Personalizing the smartphone interface is the first thing the owner wants after buying a new device. The standard set of icons installed by the manufacturer often seems boring or simply does not fit into the desired visual style. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices are in a favorable position, as the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide powerful built-in tools to change the appearance without the need to obtain superuser rights.
The process of changing graphics can range from simply selecting a ready-made theme in the official store to deep customization through third-party launchers. It is important to understand that the visual part of the system is separate from the functional one, so replacing the image on the desktop does not affect the operation of the application itself. However, there are nuances of compatibility between different versions of Android and firmware regions that you should be aware of before starting experiments.
In this guide, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to replace graphical interface elements. You will learn to use the built-in resources of the system, apply third-party solutions to completely replace the style and eliminate possible display errors. Changing system icons through the theme menu does not require additional software installation and is the safest method for beginners.
Using the built-in Themes app to change style
The most obvious and reliable way to change the appearance of the desktop is to use the standard Themes app, which is pre-installed on all devices of the brand, which allows you to change not only individual icons, but also wallpaper, widgets, sounds and even lock menu style.
There's a lot of free and paid designs inside the store. To find exactly what you need, use the search bar or category navigation. Look at the icons section at the bottom menu or in the profile sidebar, where you can often download graphics packages separately from full themes. This is convenient if you like wallpaper, but don't like the design of standard applications.
Once you have selected the appropriate option, click Download and then Apply. The system will automatically redraw the desktop. If you have applied the whole theme but want to leave the old wallpaper or icon style, you can use the customization settings. To do this, go to the Themes app profile, select the Theme Settings section, and manually select the components you want to activate.
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Before applying a new theme, be sure to review the screenshots in the description to make sure the icon design fits your expectations, as some themes may be too bright or, conversely, pale.
It’s worth noting that some themes may not be supported on your Android or smartphone model, and in such cases, the system will issue an incompatibility warning, and in global firmware versions (Global ROM), the theme catalog may be limited compared to the Chinese versions, so it sometimes makes sense to change the region in your phone settings to India or Singapore for access to a larger range, although this does not always guarantee that all items will appear.
Manual replacement of individual icons through system settings
If you don’t want to change the subject completely, but only need to change graphics for a few specific applications, the MIUI shell allows you to do this selectively, an approach ideal for those who value minimalism and want to highlight frequently used programs, such as instant messengers or banking applications, making them more visible or, conversely, hidden under a neutral color.
To start the process, open the Themes app and go to the profile section (usually the little man icon in the lower right corner). Find the icon item in the uploaded content list. This shows all the graphics packages you've ever installed. Select the right pack and click on the Apply button, but don't rush to close the window.
After you use the package, the system often (but not always) offers you to choose specific applications to replace. If you do not automatically select, go to the theme settings. Some versions of MIUI have the theme settings -> System icons where you can check the boxes against the applications you want to change the design. In newer versions of HyperOS, this process is even more flexible and allows you to change the style of individual elements directly from the desktop editing menu.
- 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to your profile.
- 📂 Select the Icons section and find the previously installed pack.
- ✅ Click Apply and wait for the desktop update.
- ⚙️ If necessary, use the theme settings to select specific applications.
If there is no special icon for Telegram in the pack, the system will leave a standard image. To avoid confusion, try to choose packages with the maximum number of applications included in the set or use universal styles.
Application of third-party launchers for total customization
When the standard shell is not enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are shells that completely replace the desktop, the application menu, and the control panel. The most popular solutions are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Smart Launcher, which allow you not only to change pictures, but also to restructure the logical structure of the interface.
Once you install the launcher from Google Play and assign it to the default, you get access to advanced settings. The launcher settings menu usually has an icon style or Look & Feel section. Here you can download any downloaded pack of icons from the Internet (.apk format or resources inside the launcher) and apply it to the entire system. Launchers often have their own graphics databases, which are updated regularly.
The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of the system limitations of MIUI. You can resize the grid, add gestures, scroll animations and, of course, graphics. However, it is worth considering that third-party launchers consume more RAM and can consume more battery power than a standard shell. On budget models with a small amount of RAM, this can lead to more frequent unloading of applications from memory.
⚠️ Warning: After installing a third-party launcher, the animations of opening applications may become less smooth, and system features such as "Wallpaper Carousel" or gestures MIUI, They may stop working properly or require additional adjustments.
To set custom graphics in a third-party launcher, you usually need to pinch your finger on the application icon, select Edit, and then select an image from the gallery or the proposed set. This process can be repeated for each application separately, creating a unique mix of styles that is not possible in standard settings.
Creating your own icons through app shortcuts
If you want to create a unique design that no pack has, or just replace one particular icon with your picture or photo, the best way to do this is to use shortcuts, which don't require heavy launchers, and it works on top of a standard shell, and the essence of the method is to create a new shortcut that leads to the app but looks like the image you've chosen.
To do this, you'll need a shortcut application, and there are many shortcuts in the Play Market, like Shortcut Maker or X Icon Changer, which are free and have a simple interface. Once you install the program, run it and find the app you want to see in the list. Click on it and the shortcut editing menu opens.
In the editing menu, you can choose the source of the image: a gallery, a colored background with a letter or a ready-made set. If you choose a picture from the gallery, you can crop it, add a filter or a frame. Once you set the appearance, click Create or Add. A new icon will appear on the desktop, and the old one can be deleted or moved to the folder so that there are no duplicates.
☑️ Algorithm for creating a custom icon
The downside of this method is that the shortcut created is essentially a separate link. Notifications (circles with the number of messages) on such shortcuts will not work, because the system considers them simply pictures leading to the launch of the program. In addition, when you remove the application, the shortcut will remain on the desktop and will lead to nowhere, so it will have to be removed manually.
Comparison of methods of personalization of the interface
The choice of how to replace the graphics depends on your goals and the specifications of the smartphone. To make it easier to make a decision, we have prepared a comparison table that will help determine the optimal path for your case.
| Parameter | Built-in themes | Third-party launcher | Labels (Shortcut) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Medium | High (for all applications) |
| Impact on the battery | Absent. | Medium/High | Minimum |
| Operation of notifications | Complete. | Depends on the launcher. | Not on labels. |
| Design flexibility | Limited to catalogue | Maximum | Full (my pictures) |
If you want to be stable and don't want to be a little bit savvy, it's best to use Built-in Themes. It's a guaranteed safe path that doesn't lead to system conflicts. If you want a unique visual style and you're willing to put up with the potential resource consumption, Third-party Launcher is the best choice.
Shortcut Maker is ideal for spot changes, such as if you want to make a character logo icon of your favorite game or hide an app in a neutral color, but doing so for all 50+ desktop applications is extremely time-consuming and inconvenient in the long run.
Why did the widgets disappear after the theme change?
Typical problems and ways to solve them
Users often face a variety of challenges in customization, and one of the most common problems is when icons have changed after applying the theme, but some of them have remained standard, because there are no graphics for certain applications in the pack, and you can solve this by choosing a different theme or using the method of shortcuts for existing elements.
Another common problem is that you can't delete the theme or return it back. If a standard reset doesn't work, go to the theme settings, select Classic or No theme (usually the first one on the list) and apply it. If that doesn't work, the the theme app cache may be damaged, so you can go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Topics -> Memory and click Clear Cache and Clear Data.
- 🔄 Icons don’t change: check if Hide System Apps is enabled in the theme settings.
- 📉 Low performance: Turn off live wallpaper and animations in launcher settings.
- 🚫 Error of application: make sure that the phone has enough free memory.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers on devices with strong optimization MIUI (for example, POCO Or Redmi Note, the system can aggressively unload the launcher from memory, causing the icons to be reset each time you unlock. To avoid this, lock the launcher into memory via the multitasking menu.
Also worth mentioning is the background blur problem. In some themes, the desktop background may become blurred or darkened. It's a customizable setting. Hold your finger on the empty desktop space, select Effects or Settings, and adjust the blur (Blur) or transparency setting.
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The most stable result is the use of official themes from the Xiaomi store, as they are certified and optimized for specific versions of MIUI, minimizing the risk of interface bugs.