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 all working methods for Redmi, POCO and Mi models (including the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS).
It's important to understand that the methods vary depending on the firmware version and the launcher installed. Some round icons are hidden in the theme settings, and some require third-party software installation. We've tested each method on real devices, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and we're ready to share honest results. If you don't want to waste time experimenting, just follow our guide along the steps.
1. Method through standard MIUI themes (no root)
The easiest method is to use built-in themes with round icons. It works on 90% of Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, but requires an Internet connection.
Here's how to do it:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush and palette).
- 🔍 In the search bar, enter the query: round icons or round icons.
- 🎨 Choose your favorite theme (popular: Roundify, iOS Rounded, Pixel Icons).
- 📥 Click Apply and Confirm Changes.
⚠️ Warning: Some themes change not only the shape of icons, but also fonts, wallpaper, animations. If you need to save the rest of the interface, select a theme marked "Icons Only").
If you don’t have the right themes in your search, try updating the Themes app through Google Play or clearing its cache in the settings. On some regional firmware (e.g. India), the theme selection may differ.
2.Configure via POCO Launcher (for all Xiaomi)
POCO Launcher is Xiaomi’s official launcher that supports round icons even on devices without POCO in the title.
Instructions:
- Download POCO Launcher from Google Play (free of charge).
- Set the launcher as the main one in the settings: Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher.
- Open the POCO Launcher settings (long-term desktop press → Settings).
- Go to the Icon Style section and select Rounded.
- Set up the rounding level (from 10% to 100%) with a slider.
Download APK from the official website (if not in the Play Market)
Allow installation from unknown sources
Backup of the current launcher (optional)
Clean the cache of the standard launcher after replacement-->
💡 Pros of the method: does not require root rights, works on any version of Android, allows you to fine-tune the degree of rounding.
3. Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)
If built-in solutions don't work, look for third-party launchers, which offer more customization options, including round icons.
Top.-3 launcher for Xiaomi:
| Launcher | Support for round icons | You need a Premium? | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Yeah (via icon packs) | No (basic functionality) | Medium |
| Apex Launcher | Yeah (embedded styles) | Yes (for advanced settings) | Tall. |
| Lawnchair | Yeah (rounding setting) | No. | Low. |
To activate round icons in Nova Launcher:
- Install the launcher and make it the main one.
- Download icon packs with round icons (like Whicons, CandyCons or Moonshine).
- In the launcher settings, select: Appearance → Style of icons → Select an icon pack.
- Apply the changes and restart the launcher.
💡
Nova Launcher allows you to configure adaptive icons for individual applications. To do this, long-term click on the icon → Edit → Adaptive icon → select a form.
4. Manual modification via ADB (for power users)
This method is suitable for advanced users who are not afraid of the command line. It allows you to force round icons on the system level, but requires ADB and debugging over USB.
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
- Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the terminal (or Command Prompt).
- Enter the command: adb shell settings put secure icon_shape 1 where 1 — round-icons, 0 — square, 2 — round-square.
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Before you execute commands, be sure to back up your data via Mi Cloud or locally. This method may not work on some custom firmware.
If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:
adb shell cmd overlay enable-xml com.android.theme.icon_pack.roundedicons.xml5. Installation of custom firmware (for enthusiasts)
If you’re willing to take drastic measures, custom firmware like Pixel Experience, LineageOS or ArrowOS offers flexible customization of icons, including round shapes, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and can be unwarranted.
What you need to know before installation:
- 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader erases all data from the device.
- 📱 Not all custom firmware works well on Xiaomi (especially on new HyperOS models).
- 🔄 Updates by air" (OTA) They can break the icons after the update.
- 🛠️ Recovery or Fastboot Recovery is required to restore the original firmware.
If you do, follow the official instructions for your model on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums. For example, the Pixel Experience Plus firmware for the Redmi Note 11 is suitable, where round icons are enabled by default.
List of verified firmware for Xiaomi with round icons
6 Problems and Solutions: Why Icons Don't Turn Round
Even after applying one of the methods, the icons may remain square.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Icons don’t change after the topic is applied | Launcher cache not cleared | Go to Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear cache |
| Round icons only for some applications | System icons do not support form change | Use full-support icon packs (such as Whicons) |
| After rebooting, the icons are reset. | Conflict with MIUI optimization | Turn off Auto-Optimization in Settings → Battery |
| ADB-teams are not working | An outdated version of ADB or drivers | Update Platform Tools and reinstall Xiaomi drivers |
If none of these methods worked, check:
- 📋 Version MIUI — on some regional firmware (for example, MIUI China) round icons disabled at system level.
- 🔄 Updates: New versions of HyperOS may include native support for round icons.
- 🛠️ Conflicts with other modifications (e.g. Magisk modules or Xposed).
7. Alternative methods: widgets and wallpaper with the effect of round icons
If you can't change the shape of the icons, you can visually mimic the round icons with widgets and wallpaper, which doesn't require root rights and works on any device.
Examples of solutions:
- 🖼️ Cloaked Wallpaper: Use dark circle wallpapers under icons (see Google Play for round icon mask wallpaper).
- 📱 Icon widgets: Apps like KWGT or UCCW Allows you to create custom round icons.
- 🎨 Transparent Icon Packages: Some icon packs (e.g. CandyCons) have a transparent background, which visually makes the icons "round" on contrasting wallpapers.
To create icon widgets in KWGT:
- Install KWGT Kustom Widget Maker and download the round icon template (e.g. Round Icons Pack).
- Add the widget to the desktop and select the downloaded template.
- Configure links to applications in the KWGT editor.
- Adjust the size and transparency for your launcher.
💡
Icon widgets are the only way to get perfectly round icons on devices with MIUI 11 and older that don’t have native rounding support.