How to change the color of the icons on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

The icon color on Xiaomi is not just a part of the interface, but part of the visual style that forms the first impression of the smartphone. Many users want to personalize the device for themselves, but the standard MIUI or HyperOS settings do not always offer flexible tools for changing the color of icons. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from official themes to hidden functions and third-party launchers.

It's important to understand that color change is dependent on the firmware version and the device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS, the algorithm may differ from the Redmi Note 10 to MIUI 12.5. We've taken these nuances into account and put together universal methods that work on most of the brand's devices. If you're looking for a way to make the interface unique, you're on the right track.

1. Official MIUI/HyperOS themes: the easiest way

Xiaomi offers thousands of free and paid themes, many of which change not only the wallpaper, but also the color of icons, folders and even system elements, which requires no root rights and is suitable for all models, including the POCO F5 and Redmi K60.

To apply the topic:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 Type a search for “color icons” or “monochrome icons».
• 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply.
• 🔄 If the color of the icons has not changed, restart the device.

Note that some themes only change the background of the icons, leaving the icons themselves standard. To find truly colored options, look for themes marked "Icon Pack" or "Custom Icons" in the description. For example, the theme "Nebula" completely recolors the icons in blue and purple, and "Minimal Black" makes them monochrome.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI To avoid this, save your favorite theme in Favorites (heart icon in upper right corner).

2.Use of third-party launchers: complete freedom

If built-in themes aren’t enough, third-party launchers offer far more options, apps like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Lawnchair allow custom packs of icons from Google Play or manual builds, a method that works even on devices without root rights, but takes a little longer to set up.

Installation instructions:

1. Download a launcher (like Nova Launcher) from Google Play.
2. Install your favorite icon pack (for example, “Whicons” or “CandyCons”).
3. Press the finger free space on the desktop → Settings → Style of icons.
4. Select the icon pack installed and apply the changes.

The advantage of this is that you can combine different icon packs for individual applications, for example, you can make social media icons blue and system apps green, but note that some icon packs are paid, and free versions may contain ads.

Make sure that the device has enough memory (minimum 200 MB)

Download launcher and pack icons from trusted sources (Google Play, APKMirror)

Back up your current desktop settings (in Nova Launcher: Settings → Backup)

Disable battery optimization for launcher (Settings) → Annexes → Nova Launcher → Battery → No restrictions)-->

3. Manual modification via ADB: for advanced users

If you are ready to immerse yourself in technical details, you can change the color of the icons through the ADB-Android Debug Bridge, which requires you to connect your smartphone to your PC and have a basic command line knowledge. MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, but may not work on some models due to manufacturer restrictions.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional Settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell settings put secure icon_color_filter #FF0000FF

Where #FF0000FF is an ARGB color (blue in the example) and replace it with the one you want (e.g. #FFFF0000 for red).

This method changes color only for system icons (for example, in the notification bar or settings). It is not suitable for application icons on the desktop - it is better to use launchers here. Also note that after rebooting the device, the color may reset.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-commands can cause interface failures. Before experimenting, back up your data through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

4.Using icon packages without launcher: workarounds

Not all users want to install third-party launchers, but they want to change the icons, and you can use apps like Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker that allow you to replace the icons of individual applications without completely changing the interface.

How it works:

• 📲 Install Icon Changer from Google Play.
• 🖼️ Select the application you want to change the icon for.
• 🎨 Upload a new image (you can download from the Internet or create yourself).
• 🔄 Apply the changes – a new label will appear on the desktop.

The downside of this method is that it creates duplicate shortcuts, rather than replacing the original icons. Old icons will remain on the app menu, but they can be hidden through the launcher settings (if this option is supported), but it is still better to use launchers to completely replace them.

Tip: If you want all icons to be in the same style, download the finished pack from Google Play (for example, Lines Icon Pack) and use its images in Icon Changer.

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To make the icons look neat, use images with a resolution of at least 192×192 pixels and a PNG format with a transparent background.

5. Hidden MIUI settings: little-known tricks

MIUI and HyperOS firmware have hidden features that allow you to fine-tune the interface, including color schemes.These options are undocumented, but work on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.

One of these tricks is to activate the high contrast mode, which automatically changes the color of the icons and text to more prominent ones, to turn it on:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Vision.
2. Activate the High Contrast Switch.
3. Select a color scheme (e.g., “Dark text on a light background” or “Yellow text on a black background”).

This method changes not only the icons, but the entire interface, so it's not for everyone, but it's useful for users with visual disabilities or those who want to radically change the appearance of the system. Another hidden parameter is the color temperature of the screen (Settings → Display → Color scheme), which indirectly affects the shades of the icons.

Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Nothing Works

Sometimes, even after you use themes or install launchers, the color of the icons doesn't change, and it can be due to cache, application conflicts, or firmware limitations, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

• 🔄 Icons are not updated: Clear the launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache) and restart the device.
• 🚫 Topic Not Applicable: Make sure you have the latest version of the Themes app. Update it via Google Play or App Store.
• 🔒 ADB-Teams not working: Check if debugging is included USB And if you have Xiaomi drivers installed on your PC, try using another version. ADB (For example, Google’s Platform Tools).
• 📱 Launcher resets: Disable battery optimization for launcher (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Nova Launcher → No restrictions).

If you’re using Xiaomi with HyperOS, some old methods (like changing through Developer Options) may not work, in which case try upgrading to the latest version of the firmware or using launchers optimized for the new OS (like Lawnchair 12).

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (most Xiaomi smartphones for the Russian market), some methods that require deep system changes may not be available.

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If none of the methods worked, check if your device has set corporate policy restrictions (e.g., through a user-friendly system). MDM-These constraints often block changes in system parameters.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the color of the icons on Xiaomi