How to Make Round Badges on Xiaomi with MIUI 12: 3 Working Ways

Round app icons are one of the most memorable features of MIUI 12, which gives the interface of Xiaomi smartphones a unique style. However, not all users know that this design is not activated automatically: it must be enabled manually through hidden settings. Moreover, after updating the system or resetting to factory settings, round icons are often reset on standard square ones, which causes confusion.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can include round icons on MIUI 12, including official methods through theme settings and alternative solutions for devices where the option is not available out of the box. We’ll focus on the nuances for different models, from the flagship Mi 10/11 to the budget Redmi 9/Note 10, and also tell you how to get around the restrictions if your smartphone does not support round icons by default.

Important: The instructions in this article are relevant for MIUI 12.0-12.5 (inclusive).If you have a newer firmware version, some menu items may differ, we will warn you about this separately.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have round default icons?

The concept of round icons in MIUI 12 was introduced as part of Xiaomi’s corporate identity, but the company didn’t impose it on all users.

• 📱 Regional settings: Global (Global) and European (EEA) In firmware, round icons are often hidden, whereas in Chinese (China) they are activated by default.
• 🔄 System updates: after major updates (e.g. with MIUI 11 on MIUI 12) the settings are reset and the icons return to square form.
• 🎨 Design theme: Some custom themes redefine the shape of icons, even if round ones are included in the system.
• 📦 Model of the device: on budget smartphones (for example, Redmi) 8A POCO C3) Options may not be available due to performance limitations.

Fun fact: the round icons in MIUI 12 are not just visual tricks, they're integrated with Super Wallpapers animations and dynamic effects that respond to user gestures, such as when scrolling through the desktop, the icons are slightly pushed away from the finger, creating a depth effect.

⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher), round icons through settings MIUI You can't turn it on. You'll either have to go back to the standard launcher or you'll have to look for a theme with round icons for your alternative launcher.

Method 1: Include through theme settings (official method)

The easiest and safest way to activate round icons is to use the built-in MIUI 12 tools, which works on most devices, including the Mi 9/10/11, Redmi Note 9/10 Pro, Poco X3/F3 and other models with official firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to My Profile (the person icon in the lower right corner).
3. Select theme settings (cog in the upper right corner).
4. Activate the slider Round app icons (some versions call it the icon style).
5. Confirm the changes and wait for application (may take up to 30 seconds).

If you don’t have Round Icons on the menu, try updating the Themes app via Google Play or the App Store (for Chinese devices), and check if you have a custom theme installed that blocks this option.

Make sure you have MIUI 12.0 or newer|

Check the space available (at least 500MB required)|

Disable VPN (can block the download of topics)|

Close all background applications |

Reboot your smartphone before setting up-->

On some devices (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro), the option of round icons appears only after the first setting of the theme, so you first need to apply any theme from the official directory, and then activate the round icons.

Method 2: Using a hidden developer menu

If you don't have a round icon option in your theme settings, you can try it through the developer menu, which doesn't work on all devices, but it often works on smartphones with global firmware.

Algorithm of action:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").

For developers

Badge style

Force round icons

On.

If there is no Style icon in the developer menu, try the following trick:

1. Open the "Themes" app.


2. Hold your finger on the empty desktop space → “Desktop settings”.




3. Select "Badge style" → "Round."




4. Save the changes.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Poco) F2 Pro) Enabling round icons through the developer menu can cause the launcher to crash. If after the reboot the icons disappeared or artifacts appeared, reset the launcher settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Standard MIUI Launcher|

Nova Launcher|

Poco Launcher|

Another (I will write in the comments)|-->

Method 3: Install custom theme with round icons

If the first two methods didn't work, there's a custom theme option that has round icons as default, which is universal and works even on devices that don't have an official option.

Where to find themes?

• 🌐 Official Topics Catalog: Open the Topics app → Online → Type "round icons" or "round icons" into your search. Popular themes: Roundify, CircleOS, MIUI 12 Rounded.
• 📱 Third-party resources: sites like Mi-Themes.com or XDA Developers offer premium themes with unique icons, and note that they may require a.mtz file and manual import to install.
• 🎨 Creating your theme: If you haven’t found the right option, you can edit an existing theme through apps like MIUI Theme Editor (requires root or unlocked bootloader).

How to set a theme with round icons:

1. Download the theme file (.mtz) to the device.
2. Open the Topics app → My profile → Import.
3. Select the downloaded file and wait for the installation.
4. Apply the theme and restart the smartphone.

Important: Some topics from third-party sources may contain promotional modules or collect data. Before installing, check the reviews and reputation of the author on the forums.

Problems and Solutions: Why Round Icons Don’t Work

Even after all the instructions are followed, round icons may not appear, and let’s look at the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔴 Icons remain square: Check if you have a third-party launcher (like Nova or Apex). Update the Themes app to the latest version. Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Clear the data.
• ⚙️ Round icons option is not available from the menu: Install Chinese firmware (if you have a global version). Try changing the region of the device to China in Settings → Additionally. → Region: Use a theme with round icons (see Method 3).
• 📱 The icons are round but cut: This is a feature of some themes. Try another theme or edit it manually. Check the screen resolution: round icons only show correctly on standard resolutions (e.g., round icons only show correctly on standard resolutions, FHD+).

If none of these methods worked, your device may not support round icons at the software level, and there are two options left:

1. Install custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience) where the feature is guaranteed to work.
2. Use a third-party launcher with support for round icons (for example, Nova Launcher + Whicons icon pack).

Comparison of round and square icons: which is better?

Round icons in MIUI 12 are not just a matter of aesthetics, but also of functionality. Let's compare them to the classic square icons:

An interesting test: Xiaomi users in a survey on the 4PDA forum noted that round icons visually increase the perceived space on the desktop due to the absence of sharp corners, but 15% of respondents returned to square icons due to problems with cropping logos (for example, Telegram or Spotify).

💡

If you don’t like how round icons look for specific apps, you can manually replace them through the Icon Changer app (available on Google Play), which will allow you to leave the round shape but use the original logos.

Alternative methods: third-party launchers and root solutions

If the built-in methods don't work, we can go further and use alternative tools, and let's look at the most effective options.

• 📱 Nova Launcher + Icon pack: Install Nova Launcher from Google Play. Download a pack of round icons (such as Whicons, CandyCons or Moonshine). → Icon style → Icon pack. Pros: full customization, support for adaptive icons. Cons: some system icons (such as Settings or Phone) may remain square.
• 🔧 Xposed Framework (root required): Install Xposed Installer and Module MIUI Rounded Icons Enabler. Activate the module and restart the device. Pros: works on any version MIUI. Cons: risk of disrupting system stability, unlocked bootloader required.
• 🖌️ Manual editing APK: Download. APK launcher MIUI open it up for your model. APK Editor and find the lines that shape the icons. Change the settings and reinstall the launcher. Pros: maximum customization. Cons: high risk of errors, require skills with smali code.

⚠️ Note: Use of root solutions or modified APK This can lead to loss of warranty and blocking services (such as Google Pay or banking applications). → Additionally. → Backup.

💡

Third-party launchers (like Nova or Poco Launcher) are the most versatile way to get round icons, but they don’t support MIUI 12’s signature animations (like the live wallpaper effect).

FAQ: Frequent questions about round icons on Xiaomi