How to put round icons Xiaomi: a guide to style

Xiaomi’s modern smartphone interface, whether it’s the classic MIUI shell or the latest HyperOS, is initially a strict style with square or rounded rectangular icons. This approach provides uniformity, but many users are more familiar and enjoyable to see the classic round app icons that have long been the standard in the Android community. Changing the shape of icons is not just a whim of design, but a way to personalize the device to your liking, making it unique.

The process of transforming the appearance of the desktop does not require superuser rights or complex flashing. The theme system built into the shell allows you to change the shapes of icons in a pair of touches. However, there are nuances that depend on the version of the operating system and the region in which your device is located. In some cases, standard settings can be hidden, which will require the use of third-party launchers or special theme patches.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at all available methods, from simple built-in functions to advanced settings through third-party software. You will learn how to bypass the limitations of regional versions of firmware and which launchers best cope with imitating the native style of Xiaomi, while maintaining smooth animations and functionality.

Built-in personalization capabilities MIUI and HyperOS

For starters, the company itself offers: In recent firmware versions, Xiaomi has introduced flexible design settings that allow you to change the shape of icons without installing additional software. However, the availability of this feature depends on the version of Android and regional binding of the device. If you have a global version of firmware, the chance to find the desired option is higher.

To access the basic settings, you need to go to the system settings menu. Here, in the look section, there is often a switch that changes the geometry of all the icons at once. It is important to understand that this change will only affect system applications and those programs that fully support dynamic themes. Third-party applications can remain in their original form.

• 🔘 Open Settings and find the Screen section is always on and lock or wallpaper.
• 🔘 Go to the theme editor or theme settings.
• 🔘 Look for System icons where you can choose a circle, square or rounded square.

⚠️ Note: Some devices with Chinese version of the firmware (CN ROM) The option to change the shape of icons may be blocked or absent from the standard menu, in which case only the installation of themes or changing the region will help.

If the standard path did not lead to the result, it is worth checking for system updates. Xiaomi engineers often transfer functions between menus in different versions of MIUI 13, 14 or HyperOS. Also, the shape of the icons may depend on the active theme of the design: some author’s themes forcefully specify their geometry, ignoring system settings.

Using the Themes app to change style

The most effective and safe way to change the geometry of icons is to use the official Themes app, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, regardless of the Android version, the essence of the method is to install a theme that contains a set of round icons, or a special patch that changes only the style of the icons.

You don't have to change the entire visual style of the interface, including sounds and wallpaper. There's a "Bads" or "Icons" category in the theme store, where packages are assembled that only replace graphic elements. Once you download the package, the system will suggest you to apply changes, and all the applications on the desktop and menu will take a round shape.

The installation process is as follows:

1. Launch the Themes app on the main screen.
2. In the search box, enter the query “Round icons” or “Round icons”.
3. Select your favorite high-rated package and click Download.
4. After download, click Apply. The system can warn you about rebooting the interface — agree.

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If the icons haven’t changed after applying the theme, try restarting the device manually. Sometimes the old theme cache prevents new graphic elements from instantly displaying.

It’s worth noting that free themes often contain ads or require you to watch a video to activate. If you want to avoid this, look for themes marked “Free” or use a high-level Mi Account if this is available in your area. There are also patch themes that weigh only a few megabytes and contain no unnecessary images.

Search and installation of specialized topics

Finding the perfect set of round icons can take time, as the quality of the rendering varies greatly across topics. Some designers make icons just fit in a circle, leaving empty fields, while others qualitatively redraw each element. To find the best option, use sorting filters by downloads and rating.

Search queries inside the Themes app are better with English keywords, as the database is filled with designers from all over the world. Query like “iOS icons,” “Round icons” or “Circle icons” will yield more results. Pay attention to the preview: often the subject’s author shows what popular apps like WhatsApp, Telegram or YouTube will look like.

It is important to check the compatibility of the theme with your version of MIUI. Sometimes theme created for MIUI 12 may not display correctly on HyperOS, causing app signatures to disappear or the desktop grid to shift. If you notice glitches after installation, the theme should be removed.

Themes from well-known designers in the Xiaomi community are particularly worth paying attention to, and their work tends to be more rigorously moderated and optimized for different screen resolutions, ensuring that round icons look clear on both the budget Redmi and the flagship Xiaomi.

Change of region as a method of activation of functions

There is a well-known life hack that allows you to unlock hidden personalization features, including advanced icon settings.The essence of the method is to change the region of the device. Xiaomi often limits the functionality of shells for certain countries (for example, Russia or Ukraine), while additional options are available for India or Singapore.

To do this, go to Settings -> Additional -> Region. Select a country, for example, India or Indonesia. System interface may change slightly, new widgets or settings will appear in the theme menu. After changing the region, reopen the Themes app and check for the options you need.

• 🌏 Changing the region may affect the operation of some system applications (for example, a news feed or voice assistant).
• 🌏 In some regions, the number of advertising in system applications may increase.
• 🌏 After setting the appearance, the region can be returned back, but the theme settings can be reset.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t change region to countries where you don’t plan to use Xiaomi services if you care about local time and weather settings.

This method is especially relevant for users who have upgraded to a new firmware version, where the manufacturer has removed the ability to simply change the shape of icons through the menu.

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Relocation is a secure software method that does not require root rights and is reversible at any time, but can temporarily change the operation of some services.

Use of third-party launchers

If the built-in tools don't meet your needs, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are apps that completely replace the desktop, app menus, and control panel. The most popular and functional solution is Nova Launcher, which gives you complete control over the shape, size, and behavior of icons.

Installing a third-party launcher not only allows you to make icons round, but also adjust the degree of rounding, grid size, animations for opening applications and many other parameters, which is ideal for those who want to achieve 100% round shape even for those applications that do not have official round icons in the system.

The following steps are taken to set up Nova Launcher:

1. Download and install Nova Launcher from the Google Play Store.
2. When you first start, allow all the permissions you have requested and select it as the default launcher.
3. Press your finger on the empty desktop space and select Settings.
4. Go to Appearance -> Style of icons and select a circle.

It’s worth considering that third-party launchers consume a little more RAM than standard shell. On devices with low RAM (3-4 GB), this can lead to more frequent unloading of background applications. However, on modern Xiaomi models, the difference is almost invisible.

Solution and possible problems

Users may face a number of typical problems during the setup process, such as when round icons are installed, some applications may appear white or remain square, because there are no icons in the theme for these applications, and the system substitutes a standard blank option.

Another common problem is desynchronizing icons in the app menu and on the desktop, which happens if you use a hybrid method: some of the settings were taken from the theme, and some were changed through the launcher, in which case, you should reset the lock screen and desktop settings to the factory and start setting up again using one method.

And people often wonder about the impact of round icons on autonomy, and the battery doesn't suffer from the shape of the icons at all, because it's static graphics. However, if you use live themes with animated icons, the charge consumption can increase slightly, and the usual static round icons have no effect on energy consumption.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers, smart home features or fast Xiaomi actions (app closing gestures) may not work properly or require additional permissions customization.

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be that you're damaging the theme system files, trying to delete all the themes you've downloaded, clearing the Themes app cache, and restarting your smartphone, and resetting your design settings to factory settings will help.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)