The size of the icons on Xiaomi’s screen is one of those little things that can seriously ruin the experience of using a smartphone: too large icons take up precious space on the desktop, prevent you from placing widgets or just look unaesthetic. Fortunately, the manufacturer and the community of enthusiasts offer several ways to solve this problem, from built-in MIUI tools to hidden settings and even modifications to system files.
In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of reducing icons on Xiaomi, Redmi devices, POCO and Black Shark is managed MIUI 12-15 (including global and Chinese firmware) You will learn how to resize icons without root rights, using a launcher, ADB-We will pay special attention to the nuances for different models - from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
1. MIUI Standard Settings: What Can Be Changed Without Third-Party Tools
To start with, the basics are the built-in MIUI options that are available on most devices without any additional manipulation, and unfortunately, the functionality is limited, but for many users, it will be enough.
The main tool is screen zoom, and it affects not only icons, but also fonts, interface elements and even some applications, to rescale:
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Select text size and display (on some firmware - Screen size).
- Move the slider to the left to reduce the elements. Available values: Small, Standard, Large, Very Large.
- Confirm the changes and restart the device (recommended for correct application).
⚠️ Note: This method reduces all interface elements, not just icons. If you only need to change the size of icons on your desktop, move on to the next section.
2.Use of alternative launchers: Nova Launcher and Hyperion
If the built-in MIUI settings aren’t enough, the most reliable way is to install a third-party launcher, the two most popular options for Xiaomi are Nova Launcher and Hyperion Launcher (designed specifically for MIUI devices), which allow you to flexibly adjust the size of icons, desktop grid and even animation.
Consider the process using the example of Nova Launcher (free version available on Google Play):
- 📥 Install the launcher from the official store and select it as the default launcher when you first start.
- 🔧 Go to Nova settings (hold your finger in the free desktop space) → Settings).
- 📏 In the Desktop section, find the icon size parameter and move the slider to the desired value (from 70% to 130%).
- 🎛️ For accurate grid settings go to the desktop → Desktop grid and select the number of rows/columns (e.g, 5×6 opportunistic 4×5).
💡 Benefits of Nova Launcher:
- 🔄 The ability to change the size of individual icons (in the paid version).
- 🎨 Support for icon packs for full customization of appearance.
- ⚡ Lightweight – does not affect performance even on weak Redmis 9A or POCO M3.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (such as Black Shark 5 Pro) may have navigation gesture problems when using third-party launchers. → System system → Gestures and use gestures of the launcher itself.
Download APK from the official website | Make a backup of the current desktop | Disable battery optimization for the launcher |Reboot the device after installation-->
3. Hidden MIUI settings: editing parameters via ADB
For advanced users who aren’t afraid to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), there’s a way to resize icons directly through system settings, a method that works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-15, but requires a connection to a computer.
🔧 Step-by-step instruction:
- Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.
Connect the device to the PC
Open the command line.
adb shell settings put global icon_size_scale 0.8Here 0.8 is the zoom factor (you can set values from 0.6 to 1.2).
Reset the device
📌 Additional commands for fine tuning:
| Team team. | Description | Example of meaning |
|---|---|---|
| icon_text_size_scale | Size of text under icons | 0.7 |
| grid_size | Number of rows/columns on the desktop | 5x6 |
| folder_icon_size | Size of folder icons | 0.85 |
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause a malfunction in the interface. MIUI 14+ parameter icon_size_scale may be reset after system updates - in this case, you will have to repeat the procedure.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
4. editing system files: for users with root rights
If you are willing to take drastic measures and have root access, you can resize your icons by editing your MIUI configuration files, which is a method that offers maximum flexibility, but requires caution – an error can lead to system failure.
🛠️ Instructions:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Cross the path: /data/system/users/0/ and find the file. miui_home_config.xml (On some of the firmware, it may be called launcher_config.xml).
- Open the file in the text editor and find the lines: <icon_scale>1.0</icon_scale> <grid_size>4x5</grid_size>
- Change the values to the desired ones (for example, 0.75 for scale and 5x6 for grid).
- Save the file, set resolutions 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the device.
⚠️ Warning: When installing themes from third-party sources, turn off automatic updates to system themes in Settings → Theme → Settings → Auto-Update to Avoid Conflict.
💡
Icon packs are the only way to change the look of icons without root rights, but they only work with third-party launchers.