How to change the size of icons on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro with its MIUI skin offers users the flexibility to customize the interface. One of the most popular questions is how to resize icons on the desktop. Standard icons can seem too large or, conversely, small, especially on a screen with a diagonal of 6.53 inches. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways, from built-in MIUI functions to using third-party launchers.

It is important to understand that the configuration options depend on the firmware version. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, MIUI 10/11/12 is installed out of the box (depending on the region and year of release), and after updates, more recent versions up to MIUI 14. Some methods work only on certain versions, so we will specify current limitations.

Why Users Want to Change the Size of Badges

The reasons for the icons to scale on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can be different – from aesthetic preferences to practical necessity:

• 👁️ On the big screen, standard icons look too shallow, especially for users with visual problems.
• 📱 Space optimization: Reducing size allows you to place more shortcuts on one screen without scrolling.
• 🎨 Design preferences: Large icons look better with specific wallpaper or design themes.
• 🔄 Habit from other devices: users who switched from iOS or other Android smartphones often want to reproduce the usual look of the desktop.

Interestingly, MIUI doesn't have a universal icon size regulator, which depends on the launcher you use. The standard MIUI Launcher offers limited settings, while third-party solutions (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) give you complete freedom. However, not all users are willing to install additional software, so we'll start with built-in features.

Method 1: Resize with MIUI Launcher

The easiest method is to use the built-in options of the standard launcher. It does not require additional applications to be installed, but it does not work on all versions of MIUI. Check first if this feature is available in your firmware:

1. Long tap on the free desktop space → select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings in older versions).
2. Go to the section Size icons or Desktop layout.
3. Move the slider to resize (if the option is available).

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12.5+, this path may look different: Settings → Desktop → Icon Size. If the slider is not there, then your firmware version does not support this function directly, in which case move on to the next way.

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If the launcher does not have a slider to resize the icons, try updating MIUI to the latest stable version.

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience) may have different paths to launcher settings. If you use unofficial software, check the current menus in the firmware documentation.

Method 2: Using design themes to indirectly change size

If your version of MIUI doesn't have a direct icon size regulator, you can go around it by installing themes. Many themes in MIUI Themes change not only the design, but also the scale of the interface elements. Here's how it works:

1. Open the Themes app (icon in the form of a brush).
2. Go to the Popular or Desktop section.
3. Choose a theme marked Big Icons (large icons) or Minimalist (minimalistic, usually small).
4. Apply the theme and check the result. Some themes allow you to customize the size separately for icons and widgets.

The downside of this is that it changes not only the size of the icons, but also other interface elements: fonts, color schemes, animations, so if you need to keep the current design, but just zoom in, it's not going to work, but it doesn't require root rights or third-party launchers.

Some users have noted that after applying themes, the size of the icons varies unevenly: system applications (such as Settings or Phone) can remain the same size, and third-party ones can change. This is due to the fact that MIUI separates the styles for system and custom icons. If you need uniform zoom, consider a third way.

Method 3: installing a third-party launcher (Nova Launcher, Apex, Lawnchair)

The most flexible method is to use an alternative launcher, and applications like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Lawnchair allow you to fine-tune the size of icons, the indentations between them, and even the shape, and consider the process using Nova Launcher as the most popular solution:

Download Nova Launcher from Google Play|Backup the location of the icons (via Settings) → Backup to MIUI Launcher)|Prepare wallpaper and widgets for transfer|See the Nova settings in the Lab section-->

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select Nova Launcher as the default launcher.
3. Go to Nova Settings: Long Click on Desktop → Settings.
4. Open the Desktop section → The size of the icon.
5. Move the slider or enter the value manually (from 70% to 130% of the standard size).
6. For accurate indentation settings, go to the Desktop → Retreats.

Nova Launcher supports separate icon size settings for desktop and appbar, and allows you to zoom in on folders and widgets. This is especially useful if you want the icons in the app menu to remain standard sized and the desktop to be larger.

If you decide to return to the standard MIUI launcher, do the following:

1. Open Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher.
2. Select MIUI Launcher.
3. If necessary, restore a backup copy of the location of the icons.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers (such as Nova Launcher) may conflict with navigation gestures in the MIUI. If after installation, swipes stopped working to return back or open the menu, turn off gestures in the launcher settings or return to the standard MIUI Launcher.

Method 4: Manual resizing through ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and have basic command line skills. It allows you to change the system parameters of MIUI, including the scale of icons, but requires caution – the wrong commands can lead to interface failures.

Before proceeding, make sure that:

• 🔧 Your PC is installed on your PC. ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Redmi Note 8 Pro includes Debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔒 You understand the risks and are ready for a possible reset of the launcher settings.

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put global icon_scale_factor 0.85 Here. 0.85 — scale (1.0 = standard-size, 0.85 = 85% standard).
3. Restart launcher or phone: adb shell am force-stop com.miui.home

Permissible values for icon_scale_factor — from 0.7 before 1.3. If the icon size has not changed after the change, check if your version supports the change. MIUI On some firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu), this parameter may be blocked.

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Changing the size of the icons through ADB not saved after resetting settings or updating MIUI. To return the standard scale, use the command adb shell settings delete global. icon_scale_factor

Additional settings: indentations, grid and adaptive icons

Changing the size of icons is only part of customizing the desktop, and you should set up the following options to optimize the space completely:

• 📏 Desktop grid: number of rows and columns to accommodate icons. Nova Launcher does this in Settings → Desktop → Desktop grid. Maximum value — 10×10, but in practice it is more convenient to use 5×6 or 6×6.
• 🔄 Retreats: distance between icons and screen edges. MIUI Launcher indentations are fixed, and in Nova they can be reduced to zero.
• 🎯 Adaptive icons: a feature that brings all icons to a single style (e.g., makes them round or square).Available on Nova Launcher Prime and Lawnchair.
• 🖼️ Transparency of folders: Nova can configure the transparency of the background of folders with icons, which visually reduces their “weight” on the desktop.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro with a screen resolution of 2340×1080, the optimal settings for the maximum number of icons without loss of convenience are:

• Icon size: 80-85% of the standard.
• Grid: 6×6 or 7×5 (depending on your preferences).
• Retreats: Minimum (0-5% of the screen width).

If you use widgets (such as weather or calendar), keep in mind that their sizes do not always scale proportionally to the icons, in which case you may need to manually adjust each widget with a long press → Change the size.

Typical problems and their solutions

When changing the size of the icons on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, users often face the following problems:

If after changing the size of the icons you notice lags or slowing down the interface, try:

• Clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → MIUI Launcher → Memory → Clear the cache).
• Disable animations in the developer settings (Settings → Additional → For developers → Window/Transition animation scale = Off).
• Reduce the number of widgets on the desktop.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 8 Pro with Android 9-based firmware (MIUI 10–11) Third-party launchers may conflict with system gestures. If navigation swipes stop working after installing Nova Launcher, turn them off in the launcher settings or use navigation buttons.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions