How to reduce the size of icons on Xiaomi: all ways to customize

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with high-resolution displays, but the standard MIUI shell or the new HyperOS does not always make optimal use of the available space. Users often face a situation where standard app icons seem too bulky, taking up extra space on the desktop and visually overloading the interface. This is especially true for owners of devices with a screen diagonal of up to 6 inches, where every pixel counts.

Changing the scale of interface elements is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve the usability of the gadget in everyday life. By reducing the size of the icons, you can place more widgets and shortcuts on one screen, which will speed up navigation around the system. In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from standard theme settings to advanced manipulation of system parameters through the engineering menu.

It is worth noting that the Android interface on the Chinese manufacturer’s devices is quite flexible, but some functions are hidden from the eyes of the average user. Deep customization allows you to adapt the visual style to individual preferences, making working with a smartphone more comfortable. Below are proven ways to solve the problem without the need to obtain superuser rights (Root).

Use of built-in design theme settings

The easiest and safest way to change the visual experience of a desktop is to use the Themes app. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi provides a powerful customization tool built right into the system. Many users are unaware that changing the theme often entails rescaling graphic elements, including icons.

To start, you need to open the standard Theme app and go to Profile (the human icon in the lower right corner), and this selects the subject settings. In some versions of the shell, this is where the Font Size slider is located, which indirectly affects the scale of icons, although direct control of the size of icons in global settings is often absent. However, installing a third-party theme is a key point.

⚠️ Note: When installing themes from unofficial sources or regional stores (for example, India instead of the Global version), you may lose some of the system fonts or incorrect display of some interface elements.

When choosing a theme, pay attention to the preview: often authors indicate in the description the style of icons (Flat, Minimalist, Small). Minimalist themes by default use reduced versions of graphic elements, which visually frees up space. After applying the theme, the system can suggest changing the desktop grid, which also affects the final size of the icons.

Setting up a desktop grid and scaling

The physical size of the icon on the screen depends on the grid you choose, and the more cells you place on one screen, the smaller the area allocated to each individual icon, which is a standard method that does not require additional software installation and ensures stable operation of the system.

To change the grid, you need to pinch the empty area on the desktop with your finger before the edit menu appears. In the lower corner, you will see the Settings button (cogwheel). In the menu that opens, you need to find the Grid or Grid Size. There are several options here, for example, 4x6, 5x6 or even 6x9 for devices with large displays.

• 📱 Standard grid: Normally 4x6 or 5x5, medium-sized icons.
• 📉 Tight grid: 6x8 or higher, icons become noticeably smaller, more applications fit.
• 📏 Impact on widgets: When changing the grid, the installed weather and clock widgets can shift or change size.

Once you select a denser grid, the system automatically recalculates the size of all the launcher elements, which is the most effective way to reduce the icons without losing image quality, since native resources are used in the graphics engine of the shell. If standard grid options are not enough, you can switch to using third-party launchers.

Application of third-party launchers for flexible management

If MIUI's built-in capabilities seem limited, third-party shells come to the rescue, programs like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Smart Launcher provide detailed control over each pixel of the desktop, allowing you to set the exact size of icons in percentages or pixels, which is not possible in a standard theme.

Once you install the launcher from Google Play and activate it as your primary launcher, you need to log into its settings. Look for Desktop or Icon Layout. There's a slider called "Icon Size," and you move it around, you can achieve any value you want, from miniature dots to huge icons, and that gives you complete creative freedom.

It is important to consider that third-party launchers can consume more RAM than Xiaomi’s system launcher. On devices with 4GB of RAM or less, this can lead to more frequent unloading of background applications. However, for interface customization tasks, this is often a justified sacrifice.

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Use the backup function in third-party launchers before experimenting with settings to quickly restore the familiar look of the desktop.

Change the DPI density through the developer settings

For advanced users who want to resize not only icons but all interface elements (text, buttons, input fields), there is a DPI (dots per inch) setting, which makes the system think that the screen has a different physical density, scaling all elements proportionally.

To access these settings, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version) until the activation notification appears. Then the Developer section will appear in the Advanced Settings or Additional menu.

Inside the developer menu, find the "Minimum Width" item, remember or write down the original value (usually around 360-411 dp) to return it back if necessary, and increasing this number will reduce all elements on the screen, including icons.

⚠️ Note: Do not set extremely high values DPI. This can make the interface unreadable, and it will be extremely difficult to return the settings back without a data reset.

Use of the ADB-system-modification

The most accurate method to make changes to system configuration files without the risk of damaging firmware with manual editing is the use of the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging bridge, which requires a computer and cable, but produces results that are not available through the smartphone menu.

The first step is to enable USB debugging in the Developer menu. Once you connect your smartphone to your PC and install ADB drivers, you need to open the command line on your computer. To resize icons, you often use a command that affects specific launcher settings, but the universal way is to change the density of the screen through ADB.

adb shell wm density 450

In this example, the command wm density 450 sets the density 450 DPI. The higher the number, the smaller the elements. To return the standard values, the command adb shell wm density reset is used. This method is good because the changes are applied globally and persist even after the reset until you reset them yourself.

• 💻 Requirements: Computer (Windows, Mac or Linux), USB-cable-mounted ADB.
• 🔧 Security: Commands are reversible, but require caution when entering values.
• 🚀 Efficiency: Allows you to achieve unique settings that are not available in the regular menu.

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ADB-commands allow you to change system parameters on the fly without flashing, but require basic knowledge of working with the command line.

Frequent questions and problem-solving

Users often face nuances that need to be clarified during the setup process, and here are the answers to the most popular questions related to resizing interface elements on Xiaomi and Redmi devices.

To sum up, there are many ways to reduce the size of your Xiaomi icons: Start with simple methods, such as changing theme or changing the grid, and only if necessary move on to the complex settings of DPI and ADB. Competent interface configuration will make using your smartphone much more convenient and enjoyable.