change the graphics to Redmi 8, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons of each approach.
| Method | Difficulty | Flexibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex “Themes” | Low. | Medium | Minimum |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Tall. | Average. |
| Shortcuts (Tags) | Tall. | Maximum | Minimum |
| Topics Editor (Pro) | Tall. | Tall. | Minimum |
As you can see from the table, the regular Themes app is the most energy-efficient solution. Third-party launchers consume more CPU resources, as they are constantly active in the background, processing gestures and animations.
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For everyday use without loss of autonomy, the official themes from the MIUI store are best suited.
The shortcut method, although not detailed in the table, requires a separate application and creates duplicate entries in the system, which can confuse the inexperienced user, but it gives maximum visual freedom.
Creating custom labels through helper apps
There's another way that doesn't require a launcher change, but you can put any kind of image, and that's using shortcut design applications like X Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker, and that's basically creating a new shortcut that leads to the same application, but it looks different.
Run this app and select the target program from the list. Next, click on the current icon to open the gallery. You can select a photo, take a picture with the camera or use built-in vector graphics sets. After selecting the image, give the new shortcut a name and click "Add".
The system will ask permission to create a shortcut on the desktop, and once confirmed, a new object will appear on the screen, and the old shortcut will remain in place, and you can manually remove it by dragging it into the shopping cart, so you gradually replace the entire interface.
- 📸 Use of any photos from the gallery.
- ✂️ Cutting and scaling the image inside the application.
- 🎭 Adding frames and effects to the picture.
- 📂 Grouping shortcuts into folders by color.
Why can’t new labels be opened?
It is important to note that such shortcuts may not automatically update if the main application changes its logo in the future, and notifications (unread messages counter) are often not displayed on such shortcuts.
Solving Display Problems and Errors
Redmi 8 users may face a number of challenges in customizing, and it often happens that after applying the theme, icons become too small or, conversely, huge, going beyond the grid, this is solved by changing the font size in the general settings of the Settings → Screen → Text Size system.
Another common problem is that the label signatures disappear, and in the MIUI shell, there's a separate switch, go to the desktop settings (long tap for empty space → Settings) and find "Signatures." Make sure it's activated.
If after installing the launcher, the phone started to work slower or graphic artifacts appeared, try clearing the cache of the new launcher. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find your launcher and select Clear Cache. In extreme cases, delete and re-install the program.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install two active launchers at the same time, this can lead to resource conflict and a cyclical reboot of the interface.
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Most visual bugs are solved by simply restarting the device after the changes are applied.
Remember that Redmi 8 runs on a Snapdragon 439 processor, which is not a flagship.Excessive animated widgets and live icons can significantly reduce system performance.