How to change icons on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often seek to personalize the interface, wanting to move away from the standard design of MIUI or HyperOS. Visual component plays a key role in the usability of the gadget, and replacing standard images of applications is the first step to uniqueness. Many users do not suspect that the built-in tools of the system allow you to do this without obtaining superuser rights.

There are several proven methods of changing the graphics, from simple customization of theme to installing specialized software. Changing icons may require careful consideration when choosing download sources to avoid disrupting the stability of the shell. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, their pros, cons and potential risks to the device.

Use of the built-in Themes application

The safest and most formal way to change the look of your desktop is to use the Theme app, which is the central hub for customizing the interface in the MIUI and HyperOS shells, and features thousands of designs created by the company and independent designers around the world.

To get started, you need to start the app and go to the Profile tab, which is usually located at the bottom right of the screen. This is where the theme component management functionality hides. When you click on the Topic item on my shopping or download list, you'll see all the designs installed on the device. Selecting a specific theme and clicking the Apply button will instantly replace wallpaper, system icons and sometimes even notification sounds.

⚠️ Note: Some themes may not contain modified icons for all applications.Be sure to review the screenshots in the theme description before using them to make sure the design meets your expectations.

Importantly, new themes require a stable Internet connection to download, and if a standard theme store fails or gives a connection error, you may need to change your smartphone settings to India or Singapore, a common lifehack to bypass regional directory restrictions.

Installation of third-party launchers

If the built-in capabilities seem limited, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are shell programs that completely replace the desktop, control panel, and application menu, with the most popular solutions being Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Smart Launcher.

Once you install an app from Google Play or GetApps, the system will ask permission to use it as the default primary screen. Once confirmed, you will have access to advanced look settings. Launchers allow you to change the grid size, transition animations and, of course, install any icon packs.

The launcher graphics often require a separate download of the Icon Pack, which is a set of images that are applied on top of the installed applications.

• 📦 Download your favorite icon package from the Play Market.
• 🚀 Open the settings of the installed launcher.
• 🎨 Go to the "Icon Style" or "Look & Feel" section".
• ✅ Select the downloaded pack from the list of available.

Using a third-party launcher gives you maximum freedom, but can consume more battery resources than a standard shell.In addition, some Xiaomi system features, such as swipes to call menus or control with one hand, may work differently or require additional customization.

Manual replacement through the theme editor

For advanced users who want to replace images only for specific applications, there is a method of manual editing, which requires the installation of a special tool, such as MT Manager or a specialized Icon Studio, which allows you to create your own theme by changing only a few files.

The method involves unpacking the theme file (mtz format), replacing graphic resources in the icons folder, and reassembling the archive.This requires accuracy and understanding the structure of Android files. An error in the file name or image format can cause the theme to fail to install or be displayed with errors.

The structure of the icon folder in the topic:


/icons/com.android.settings.png




/icons/com.miui.home.png




/icons/com.whatsapp.png

The main advantage of this approach is the ability to create a unique style that no one else has, you can use your own logos, photos or graphics in a single style, but when you update the source application of the icon, its image can return to the standard one, and you will have to repeat the procedure.

Setting up the size and grid of the desktop

When you change the graphics, you often need to rethink the organization of the space, and the standard MIUI grid may not be suitable for new, more detailed icons, and resizing the grid allows you to place more elements on the screen or, conversely, make them larger.

To access these settings, you need to pinch the empty space on your desktop and select Settings in the bottom menu. There's a grid size slider available. By moving it, you can choose a 4x6 to 10x20 configuration. The more cells, the smaller each icon becomes.

Also available on this menu is the Enlarge option, which adds a fifth to the standard four folder dots, allowing more apps to be grouped, which is especially useful for users who don’t like to clutter the desktop with widgets but keep dozens of apps on hand.

Don't put the maximum grid density right away. Small elements can be uncomfortable to press, especially on the go. Try a few options to find the optimal balance between aesthetics and ergonomics.

Addressing problems with the application of topics

Users often face technical difficulties in customization, such as when using the theme, icons can become black squares or disappear altogether, indicating a version conflict or damage to the graphics cache.

The first step when you have an error is to clear the Topic app cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Themes → Storage and click Clean. Don’t worry, your downloaded themes won’t be deleted, only temporary files will be reset.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts to slow down after the icon change or artifacts appear on the screen, immediately return the standard theme.

Another common problem is the theme’s incompatibility with the current version of Android. Theme developers don’t always update their creations for new versions of MIUI. If the theme looks “gotten”, most likely it was created for Android 10 and you have Android 13 installed, in which case it helps to find an alternative version of the theme or wait for an update from the author.

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Before you install a new theme, take a screenshot of the current location of the widgets and folders. After changing the design, everything can get mixed up, and restoring order from memory will be difficult.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Changing icons to Xiaomi is a safe process if you use official themes or proven launchers, the main thing is to avoid installing modified system files from questionable sources.