How to make a beautiful desktop on Xiaomi: from wallpaper to hidden chips MIUI

Your Xiaomi desktop isn’t just a background with icons, it’s a business card that reflects your style and makes it easier to use your smartphone every day. Unlike iOS, where customization is limited, firmware is a big part of the business. MIUI It offers dozens of tools to transform the interface, from standard themes to hidden features that only experienced users know about, but how to choose the best settings to make the desktop both beautiful and functional?

In this article, we will discuss 10 Proven ways to design the screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — From basic settings to advanced tricks using third-party apps, you'll learn how to match the wallpaper to the color scheme of icons, customize transition animations, hide unnecessary interface elements, and even create unique widgets for quick access to functions. MIUI 14/15 and adapted to models 2022–2026 year-end.

We pay special attention to hidden opportunities. MIUI, which are not obvious at first glance: for example, how to turn on dynamic wallpaper with the effect of paralax or adjust the transparency of the notification panel. And for those who want to go beyond standard solutions, we have prepared an overview of the best third-party launchers and customization applications compatible with Xiaomi firmware.

1. Selection of wallpaper: from standard to dynamic

Wallpaper is the basis of desktop design. MIUI There's a built-in gallery with hundreds of options, but most users are not even aware of hidden collections. → Wallpaper. → Categories and scroll down to the "Special" section:

• 🌌 Dynamic wallpaper – animated background images that respond to the time of day or gestures (e.g., Starry Sky or Ocean Waves").
• 🎨 Gradient wallpaper – smooth transitions of colors that automatically adjust to the theme of the interface.
• 🖼️ Wallpaper with the effect of paralax – create illusion depth when tilting the phone (not available on all models).
• 📱 Adaptive wallpaper – change the shade depending on the color of the case (works on Xiaomi) 13/14 Redmi Note 12 Color Match).

To install wallpapers from third-party sources (for example, with WallpapersCraft or Backdrops), it is important to consider the screen resolution of your model.

⚠️ Attention: On models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or Redmi K70) Try to choose a wallpaper with a predominant black color, which will reduce power consumption and prolong the life of the display.

2. Icon customization: themes, packages and manual customization

Standard icons in MIUI They look neutral, but they are easy to replace with built-in themes or third-party packages. MIUI:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Icons tab.
3. Select the package you like (e.g., "Minimal") UI" or "neumorphic").
4. Click "Apply" - the icons will change automatically.

For deeper customization, use third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher.

• 🎯 Change the size of the icons and the text below them.
• 🔄 Set up animations when opening applications.
• 📂 Group icons into folders with your own wallpaper.
• 🎨 Apply icon packages from the Play Market (e.g., "Whicons" or "CandyCons").

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9A) When you install a third-party launcher, you may miss the "Swipe up for the app menu" gesture. → Home screen → Additionally. → Gestures and enable the option "Show all applications".

Backup current settings in Settings → Additionally. → Backup

Check the compatibility of the icon package with your Xiaomi model

Disable battery optimization for launcher in Settings → Battery → Optimization

Reboot the phone after the changes are applied-->

3. Widgets: from weather to custom control panels

Widgets in MIUI They are often underrated, although they can turn a desktop into a real control panel.Standard widgets (weather, clock, music) are added long pressing on the free space of the screen. → "Widgets. But more interesting are custom solutions:

• 📊 KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker allows you to create widgets from scratch, from simple charge indicators to complex animation panels. Popular templates: Minimal Clock, Battery Circle".
• 🎵 Musicolet – a widget for music management with album cover and progress bar.
• 📅 Month: Calendar Widget is a minimalist calendar with dark theme support.
• 🔋 Battery Widget Reborn - detailed battery statistics with discharge graphs.

For custom widget installation:

1. Download. KWGT Play Market.
2. Import your favorite template (files with the extension.kwgt).
3. Add a widget to your desktop via the widget menu (select the "KWGT" and sized).
4. Customize the colors and data to your style.

💡 Useful tip: If the widget doesn't update automatically, check the sync settings in the widget application itself. KWGT You need to enable the option “Auto-refresh” and add the application to the battery optimization exceptions.

