How to change badges on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the desire to personalize their device’s interface beyond standard design. MIUI shell or its more recent version of HyperOS provide powerful tools for visual customization, however, not all features are obvious at first glance. Changing app icons is the easiest way to make the lock screen and desktop unique, reflecting your individual style.

The procedure for replacing graphic elements can range from simple installation of a finished theme to deep customization through third-party utifits. It is important to understand that standard methods do not require obtaining superuser rights or complex manipulation of system files. In this guide, we’ll break down all the available methods, from built-in theme store features to advanced editing techniques. APK-file.

Before we make any changes, it's worth noting that the visual aspect of the interface has a direct impact on usability. Icons that are wrong can make the user readable or confusing, so it's worth thinking wisely about the choice, and we'll look at not only how, but which elements are better to choose for the optimal balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Use of the built-in Themes application

The most obvious and safest way to change the look of apps is to use the Themes app, which is pre-installed on all of the company’s devices, which ensures that graphics elements are compatible with your version of the Android operating system. The directory has thousands of design options created by both designers and the user community.

To get started, you need to run the app and go to the Profile or My Pages section, which is usually located in the lower right corner of the screen. Here you are interested in the Themes tab, where you can find thousands of free and paid options. Once you have chosen a theme, you don't need to use it completely if you only need icons.

When you go to a particular topic page, look at the buttons at the bottom of the screen, and often there's a custom theme or a separate icon button, and if you click on that, you'll see a list of all the apps that have graphical replacements in that theme, and you can tick only the programs you want and apply the changes.

• 🎨 A wide range of styles: from minimalism to 3D-charting.
• 🔄 Ability to combine elements of different topics.
• ⚡ Quickly implement changes without rebooting.
• 🛡️ Security: All topics are tested for viruses.

Not all apps have unique icons in each topic. For system programs like Phone or Replacement Messages, there are almost always, but for third-party software like Telegram or Banking apps, graphics can remain standard unless the theme’s author has drawn it specifically.

⚠️ Note: When downloading themes from third-party, unofficial sources (not through the Topic app), there is a risk of installing malicious code. MIUI.

Changing icons through desktop settings

If you don’t want to change the whole theme, but just want to replace a specific icon on your desktop, the MIUI shell lets you do it through the edit menu, which is convenient when you need to highlight one application or replace the standard graphics with one that is more understandable to you.

To do this, look up the app shortcut on your desktop. Make a long-term thumb tap until the context menu appears. In the list of available actions, select "Edit" or "Replace the icon." The system will offer you a choice of several pre-installed options or those that were previously downloaded through the theme store.

In newer versions of HyperOS, the functionality has been expanded, and now the editing menu often features a button called "Your Icon" that allows you to select any image from the gallery, opening up endless possibilities for creativity, allowing you to put photos, memes or logos of any brand on your desktop.

The nuances of using images from a gallery are different: the system automatically crops the image, but the result is not always predictable; it is better to prepare a square image with a transparent background in PNG format in advance so that it looks organic; You can use an integrated editor or third-party applications to edit the images.

Application of third-party launchers

When the standard shell is scarce, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are desktop replacement apps that completely change the interface of the smartphone, with the most popular solutions being Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Microsoft Launcher.

Installing this launcher gives you complete control over the appearance of the icons. You can assign icon packs from Google Play, which contain thousands of graphic elements in a single style, which solves the problem of no replacements for rare applications, since packages often redraw popular programs.

To install a third-party launcher, download it from Google Play Market. Once installed, the system can warn of potential risks or try to return a standard launcher - this is normal Android protection. You need to confirm the change of the application by default in the system settings.

• 🚀 High speed of the interface.
• 📦 Support for thousands of icon packs.
• 🎛️ Deep setting of grid and animations.
• 📱 Adaptation to any screen diagonal.

In addition, some specific MIUI features, such as switched-off swipes or control gestures, may not work properly or require additional permission adjustments.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers on HyperOS devices, there may be conflicts with system navigation, it is recommended to disable full-screen gestures and use classic navigation buttons for stability.

Creating your own icons through Shortcuts

For those who want complete uniqueness, there's a way to create shell shortcuts, and the idea is that you don't change the app icon itself, but you create a new shortcut on the desktop that leads to the same app, but looks exactly what you want, and you use special tools like Shortcut Maker or X Icon Changer to do that.

The process of creating a custom icon is simple and requires no in-depth knowledge: you run a design program, select the target application from the list, then select the background, form and image, which results in a new label on the desktop, and the old shortcut can be removed or hidden in the folder.

This is ideal for creating themed folders or seasonal designs, such as in winter you can put snowmen on all social networks, and in summer you can put palm trees, the main advantage is that there are no restrictions on the format of the image and the ability to add text or frames.

But there are downsides to this approach: When you remove a developer application, the shortcuts you create can stop working or disappear because they depend on the code, so once you have all the necessary shortcuts, it's best not to delete the application, but simply hide them in the depths of the menu.

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Tip: When creating a shortcut through Shortcut Maker, choose a PNG format with a transparent background for the best display quality on any wallpaper.

Editing system files (for advanced ones)

The most radical method available to Root users or those using deep integration launchers is direct resource editing, which involves replacing the graphics files inside. APK-It's an application shell or a system theme, and it uses tools like this. MT manager or APK Editor.

The process is as follows: you find APK-The file of the desired application (or remove it from the system), open it in the resource editor and replace the image files (usually located in the folder). res/drawable) After saving the changes and signatures APK, The file is installed on top of the original.

This method achieves 100% of the result: the icon will change everywhere – in the menu, in the settings, in the list of running applications. However, this requires high qualification. A mistake in the structure of the file or the wrong name of the resource can cause the application to stop running ("fly out") or the phone will go into a cyclic restart (bootloop).

It is strongly recommended not to apply this method to Xiaomi system applications (Settings, Security, Phone) without a full backup and the ability to restore the system through Recovery.

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Editing system files is the way for experts. For 99% of users, it is safer and easier to use a combination of MIUI themes and third-party launchers.

Frequent problems and their solution

Users often face technical difficulties in customization, and one of the common problems is that icons don’t change or return to their original appearance after a reboot, which often happens if the theme was installed incorrectly or the cache of the design system is damaged.

To solve the problem, try clearing the theme app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Themes → Memory → Clear the cache. After that, restart the device and apply the theme again. If that didn't help, maybe the theme isn't optimized for your Android version or screen resolution.

Another problem is blurry or pixelated icons, which occurs when a low-resolution image is stretched across the entire screen. Always use high-quality graphics, preferably in vector format or PNG with a resolution of at least 512x512 pixels. Avoid using screenshots as icons.

• 🧹 Cache cleaning often solves application problems.
• 📐 Observe 1:1 proportions for images.
• 🔄 Update the Themes app to the latest version.
• 🚫 Do not use modified system files without backup.

If neither of these methods works, check if you have Simple Mode or Older Mode on, and in this mode, the system blocks the ability to change icons and fonts to simplify the interface. You can turn it off in Settings → Advanced Settings → Simple Mode.