How to make round icons on Xiaomi Redmi 9C: 5 working ways

Introduction: why you need round icons on your smartphone

Round icons on Xiaomi Redmi 9C are not just an aesthetic solution, but a way to personalize the interface to your preferences. Many users note that the rounded corners of the icons visually simplify the experience of the desktop, make it more modern and less aggressive to the eye, especially for owners of budget models like Redmi 9C, where the standard design of MIUI can seem too “square” and conservative.

But it’s not that simple: unlike Xiaomi’s flagship devices, where round icons are often available out of the box, the Redmi 9C (with its lightweight version of MIUI) has to manually activate this feature. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways — from standard themes to third-party launchers — and also tell you how to avoid typical customization errors. If you’re tired of rectangular icons and want to refresh the look of your smartphone, read on.

Before you get to the instructions, note that some methods will require additional applications to be installed or system settings to be changed.This can affect device performance, so it is recommended to back up data through Settings → System and Device → Backup before experimenting.

Method 1: Using the built-in MIUI themes

The easiest and safest way to make round icons on Redmi 9C is to use ready-made themes from the official MIUI Themes store. This method does not require root rights or install third-party launchers, but has a limitation: not all themes support rounding icons for all applications.

To find the right topic:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the queries: round icons, rounded icons or iOS style.
• 🎨 View the available themes in the Icons section – pay attention to user reviews (a rating above 4.5 stars usually guarantees high-quality drawing).
• 💾 Download your favorite theme and apply it through the Apply button.

An important nuance: some themes only change the icons of system applications (for example, Phone, Messages), leaving the icons of third-party programs (WhatsApp, Instagram) unchanged. To circumvent this limitation, you can combine themes with other methods from this article.

Method 2: Nova Launcher with a package of icons

If the built-in MIUI themes don’t suit you, the next step is installing a third-party launcher. Nova Launcher is one of the most popular Android customization solutions, including the Xiaomi Redmi 9C. Its benefits:

• 🎛 Flexible adjustment of the shape of the icons (up to adjusting the radius of rounding).
• 📦 Support for icon packages from Google Play (e.g. Whicons, CandyCons).
• 🚀 Minimal performance impact (as opposed to heavy launchers like Action Launcher).

Instructions for setting:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Download your favorite icon package (such as Roundcons or Moonshine Icon Pack).
3. Press the finger free space on the desktop → Settings → Style of icons.
4. Select the downloaded icon package and adjust the rounding in the Shape of the icon section.

Backup your desktop (via Settings → Backup)

Check the vacant space (minimum 200 MB)

Disable battery optimization for Nova Launcher (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Nova Launcher → Battery → No Limits)

Restart the phone after installation-->

Nova Launcher offers free and paid versions. For round icons, free will be enough, but Nova Prime (paid) has additional gestures and settings for the desktop grid. If after applying the icon package, some icons remained square, try manually replacing them with a long click on the icon → Change → Select an icon.

Method 3: Manually round icons with X Icon Changer

If you need to round the icons selectively (for example, only for messengers or social networks), the X Icon Changer application is suitable. It allows you to edit the shape of the icons without changing the launcher, but requires more time to set up.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install the X Icon Changer.
2. Open the app and select an edit icon (like WhatsApp).
3. Press Edit Icon → Shape and select Circle or adjust the round radius manually.
4. Save the changes and apply the new icon to your desktop.

The downside of this method is that you have to edit each icon manually, but you have complete control over the look, so you can not only round the corners, but also add shade, change the background color or apply a mask. To speed up the process, use the Batch Apply feature for the same type of icons.

Method 4: Activate Hidden MIUI Settings (for Power Users)

Some versions of MIUI for Redmi 9C have hidden options to enable icon rounding without third-party applications, a technique that requires care because changing system settings can cause crashes.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command to ADB: adb shell settings put global icon_shape 1 Here. 1 — These are round icons. Other meanings: 0 — square (by default), 2 — round-square, 3 — drops (teardrop).

Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: This method does not work on all versions. MIUI for Redmi 9C. If after the reboot the icons have not changed or artifacts have appeared, return the standard settings by the team:

adb shell settings put global icon_shape 0

Method 5: Using HyperOS shell (for stitched devices)

If your Redmi 9C runs on custom HyperOS firmware (or you plan to install it), round icons can be activated through standard system settings. HyperOS, unlike MIUI, offers a more flexible interface setting.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Choose the style of icons → Form.
3. Install the slider on Round or Adaptive (automatic rounding depending on the wallpaper).

HyperOS has the advantage of being system optimized for round icons: they are not only correctly displayed on the desktop, but also in the app menu, notifications and quick settings. However, installing custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader and can be unwarranted. If you are not sure about your skills, you should focus on methods 1-3.

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Before you run HyperOS, check compatibility with your Redmi 9C model on the Xiaomi.eu forum.Some builds may not support round icons on budget devices.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make the choice easier, we will bring all the methods in a table taking into account their pros and cons for Xiaomi Redmi 9C:

For most Redmi users 9C The best solution is the combination of Nova Launcher + This is a no-root method that supports all apps and allows you to fine-tune the look and feel. If you want minimal changes without installing third-party software, try the built-in themes. MIUI or ADB-commands (if your firmware version supports them).

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On Redmi 9C with MIUI 12.5 and higher, round icons through ADB are more stable than on earlier versions. Check your version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up round icons on Xiaomi Redmi 9C, users often face the following problems:

⚠️ Warning: If the icons become blurry after applying the theme or icon pack, check the resolution of the package. HD, Redmi. 9C screen HD+ (720p). Choose packages marked HD or Adaptive.

Other common mistakes:

• 🔄 Icons are reset after rebooting. Reason: Launcher or icon change app is not added to autoboot.Solution: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Your launcher] → Autostart and turn on the option.
• ⚙️ Not all icons are round. It's typical for embedded themes. MIUI. Solution: Use Nova Launcher with responsive icon support or edit icons manually via X Icon Changer.
• 🐢 Lags when scrolling the desktop. The culprit is a heavy pack of icons or conflict with animations. MIUI. Solution: Turn off animations in Settings → Special facilities → Remove animations or select a lighter package.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 Compatibility of your version MIUI with round icons (on some assemblies for Redmi) 9C This function is disabled at the firmware level).
• 🔒 Manufacturer restrictions (e.g. regional versions) MIUI China or India may be blocked).

FAQ: Frequent questions about round icons on Redmi 9C