Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphone owners often face a desire to personalize the device interface beyond the standard capabilities. The visual component of the MIUI shell allows you to deeply integrate user preferences, but the process of installing custom design elements can seem confusing for a beginner. Changing icons is the first step to creating a unique design that reflects the personality of the gadget owner.
There are several proven methods of changing graphic elements, from using an embedded theme store to installing third-party launchers. Each method has its own features, advantages and potential limitations associated with the version of the operating system. Understanding these nuances will avoid errors and get the desired result without disrupting the stability of the mobile device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available algorithms of actions that will help transform the appearance of your smartphone.
Use of the built-in Themes application
The easiest and safest way to change the appearance of icons is to use the regular Theme app, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices. This method does not require obtaining superuser rights or installing additional software from unknown sources, which guarantees the stability of the system.
To get started, you need to run the app and go to the search section where you can type in queries like "iOS icons," "Minimalist" or "Neon." Once you select the right set of graphic elements, the system will suggest applying them either to the entire interface or selectively. It is important to note that some topics may be paid or require you to view ads to activate.
- 🎨 Open the Topics app and click on the profile icon in the lower right corner.
- 🔍 Enter the desired style name or keyword in the search box.
- ⬇️ Click Download button next to your favorite theme.
- ✅ Select the option Apply and confirm the action in the window that appears.
It is worth considering that the use of a third-party theme often changes not only icons, but also system sounds, wallpaper and style of notification curtains. If your goal is solely to replace the graphical designations of applications, after installing the theme, you can select the option "Set theme" and leave a tick only on the item "Icons", returning the remaining elements to the standard view.
Installation of individual icon packages
If a complete theme change seems like a redundant measure, the MIUI shell allows you to set up icon packs separately, which gives you flexibility in customization: you can combine different styles of graphic elements to create unique combinations for different groups of applications, an approach that is especially relevant for users who value the functionality of the standard interface, but want to refresh its visual perception.
The process of searching for individual packages is similar to finding full themes, but the results should pay attention to the label "Icons" or "Icons". Often developers create whole series of packages that fit perfectly together, allowing you to change the style of the mood without losing data or settings of the system.
When loading large numbers of packages, additional authorization may be required in the Mi Account, a standard security procedure designed to protect the rights of content developers and prevent the spread of malware through modified registration files.
⚠️ Note: Some free icon packages may contain ads or require periodic viewing of videos to unlock access to full functionality.
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Before installing a new icon package, take a screenshot of your desktop to easily return to the original widget layout if you don’t like the new style.
Use of fonts to change style
While the main issue is graphic elements, the impact of fonts on the overall perception of Redmi 9 interface cannot be ignored. Changing the system font can dramatically change the readability of text and visual density of elements on the screen. The theme store has a huge selection of free and paid fonts that support Cyrillic.
To install the new font, go to the Topics app profile and select the Fonts section. Once you download and apply the new style, the changes will affect all text fields of the system, including the settings menu, messages and browser, which creates a novelty effect even without changing the icons.
It is important to check for Russian language support before installation, if the font does not support Cyrillic characters, instead of letters, squares or question marks can be displayed on the screen, which will make using the smartphone extremely uncomfortable, in such cases, helps quickly reset the font to the standard through the recovery menu or safe mode.
Use of third-party launchers
For users who don’t have the standard shell, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution, and apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Smart Launcher offer unprecedented levels of control over the appearance of the desktop and app icons.
Once you install the launcher from Google Play Market, it will offer to become the default primary screen, which will allow you to use any icon packages available in the app store, regardless of compatibility with MIUI. You can change the grid size, add gestures and customize transition animations.
Settings → Applications → Application Management → Desktop by Default → DesktopHowever, the use of third-party launchers on Xiaomi has its own nuances: the system can aggressively optimize background processes, which leads to a reset or launcher departure. To avoid this, you need to prevent the system from "killing" the launcher process in the battery settings.
☑️ Launcher setup
Compatibility table of personalization methods
To organize the information and choose the best way to change the appearance, it is recommended to read the comparative table of methods, which will help you to understand which option is suitable for your tasks and level of training.
| Method | Difficulty | Security | Flexibility of setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in themes | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Separate packages | Low. | Tall. | Tall. |
| Third-party launchers | Medium | Medium | Maximum |
| Root rights | Tall. | Low. | Complete. |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the optimal balance between simplicity and result is the use of built-in tools or third-party launchers. Getting root rights is recommended only for advanced users who are willing to risk the device guarantee for the sake of deep modification of the system.
What is a Root right?
Decision and possible errors
In the process of personalization, Redmi 9 users may face a number of common problems, such as when the theme is installed, icons may not change in the menu of all apps (App Drawer), remaining standard, due to the peculiarities of the MIUI shell, which shares icons on the desktop and in the common list.
To solve this problem, cleaning the theme app cache and System UI often helps. It is also worth checking whether the "Simple Mode" mode is turned on, which blocks the change of visual elements. If the icons are gone completely or are displayed in black squares, you need to urgently return the standard theme.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing the theme, the phone started to work slowly or artifacts appeared on the screen, immediately reset the theme to the standard through the recovery menu (Recovery) or safe mode.
Another common problem is that you automatically return to an old theme after you reboot, which happens if the system detects a version conflict or corrupt theme files, in which case it is recommended to remove the problematic theme and download it again from a trusted source.
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The stability of the smartphone is more important than beautiful design – if you notice failures, it is better to return to standard settings.