How to change the style of the desktop on Xiaomi: full instructions for MIUI

The desktop of Xiaomi's smartphone is the first thing you see after unlocking the screen.Standard design MIUI Not everyone likes it: some want bright wallpaper, some want minimalist themes, and some want full customization with widgets and animations. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides ample opportunities for personalizing the interface without the need to install third-party launchers.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to change the style of the desktop on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — from simple wallpaper change to install custom themes from the official store MIUI Theme Store. We'll focus on the nuances for different firmware versions (MIUI 12-15) and popular models such as Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5. You will also learn how to avoid common setup errors and what to do if changes don’t apply.

1.Preparation: Verification of the version MIUI and compatibility

Before you start changing the style of the desktop, it is important to make sure that your device supports the desired features. MIUI depends not only on the available functionality, but also the location of the settings menu.

To check the firmware version:

1. Open the Settings.
2. Go to About the Phone.
3. Find the MIUI version line (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.5).

Pay attention to the firmware region (Global, China, EEA). In Chinese versions (China) ROM) Some themes and settings may not be available due to manufacturer restrictions. POCO Launcher (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) the settings interface may differ.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with China ROM To access a full themes directory, you may need to change the region in your Mi Account settings, due to Xiaomi’s geographical restrictions policy.

2. Ways to change wallpaper on the desktop

The easiest way to refresh the appearance of a smartphone is to change the wallpaper. MIUI There are several options on how to do this:

Standard gallery wallpaper

If you want to use your own photo or image from the Internet:

1. Long press on the free place of the desktop.
2. Pick Wallpaper.
3. Press My wallpaper. → gallery.
4. Select an image and adjust the pruning area.

Dynamic and live wallpaper

V MIUI 14+ And we've got dynamic wallpapers that respond to gestures or time of day, so we can turn them on:

1. Long press on the desktop → Wallpaper.
2. Go to the Dynamics tab.
3. Choose your favorite option (e.g. Ocean or Space).
4. Press Apply.

Some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra) are available 3D-wallpapers that create a depth effect when the device is tilted.

💡

If the wallpaper looks blurry, try turning off the Adaptive Scale option in the wallpaper settings to help keep the image clear.

Wallpaper of MIUI Theme Store

The official theme store offers thousands of free and paid wallpapers to install:

1. Long press on the desktop → Wallpaper. → Topics.
2. Select a category (e.g. Nature, Abstraction).
3. Click on the image you like and select Apply to the main screen.

• 🔍 Keyword search: In the theme store, you can search for wallpaper by tag (e.g. #dark, #minimal).
• 💰 Paid themes: Some wallpapers require a purchase with Mi Credits (Xiaomi's domestic currency).
• 🔄 Truck: In MIUI 15 appeared the function of automatic change of wallpaper on the schedule.

3. Installation and configuration of design themes

Topics in MIUI They can change not only wallpaper, but also icons, fonts, animations and even system sounds.

3.1 Search and installation of topics MIUI Theme Store

To change the subject:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on your desktop).
2. Select a category (Popular, New, Minimalism, etc.).
3. Click on your favorite topic. → Apply.

Some topics may change:

• 🎨 Application icons (shape, color, shadows).
• 📝 Fonts (including system and in applications).
• 🔄 Animations of transitions between screens.
• 🔊 Notification and alarm sounds.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party themes, some system applications (such as Camera or Phone) may not display correctly. In this case, try resetting the theme to standard or updating the firmware.

Customization of individual elements of the topic

If you don’t like a particular theme element (like icons), you can change it separately:

1. Open Topics → My subjects.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Choose to customize the current theme.
4. Change the desired settings (for example, only icons or accent color).

V MIUI 14+ function AI-The one that automatically matches the color scheme to your wallpaper, so you can activate it:

1. Go to Topics. → AI-design.
2. Select the wallpaper on which the system will generate the theme.
3. Confirm application.

Problems with topics and their solution

Sometimes, after you apply a topic, you get bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

4. Customization with widgets

Widgets allow you to add useful information to the desktop: weather, calendar, notes or smart home controls. MIUI 14+ Their functionality has expanded significantly.

Addition of standard widgets

To add a widget:

1. Long press on the free place of the desktop.
2. Pick the Widgets.
3. Scroll through the list and drag the desired widget to the screen.
4. Customize its size and settings (for example, you can choose a city for a weather widget).

Popular widgets in MIUI:

• 🌤️ Weather: Displays temperature, humidity and forecast.
• 📅 Calendar: Shows upcoming events.
• 🎵 Music: Managing Playback Without Opening an Application.
• 🏠 Smart home: quick access to Mi Home devices.

Widgets from third-party applications

Many apps (like Google Keep, Spotify or Yandex Weather) offer their own widgets.

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Long press on the desktop → Widgets.
3. Find the widget of the desired application in the list and add it.

On devices with POCO Launcher (e.g, POCO X4 Pro) additional permission settings for widgets may be required:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find an app that doesn’t work.
3. Give permission to display over other windows.

Update the app you want to add|Clear the launcher's cache.|Check the permissions for the application|Restart the device if the widget does not appear-->

Creating custom widgets with Kwgt

For advanced customization, you can use the application KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker: It allows you to create unique widgets from scratch or download pre-made templates from the community.

Installation instructions:

1. Download KWGT from Google Play.
2. Open the app and select Add a widget to the main screen.
3. Select the size of the widget (for example, 4×2).
4. Customize the design or download the preset from Play KWGT.

⚠️ Attention: Widgets KWGT They can increase battery consumption if they use animations or frequent data updates (for example, the weather every 10 minutes.

5. Alternative launchers for full customization

If standard facilities MIUI You don't like it, you can install a third-party launcher, which will completely change the style of the desktop, add gestures, hide icons and even emulate the interface of other OSes (for example, iOS or Windows).

5.1 Popular launchers for Xiaomi

Here are some proven options:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher: flexible customization of icons, gestures and animations. Supports backup of settings.
• 🎨 Niagara Launcher: Minimalist design with vertical list of applications.
• 📱 Lawnchair: open launcher with gesture and Pixel themes support.
• 🍎 iLauncher: imitation of the iOS interface for Apple fans.

To set up the launcher:

1. Download it from Google Play.
2. Open the app and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. Click Home and select the new launcher as standard.

5.2. Set up Nova Launcher on Xiaomi

Nova Launcher is one of the most popular launchers due to its flexibility.

1. After installation, open the Nova Settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. In Desktop, set up: Number of icon rows and columns; Icon size and text size; Hiding the search bar or Google Discover bar.

Docking station

Gestures and entrances

For the use of custom icons:

1. Download a pack of icons (such as Whicons or Delta) from Google Play.
2. In the Nova settings, go to the Appearance → Icon style.
3. Select the downloaded pack.

💡

The side of the launchers can conflict with system gestures MIUI (For example, swipe up to return home, in which case, turn off conflicting gestures in the launcher or system settings.

Return to the standard launcher MIUI

If you want to return your native interface:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the current launcher (like Nova Launcher).
3. Click Clear Data and Disable.
4. Press the Home button and select Louncher MIUI.

Instructions for X Icon Changer:

1. Download the application and open it.
2. Select the app you want to change the icon.
3. Upload a new image or select from the gallery.
4. Save the changes – a new label will appear on the desktop.

6.2. Configuring transitions and animations

V MIUI 14+ You can change the style of animations when you open apps or return to the desktop:

1. Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Movement and animation.
2. Turn on or off the transition animation.
3. Choose the animation style (e.g., Smooth or Fast).

On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) Adaptive animation option is available, which adjusts to the screen refresh rate.

Hiding interface elements

If you are disturbed by standard elements MIUI, They can be hidden:

• 📱 Search String: Long press on the desktop → Desktop settings → Turn off the search bar.
• 📌 App icons: Drag unnecessary icons into a folder or menu All apps.
• 📶 Status Indicators: C Settings → Screen. → Status line can hide icons NFC, Bluetooth and others.

7 Solving problems after changing style

Sometimes, after customization of the desktop, there are problems, and let's look at the most common and ways to fix them.

7.1 The launcher stopped working.

If after changing the theme or installing the launcher, the screen has turned black or does not respond to pressing:

1. Restart the device (clip the power supply) + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. If it doesn’t help, go to Safe Mode (hold Volume down when downloading).
3. In Safe Mode, remove the problem launcher or reset the theme.

7.2 Icons are not displayed correctly

If after applying the theme, the icons have become blurred or do not change:

• Clear the launcher cache in Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse.
• Check if the theme supports your screen resolution (for example, FHD+ or QHD+).
• Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI Improved compatibility with theme.

Widgets are not updated

If widgets (such as weather or calendar) show outdated data:

1. Remove the widget from the desktop and add it again.
2. Check the permissions for the widget application in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
3. Turn off battery optimization for this application.

On devices with MIUI 13 and below widgets may not update due to aggressive battery optimization.To fix this, add the widget app to the exception list in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

8 Frequently Asked Questions