How to change the app icon on Android Xiaomi: the complete guide

Personalizing the smartphone interface is one of the most popular ways to express the owner’s personality. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the desire to change the standard visual style that the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS offers. Standard icon sets can seem boring, and the lack of a built-in direct icon replacement feature for individual applications without changing the whole theme creates certain difficulties for beginners.

The process of replacing graphics does not require Root rights, but it involves the use of specific system functions or third-party software. Depending on the version of the operating system and the region in which the device is released, the algorithm of actions may differ significantly. Some methods allow you to change only the shortcuts on the desktop, leaving the originals in the application menu intact.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to replace graphical designations of programs. You will learn how to use built-in thematic capabilities, third-party launchers and special utilities to create a unique visual style. It is important to understand that replacing an icon through third-party applications creates a new shortcut, not changes the original application file in the system. This is a key point for understanding the logic of the Android interface.

Features of the interface MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s shells are a profound modification of the standard Android. The GUI management system here is built on principles other than stock Android or Samsung solutions. MIUI and HyperOS lack the native ability to simply click on an icon and select “Change” from the context menu, as implemented in some other launchers, and this is done by developers to preserve the visual integrity of the ecosystem.

Xiaomi’s user interface strictly regulates the appearance of elements. The standard launcher does not allow you to arbitrarily replace graphics without applying global themes. Themes in the Xiaomi ecosystem is a complex process that affects wallpaper, fonts, sounds and, of course, application icons. Trying to change one element without affecting others often requires workarounds.

It's worth noting that in recent versions of firmware, security policies have become stricter, that access to system files responsible for rendering the interface is limited, so methods that worked a few years ago may not be relevant now, and that you need to use current tools that are compatible with the current version of Android.

⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from unverified sources can lead to unstable system operation or advertising. Use only an official theme store or trusted third-party resources.

Understanding MIUI architecture will help avoid customization errors, the system separates theme from shortcut, the theme applies globally, and the shortcut is a local reference, and we'll need to combine these concepts or use third-party desktop management tools to achieve this goal.

Use of the built-in “Themes” application

The easiest and safest way to change the look of the interface is to use the Themes (or Themes) application, which is pre-installed on all the brand devices and has access to deep customization. However, there is a caveat: you can’t choose a specific icon for a particular application from the gallery. You will have to choose a ready-made set that will replace the graphics for all supported programs at once.

To get started, open the Topics app on your desktop. At the bottom of the screen, find the Profile tab or the person icon. From the menu that opens, select My Pages, then go to Topics. This shows all the design sets you have downloaded. If you don't have the right theme, go to the directory and download the one you like.

After selecting a theme, click Apply. The system will warn you that the wallpaper, sounds and icons will be changed. Confirm the action. Now the entire interface will change. If you like the style of icons from this theme but don't like the wallpaper, you can change the background separately, returning your old one while the icon set remains active.

In some regions (e.g., global versions for Europe or Russia), the theme catalog may be limited, so you can change the region in your phone settings. Go to Settings → Additional → Region and select a country with a lot of content, such as India or Indonesia.

Creating custom shortcuts through “Themes”

If global theme change doesn't suit you, because you want to change the icon for just one particular app (like WhatsApp or Telegram), there's a more flexible tool inside the same app. It lets you create your own icon sets. This method takes a little longer, but gives you spot control over the look.

Open the Themes app and go to the user profile. Find the Icons section (may be called the Icon Set). At the top of the screen, there is often a create or download button. Click the plus or + button to create a new set. The system will suggest selecting an image from the gallery or taking a photo.

Once you select the image, you will be asked to select the application that will be assigned this graphic image. Select the program from the list. Once confirmed, a new label will appear on the desktop with the image you choose. The old shortcut may remain and you will have to manually remove it.

The good thing about this method is that it doesn't require third-party software to be installed, but it has a limitation: the shortcut that you create is technically a separate entity, so when you update an application or clear the theme cache, the user icon can fly off and you have to recreate it, and not all system applications support this replacement.

Application of third-party launchers

The most powerful tool to change the look is the installation of an alternative launcher. Launcher replaces the standard desktop, application menu and control panel. Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair provide unlimited customization options.

Once you install the launcher from Google Play, you need to activate it. Xiaomi system may require additional permission. Go to Settings → Desktop (or search through Default Search) and select the installed launcher. Now the interface will change.

In the new launcher settings (usually a long blank tap or double tap), find the Icon or Look and Feel section, and it'll have the Change Icon function, and you can click on it and select any image from the gallery for any application, which gives you complete creative freedom.

The main advantage of third-party launchers is that they are independent of the system limitations of MIUI. You can use icon packs from the Play Market, which contain thousands of stylized images for popular applications, which allows you to create a truly unique design that is not available in the standard shell.

Use of the Shortcut Maker (Shortcut Maker)

If you don't want to change the entire desktop, but the functionality of the built-in themes is not enough, specialized utilities will come to the rescue. One of the most popular and functional is the Shortcut Maker app, which allows you to create shortcuts for applications, websites and contacts with a completely custom design.

The way it works is simple: you run a Shortcut Maker, you select the type of App object, you find the program you want in the list, then you select Gallery in the icon section, you upload any image, you can even apply a filter or select the background color.

Once you've set up, click the Create a Shortcut. The system will ask permission to create a shortcut on the desktop. Once confirmed, a new icon will appear. The old one can be removed. This is the perfect way to create a thematic folder or a minimalist interface.

Unlike standard methods, Shortcut Maker allows you to change even the name of the application on the shortcut, you can rename "Settings" to "System" or hide the name altogether, which opens up the possibility of creating a clean, aesthetic desktop without unnecessary inscriptions.

Typical problems and their solution

Users may face a number of challenges in customization, and it often happens that when the icon is replaced, it is not displayed correctly: stretched, has a white background, or simply does not appear, due to the different format of the original images and the system's requirements for proportions.

Another common problem is the emergence of duplicate applications, where third-party shortcuts create new shortcuts, and the old ones don't go away, which can confuse the user, and the solution is to manually remove the original shortcuts from the desktop, pinch them and drag them to the delete area.

Also worth mentioning is the notification problem: sometimes custom icons stop showing the unread message counter (Badge), this is a restriction of third-party launchers or shortcuts themselves, and you need to check if notification support is enabled in the launcher or Shortcut Maker application settings.

⚠️ Note: When you delete an application created through Shortcut Maker, only the shortcut is removed, the app itself will remain on the phone, and to remove the program completely, you need to find it in the menu of all applications or in the settings.

If the icon has become black or transparent, try changing the image format.The system best perceives PNG with a transparent background or square JPG. Using images in WebP format can cause display errors on older versions of MIUI.

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To create the perfect icons, use generator applications that immediately make the picture square with the right indentations, which will eliminate the problems with trimming the edges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Changing an icon is a safe and effective way to personalize, which does not require deep technical knowledge if you use proven methods and applications.