How to reduce the size of icons on the screen of the Xiaomi phone

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where the standard size of app icons seems too cumbersome. This is not just an aesthetic issue: large interface elements occupy a significant part of the usable display area, especially on models with a diagonal of less than 6.5 inches.

There are several proven ways to scale up the interface elements in the MIUI or HyperOS shell. Some methods do not require additional software, others involve the use of third-party launchers. In this article, we will discuss all the options available, from simple grid settings to deeper system changes.

Not only does the user get visual relief, but it also improves the ergonomics of using the device with one hand. Small but clear icons create a sense of spaciousness and allow you to add widgets or folders where they did not fit before.

Setting up the desktop grid through the design menu

The easiest and safest way to reduce the visual size of icons is to change the number of cells in the desktop grid, so when you increase the number of rows and columns, the system automatically compresses the application icons to fit into the specified parameters, which is built into the MIUI shell and does not require superuser rights.

To start, you need to go to the display settings. Find the system application option and select the Desktop option. This is the key Grid setting. The default is often 5x5 or 6x6, but to minimize the icons, you should choose 8x8 or even more if the screen model allows.

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Changing the grid not only reduces icons, but also automatically redistributes watch and weather widgets, so they may have to be reconfigured.

And it's worth noting that after you use the new grid, all the labels can move from their usual places, and that's normal for the system to recalculate the coordinates of the elements, and if you don't like the standard grid, you can use the more flexible customization tools that we'll discuss later.

• 📱 Open “Settings” and go to the “Desktop” section».
• 📐 Find the “Grid” item and select the maximum value available (for example, 8x8).
• 🔄 Return to the main screen and evaluate the result of the scaling.

This method is ideal for those who want to get a quick result without risking a disruption to the stability of the smartphone, but it has a limitation: icons are reduced only to a certain limit, dictated by the system font settings.

Using design themes to scale up

MIUI Themes is a powerful tool that is often underestimated by ordinary users. Inside the catalog, there are thousands of designs that dramatically change not only wallpaper, but also the size, style, and proportions of system icons. Some themes are specifically designed to reduce the visual elements of the interface.

To find the right design, search for the theme store and type in queries like “Small icons,” “Minimal” or “Compact.” Pay attention to the screenshots in the theme description: often authors demonstrate what app shortcuts look like. Theme installation is a safe process that can be easily undo at any time.

It's important to understand that some themes can only change the shape of icons, leaving them the same size, so you should focus on reviews and previews when choosing them, and there are themes that only change icons without affecting the system menus, which is a great trade-off.

After applying the theme, the system may require a reboot or simply update the interface. If you notice that the fonts have become too small or, conversely, large, this can be adjusted separately in the screen settings, which will be discussed in the next section.

• 🎨 Launch the Themes app on your Xiaomi device.
• 🔍 Type “Small icons” or “Minimal” into the search. UI».
• 📥 Download and apply your favorite theme while watching for changes.

Using third-party themes is a great way to personalize your device, but remember that low-quality themes from unverified authors can be advertising or unstable, so choose popular options that are highly rated.

Adjusting font size and interface elements

The size of the icons on Xiaomi’s screen is often directly dependent on the global scale of the fonts and interface elements. In Android and MIUI, these parameters are related: by reducing the font, you automatically make the icons smaller and the indentations between them, a system limitation that, however, is easy to bypass.

To access these settings, go to the Screen or Additional menu in the main settings, and there you will find the Text Size slider. If you move it to the left, you will see how the scale of the entire screen content changes, and you should not get carried away and set a minimum value if you do not have perfect vision, because readability may suffer.

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The optimal balance is achieved when the font is reduced by 1-2 divisions from the standard, and the desktop grid is set to the maximum value.

Some versions of the firmware offer an advanced "Size of interface elements" setting that affects control panels, settings menus, and dialog boxes, and by combining font reduction and grid density, you can achieve a similar effect to using third-party launchers, but with the preservation of the native shell.

On low-resolution (HD+) screens, text may become unreadable, and on AMOLED high-resolution panels (Full HD+ and higher), the effect will be most pronounced and pleasing to the eye.

• ⚙️ Go to "Settings» → «Screen» → «Size of text».
• 📉 Move the slider to the left by one or two divisions.
• 👁️ Check the readability of the text in the menu and messages.

It works on everything from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14, and it’s important to find a middle ground to keep the interface comfortable in everyday use.

Use of third-party launchers for full control

If standard MIUI or HyperOS tools don't seem flexible enough, third-party launchers will come to the rescue, apps that completely replace the desktop and app menus, with Nova Launcher, Lawnchair and Microsoft Launcher leading the way. They allow you to customize icon sizes to pixel-precision.

Once you install the launcher (for example, through Google Play), you need to assign it to the main one. Xiaomi will request confirmation and warn you about possible changes in operation. Once activated, you will have access to detailed grid settings, where you can set any number of rows and columns, as well as manually change the size of each icon.

The feature of Nova Launcher is the ability to adjust the size of icons as a percentage. You can set the value of 80% or even 70% of the original, which is physically impossible to do in standard settings Xiaomi.

However, this method has its nuances: Third-party launchers can consume more battery resources, and animations for opening folders or menus may differ from those used in MIUI.

• 📲 Download the selected launcher from the Google Play app store.
• 🏠 Click the Home button and select Always Use for the new launcher.
• 🎛️ Go to the launcher settings and find the “Desktop” or “Icons” section».

Using a third-party launcher is a choice for advanced users who want a unique smartphone experience, which gives maximum freedom, but takes time to initially customize for themselves.

Specifics of settings on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

The MIUI shells and the new HyperOS have differences in menu logic and available features. In recent firmware versions, Xiaomi is striving for unification, but some old tricks may not work. For example, HyperOS changed the structure of the display settings, and some items could move to the “Additional” section.

Older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12 or 13) often featured the ability to hide signatures under icons, making them less visually visible. In newer versions, this feature may be hidden or require activation through special themes.

Owners of HyperOS-based devices should look to new widgets that allow app clustering, an alternative way to free up space: instead of reducing icons, you hide them in compact widget folders on your desktop.

So if you’ve spent time fine-tuning the grid and fonts, it makes sense to back up the launcher settings or remember the selected options.

Hidden Opportunities and Engineering Menu

For the most experienced users, there are methods of changing density DPI (Dots Per Inch (through hidden settings) ADB-The change of team. DPI causes the system to think that the screen has a higher resolution, which makes all interface elements, including icons, become significantly smaller.

However, this method requires caution: In some versions of Xiaomi, access to changing the minimum width (Smallest Width) in the "Developers" menu is limited or hidden. ADB-Teams, make sure you understand the risks.

⚠️ Attention: setting too high a value DPI can make the interface unreadable, and it will only be possible to return everything back through resetting or reconnecting to a computer with a reset command.

The command to change density through ADB is as follows:

adb shell wm density 320

Where 320 — This is density. The standard value for most smartphones varies from 360 before 420. Reducing that number will increase the size of the elements, and increasing it will decrease. 10-20 unit.

This is the most radical way to turn a screen into a dashboard with a lot of data, but it can disrupt some applications that are not adapted to the non-standard pixel density.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

⚠️ Attention: When using commands ADB You're acting at your own risk, or you're changing system files, and you're setting the wrong settings can cause the interface to work in an unstable way.

To sum up, there are many ways to reduce the size of icons on Xiaomi: Start with simple grid and font settings, and only if that’s not enough, go to install launchers or change the DPI. Competent settings will make your smartphone much more comfortable.