How to change the app icon on Xiaomi

Personalization is one of the most popular ways to make your smartphone unique and unlike other users’ devices. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO equipment often face the desire to change the standard look of shortcuts on the desktop to create a harmonious design or simply refresh the appearance of the MIUI or HyperOS shell. Fortunately, the Android system in conjunction with the Chinese giant’s proprietary tools provides ample opportunities for visual creativity without the need to obtain root rights.

There are several proven ways to change an app icon to Xiaomi, each with its own features and limitations: You can use a built-in theme store, third-party launchers or specialized shortcut editing tools. It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on your version of the operating system and the desired end result, whether it is a complete change in style or a change in one particular icon.

In this article, we will discuss all available algorithms of actions so that you can easily transform your desktop.We will consider the regular system tools that do not require additional software installation, as well as more advanced options for those who want to achieve maximum visual effect. Changing system icons through third-party launchers does not affect the operation of notifications and application functionality.

Use of the built-in “Themes” application

The easiest and safest way to change the look of shortcuts is to use the standard Theme app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi device.This method allows you to use ready-made graphics sets developed by community designers, which ensures that they are compatible with your version of MIUI. To start, you need to open the application and go to the icons section in the bottom navigation menu.

Here you'll find thousands of design options, from minimalistic black and white sets to vibrant animated collections. When you select a set you like, click Download and then Apply. The system will automatically replace the standard icons on all desktop pages and in the app menu with new ones. If you want to change only one particular application, some theme sets allow you to select it individually after application.

• 🎨 Open the Themes app and select the Icon tab.
• 📥 Download your favorite set and click Apply for a global shift.
• ⚙️ For selective replacement, go to profile and select Setting up icons.

It is worth noting that some premium sets may be paid or require you to view ads for activation, and after updating the system, some custom icons can be reset to standard ones, which will require re-using the theme, but this is the most stable method that does not create duplicate shortcuts and does not load the device’s RAM with background processes.

Replacement of an icon of one application through settings

Often users need to change the appearance of only one program, for example, to hide its true purpose or simply highlight an important messenger. New versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have a convenient feature for quick replacement through the desktop editing menu, to do this, you need to pinch your finger on the shortcut of the desired application before the context menu appears and select Change icon.

The system will suggest you select an image from a gallery or use one of the (pre-installed) options. You can upload any photo, logo or image downloaded from the Internet in PNG or JPG format. Once you select an image, the desktop shortcut will be updated instantly, which is ideal for creating folders with thematic design or masking applications.

⚠️ Note: When you replace an icon through a gallery, the system creates a new shortcut-link.The original app stays on the app menu with its standard icon unless you hide it from there.

It is important to note that this method does not work for all versions of the shell and may not be available in older models of smartphones. If the item Change icon is not in the context menu, you will need to use alternative methods described below.

Application of third-party launchers for deep customization

For users who lack the standard shell, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution. Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to change the icons of individual applications in incredible detail. Once you install the launcher and assign it to the main one, the process of changing the graphics becomes as flexible as possible.

To change the icon, you need to pinch the shortcut, select Edit and click on the current icon image. Launcher will offer to select the image from the gallery or download it from the built-in icon store. The advantage of this method is that you can customize the size, shape, shadow and even click animation for each shortcut separately, creating a truly unique interface.

Using a third-party launcher can change the behavior of some Xiaomi system gestures, such as swipe to open the control menu. However, most modern launchers are able to emulate these functions. It is also worth remembering that replacing a standard launcher can consume a little more RAM resources, especially on devices with a small amount of RAM.

Creating shortcuts through the Shortcuts app

If you don't want to change the whole launcher or use a global theme, but there's no quick replacement feature on the system, Shortcut Maker or similar apps from Google Play will come to the rescue. These programs create new shell shortcuts that lead to the target application, but have any look you choose. This is a powerful tool for those who like order and style.

The process of creating is like this: you open the utility, select the target application from the list, then click on the icon area and select the Gallery or Icon Pack. Once the title and image are set up, a new shortcut is created on the desktop. The original application can be removed to a hidden folder or simply left in the menu using only new shortcuts.

• 🛠 Download a shortcut application, such as Shortcut Maker.
• 🖼 Select the desired program and click on the field to change the image.
• ✅ Click Create a shortcut and confirm the addition to the desktop.

The main advantage of this approach is that it is completely independent of system constraints. You can put any pictures, even photos of cats or abstract patterns. However, this method has a nuance: notifications from applications that are shortcuts created through third-party utilities may come with a delay or not display the unread message counter (badges), because the system considers this a new “empty” shortcut.

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Tip: Before you create a label on a desktop, create a folder on your desktop and put all the new icons in it, which will help you keep order and not clutter the main screen.

Possible problems and solutions

Users may face a number of technical difficulties in customization, such as when they upgrade to Android or MIUI, all icons can return to factory appearance, which is a standard behavior that requires re-using the theme or setting up the launcher, and it also happens that the icon turns white or black if the image format does not support transparency.

Another common problem is the appearance of duplicate applications. When you create a shortcut through a third-party application, the list of installed programs (in settings) becomes two: the original and the copy-tag. This is normal, but it can be confusing when cleaning up memory or deleting programs. It is the shortcut from the desktop that you need to remove, not the application through settings, otherwise you will delete the program itself.

⚠️ Note: Do not use applications from unknown sources to change system icons that require access to special features (Accessibility) if you do not trust the developer.

If icons are not displayed correctly (trimmed, stretched), try changing their shape in the theme or launcher settings. Often switching between round, square and "squircle" shape helps. In some cases, you need to reset the launcher settings to factory to eliminate software failure of the rendering of the graphics.

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Most icon problems are solved by checking the image format (PNG with transparency) and updating the launcher or theme application.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions