How to change app icons on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is one of the easiest ways to make the device unique and convenient for you. Owners of gadgets of the Chinese company Xiaomi have ample opportunities to change the appearance of the system thanks to the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS. Changing icons does not require deep knowledge of programming or complex equipment, you just need to know where the right tools are.

Often, the standard set of graphics seems boring or doesn’t fit the overall desktop style. Fortunately, manufacturers have provided several levels of access to visual elements, from basic theme change to advanced third-party editing. In this article, we’ll look at all the available methods that will allow you to change icons without losing the guarantee and stability of the system.

Keep in mind that the algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the firmware installed and the model of your smartphone. However, the basic principles have remained unchanged over the past years. Let's take a detailed look at each of the ways that you can choose the most suitable for your needs.

Use of the built-in “Themes” application

The easiest and safest way to change your visual style is to use the Themes’ full-time app, which is pre-installed on all the brand’s devices, which requires no additional software installation and ensures full compatibility of all interface elements, and contains thousands of designs created by both officially and independently.

To get started, you need to start the app and go to the Profile tab (usually the person icon in the lower right corner). Here you are interested in the Themes section, which displays all the installed designs. However, to change only the icons without changing the wallpaper and system fonts, you better search for the Icons category or immediately select the finished theme that you liked and click Apply.

⚠️ Note: When installing themes from unofficial sources or third-party stores within the Themes app, ads may appear more often.

If you want to create a unique set without changing the entire design of the system, you can use the customization function. In some versions of the shell, the option "Mix" is available, which allows you to combine elements. It is also worth noting that many themes are free to download, but some require payment or simple tasks.

• 🎨 Open the Themes app and search for “Icons” or “Icons».
• 📥 Select the package you like and click “Download” and then “Apply».
• 🔄 If the theme is complex, the system will offer you to choose what to change: lock screen, wallpaper or only icons.

It’s important to understand that applying the theme not only affects shortcuts, but also the notification bar, settings menus, and system sounds. If your goal is purely app graphics, this method may be redundant, but it provides the best visual integrity.

Setup through third-party launchers

If the standard MIUI or HyperOS shell capabilities seem limited to you, third-party launchers come to the rescue. These are special desktop replacement apps that completely change the logic of how you interact with your smartphone. The most popular options are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and Smart Launcher.

Once you install this app from Google Play and select the default app, you get access to advanced graphics settings. The launcher settings usually have a "Look" or "Icons" section where you can select any icon pack you have installed in the system, which allows you to combine icons from different themes to create a completely unique interface.

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Your Launcher] → By Default

The main advantage of this method is flexibility. You can change the size of the desktop grid, animations to open applications and even hide unnecessary shortcuts. However, it is worth remembering that third-party launchers consume more RAM, which on budget models with a small amount of RAM can lead to more frequent unloading of applications from the background.

Some launchers allow you to assign individual icons for each application separately, without affecting the rest. To do this, you need to (press your finger) on the shortcut, select “Change” and specify the desired image from the gallery or selected pack, which is ideal for those who want to change the icons of only a few key programs.

Manual installation of icon packets (APK)

For advanced users who have not found a suitable option in the official store, there is the possibility of manual installation of icon packages in APK format. Such files are often distributed on thematic forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers) and are modified versions of system files or independent graphics sets.

Before installation, you must allow your smartphone to install applications from unknown sources, which is in the Settings menu → Application Protection → Install unknown applications. Be extremely careful: download files only from proven resources, so as not to infect the device with malicious code.

⚠️ Note: Install modified system files or those of unverified APK-files can lead to unstable interfaces or broken icons. Always back up data before experimenting.

The installation process is simple: download the file, open it through the file manager and confirm the installation. After that, new icons may appear in the general list of themes or require activation through a special bootloader application if it comes with it. Sometimes, to implement such changes, you need to use tools like Substratum, but on new versions of Android this rarely works without root rights.

• 📂 Download. APK-file with a package of icons from a reliable source.
• 🔓 Allow installation from unknown sources in security settings.
• 🚀 Launch the installer and follow the instructions on the screen.

It’s worth noting that manual installation often doesn’t provide 100% coverage for all applications, and some programs will remain with standard icons, as there’s simply no graphics for them in the package, in which case the launchers mentioned above can automatically generate stubs or take an icon from the app’s cache.

Comparison of personalization methods

The choice of how to replace your graphics depends on your goals and technical skills, and to make it easier for you to decide, we have prepared a comparison table of basic methods, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the best balance is built-in themes or launchers, which deliver good results without the risk of damaging the system. Root rights give full control, but they are not warranty and can disrupt banking applications, so we consider this method as a last resort.

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For 90% of users, the best solution is a combination of a standard MIUI/HyperOS shell and a high-quality package of icons from the official theme store.

Possible problems and solutions

In customization, users often face typical problems, such as when they upgrade to Android or the MIUI shell, the icon settings may get lost and return to the standard view, which is normal behavior, since updated system files often overwrite custom modifications.

Another common problem is the desynchronization of notification counters, which may stop the number of unread messages on messenger icons, usually by re-using the theme or reassigning the default launcher to the system settings.

• 🔍 Icons don't change: Make sure the theme is fully loaded and applied.Reboot the device.
• 📉 Performance down: Complex graphics and live wallpaper can be loading the CPU.Return to static images.
• 🎨 Different style: If new icons are out of style, try to find a pack specially created for your version of Android.

Sometimes the problem is cache. Cleaning up the data from a Themes app or launcher often solves the glitches of display. Don't be afraid to experiment with settings, because you can get it back in a couple of clicks.

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Before you make a global interface change, take screenshots of the current location of widgets and folders, which will save you time if you have to restore the usual structure of the desktop.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions