Redesigning the visuals is the first thing new smartphone owners want to personalize the device. The standard set of graphics in the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS may seem too conservative or just boring after long use. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s ecosystem provides powerful tools to customize the interface without the need for superuser rights.
Changing the appearance of the desktop affects not only aesthetics, but also the perception of information. The right style can improve readability or, conversely, add brightness. In this article, we will examine all the available ways to transform the graphical interface, from the built-in theme store to install third-party launchers.
Consider that deep modifications require careful attention, some methods involve system files, while others work exclusively in user space, and backing up important data before experimenting with system topics will never be superfluous, even if the risk is minimal.
Use of the built-in Themes application
The easiest and safest way to change the look and feel is to use the Themes app, a centralized hub where developers from around the world publish their designs, and sometimes you need to change the region in your smartphone settings to India or Indonesia, as in some regions the directory is limited.
After you log in, go to the Profile tab (usually the person icon in the lower right corner) and this is the Themes section where all the downloaded designs are stored. However, we are not interested in the whole theme, but its components. Click on the active theme, then select Set up the theme. In the menu that opens, suggest you choose which elements you want to replace: lock screen, system icons or fonts.
If you want to apply the style of icons from another theme to the current design, select the desired theme from the list of installed, click Apply, but at the time of application, select the option Set up the theme and leave a tick only on the item Icons, this will allow you to mix the styles of different authors.
⚠️ Note: When downloading themes from unverified sources or third-party stores, there is a risk of getting an ad virus.
Size and style adjustment via lock screen
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell and current MIUI have introduced the feature of resizing icons directly through lock screen settings, which indirectly affects the desktop, not changing the images themselves, but alters their scale and signature font, which visually transforms the interface.
To access these settings, go to Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Lock screen. In some versions of the interface, this item may be called Lock screen Settings and is located in the three-dot menu in the upper right corner. Here you will find the icon size slider. By moving it, you can make the application icons larger and more visible or, conversely, reduce them to accommodate more elements on the screen.
Also available on this menu is a change of font style for icon signatures, Classic, Large and other options, depending on the theme you set. The change of font applies globally to the entire system, so choose the option that reads well in the settings menu and browser.
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If the icon size slider is inactive, try changing the theme to a standard one first, and then checking the lock screen settings again.
Application of third-party launchers
If built-in tools aren't enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are desktop replacement apps that completely change the logic of how you interact with your phone and the look of your icons. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Smart Launcher.
Once you install this app from Google Play, you need to assign it to the primary. Xiaomi can warn you about possible battery or security impacts — this is the standard shell reaction to third-party launchers. Confirm use by selecting Always. Now, when you press the Home button, a new interface will open.
Inside the launcher settings, you can find the Appearance or Icon Style section, and there are hundreds of free icon sets available that can be downloaded in one click, and most launchers allow you to manually change the shape of icons by adding a substrate or changing the size of the desktop grid.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher – the king of customization, allowing you to change literally every pixel of the interface.
- 🎨 Microsoft Launcher is a great choice for integration with the Windows ecosystem and beautiful daily wallpaper.
- 🧹 Smart Launcher – automatically sorts applications into categories, which is convenient for minimalists.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party launchers may conflict with navigation gestures MIUI. If swipe gestures are not working properly, try switching to button navigation in the system settings.
☑️ Check before installing the launcher
Comparison of methods of changing icons
The choice of method depends on your goals: whether you want to simply refresh the view or are willing to sacrifice stability for the sake of uniqueness. Below is a table comparing the main approaches to customizing the interface on Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Difficulty | Impact on the battery | Flexibility of setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex Topics | Low. | Minimum | Medium |
| Lock screen settings | Low. | Absent. | Low (size only) |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Elevated. | Tall. |
| Modified Themes (MTZ) | Tall. | Depends on the code. | Maximum |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal balance is the use of the built-in Theme application. It does not require deep technical knowledge and guarantees the stable operation of the system. Third-party launchers should be considered by enthusiasts who lack the functionality of the stock shell.
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The built-in MIUI/HyperOS features provide better optimization and stability, while third-party launchers offer maximum freedom of action.
Installation of custom icon packs
For advanced users, there is the option of installing individual icon packages that are not full themes, often distributed in.mtz format. These packages may require the Theme Editor app or special modified versions of the Theme store.
The installation process is usually as follows: the downloaded file is placed in the root of the internal memory, then through the file manager or a special bootloader application, the installation is initiated, and the system will request confirmation to install the theme from an unknown source.
After using this package, the icons will be replaced instantly, but be careful: poorly assembled packages may not have icons for all applications, which will keep the icons of some programs standard or turn into white squares, in such cases, using the Hide icons feature in the theme settings or installing additional plugins helps.
The path to hidden themes settings (via ADB):
adb shell pm grant com.android.themes android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSWhere to get secure.mtz files?
Solution and resetting of settings
Sometimes, after changing the theme, icons can “float”, disappear captions or stop responding to clicks. This is a common problem when using heavy graphics shells. First of all, try just rebooting the device. If this does not help, go back to the Themes → Profile → Themes and apply the standard Classic or Default theme.
In more complex cases, when the launcher interface freezes, you need to clear the data of the Themes and System UI applications. This is done through Settings → Apps → All applications. Find the right application, click Clear → All data. Fear not, this will not delete your personal files, but reset the design settings to the factory.
If you have used a third-party launcher and it is causing battery problems, check the power saving settings. Set No Limits mode for the launcher so that the system does not kill its process in the background, which often leads to the icons being reset to standard ones after rebooting.
⚠️ Before clearing system application data, make sure you remember your Mi Account password if it is required to re-activate some services after a reset.