Xiaomi smartphone owners often strive to maximize personalization of their device, and the Redmi Note 8 is no exception.The standard MIUI interface offers ample features, but sometimes the standard set of graphic elements seems boring or out of step with individual preferences. Changing the appearance of shortcuts is the easiest way to refresh the experience of a gadget without buying a new device.
The process of replacing graphics elements with Redmi Note 8 can be implemented in several ways, each of which has its own characteristics.You can use built-in system tools, third-party applications launchers or specialized themes. Understanding these methods will allow you to fully control the visual style of your smartphone.
In this article, we will take a look at all the customization options available, from simple customization to advanced editing techniques, how to safely change the design, what risks exist when using third-party software, and how to return it back if necessary. Get ready to dive into the world of deep personalization of your Android device.
Use of the built-in Themes application
The safest and easiest way to change the look of the icons on the Redmi Note 8 is to use the Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi devices and provides access to thousands of ready-made designs, tested for compatibility.
Inside the app, go to Profile (the person icon in the corner), then select Themes. Here you can download a new theme in its entirety or select specific items. If your goal is only icons, find the Icon category in the menu. The system will offer you a variety of options, from minimalistic black and white sets to bright and detailed packs in the style of iOS or Material Design.
Once you select a favorite set, click Download and then Apply. The system will automatically replace the standard shortcuts with new ones. It is important to note that some themes can change not only icons, but also wallpaper, fonts and notification menu style. Be careful when viewing the theme description before installing.
- 🎨 Open the Themes app and go to the "Icons" section".
- 📥 Select your favorite pack and click "Download".
- ✅ Click "Apply" to activate the changes.
- 🔄 If necessary, return the standard view through the Profile" → "Topics" → "Standard".
⚠️ Note: Some third-party themes may contain ads or require an internet connection to work. download content only from the official Xiaomi store to avoid malware.
Using the built-in store ensures that all elements will be displayed correctly on the screen of your Redmi Note 8.The display resolution and pixel density are taken into account automatically, so graphic distortion should not occur.
Installation of third-party launchers
If you don't have the built-in MIUI capabilities, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are apps that completely replace the desktop and app menus. The Redmi Note 8 is great for options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher, and they give you full control of the desktop grid, animations and, of course, icons.
Once you install the launcher from Google Play, the system will ask for default permissions to use it. You will need to select the new launcher as the main one. You will then need to download the icon pack separately. There are thousands of such sets in the Play Market, many of them are free. After installing the pack, go to the launcher settings, find the Appearance or Icons section and select the downloaded set.
The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can change the icon for each application individually. Just click and hold the shortcut, select Edit, and match any picture from the gallery or from the installed pack, and this allows you to create a truly unique interface, where each element is hand-picked.
☑️ Preparation for launcher installation
However, it's worth remembering that third-party launchers consume more RAM and battery than the standard shell. On the Redmi Note 8 with its Snapdragon 665 processor, this can be noticeable if many heavy applications are open at the same time. System optimization can work less efficiently with a foreign launcher.
How do you get back the standard launcher?
Hand-held replacement of icons through the Gallery
For those who want to replace the image for just one particular application, there is a method of manually replacing the theme without installing the theme. This method takes a little longer, but gives a point result. You will need the image itself in PNG or JPG format, preferably with a transparent background for a better view.
Download the image you want and save it to the gallery. Then look up the app shortcut you want to change on your desktop. Click on it and hold your finger until the action menu appears. Select Change (or the pencil icon). In the window that opens, click on the current icon, and the system will suggest you select a new image from the gallery.
This method doesn't work for all versions of MIUI the same way. On some firmware, shortcut editing may be hidden or require you to turn on in settings. If the standard path doesn't work, you can use widgets. Create a shortcut widget and select the desired application by assigning it any picture from memory.
- 🖼️ Find or create an image for the icon (preferably square).
- 📱 Press the app shortcut on the desktop.
- ✏️ Select the "Change" option and upload the picture from the Gallery.
- 💾 Save the changes to fix the new look.
⚠️ Note: When manually replaced through a gallery, an image may be stretched or cropped if its proportions do not match the desktop grid. Use high-resolution square images.
Comparison of customization methods
The choice of method depends on your goals: do you want to change everything at once or just a couple of items? Understanding the differences will save time and battery power. Below is a table comparing the main ways to change icons on the Redmi Note 8.
| Method | Difficulty | Impact on the battery | Flexibility of setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex Topics | Low. | Minimum | Medium (ready-made kits) |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | High. | Maximum |
| Hand-substituted | Tall. | Minimum | Point (one by one) |
| Widgets | Medium | Average. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the Themes' regular app is the middle ground for most users, it doesn't load the processor and it keeps the system running smoothly, and third-party launchers are chosen by enthusiasts willing to sacrifice autonomy for a unique design.
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Tip: Before installing a heavy theme or launcher, take a screenshot of your current desktop layout, which will help you quickly restore your navigation if the new design is uncomfortable.
Possible problems and solutions
You may encounter some difficulties in customizing the Redmi Note 8, and users often complain that the icons have become unreadable or gone completely after applying the theme, which may be due to a resolution conflict or an error in the theme file itself, in which case resetting the theme settings to standard ones through the Profile menu will help.
Another common problem is the de-synchronization of notification counters: After changing the icon on some applications (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram), the numbers of unread messages may stop showing, this is the restriction of third-party icon packs that do not support dynamic MIUI badges. The solution is to return the standard icon for instant messengers through the "Change" function.
It is also possible to create graphic artifacts after the Android system update. If the interface starts to work unstable, clear the cache of the Themes app and System UI. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the right one and click Clear the cache.
- 🔍 Check the compatibility of the theme with your version MIUI.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache to themes if there are interface glitches.
- 🔄 Avoid dynamic icons in favor of static ones for stability.
- 📉 Monitor your memory consumption when using heavy launchers.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing topics from unknown sources (APK-forum files, as they may contain code that disrupts Redmi Note 8 system processes.
Optimization and productivity
Beauty shouldn't come at the expense of functionality. Redmi Note 8 is a mid-range device, and overloading the interface with animations can lead to slowdowns. If you notice that the phone has become slower after changing the theme, try turning off animations in the Developer menu or choose a lighter theme without live wallpaper.
Using static PNG images instead of animated elements significantly reduces the GPU load, which is especially true if you use your phone for gaming or navigation, where every fraction of a second of system response is important.
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The optimal balance between the beauty and speed of the Redmi Note 8 is achieved by using static themes from the official store and eliminating heavy live wallpaper.
Check regularly for updates to installed themes. Developers often release patches that fix bugs and optimize resource consumption. Watch for notifications in the Topics app in the Updates section.