Modern MIUI shells and Xiaomi’s new HyperOS are famous for their functionality, but standard desktop design is not everyone’s favorite. Often users are annoyed by the presence of text signatures under application labels that create visual noise and interfere with the perception of beautiful wallpaper.
In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available to help you make the interface cleaner and more minimalist, why standard settings don’t always hide text, and what tools you’ll need to implement it. It’s important to understand that some methods require caution because they affect the system’s design parameters.
Before you start, you need to decide what you want: do you just hide the text or replace it with a transparent background? This will determine the choice of tool. We will consider both safe methods for beginners and advanced options for experienced users who want to gain full control over the appearance of their smartphone.
Using design themes to hide text
The easiest and safest way to do this, without root rights or complicated manipulation, is to install a custom theme, and there are thousands of designs in the official Themes store that either don't have icon signatures or have them replaced with transparent plaques, ideal for those who are afraid of disrupting the system.
To find the right design, you need to go to the Themes app and search for keywords like “No Label,” “Clean,” “Minimal,” or “Invisible Text,” and once you install the theme, the system will apply a new style of shortcuts, and the text underneath will disappear or become invisible due to the transparent background.
⚠️ Note: Some third-party themes may not display system application names correctly. If you no longer understand what the shortcut is after installing the theme, just return the standard design in the theme settings.
However, this method has its limitations: Theme icon designs are often different from stock icons, which can upset the overall aesthetic if you are used to the original MIUI style. Also, not all themes guarantee the complete disappearance of text on all screens, especially in folders or app menus.
Launcher settings and system limitations
Many users mistakenly search for the Hide Signatures switch in the standard launcher settings. Unfortunately, in the latest versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, this option has been eliminated or hidden deep in the menu. The standard interface is sharpened for maximum informativity, so the system insists on leaving application names visible.
However, it is worth checking the current settings of your launcher, as the menu may differ from one region to another. Go to Settings → Desktop and carefully study the available items. Sometimes you can find the option to change the grid size, which will visually reduce the impact of signatures, although it will not remove them completely.
- 📱 Go to the desktop settings through a long press on empty space.
- 🔍 Look for items related to displaying shortcuts or font size.
- 🎨 Try changing the size of the grid to a larger one so that the text takes up less space.
If the menu doesn't have the right switch, then the manufacturer has blocked this feature at the software level, in which case only third-party launchers or modification of system files, which we will talk about later, will help.
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If the standard launcher doesn’t offer the right features, try Nova Launcher – it allows you to flexibly configure the display of signatures, but may require a paid version for full functionality.
Application of third-party launchers
Installing an alternative launcher is a radical but effective solution, and apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher give you complete control over the desktop, and you can not only remove signatures, but also change animations, gestures, and shortcut behavior.
Once you install a third-party launcher, the system will ask you to confirm its default use, and then you will have access to the advanced settings. In the Desktop or Shortcuts section, there is usually a Show Labels switch that you need to turn off, which will instantly clear the screen of excess text.
However, the switch to a third-party launcher has its own peculiarities: some Xiaomi features, such as the “Second Space” or specific MIUI gestures, may not work properly or be inaccessible, and third-party launchers may consume slightly more battery resources due to constant background processes.
| Launcher | Hiding the text | Compatibility with MIUI | RAM consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Complete. | Tall. | Average. |
| Lawnchair | Complete. | Medium | Low. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Complete. | Tall. | High. |
| Smart Launcher | Partial | Medium | Low. |
⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers on Android 13 and above, you may have problems with widget display or return gestures.
Modifying System Files with MT Manager
For advanced users who want to save the stock launcher, but remove signatures, there is a method of editing the system. APK-This method requires the installation of an application. MT Manager and the presence of superuser rights (Root) or use of virtual space. The essence of the method is to change the resource responsible for rendering text.
You'll need to find miuihome.apk (or launcher.apk depending on the system version) in the system partition. MT Manager will open the file, go to resources, and find the line that makes labels visible. Often this requires changing the true to false value in the configuration file or deleting the text resource.
res/values/strings.xml
falseAfter making changes, the file must be saved and replaced in the system, then the launcher process must be forced to stop and restart. If done correctly, the text under the icons will disappear, but the style will remain native to Xiaomi.
☑️ Checklist before system modification
This is the most risky method. A code editing error can lead to a bootloop or desktop disappearing. It is critical to have a computer with ADB installed on hand so that if there is an error, you can delete the modified file and restore the original.
Use of the ADB-commands
If you don’t want root rights, but standard settings don’t help, you can try the method using USB debugging and a computer. Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit allows you to send commands to the system by changing some of the interface display settings.
First, you need to activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the build number. Then in the menu "Advanced settings" turn on "Debugging by" USB». Connect your smartphone to your PC, install drivers and ADB-platform-based.
In the computer command line, enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesIf the device is defined, you can use commands to hide the interface elements. However, it is worth noting that in modern versions of MIUI, direct commands to hide the signatures of the icons may not exist, because this is tied to the launcher resources.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox- 💻 Install the platform SDK Platform Tools on your computer.
- 🔌 Connect your phone with a cable and select the File Transfer mode».
- 🖥️ Launch the console in the folder with ADB Enter the necessary commands.
This method is more suitable for general customization of the interface than for point removal of text under the icons, but it allows you to remove unnecessary widgets that often interfere with the perception of a clean desktop.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Possible problems and solutions
You may encounter a variety of difficulties in setting up, such as when you install a theme or launcher, shortcut notifications may stop working, a common problem with non-optimized third-party Android solutions.
Another common problem is desynchronizing icons, so once you hide your signatures, you can forget which app is where, and that's where you use search widgets or organize apps by color, so you can navigate visually without reading the text.
If the system starts to work unstable after modifying the files, the first thing you can do is to try to clear the launcher cache. → Annexes → All applications → Desktop → If that doesn't work, we'll have to reset the launcher to the factory or restore the original launcher. APK-file.
⚠️ Note: Regular system updates may return deleted signatures as new versions MIUI They often overwrite modified files with their originals, and be prepared to repeat the process after each major update.
Comparison of methods and final recommendations
So to sum up, it's a matter of your technical background and your goals. For the average user who wants beauty, the themes are the best ones, they're safe, they're easy to change, they don't require any special knowledge.
For enthusiasts who care about Xiaomi’s stock launcher, the MT Manager approach is fine, but it requires caution. And for those who are willing to sacrifice some of the MIUI chips for full control, third-party launchers are ideal.
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The golden mean is the use of minimalist themes from the official store, as this guarantees the stability of the system and the absence of text without the risk of breakdown.
Don't be afraid to experiment with the look of your smartphone, but always remember to back up. The visual component is something you interact with every minute, and it should be pleasing to the eye, not distracting with unnecessary details.