4. Hidden functions MIUI customize

MIUI It hides a lot of useful features that can dramatically change the way you look at the interface:

• 🌓 Dark theme with accent colors: Go to Settings → Display. → Dark subject. → Customize the color and select one of 8 accent shades.This will change the color of the selection in the menu, buttons and notifications.
• 🔄 Transition animations: Enable smooth transitions in Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Window animation. Optimal speed — 0.75x Balance between beauty and productivity.
• 📱 Transparent Notification Panel: Activated through Settings → Display. → Style of status line → Transparency. It only works on models with AMOLED-screen.
• 🔒 Hiding app icons: Long-click on icon → "Remove from the screen (the application will remain in the menu, but will disappear from the desktop).

For Xiaomi models 13/14 redmi K60/K70 And you can have this "Super Wallpaper" feature, which is interactive background images that respond to touch, so you can turn them on:

Settings → Wallpaper → Super Wallpaper → Select a scene (for example, “Mars” or “Earth”)

⚠️ Warning: Super wallpapers put a lot of CPU load and reduce battery life. Use them only on flagship models (Snapdragon) 8 Gen 2/3) and turn off when the battery is low.

💡

Hidden settings MIUI allow customization of the interface without third-party applications, but some features (for example, super wallpaper) may conflict with the power saving mode.

5. Desktop Optimization: Remove junk and improve usability

A beautiful desktop is not just about design, it's about convenience. Here's how to make it functional.

• 🗑️ Removing Unnecessary Icons: A Long Press → "Remove" (for pre-installed applications, use Settings → Annexes → Delete).
• 📂 Folder grouping: Drag one icon to another to create a folder. MIUI You can change the color of the folder and its preview.
• 🔍 Search: Add the Google Search widget or Quick Search widget MIUI" For instant access to applications and contacts.
• ⚡ Quick Actions: Set up gestures in Settings → Additionally. → Gestures. For example, "Double tap for sleep" or "Swipe down for notification panel".

For models with high frequency screen updates (120/144 Hz) it is recommended to disable animations in the developer settings:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find options: Window: Animation Scale - Disable Transition: Animation Scale - Disable Animator: Duration Scale - Disable Animation Scale

💡 Useful advice: If after disabling animations, the interface began to seem “twitchy”, return the scale to the 0.5x — This will keep you smooth without delay.

6. Third-party launchers: when standard capabilities are few

If the built-in tools MIUI Not enough, try alternative launchers. They offer flexibility not available in a standard shell:

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download it from Play Market.
2. When you first start, select "Always Use" (to make it the default launcher).
3. Set up the desktop layout, gestures and widgets in the launcher menu.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4) Third-party launchers may conflict with system services MIUI, In this case, return to the standard launcher via Settings. → Annexes → By default. → Launcher.

7.Save and transfer desktop settings

If you’ve spent time setting up your desktop perfectly, it’s important to keep it before resetting or replacing your phone. MIUI There is a built-in backup tool:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Select "Local Backup".
3. Check the boxes "Home screen" and "Themes".
4. Click "Create a backup" and wait until it is completed.

To transfer settings to another Xiaomi phone:

• 📱 Use Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud) to sync themes and wallpapers.
• 🔄 For launchers (like Nova Launcher), export the settings to the file and transfer it via Google Drive or Mi Share.
• 📂 Widgets KWGT stored in a folder /Kustom/backups — Copy it to a new device.

⚠️ Note: When you restore from a backup on another Xiaomi model (for example, with the Redmi Note 11 on Xiaomi 13), widgets may fail due to different screen resolutions.

8. Top.-5 errors in the customization of the desktop

Even experienced users make mistakes that spoil the look or performance of a smartphone, and here are the most common:

• 🔋 Too many widgets: Each widget consumes RAM and battery. The optimal number is 2-3 per screen.
• 🎨 Color mismatch: Bright icons on dark wallpaper or vice versa create visual chaos. Use Adobe Color to match palettes.
• 📱 Ignoring screen resolutions: Low quality wallpapers stretch and lose clarity. Always check the resolution (see table in section 1).
• ⚡ Disabling Optimization for Launchers: This speeds up animations, but reduces battery life by 15-20%.
• 🔄 Frequent change of topics: Each new theme reboots system processes, which can cause lags.

💡 Useful tip: Before applying global changes (change launcher, install custom fonts) create a restore point in Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and reset, which will help roll back the system if something goes wrong.

💡

A beautiful desktop should combine aesthetics and functionality. Don't sacrifice performance for design -- balance is the key to a perfect interface.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions