How to make an animation icons on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer users a wide range of personalization capabilities that go far beyond simply changing wallpaper. One of the most sought-after features that give the device its personality and visual dynamics is the animation of app icons. Device owners often wonder how to activate this effect to make the lock screen or desktop look more lively and interactive.

It should be noted that the approach to implementing this feature depends on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, as well as on the selected launcher. In some cases, the settings are already built into the system, in others, the use of specialized themes or third-party applications is required. Understanding these nuances will avoid confusion and quickly achieve the desired result without installing unnecessary software.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available icon animation activation methods, the built-in system tools and customization capabilities through third-party solutions, learn how to distinguish between system effects and third-party widgets, and learn how to adjust settings correctly for optimal device performance.

Built-in MIUI and HyperOS shell capabilities

The first thing to start looking for animation settings is standard system settings. Xiaomi developers are gradually introducing new visuals into their shells, making them available without the need for root rights.

To start, you need to go to Settings → Wallpaper and personalization. This is where the main tools for changing the appearance of the interface are concentrated. In some versions of the firmware, a separate item can be called Themes or Lock Screen.

⚠️ Note: The menu interface may differ on different smartphone models such as the Redmi Note 13 or Xiaomi 14, so item names may vary.

If you're using the current version of HyperOS, look at the lock screen effects section. Often icon animations are tied to the locked screen state, not the desktop, and the system offers different styles of watches and widgets that can include dynamic elements.

Also worth checking is the section Additional settings → Special features. This sometimes hides options related to visualization of the interface for people with disabilities, which may include certain types of animation or highlighting elements.

Using the “Themes” app to activate effects

The most common and safe way to get animated icons is to use the official theme store from Xiaomi.Millions of users around the world create and download content that changes not only icons, but also sounds, fonts and system animations.

To find the right theme, open the standard Theme app on your device. In the search box, type in queries like “Animated icons,” “Live icons,” or “Dynamic UI.” Search results will offer hundreds of options, many of which are free.

• 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the Profile section».
• 🔍 Enter the keyword “Animated” in search».
• 📥 Select a High Ranked Theme and click Download».
• ⚙️ Use the theme in full or select only the icon component».

It is important to understand that using a third-party theme can change not only the appearance of icons, but also the style of system windows. Some themes require paid components or may contain advertising, so read the description carefully before installing.

After applying the theme, the system may suggest a reboot. If the animation doesn't work right away, try unlocking the screen several times or swiping around the desktop. Some effects are activated only when interacting with a particular application.

Set up animation through third-party launchers

When built-in tools aren’t enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue, programs that completely replace the standard Xiaomi desktop, providing advanced customization capabilities, including sophisticated icon animation scripts.

One of the most popular solutions is Nova Launcher in conjunction with plugins, or specialized lowners like Niagara Launcher, which offer unique transitions, but for the animation of the icons themselves, they often use a bundle of standard launchers with widgets.

Installing a third-party launcher requires broad permissions, you'll need to allow display over other windows and access to storage, without which the animation functionality won't work.

Once a new launcher is installed, the system may repeatedly ask for confirmation of actions or suggest returning to the standard interface.This is normal Android security behavior that can be ignored if you are confident in your actions.

Use of widgets and live wallpaper

An alternative way to bring the desktop to life is to use animation widgets, and unlike static icons, widgets can display time, weather, or news in a dynamic format, creating the illusion of an animated interface.

To add a widget, press and hold your finger on an empty portion of your desktop, then select Widgets. In the menu that opens, scroll through the list to Tools or Watch, which often contains items with a second hand or a changing dial.

Live wallpaper also contributes to the bigger picture, and while it doesn't animate the app icons themselves, it creates a background that interacts with the gyroscope or touchscreen, distracting attention from the static icons.

⚠️ Attention: Using a large number of live widgets and complex live wallpaper can significantly increase battery consumption.

Some widgets require an internet connection to update real-time data, and make sure you have the right time zone set up and allow network access for the relevant applications.

Specialized applications for animation of icons

There is a category of applications that are designed solely to modify the appearance of icons, which work independently of the launcher and can be overlaid on top of the standard interface, such as XIcono or Icon Pack Studio.

The way these programs work is to create shortcuts that copy your apps with a new grafika, so you pick the app, you pick the animation style, and the program creates a new icon on your desktop.

• 📲 Download the application for customization of icons from the Play Market.
• 🖼️ Choose the application you want to change.
• 🎞️ Download or create GIF-icon-animation.
• ✅ Confirm the creation of a shortcut on the desktop.

The main drawback of this method is creating duplicate applications. You can have two Telegram icons: one standard, one animated, which can be confusing to use, but gives you maximum flexibility.

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To create your own animation icons use short GIF-files weighing up to 1 MB – this will ensure smooth operation without delays at startup.

Also, it is worth considering that such applications may not work properly with system updates. After a major update to Android or MIUI functionality may temporarily be disrupted.

Optimizing performance when using animation

Implementing additional graphics always puts a strain on the processor and graphics accelerator of the smartphone. If you notice that the device has become slower or warmer, you need to optimize.

First, check the animation settings in the Developer menu, find the "Windows animation scale," "Scale of transition animation," and set a 0.5x or 1x value to speed up the interface response.

If you use heavy themes or live wallpaper, try closing the background apps.RAM in Xiaomi is limited, and overflow can lead to unloading animation processes, which can cause them to "stutter."

The critical factor is the Android version: on older versions (below Android 10), complex icon animations can cause system instability.

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Balance between beauty and performance: The more complex the animation, the higher the resource consumption, so it is better to use static themes on budget models.

Clean the cache of your system and applications regularly. The accumulated debris can slow down the GUI, making even simple animations intermittent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)