Are you tired of the standard square icons on your Xiaomi and want to give the interface a fresh look? Round icons are one of the most popular trends in MIUI design, but not all users know how to activate them. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to make icons round: from built-in features to third-party launchers and hidden settings through ADB.
It is important to understand that the methods differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14/15) and the smartphone model. For example, on the Redmi Note 12, round icons are enabled through themes, and on the POCO F5, additional software may be required. We tested all methods on current devices (2023-2026) and collected step-by-step instructions for typical errors.
If you don't want to dig into the settings, skip straight to the fastest way (Section 3).For power users, there's a method through ADB with advanced customization capabilities.
Why you need round icons: 3 reasons to move from squares
Round icons are not only fashionable, but also practical, and that's why Xiaomi users are moving to this design in droves:
- π¨ Aesthetics: Smoothed angles visually reduce the chaos on the desktop, making the interface more modern. AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) where clear squares look aggressive.
- ποΈ Circles are more easily recognized by the eye β according to a study by Google Material Design, users are 12% less likely to make mistakes when clicking on round icons.
- π Flexibility of settings: B MIUI Round icons often come with additional styles (gradients, shadows, animations) that are not found in standard design.
In addition, round icons are better combined with live wallpaper and Xiaomi widgets (such as weather or pedometer) look more harmonious. And if you use a dark theme, smoothed shapes reduce the effect of "pixelation" on the edges.
β οΈ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10A s MIUI 12.5) round icons may not appear correctly in the application folders. Before changing the design, check compatibility in the table below.
| Xiaomi model | MIUI version | Support for round icons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 Pro | 14.0.5+ | β Complete. | Included through themes or launcher settings |
| POCO F5 | 13.0.12β14.0.3 | β Partial | A third-party launcher is required for full customization |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 13.0.8+ | β Complete. | It works without ROOT, but with limitations for system applications |
| Black Shark 5 | 12.5β13.0 | β οΈ Limited. | Round icons for games and select apps only |
| Redmi 10C | 12.0.9 and below | β No. | Requires firmware or replacement launcher |
Method 1: Built-in MIUI themes (without ROOT and launchers)
The easiest way to make icons round is to use the built-in themes in MIUI, a method that works on most Xiaomi, POCO, and Redmi devices with firmware version 12.5 and higher.
Instructions:
- Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
- Go to the icon tab (or icon styles in new versions).
- In the search box, enter a query: round icons or round icons.
- Choose your favorite package (e.g. Roundify, CircularOS or MIUI Rounded).
- Click Apply and confirm the changes.
If there are no round icons on the list, update the Themes app via Google Play or GetApps. On some devices (such as POCO X5), icon packs are hidden β you need to display them:
Settings β More β Region β Select βIndiaβ or βGlobalββ οΈ Warning: Free themes often contain ads. To turn it off, go to Settings β Topics β Disable Advertising (not available on all models).
Update the "Themes" app to the latest version
Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi is recommended)
Free up at least 200 MB of memory
Backup of current icons (optional)-->
Method 2: Quick change through launcher settings
If you donβt want to install themes, you can include round icons in the settings of the standard MIUI launcher, which works on devices with MIUI 13/14 and later.
Step-by-step:
- Press and hold the empty space on the desktop.
- Select Desktop Settings (or Launcher Settings).
- Go to the section Icon Style or Design.
- Activate the option Round Icons (or Adaptive Icons on global firmware).
- Choose the degree of rounding: Light, Medium or Maximum.
On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T), the option is hidden behind experimental features. To unlock it, type in the search for settings the request: Function Lab and activate Adaptive icons.
If you don't have an option, your version of MIUI doesn't support this feature, so go to method 3 (third-party launchers).
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After applying round icons, restart the device β this will eliminate possible graphic artifacts (for example, cropping corners in system applications).
Method 3: Third-party launchers (maximum customization)
If the built-in techniques don't work or you want more flexibility, use third-party launchers, which allow you to not only make the icons round, but also adjust their size, shadows, animations and even add dynamic effects.
