How to change the menu on Xiaomi: a complete guide to customization

The interface of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS on Xiaomi smartphones is often called functional, but its appearance is not popular with all users. The standard application grid, icons and curtain structure can seem boring or simply unusual after other devices. Fortunately, the Android system on which these shells are based provides a huge opportunity for personalization. You can change the menu beyond recognition without getting root rights and without violating the manufacturer's warranty.

The process of transforming your desktop and app menus can range from simple wallpaper changes to deep modifications to system files. In this article, we’ll look at all the available methods, from secure methods through settings to installing advanced launchers. You’ll learn how to make your Xiaomi Redmi or POCO unique by changing the visual style and logic of interaction with the device.

Before you start taking action, it's important to understand the difference between changing the theme and replacing the launcher: the theme changes icons, fonts, lock screen and system window colors, leaving the menu structure the same, while the launcher completely replaces the desktop shell, offering new logic for finding applications, widgets and animations.

Using the Themes app to change style quickly

The easiest and safest way to change the look of the menu is to use the built-in Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to download ready-made design packages created by both the company and the user community.

There are a variety of categories available inside the store, from minimalistic black and white sets to vivid anime stylizations. When choosing a theme, look for a preview that shows what app icons, settings menus and notification curtains will look like. Some themes can only change part of the items, so read the description carefully. Installation takes a few seconds, and you can apply changes immediately or restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Some third-party themes may contain ads or require you to watch videos to unlock full functionality.

If the standard directory seems limited, you can switch to an international server or use third-party theme stores, although this requires more complex region settings. In most cases, users have enough functionality of the built-in application. Once you install the theme, you can further configure its settings in the Settings menu → Themes → Profile, where fine font and system sounds settings are available.

Installation of a third-party launcher for a complete menu replacement

If the built-in design capabilities don't meet your needs, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are apps that completely replace the standard desktop and app menus. Popular options are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Lawnchair, which let you forget about the familiar MIUI grid and get an interface close to pure Android or even iOS.

Once you install the launcher from Google Play, the system will suggest you select the default desktop app. Choose the launcher installed and the menu will change instantly. However, on Xiaomi smartphones, there is an important caveat: to keep the menu stable and the animations do not get lost, you need to give the launcher special permissions, without which the swipe to search or open the app menu may not work.

For proper work, the following actions must be performed:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications and find the installed launcher.
• 🔒 Click on Other Permissions and resolve all points, especially Display on top of other apps».
• ⚙️ In the launcher settings, enable the option “Use the current desktop” or similar if offered.
• 🔄 Turn off the option “Extended menu” in the settings of the launcher itself, if it conflicts with the MIUI.

Using a third-party launcher gives you access to thousands of icon and widget packages that are not available in the stock shell. You can customize gestures, animation speeds, and even hide the Google search bar if it bothers you. This is the most flexible way to personalize your smartphone to suit any use case.

Setting up the application menu and sorting icons

Xiaomi shells have two main desktop display modes: classic (all icons on the screen) and app menu mode (like iPhone or pure Android). You can switch between them in the launcher settings. For the standard Xiaomi launcher, the path looks like this: Settings → Desktop → Desktop Mode.

No Menu mode places all shortcuts directly on desktops, which is convenient for those who use few apps. With Menu mode hides all apps in a separate curtain called up by swipe, leaving only widgets and favorite programs on screens. The choice depends on your habits: the first option is faster to access, the second is cleaner visually.

Sorting icons is also adaptable, you can arrange them alphabetically, by installation time, or by hand. Third-party launchers offer a smart sorting feature that categorizes applications (Social, Games, Work) that makes it much easier to navigate on devices with a lot of software installed.

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For quick navigation in the application menu, use a swipe down to search. In the launcher settings, you can set the search to start by double tap or long press.

And remember folders. Creating themed folders helps structure space. On MIUI, dragging and dropping an icon to another creates a folder that you can rename and change the background color. In advanced launchers, folders can have a transparent background or be folded into one icon to save space.

Change the size of the grid and interface fonts

Visual perception of the menu depends on the size of the desktop grid. Standardly, Xiaomi offers a 4x5 or 4x6 grid, but this can be changed. Click the empty space on the desktop, select Settings and find the item "Grid Size." Increase the number of cells will fit more icons, making the interface more informative, but reducing the size of the icons themselves.

Font size also plays a key role. In the Settings menu → Screen → Text and font size can be adjusted not only by letter size, but also by the boldness of the font. Enlarging the font makes the menu more readable, but can cause some interface elements to “climb” out of the screen or overlap with each other in older applications.

For visually impaired users or those who prefer larger items, there is a "Enlarged" mode in the special features section, which changes the structure of the menu, making buttons and text as large as possible, but it is worth remembering that this mode significantly changes the layout of many system windows.

Advanced customization through ADB and system settings

For users willing to go beyond standard settings, there are tools like ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which can hide system applications, change the bootloader logo, or remove ads in system folders, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and executing commands in the terminal.

For example, to disable the standard system launcher and force a third-party (if the system tries to return the stock one), you can use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.home

However, using ADB carries risks. Incorrectly disabling system components can lead to a “boot loop” or sensor inoperability. Always have a combination of buttons to reset or access Recovery if you decide to modify system packages through ADB.

Also through ADB You can change the global parameters of animation, make the interface visually faster. window_animation_scale, transition_animation_scale and animator_duration_scale meaningfully 0.5 Speed up interface responses, which is especially important for Redmi budget models.

⚠️ Warning: Modifying system partitions or disabling critical services ADB can cancel the warranty and disrupt the operation of banking applications (Google Pay, Mir Pay) due to system integrity checks.

The solution: problems after changing the menu

Often, after installing a heavy launcher or theme, users experience increased battery consumption.This is due to the fact that the new interface is constantly redrawn or uses live wallpaper, loading the processor. To solve the problem, go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving and select No Limits mode only for trusted launchers, or vice versa, limit background activity.

Another common problem is missing widgets or displaying them incorrectly. MIUI widgets are often incompatible with third-party launchers, in which case you should use alternative widgets from Google or widgets built into the launcher itself, and cleaning the launcher cache through the application menu also helps.

If the menu began to work unstable, friezes or departures are observed:

• 🗑️ Clear the data and cache of the “Themes” and “Desktop” app».
• 📉 Reduce the number of widgets on the main screen.
• 🔄 Return to the standard launcher through settings (Applications) → Settings → Desktop) if the system allows, or by resetting the launcher settings.

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Stability is more important than appearance, and if a custom launcher causes input delays or battery discharge, it’s better to go back to the effluent solution or choose a lighter one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)