How to change icons on Xiaomi Poco X3: from standard themes to custom packs

Why Change Standard Icons and What Customization Can Do

Xiaomi Poco X3’s MIUI-enabled smartphone offers users flexible tools to personalize the interface, from changing wallpaper to deep customizing app icons. However, not all device owners know that customization capabilities go beyond the standard set of themes from Theme → My Themes. For example, you can install side launchers with icon packs, use hidden MIUI features to manually change icons, or even create your own unique icons through an image editor.

The main reasons why users want to change icons to Poco X3:

• 🎨 Aesthetics - Standard Icons MIUI They may seem boring or incongruous with the wallpaper.
• 🔍 Convenience – Large or contrasting icons make navigation easier for people with vision problems.
• 📱 Uniqueness – the desire to distinguish your smartphone from other devices on Android.
• 🔄 Compatibility – Some apps (like Nova Launcher) allow you to group icons into categories.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change icons on Poco X3, including hidden MIUI 12/13/14 functions, installing third-party launchers and manual editing via ADB. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances that are not covered in standard guides – for example, how to avoid resetting icons after updating the system or how to apply icons to system applications (calls, messages, settings).

Method 1: Standard MIUI themes – fast and rootless

The easiest way to change icons to Poco X3 is to use the built-in MIUI shell themes. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works on all firmware versions (including MIUI 14 for Poco X3 Pro).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the icon tab in the lower menu.
3. Select your favorite icon pack and click Apply.
4. Confirm the changes in the pop-up window.

Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ A limited number of free packs are available (most premium-themed paid packs are available).
• ⚠️ Icons apply only to system and pre-installed applications (the program side will remain unchanged).
• ⚠️ After resetting settings or updating MIUI topic may be thrown off.

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If the desired icon pack does not apply, try first to install the full theme from the same set, and then return the wallpaper and fonts to their original state through Themes → My Themes → Edit.

Method 2: Iconpack-supported launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

For deep customization of icons on Xiaomi Poco X3, it is recommended to use third-party launchers.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports iconpaks, gestures, adaptive icons and desktop grid settings.
• 📱 Apex Launcher – a lightweight launcher with wide possibilities of changing icons.
• 🍃 Lawnchair – an open launcher with support for Android 12+ style and dynamic icons.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

Download Nova Launcher from [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher)

Set the launcher as the main one (at the first start, a proposal will appear)

Download your favorite icon (for example, Whicons or CandyCons>)

Open the Nova settings → Appearance → Icon Style →

Select the installed iconpack and apply it

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Advantages of the method:

• 🎨 Full freedom in choosing icons (thousands of free and paid packs in the Play Market).
• 🔧 The ability to manually assign icons for individual applications.
• 🔄 Save settings after updating MIUI (unless you drop the launcher).

⚠️ Note: Some icons may not support Adaptive Icons, in which case, in the Nova Launcher settings, disable Adaptive Icons in the Appearance section.

Method 3: Manually modifying icons through "Editing"

MIUI allows you to manually change icons for individual applications without installing launchers, which is suitable if you need to change icons for only a few programs.

How to do this:

1. Press and hold your finger on the app icon on your desktop.
2. In the menu that appears, select Edit (pencil icon).
3. Click on the current app icon.
4. Choose one of the suggested alternatives or upload your image (PNG format with transparent background is recommended).
5. Save the changes.

Limitations:

• ❌ You can not change the icons of system applications (calls, messages, settings).
• ❌ The changes apply only to the shortcut on the desktop, not the entire app.
• ❌ When you move the icon to another folder or after updating the application, the icon may reset.

Method 4: Using X Icon Changer (without root)

X Icon Changer allows you to change application icons without installing launchers and without root rights. It creates shortcuts with new icons that can be placed on the desktop instead of the original ones.

Instructions:

1. Download X Icon Changer from [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tapnet.iconchanger).
2. Open the app and select Select Application.
3. Find the right app (such as WhatsApp) in the list.
4. Click Change Icon and select a new icon from the gallery or downloaded packs.
5. Save the changes – a new label will appear on the desktop.

Features of the method:

• ✅ It works without root and without changing the launcher.
• ✅ Supports the creation of folders with custom icons.
• ⚠️ The original icon remains in the application menu (only the shortcut on the desktop changes).
• ⚠️ When you remove X Icon Changer, custom shortcuts may stop working.

Standard topics MIUI|Third-party launchers (Nova, Apex)|Manual editing|X Icon Changer|Another way.-->

Method 5: Advanced Customization through ADB (for the experienced)

If you’re ready to dive into the technical details, you can change the system icons on the Poco X3 via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to change icons even for system applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers.
2. Connect Poco X3 to your PC and open the terminal (or PowerShell on Windows).
3. Check the connection command: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
4. Download the icon pack in.apk format (for example, from the XDA Developers website) and install it through ADB: adb install name file.apk
5. Apply the theme through the standard Topics menu in MIUI.

Warnings:

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This can lead to soft-brick.Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

⚠️ Note: Some icon packs for ADB You can only download files from trusted sources (XDA, Apkmirror).

Solving the Problem: Why Icons Don't Change or Are Reset

When customizing icons on Xiaomi Poco X3, users often face typical problems, and let’s analyze the most common and ways to solve them:

Problem 1: Iconpac does not apply to some applications.

• 🔹 Make sure the launcher supports the selected package (check the Icon Compatibility section in Nova Launcher).
• 🔹 System applications (calls, messages) may be required ADB root.
• 🔹 Update the Iconpack and Launcher to the latest versions.

Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the icons dropped.

• 🔹 If you use standard themes, use them again.
• 🔹 For launchers (Nova, Apex) back up your settings in the Import/Export menu.
• 🔹 Before updating, turn off automatic optimization in Settings → Battery. → Optimizing the battery for the launcher.

Problem 3: New icons look blurry or don’t fit in size.

• 🔹 Make sure the iconpack supports Poco screen resolution X3 (1080×2400).
• 🔹 In the launcher settings, turn off Adaptive icons or adjust the scale manually.
• 🔹 For manual icon modification, use sized images 192×192 transparent background.

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If icons are reset after rebooting, check if the launcher system optimizes. Add it to the exceptions in the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing icons on Poco X3