How to make round icons on Xiaomi Redmi: 4 proven ways for MIUI 14/15

Round app icons on Xiaomi Redmi are not just a design trend, but a way to make the smartphone interface more modern and convenient. Many MIUI users complain that standard square icons look outdated against iOS or Samsung One UI, where rounded corners have long become the standard. Fortunately, you can change the shape of the icons on the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or other models without complex manipulation - and even without administrator rights.

In this article, we’ll break down 4 working methods, including built-in MIUI settings, third-party launchers, and hidden features for advanced users. You’ll learn how to make round icons on Xiaomi with minimal time, what pitfalls await when using the themes, and why some icons can remain square even after all the manipulations, and at the end, answers to frequent questions and life hacks for perfect results.

Spoiler: On models with MIUI 15 (Redmi Note 13, POCO F6), round icons can be turned on in 30 seconds without installing additional applications, but owners of older devices (such as the Redmi 9 or Note 10 Pro) will have to use workarounds.

1.Standing method: MIUI settings (without ROOT)

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI 14/15 capabilities. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on all devices: Xiaomi is gradually adding support for round icons to new firmware versions, but many low-end models (such as the Redmi A2 or POCO M5) still lack this option.

To check the availability of the function:

1. Open Settings → Screen → Screen Style
2. Scroll down to the "Shape of Badges" section
3. Select the option "Round" or "Squircle" (rounded squares)

If you don't have a paragraph, your version of MIUI doesn't support changing the shape of icons, so move on to the following methods.

An important nuance: even if the option is available, some system applications (such as Security or Themes) may remain with square icons. This is a limitation of Xiaomi, and it can only be fixed through ADB or ROOT.

2. Use of design themes (free of charge)

Xiaomi’s official Themes app offers thousands of interface designs, including themes with round icons, which works on all Redmi/POCO devices regardless of the MIUI version, but has two significant drawbacks:

• 🎨 Not all icons will change – many apps will keep the standard look.
• 🔄 When changing the theme, you will have to reconfigure wallpaper and fonts
• 📥 Requires downloading themes from the Internet (up to 50 MB per topic)

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Themes app (if not, download from Google Play)
2. In the search bar, enter the query: “round icons” or “iOS icons”
3. Choose your favorite theme (pay attention to the rating and number of downloads)
4. Click "Apply" and confirm the changes

Tip: Themes marked "[Global]" or "[MIUI 14]" are usually better adapted for European firmware. Avoid low-rated themes - they may contain ads or bugs.

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Before applying the theme, take a screenshot of the icons' current location on the home screen, and after changing the theme, the icons may mix!

3. Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher and others

If the standard methods don’t work, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher. Nova Launcher and Hyperion Launcher allow you to flexibly customize the shape of icons, including perfect circles, rounded squares (squircle) and even custom masks.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Complete control over the size, shape and shadow of icons
• 🎨 Support for Play Market icon packages (such as Whicons or CandyCons)
• 🔄 Compatibility with all versions MIUI model Redmi/POCO

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play and select it as the main one
2. Press the free space on the main screen → Settings
3. Go to the Appearance → Style of icons → Shape of icons
4. Select "Circle" or adjust the custom mask
5. For the perfect result, install an icon package (e.g., Pix Bit Kit)

Cons:

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices (especially with the MIUI 13 and below) Nova Launcher can conflict with system gestures. If the screen starts to twitch when swipes, turn off gestures in the launcher settings.

Delete the Launcher cache | Download APK Nova Launcher from the official website | Disable battery optimization for launcher | Backup the current screen settings-->

Advanced Method: ADB and ROOT (for experienced)

If you're ready to dive into the technical details, changing the shape of the icons through ADB or with ROOT rights gives you maximum control, which is suitable for Redmi with custom firmware or those who are not afraid of the command line.

Important: the method requires unlocking the bootloader and can cause a data reset, and on devices with MIUI 15 and later, this method can block access to banking applications due to the SafetyNet trigger.

Instructions via ADB (without ROOT):

adb shell settings put secure icon_shape 1 # Round icons


adb shell settings put secure icon_shape 0 # Square (back)

For ROOT-device:

1. Install Magisk and MIUI Blur or Icon Shape Changer
2. In the file manager with ROOT-access /system/overlay
3. Edit the framework-miui-res.overlay.apk file (recommended to do a backup!)
4. Change the parameter. icon_shape on "circle" or "squircle"
5. Reset the device

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make the choice easier, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

For most Redmi users, the best solution is the Nova Launcher, which combines flexibility and stability. Owners of new devices (Redmi Note 13, POCO X6) should first check the standard settings of MIUI 15 – perhaps round icons are already available out of the box.

Why do some icons remain square?

Even after using any of these methods, you may notice that the individual icons have not changed shape, and this is due to the MIUI features:

• 🔘 System applications (Settings, Phone, Messages) often have a rigidly defined icon shape.
• 📦 Apps with custom icons (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) can ignore global settings
• 🔄 Launcher cache – sometimes a Louncher data clear or restart is required

Decisions:

1. For system icons: Use icon packages from the Play Market (e.g. Adapticons)
2. For third-party apps: manually change the icon after a long press → Change the icon
3. Clear the cache: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache

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If after all the manipulations, 10-15% of the icons remain square, that's fine. MIUI doesn't allow you to change the shape for all applications due to security constraints.

Additional life hacks for ideal icons

To make the round icons look harmonious, use these tips:

• 🎨 Color gamut: choose monochromatic or gradient icons (avoid too colorful)
• 📏 Grid size: in Nova Launcher, set the icon size to 110-120% legible
• 🖼️ Wallpaper: Use light wallpaper for dark icons and vice versa (contrast improves perception)
• 🔄 Animations: Turn off the animation of opening applications in the launcher settings for a more "premium" view

For those who like minimalism, we recommend a package of Minima or Lines icons – they are perfectly combined with round shapes. And if you want to repeat the style of iOS, try iOS 16 Icon Pack (but note that it is paid).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Redmi) K60 or POCO F5) Dark icons on a black background can merge with wallpaper, in which case add light light backlight through the settings of the icon style → Shadow at Nova Launcher.

FAQ: Frequent questions about round icons on Xiaomi