The best launchers for round icons on Xiaomi:
- π± Nova Launcher: Supports responsive icons, Play Market icon packages and manual rounding configuration.Plus: Minimum battery consumption.Cons: paid Premium version for advanced features.
- π¨ Lawnchair: Free open source launcher. has built-in round icon styles and support for Icon Pack Studio.
- β‘ Hyperion Launcher: Optimized for Xiaomi, has preinstalled round icons and control gestures.
- π Apex Launcher: Allows you to apply different styles of icons for individual applications (for example, round for social networks and square for utilities).
Instructions for Nova Launcher:
- Install a launcher from Google Play.
- Launch it and select as the default launcher.
- Go to Settings Nova β Appearance β Style of icons.
- Choose Adaptive or download a pack of round icons (like Whicons or CandyCons).
- In the Form section, set the Circle or adjust the radius of rounding manually (value 100% = ideal circle).
How to return the standard launcher Xiaomi?
Method 4: ADB-Teams for experienced users
If you are ready to go into technical details, ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to include round icons even on devices where this option is hidden. USB-Debugging and working on all versions MIUI, including Black Shark and POCO.
Warning: Misuse of ADB can cause interface failures. Before executing commands, back up your data via Settings β Additional β Backup and Reset.
Steps:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings β About Phone β MIUI Version (click 7 times)
- Turn it on. USB-debugging: Settings β Additionally. β For developers β Debugging by USB
- Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command to ADB: adb shell settings put secure icon_shape 1 (where 1 = circle, 0 = square, 2 = round-square).
- Reboot the device: adb reboot
Additional commands for fine tuning:
Set the radius of rounding (value from 0 to 100)
adb shell settings put secure icon_shape_radius 100
Apply changes to all icons, including system
adb shell pm grant com.miui.home android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSβ οΈ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) after ADB-To avoid this, write down the current theme in Settings before changing. β Topics β My subjects. β Save.
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ADB-The method is the only way to include round icons on devices with locked settings (e.g. corporate phones or models for the Chinese market).
Method 5: Editing system files (ROOT only)
If you have ROOT-Right, you can manually change the system files that shape the icons, and this is a method that gives you maximum control, but it requires caution.
What you'll need:
- π± Device with unlocked bootloader and Magisk.
- π οΈ File Manager with ROOT-access (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- π Backup of the file /system/framework/framework-res.apk.
Instructions:
- Download a modified framework-res.apk file with round icons (e.g., from the XDA Developers forum for your model).
- Copy it to /system/framework/, replacing the original (donβt forget to make a backup!).
- Set the license 644 (rw-r-----).
- Reset the device.
If the phone doesnβt start after you replace the file, restore the original version via TWRP or ADB Sideload.
An alternative method for experienced users is to edit the overlay file:
#Find the current overlay:
adb shell cmd overlay list
Turn off the standard style of icons:
adb shell cmd overlay disable com.android.theme.icon_pack.roundedTypical Problems and How to Fix Them
When changing the shape of the icons, Xiaomi users often encounter bugs, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The icons are round, but they are cut off. | Incompatibility of the icon package with screen resolution | Install an icon package with XXXHDPI support (like Delta or Lines) |
| Round icons do not apply to system applications | MIUI Restrictions for Security | Use it. ADB-Command: adb shell pm grant com.miui.home android.permission.CHANGE_OVERLAY_PACKAGES |
| After rebooting, the icons are reset. | Launcher cache failure | Clear the cache: Settings β Applications β Launcher β Storage β Clear the cache |
| Incorrect display in folders | bug MIUI when using adaptive icons | Disable Adaptability: Launcher Settings β Icons β Use the Standard Form |
If none of the methods worked, check:
- π Version MIUI: On older firmware (below 12.5), round icons are not supported.
- π± Device model: On some budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) function is disabled at iron level.
- π Regional settings: In Chinese firmware (China) ROM) Round icons can be blocked.