How to reduce the size of icons on Xiaomi: from standard settings to hidden MIUI features

The size of the icons on Xiaomi’s screen is one of those little things that can seriously affect the usability of a smartphone. Too large icons take up precious space, reducing the number of apps on a single screen, and small ones make navigation difficult, especially on devices with large displays. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to change the size of the icons, from basic MIUI settings to advanced methods using ADB and third-party launchers.

It's important to understand that the customization options vary depending on the shell version and the device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, some options are available, and on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5, others are available. We take these nuances into account and provide solutions for different scenarios, and you will learn how to circumvent the system limitations if the standard methods do not give the desired result.

1. Standard MIUI settings: changing the desktop grid

The easiest way to reduce the visual size of icons is to increase the number of rows and columns on your desktop. This doesn't change the physical size of icons, but makes them relatively smaller by compacting the grid. Most versions of MIUI (starting with 11) have this option available by default.

To change the grid:

1. Press long on the empty space of the desktop.
2. Select Desktop Settings (or Screen Settings in older versions).
3. Go to the Desktop Grid section.
4. Choose the option with the maximum number of cells (for example, 5×6 or 6×7).

On some models (for example, Poco F3), additional grid options are available in the Additional section. If the desired size is not available, try updating MIUI to the latest version - new builds often add more options.

• ✅ Pros of the method: does not require superuser rights, works on all devices.
• ❌ Cons: the real size of the icons does not change, only their density.
• ℹ️ Note: On Black Shark and some Poco, this section may be called Desktop Layout.

2.Use of third-party launchers: Nova Launcher and alternatives

If standard MIUI settings don’t suit, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. Nova Launcher and Hyperion Launcher offer flexible customization of icon sizes, including the ability to change their scale as a percentage.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Make it the default launcher (the offer will appear at the first start).
3. Long press on the desktop → Settings → Desktop.
4. In the section Size of icons, move the slider to the left to reduce (minimum - 70%).
5. For precise settings, enable Show Size in Status (in Additional).

In Hyperion Launcher, the path is: Settings → Appearance → Icon Size. You can set a value from 50% to 150%. Both launchers support adaptive icons, which is useful for devices with non-standard resolutions (for example, Xiaomi Mix Fold).

Download APK from the official website | Make a backup of current settings |Disable battery optimization for launcher |Reboot the device after installation-->

Important: After installing a third-party launcher, some MIUI features (like Double-Tap Lock or Super Wallpaper) may not work properly, due to launchers replacing the standard shell, and the solution is to use plugins for integration (like Nova MIUI Plugin).

3. Change the size of the icons through ADB (for advanced users)

If you need to control the size of the icons at the system level, you can use the ADB command. This method works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, but requires a connection to the computer and enabled debugging over USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell settings put global icon_size_scale_factor 0.7

Where 0.7 is the scale coefficient (range 0.5 to 1.5).

To return the standard size, use:

adb shell settings put global icon_size_scale_factor 1.0

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause shell malfunctions. Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset on some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) After changing the parameter, reboot is required.

• 🔧 What models are suitable for: All devices on MIUI 12+ (including Redmi K50, Poco X5 Pro).
• 📱 Restrictions: Does not work on MIUI 11 and older.
• 🔄 Backward compatibility: Commands can be used to resize fonts (font_scale).

4. Size setting icons in folders and notification panel

Many users forget that icon sizes can be changed not only on the desktop, but also in other interface elements, such as in application folders or in the notification panel. In MIUI 13/14, these settings are hidden deeper, but you can find them.

To change the size of the icons in folders:

1. Create a folder on your desktop (drop one application to another).
2. Open the folder and touch three dots (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Change Size and move the slider.

For the notification panel:

1. Deploy the notification panel and tap the icon ⚙️ (setting).
2. Go to Status Line → Size of icons.
3. Choose Small or Medium.

On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Mix 4 in MIUI 14, the option “Adaptive icons” has appeared, which automatically adjusts the size of icons to the screen resolution. To activate it, go to Settings → Display → Text Size and Display → Responsive icons.

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If your version of MIUI doesn’t have the option to resize your icons in folders, try updating themes through Settings → Themes → Update. Sometimes new features appear after you update your system applications.

5.Use of MIUI themes for customizing icons

Official and custom themes in MIUI can dramatically change the look and feel of icons, including their size. Some themes are specifically optimized for compact display. For example, the Minimal UI theme reduces icons by 15-20% compared to the standard one.

How to apply the topic:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Go to the Icons or Icon Packages section.
3. Select a theme marked Compact or Small Icons (like Pixel Icons or LineX).
4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.

If you don’t like the full themes package, you can only install icons:

1. In the Topics app, find the Icons section.
2. Choose your favorite pack (such as Whicons or CandyCons).
3. Press the icons only. → Apply.

⚠️ Note: Some icon packages may conflict with standard icons MIUI, Before installing, check the reviews of other users in the topic section. On Redmi Note 11 and later, this problem is less common due to the improved theme system.

• 🎨 Best Themes for Small Icons: Minimal OS, Oxy Icons, Fluid.
• 🔍 Where to look: In the official theme store or forums XDA Developers (section) MIUI Themes).
• 💰 Paid vs free: Free themes often have a limited set of icons (e.g., system-only apps).

6. editing system files (root only)

If none of the above methods have worked, the last option is manual editing of system files, which is only suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader and root rights. We will look at changing the parameters in the framework-res.apk file, which is responsible for scaling interface elements.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/framework/framework-res.apk.
3. Copy the file to SD-map and open it with the help of APK Editor.
4. Find the file. res/values/dimens.xml and change the parameters: <dimen name="app_icon_size">48dp</dimen> on <dimen name="app_icon_size">36dp</dimen>
5. Save the changes, move the file back to /system/framework/ and restart the device.

This method provides maximum control, but has serious risks:

• ⚠️ Bootloop (Linking on the boot) is possible if the file is error.
• ⚠️ After updating MIUI change.
• ⚠️ System integrity is compromised, which could lead to problems with Google Pay and other services.

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Editing system files is a last resort. Before you start, make sure to create a full backup through TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery.

7.Alternative solutions: gestures and hidden MIUI functions

If you can't reduce the icons, you can optimize the space in other ways, and there are a few hidden features in MIUI that help make the interface more compact:

• 👆 Reduced indentations: In Settings → Display. → Text size and display, turn on Compact Mode, which will reduce the spacing between the icons.
• 📱 Hiding tags: In desktop settings, turn off Show app names. Icons will visually become smaller.
• 🔄 Horizontal desktop: In Launcher Settings → Turn the screen on Desktop Autoturn. Horizontally, the icons are smaller.
• 🎯 Gestures instead of icons: Set up Double Touch or Swipe Up for quick application launch via Settings → Gestures.

On devices with MIUI 14 (such as Xiaomi 13 Lite), Smart Ordering has been introduced, which automatically groups rarely used applications into the Recommended folder. This frees up space on the main screen. To activate it, go to Desktop Settings → Smart Arrangement.

Another life hack is using widgets instead of icons. For example, the app shortcuts (4×1) widget can replace a string of 4 icons, saving space. To add it, long click on the desktop → widgets → System.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the size of the icons on Xiaomi