How to change the app icon to Android Xiaomi: the full guide

Personalizing the smartphone interface is the first thing many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices start with after buying.The standard icon set proposed by the factory may seem boring or just don't fit your taste. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the newer HyperOS provide powerful tools to visually change the system without having to get superuser rights.

Changing an application icon can be necessary for a variety of reasons, from the banal desire to decorate the desktop to the need to visually highlight an important service among dozens of other programs. The process of replacing a graphic element depends on the version of the operating system and the method chosen. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from built-in functions to the use of third-party launchers.

Consider that deep customization sometimes affects the stability of the launcher or battery consumption. However, if you follow the instructions described below, the risk of problems is minimal. We will look at both the standard tools and proven third-party solutions that are guaranteed to work on modern models of the Chinese brand.

Built-in MIUI and HyperOS theme features

The easiest and safest way to change the look of icons is to use the built-in Themes app. Xiaomi shells are famous for their flexibility in this matter. You don't need to search for individual images, since designers have already created thousands of ready-made sets. To get started, open the Themes app on your desktop or find it in the Tools folder.

Once you start the app, go to the user profile by clicking on the person icon in the lower right corner. Here you are interested in the Topic section where your downloads are stored. However, to replace a specific icon, it is more convenient to search for the Icons category or find a theme that you like. Note that some themes only change the system icons, while others affect the entire interface.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party theme from the catalog MIUI Not only can the icons change in style, but the notification curtain, the settings menu, and the sound effects can also change.

If you want to replace an icon for just one particular app without changing the overall theme, this method may not be flexible enough. The standard MIUI mechanism often requires the use of the theme as a whole. However, for a global style change, this is the best option. You can preview what the icons will look like before installing.

• 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the profile section.
• 🔍 Enter the name of the application or the word “Icon” in the search".
• ⬇️ Download your favorite package and apply it by selecting the component "Icons".
• 🔄 Restart the launcher or phone to apply changes.

If you don’t find the right graphics, you may need to change the region in your phone settings to India or Nepal, although this method doesn’t always work consistently in recent HyperOS updates.

Using third-party launchers for full customization

If a standard POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher doesn’t meet your flexibility needs, third-party solutions come to the rescue. Installing an alternative launcher is a radical but effective step. Software like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher lets you change the icon of each application individually using any image from the gallery.

First, you need to download the launcher you selected from Google Play. Once installed, the system will prompt you to select the default launcher. In the new launcher settings, find the section that controls the appearance of the desktop, usually called "Look & Feel", "Appearance" or simply "Settings", and this is where the functionality that is not available in the stock shell lies.

To change an icon, find the app you want in the list of all programs or right on your desktop. Click on it and hold your finger until the context menu appears. Select Edit or Change. In the window that opens, you'll see the current icon; tap it to open the image gallery. Select any picture you previously saved in your phone's memory.

The advantage of this method is that it is completely independent of Xiaomi system updates. Even if HyperOS changes its security policy, the third-party launcher will continue to work. However, there is a disadvantage: some MIUI features, such as swipes for gesture control or double taps to turn off the screen, may not work correctly or require additional adjustment.

Creating shortcuts through the “Themes” app

There's a lesser-known, but very useful way to replace an icon without installing third-party launchers or changing the whole theme, and it uses built-in shortcutting functionality, which is perfect if you want to redesign one or two apps, leaving the rest of the system intact.

Open the Topic app and go to your profile. Find the Icons section. There are often sets available that can be used partially. But a more cunning way is to use the Create a Shortcut feature (if available in your version of MIUI) or create a shortcut through your browser. However, the most reliable method within the Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the Shortcut app, if preinstalled, or create a widget.

Recent versions of HyperOS have enabled you to add app widgets to your desktop. Press and hold the blank space on the screen, select Widgets. Find the right app in the list. If the developer has provided this option, you can choose the specific function of the application and, sometimes, its display. But to completely replace the graphics, you better use the browser method described below, since the standard tools still limit the choice of graphics files.

⚠️ Note: When shortcuts are created through third-party tools or a browser, notification of the application launch may come from the name of the program that created the shortcut, rather than the application itself.

This approach is good for security: you don't change system files or change the default launcher. If you get bored of the new design, just remove the shortcut from the desktop and the original icon stays on the app menu, making it ideal for temporary changes or seasonal design.

Replacement of icons through the browser (universal method)

This method is the gold standard for users who want to use their own images or downloaded icon packs from the Internet without installing heavy launchers, and the essence of the method is to create a web shortcut that leads to the application, but looks like the image you want.

You'll need any browser, like Chrome, Yandex, or standard MIUI Browser, and you'll need to find the image of the icon you want online and save it to the gallery, and you'll want it to be square and high resolution, so that it looks clear on the screen.

Open your browser and enter a special code in the address bar that will redirect you to creating a shortcut. However, in modern versions of Android, it is easier to use the "Add to the home screen" function from the browser menu, but with data swapping. A simpler way: use online shortcut generators or special lightweight shortcut design applications that work on the principle of the browser.

Consider the algorithm through the Chrome browser (does not work on all versions of Android without third-party plugins, so they often use the Shortcut Maker application as an intermediate tool, but if strictly through the browser):

1. In the address bar, enter: intent://#Intent;scheme=android-app;package=com.package.name;end (you need to know the name of the package).
2. But simpler: use a shortcut site generator.
3. Upload the picture, specify the name of the application.
4. Click "Create a shortcut" and confirm the addition.

It's important to understand that in this approach, you create a new shortcut, the old app icon will remain on the menu, and to put things in order, the original app can be hidden in Second Space, or simply removed from view, leaving only a new, customized shortcut on the desktop.

Application of icon packages from Google Play

Google Play offers thousands of apps that are purely icon sets, including Whicons, LineX, CandyCons, which are not launchers, but graphics storage, which can be used in conjunction with third-party launchers or, in rare cases, through Xiaomi's built-in facilities if the launcher supports imports.

Once you install this app and apply the theme (if the launcher supports it), all the apps on your phone will automatically change their appearance. This is the fastest way to bring the interface to a single style. The designers of these packs carefully work out every detail to make the icons look harmonious.

• 📥 Download an icon app (such as Whicons) from the Play Market.
• 🚀 Run an installed launcher that supports themes (Nova, Apex, etc.).
• 🎨 Go to the launcher settings. → Appearance → Icon style.
• ✅ Select the installed pack from the list and apply the changes.

Not all apps have an icon in a third-party pack. If the developer hasn't added support for a service, you'll see a standard plug or an original icon. Most modern packages allow you to manually replace that plug with any other one of the kit, which gives you flexibility in setting up.

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Tip: Before buying a paid icon package, check if the developer has a free version or demo to evaluate the quality of the graphics on your smartphone screen.

Problems and solutions in the customization of the interface

When changing the appearance of icons, Xiaomi users may face a number of typical problems: Often, after updating the MIUI or HyperOS system, the launcher settings are reset and the icons return to the factory appearance, this is due to the fact that the update can overwrite desktop configuration files.

Another common problem is the size of icons, and if you mix icons from different sets or use your own images, they can look scattered, big, small, and offset. Advanced launchers have an icon-size feature to solve this problem, which allows you to bring them to a common denominator.

⚠️ Warning: Excessive use of widgets and heavy animated icons can lead to increased battery consumption and reduced interface performance on Redmi budget models.

Also worth mentioning is the notification problem. As mentioned, third-party shortcuts may not display the unread message counter (badges). To see the red numerical circles, you need the launcher to have the appropriate permissions on Android. You can check this in Settings → Applications → Access Management → Display on top of other applications.

If after all the manipulations the phone started to work unstable, the launcher crashes or the screen goes out, you need to reset the launcher settings. This can be done through Settings → Apps → All applications → Find your launcher → Clear the data. Be careful: this action will return the desktop to its original state, and all icons will fall into place by default.

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Stability is more important than the beauty of the interface. If you notice lags or heat, return the standard launcher settings and use only the themes from the official directory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)