Modern Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS offer users a huge potential for personalization, but the standard look often seems boring and familiar. Many owners want to change the look of the interface, make it more functional or just unique, so that the device stands out among others. The process of how to make another desktop on Xiaomi does not require deep knowledge of programming or obtaining root rights, if you use proven methods.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can transform your screen, from simple system settings to installing third-party launchers. You will learn how to manage widgets, change icons and adjust navigation to make your smartphone as comfortable as possible.
Use of built-in MIUI and HyperOS themes
The easiest and safest way to change the look of the interface is to use the standard Theme app, which is pre-installed on all devices of the Chinese brand. This directory has thousands of designs that change not only the wallpaper, but also the style of the system windows, fonts and, most importantly, the appearance of the desktop and icons. To access this functionality, you just need to find the corresponding application in the Tools folder or on the main screen.
When you select a new theme, the system will offer a preview where you can see how the desktop, lock screen and settings menu will change. It is important to understand that some themes may be paid or require viewing ads for activation, but there are also free options. After applying the theme, the folder structure and the location of widgets can change according to the design concept of the author.
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It’s worth noting that using a third-party theme is the best way to completely change the visual style of the system without installing additional software, which is especially true for users who want to keep the shell stable but need fresh experiences. Remember that after installing the theme, you may need to reboot the device to correctly display all the elements.
Installation of a third-party launcher for full customization
If you don't have the built-in MIUI capabilities enough and want to change the logic of the interface, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. This is a specialized application that completely replaces the standard shell, providing new features for animation, gestures and space organization. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Niagara Launcher make the desktop on Xiaomi unique.
The process of installing a third-party launcher is simple: you need to download APK-You can find a file or an app in the Google Play Store, install it and run it. The system automatically prompts you to select the default home screen app. You can select the launcher you just installed and confirm the action, and then the interface changes instantly.
You need to pay special attention to setting up the grid of icons and indentations, because in third-party launchers these parameters are more flexible than in stock firmware. You can place more widgets on the screen or, conversely, make the interface minimalist. Many launchers also support swipe gestures that allow you to run applications or perform actions by simply swiping your finger across an empty screen.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher – the benchmark for speed and flexibility of settings for advanced users.
- 🎨 Microsoft Launcher – great integration with Windows services and personalized news feed.
- 🧘 Niagara Launcher – Minimalist design focused on digital well-being and one hand.
- ⚡ Smart Launcher – Automatic Application Sorting and Adaptive Interface.
Configuring widgets and organizing space
The organization of the workspace is a key step in creating a user-friendly interface: widgets allow you to display information on the screen without having to open applications, which greatly speeds up the interaction with the smartphone. At Xiaomi, especially in new versions of HyperOS, widgets have become more interactive and visually attractive, taking center stage in the design.
To add a widget, you need to pinch an empty area on your desktop or pinch a two-fingered area to go into edit mode. In the menu that opens, select "Vidgets" (or "Vidgets" in the bottom panel), where the library of available items will open. Here you can find hours, weather, calendar, steps, and widgets from installed applications such as music players or email clients.
☑️ Optimizing the desktop
It is important not to overload the screen with elements, as this can reduce the performance of the device and make it difficult to find the right applications. The optimal solution is to place 3-4 most commonly used widgets and group applications into folders with clear names. You can also use the "Sort" function in the editing menu to automatically line up icons by alphabet or frequency of use.
⚠️ Warning: Too many active widgets, especially those that are updated in real time (news, weather), can significantly increase battery consumption.
Comparison of popular methods of changing the interface
The choice of how to change the desktop depends on your goals: whether you want to just update the pictures or completely redesign the logic of using a smartphone, each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered before making changes.
Embedded themes are good for their stability and deep integration, but they are limited by the framework set by the developers of MIUI. Third-party launchers give complete freedom, but can consume more resources or have conflicts with system gestures, Widgets are a versatile tool that is useful in any use case.
| Method | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in themes | Low. | Minimum | Medium |
| Third-party launcher | Medium/High | Average. | Very high. |
| Widgets | Low. | Depends on the widget. | Tall. |
| Changing icons | Low. | Absent. | Medium |
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Combination of methods (theme + widgets + competent sorting) gives the best result in personalization of the device.
Change the size of the system icons and fonts
Visual desktop experience is not only about images, but also about the size of interface elements. Xiaomi’s settings have hidden and explicit possibilities for resizing fonts and icon sizes, which is especially true for people with low vision or those who want to fit more content on the screen.
To resize your font and display elements, go to Settings → Screen → Text and display size. Here, you can adjust the scale of the entire interface with a slider. To fine-tune the size of the application icons on your desktop, you often need to enter edit mode (screen pinches), where you can choose large or standard mode in the settings (cogs).
Some third-party launchers allow you to resize each icon individually or set a general grid scale to pixel accuracy, which allows you to create complex compositions where important applications are highlighted in size and secondary applications are hidden in folders or reduced, and this flexibility makes Android on Xiaomi one of the most customizable platforms.
Solving and resetting launcher settings
In the process of experimenting with desktop settings, there can be situations when the interface starts to work incorrectly: icons disappear, gestures fail, or the launcher crashes, most often this is solved by cleaning the cache or resetting the settings of a particular launcher application.
To reset your settings, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the current launcher (such as System Launcher or third-party application name) from the list. Inside the app menu, select Clear Data → Clear All Data. This will return the desktop to its original state, but will not delete your personal files or photos.
⚠️ Warning: Before clearing the system launcher data, make sure you remember the location of important folders, as after resetting all icons return to standard order, and widgets can be deleted.
If problems persist after a reset, try removing recently installed themes or updating the launcher through the app store.In rare cases, a specific version of Android or firmware may cause conflict, then wait for the system update from the manufacturer.
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Keep a screenshot of the icons' current location before major changes, which will help quickly restore the structure if the new version is inconvenient.