Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is the first step that the owner takes after buying a new device. Redmi Note 7, with its excellent screen and shell MIUI, provides ample opportunities to change the appearance of the system. Many users want to move away from the standard look and find a way to change the icons on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 to make the menu more convenient or just beautiful.
The MIUI shell is based on Android, but has its own unique features of managing the GUI. Standard methods that run on βpureβ Android may not work here or require additional adjustments. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from built-in tools to install third-party launchers.
Changing icons doesn't require root rights and is safe for the device if you follow the instructions. You can create multiple design profiles and change them depending on your mood or time of day. Let's look at the basic tools that can help you do that.
Using the Themes app to change style
The easiest and (official) way to change the look of a system is to use the built-in Theme app, which is a catalog that developers from around the world put out ready-made packages that change not only icons, but also wallpaper, system sounds and widgets. To get started, you need to find the app shortcut on your desktop or in the Tools folder.
Once you start the app, you'll see a tab with selections. To find the icons, you'll better search. Type "Icons" or "Icons" into the search bar, and the system will offer a variety of options. Note that some themes may be paid or advertised, so read the description carefully before downloading.
The process of installing the theme takes only a few minutes. After downloading the file, you need to click the "Apply" button. The system can suggest you choose which components you want to activate: wallpaper, lock screen or only icons.
- π¨ Open the Themes app on the main screen.
- π Type the word βIconsβ in search to find icon packs.
- β¬οΈ Download your favorite topic and click "ApplyΒ».
- β In the application menu, select only the item "Icons", if you do not need to change the wallpaper.
β οΈ Warning: Some themes from third-party regions may not display system notification icons (battery, Wi-Fi) correctly. If you notice a missing important indicator, try changing the topic to another or resetting the theme settings in the profile menu.
It's important to understand that the theme's application affects the system's design files, and if you don't like it after installation, it can be easily deleted, so go back to the Themes app, go to the profile (human icon) and select My Themes, where you can return the standard Classic or Default style.
Manual replacement of icons through MIUI settings
The MIUI shell allows you to manually replace the icons of individual applications without installing entire themes, which is convenient if you are annoyed by the design of a particular application, but the rest of the interface is fine, and you do not need to download anything if the desired icon is already on the system.
To start editing, you need to go to the theme settings menu. Press and hold your finger on the empty desktop until the edit menu appears. In the lower corner, select Settings (cogs), and here is the Icons section where you can control their view.
In the list that opens, you'll see all the apps you've installed, and if you click on any of them, you'll be taken to a gallery of available alternative images, and you'll be asked to choose a style from a theme that you've already downloaded, or you'll use an image from a gallery, and you'll create a unique mix design.
If you want to use your picture, select "From the gallery" and the system will automatically crop the image to the desired format, but the result may be different from what you expect.
Path to setup: Desktop β Holding β Settings (cogs) β IconsThe manual replacement feature is especially useful for applications that donβt have native support in the current topic, such as banking applications or rare utilities often remain standard and have to be manually edited.
βοΈ Check before replacing the icons
Installation of third-party launchers
If you don't have the built-in MIUI, you can install a third-party launcher, which is a program that completely replaces the desktop and the application menu, popular options: Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, Smart Launcher, which give you maximum flexibility in configuration.
Once you install the launcher from Google Play and activate it, you will have access to thousands of icon packages. Unlike standard Xiaomi themes, you can change the size of the grid, swipe animations and folder behavior, but using a third-party launcher can increase battery consumption.
To work with custom icons in third-party launchers, you often need to install a separate icon package (Icon Pack). In the Play Market there are hundreds of them: LineX, Viral, Whicons. After installing such a package, go to the launcher settings, find the βLook and Feelβ section and select βIcon Styleβ.
- π Download and install Nova Launcher or analogue from Google Play.
- π¦ Install your favorite icon pack (Icon Pack).
- βοΈ Open the launcher settings and go to the "Exterior" sectionΒ».
- ποΈ Select βIcon Styleβ and apply the installed package.
β οΈ Note: At the first start of a third-party launcher system MIUI This is a standard shell reaction, and you need to confirm the launch by pressing OK or Allow, otherwise the launcher will not activate.
Using a third-party launcher is a powerful tool, but it changes the logic of the device. Transition animations may become different, and some MIUI features (such as control gestures) may work differently.
What to do if the launcher flies?
Change of fonts and their impact on icons
Many users are unaware that the appearance of icons often depends on the typeface used. In some themes, icons are not pictures, but vector characters of the font, so changing the font can dramatically change the appearance of icons in folders and menus.
To change the font, use the Themes app again. There's a profile tab at the bottom of the screen, and the Fonts section inside the screen. There's a font directory available, many of which are free. Once you install the font, the system will suggest rebooting the device.
Some fonts have a specific type that can make the text under the icons unreadable. If the names of the applications are no longer readable after changing the font, return the standard Roboto or MIUI Font font, which is especially true for people with visual impairment.
| Parameter | Standard font | Custom print | Impact on icons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Readability | Tall. | Depends on style. | Maybe it'll get worse. |
| Badge style | Classical. | Round/English | Changes in shape. |
| Compatibility | 100% | 90% | Possible bugs |
| Battery consumption | Standard. | A little higher. | It doesn't. |
Experimenting with fonts, you can achieve a unique visual style without installing heavy graphic themes. light fonts less load the processor when rendering the interface, which theoretically can positively affect the autonomy of the Redmi Note 7.
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When choosing a font, pay attention to the Cyrillic characters in the preview. Some beautiful Latin fonts do not have a Russian layout, and instead of letters, you will see squares or question marks.
Compatibility issues and display bugs
When actively customized, Xiaomi users often encounter artifacts. Icons can turn white, transparent, or simply disappear.This is due to a conflict between the Android version, the MIUI version, and the theme code itself. Redmi Note 7 was updated to Android 10, and old themes may not work properly.
A common problem is white squares instead of icons, which means that the theme is trying to use a resource that is not found in the system, either by updating the theme by the developer or manually assigning the icon through a long tap, as described above.
Another nuance is zooming: On a 2340Γ1080 screen, some icons from old themes may look blurry or too small. In the theme settings (theme settings section in your profile), you can try to enable the Hide icon names option, which will visually increase their size on the screen.
If the phone starts to slow down or warm up after installing the theme, the theme should be removed. Poorly optimized graphics can be loading the GPU. Always check the theme ranking and reviews before installing, especially if there are many.
- π White Squares: Replace the icon manually or change the theme.
- π Blurrency: Look for topics marked Β«HDΒ» or "For FullHDΒ».
- π Interface Lags: Delete theme and restart the device.
- π Failure after update MIUI: Wait for the topic update from the author.
β οΈ Warning: Avoid topics marked "Beta" or "Test" by unknown authors. XML, which result in a cyclic reboot of the interface (bootloop) or inability to unlock the screen.
Resetting settings and returning to the original
If the experiments go too far and the interface is a mess, you can always go back to the factory look. It doesn't require a complete reset of the phone data. It just takes the theme reset function. It brings back the standard icons, wallpaper and sounds.
To do this, open the Topic app, go to the profile (the person icon on the bottom right). Select My Themes. In the list, you will see a theme called "Default" or "Classic" (often with the MIUI logo). Click on it and select "Apply".
After applying the standard theme, it is recommended to restart the smartphone, which will clear the GUI cache and Δ m, which will make sure that all changes have taken effect correctly. If there are artifacts left after that, you can try to clear the cache of the Themes application itself through the application settings.
Path to clean the cache: Settings β Applications β All applications β Topics β Memory β Clear the cacheGoing back to the original is also a good way to check if the icon problem is due to a hardware fault (although itβs rare on the Redmi Note 7).
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The fastest way to get it back to normal is to apply the Classic theme to the Themes app profile and reboot the device, which solves 99% of the visual problems.