How to change the icons on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

App icons on Xiaomi smartphones are the first thing that catches your eye when you unlock the screen. Standard MIUI or HyperOS icons are not popular with everyone: someone wants originality, someone wants more information, and someone just tired of monotony. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several ways of customization, and third-party solutions expand the possibilities to the limit.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current icon swap methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, from standard tools to advanced tricks for power users. You’ll learn how to change icons without root rights, which launchers are better for MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, and how to get it back if something goes wrong. And also unique life hacks for models with Always-On Display (AOD), where icons are displayed even on the screen off.

1. Standard method: use of MIUI/HyperOS themes

Xiaomi offers thousands of free and paid themes, many of which include unique icon sets, which does not require installing third-party apps and works on all models, starting with the Redmi Note 7 and later.

To change icons through themes:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on the home screen).
• 🔍 In the search bar, type in a query like “icons”, “icons” or “icon pack».
• 🎨 Select your favorite theme and click "Apply." The system will automatically replace the application icons.
• 🔄 If you don’t like the topic, return the standard view in the “My Topics” section» → «By default».

Note that some themes only change icons, and others change wallpaper, fonts, animations, and to see the preliminary result, click on the theme thumbnail and scroll down to the Preview section.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS models (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) Themes app interface may be different. If you don't find the right section, update the app via Google Play or App Store (for global versions).

2. Launchers from third-party developers

If you don't have enough built-in themes, you can install an alternative launcher, an app that completely replaces the standard MIUI/HyperOS interface, including icons, animations, and even control gestures.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher - flexible customization of icons, sizes, animations. Supports icon packs from Play Market.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher – lightweight and fast, with support for gestures and hidden apps.
• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, minimalist design.
• 🌌 Lawnchair – open source, maximum customization (including the shape of icons).

To set up the launcher:

1. Download the selected application from Google Play (for example, Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click “Home” and select a new launcher as the main one.
3. In the launcher settings, find the “Icons” or “Icon Themes” section and select your favorite pack.

For maximum customization, we recommend downloading a separate icon pack (for example, CandyCons, Whicons or Minimal O) and applying it in the launcher settings. Most packs cost from 50 to 300 rubles, but there are also free options.

Download the launcher from the official store|Make a backup of current settings|Check compatibility with the Android version|Disable battery optimization for launcher-->

3. Manual replacement of icons without root (for experienced)

If you want to change individual icons without affecting others, you can use apps like Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker. This method does not require root rights, but it will take a little longer.

Instructions for Icon Changer:

1. Install the app from Google Play (link).
2. Select the app you want to change (like WhatsApp or Chrome).
3. Click on “Select an icon” and upload your image (or select from the gallery).
4. Save the changes – a new shortcut will appear on the home screen.

The downside is that the original icon stays on the app menu, and the new icon is created as a separate shortcut, so to avoid duplicates, the original icon can be hidden in a folder or disabled in the launcher settings.

4.Use of ADB for deep customization (advanced level)

For users who are ready to dive into technical details, there is a way to change icons at the system level using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will replace the icons of all applications, including system ones, but requires caution.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📁 A set of.png icons with the right names (e.g. com.android.chrome.png for Chrome).

The basic commands to replace (executed in cmd or terminal):

adb pull /system/app/ [path to PC] # Download system applications


adb push local folder with icons /sdcard/IconPack/# Download icons to your phone




adb shell




su




mount -o rw, remount /system Rewire the system partition




cp /sdcard/IconPack/*.png /system/app/[name app]/# Copy icons




chmod 644 /system/app/[name app]/*.png # Exhibit rights




Reboot #Reboot the phone

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can cause a system failure or loss of warranty.Before experimenting, make a full backup through Mi Cloud or TWRP. On models with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 Pro), system partitions can be protected by dm-verity, which complicates the process.

5. Always-On Display (AOD) icons: customization features

Xiaomi’s flagship models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro) have a Always-On Display (AOD) feature that displays time, notifications and icons even on the screen off. Here, too, you can customize icons, but with some limitations.

How to change the icons on AOD:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.
2. Select the display style (e.g., “Digital Watch” or “Analog”).
3. In some themes (such as “Super Wallpaper”), you can change notification icons by clicking “Settings”.
4. For deep customization, install an AOD-enabled theme from the Themes app.

Please note that not all topics support AOD. If the icons on the screen that is turned off have not changed after applying the theme, then it is not compatible with this function. AMOLED-screens (for example, on Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) icons may be displayed incorrectly due to the peculiarities of technology.

Restore standard icons

If you want to return everything to the “as it was” after the experiments, there are several ways:

• 🔄 For those: Open Topics → My subjects. → By default.
• 📱 For launchers: reinstall the standard launcher MIUI/HyperOS or reset the settings in the app.
• 🛠️ For manual replacement: remove created shortcuts or restore backup.
• 💻 For ADB: Run adb shell pm clear or reflash system applications.

If after changing the icons, the phone began to slow down or overheat, try:

1. Clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → [launcher] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
2. Disable animations in the developer settings (Settings → Additional → For developers → The scale of the animation window → Off).
3. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Safe Mode) and check if the problem persists.

💡

If the icons are missing from the home screen after changing, try resetting the launcher settings. Go to Settings → Apps → [your launcher] → Storage → Reset. All icons will return to their places.

Frequently asked questions

💡

For most users, the best option is to combine the built-in themes and the launcher Nova Launcher with a free icon pack, which gives maximum customization without risk to the system.