How to reduce the size of icons on the Xiaomi Redmi Note desktop

Modern Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones have huge high-resolution displays that allow for a large amount of content to be displayed. However, the standard MIUI shell or the new HyperOS often offer users too large interface elements by default, this is done for the convenience of the elderly or visually impaired, but for experienced users, such dimensions can seem redundant and inefficient.

Too big icons take up precious space on the desktop, forcing you to swipe to find the right applications. Fortunately, the Android system in conjunction with the branded add-ons from the Chinese manufacturer provides quite flexible tools for customization. Scaling interface elements is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve productivity with the device.

In this guide, we’ll look at all the methods available to resize icons, from standard settings to advanced utilities. You’ll learn how to change pixel density, use third-party launchers, and where to find hidden grid settings. Getting your desktop setup right will make your Redmi Note a truly handy tool.

Standard settings of the desktop grid

The easiest and safest way to change the visual perception of icon size is to change the number of cells in the desktop grid. In Xiaomi shells, this parameter directly affects how many apps fit on a single screen. The more cells you choose, the smaller each individual icon will appear.

To access these settings, you need to swipe two fingers in opposite directions on the home screen or hold your finger on an empty area for a long time. In the menu that opens, you should select Settings, and then find the Grid section. Here the system will offer several layout options, for example, 4x6, 5x6 or even 6x8 depending on the model of your Redmi Note.

Choosing a denser grid automatically reduces the size of all elements, including folders and widgets. It is a standard method that does not require installing additional software and is guaranteed to not disrupt the stability of the operating system. However, it has limitations: you can not arbitrarily set the size, but only choose the options you choose.

• 📱 Go into the editing mode of the desktop with a long tap.
• 📱 Click on the "Settings" button in the lower right corner.
• 📱 Select the Grid option and experiment with the options.
• 📱 Click on “Apply” to save the changes.

It's worth noting that changing the grid can affect the location of the widgets already installed. Weather or calendar widgets can shift or change their size, which will require manual adjustment. If the interface looks sloppy after changing the grid, try resetting or choosing an intermediate density option.

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Changing the grid is the safest method, but it changes the size of all the elements at once, preventing you from customizing individual icons.

Using design themes to scale up

MIUI and HyperOS are famous for their store's powerful customization tool, and many users don't know that there are special themes that not only change wallpaper and colors, but also radically alter the size of icons. In the catalog, you can find solutions where icons are made minimalistic and compact.

To find the right design, go to the Themes app and search. Type in queries like "Small icons," "Minimal," "Tiny" or "Compact." When you view previews, pay attention not only to the colors, but also to the proportions of the icons in the screenshots. Some themes can only change the style, leaving the dimensions standard, so it's important to look at the details.

⚠️ Attention: Installing third-party themes may cause system fonts to change or display ads in the interface if the theme is created by an unscrupulous author. Always check the theme ranking and downloads before installing.

After you install the theme, the system will suggest you choose which components to use. Make sure that the icons and the desktop are left. If you want to leave your wallpaper but only take icons, when using the theme, select "Theme Settings" and only check the icons item. This will save your background personalization, but update the graphic elements.

The advantage of the theme method is that you get a unique design that can include not only reduced, but also stylized icons. Vector graphics in modern themes looks clearly at any screen resolutions of the Redmi Note, whether HD or 2K matrix.

Adjust font size and screen scale

In Android, icon sizes often depend on global zoom parameters, and if you reduce the font and change the DPI (dots per inch), the graphical elements of the interface will become smaller, a more subtle setup that affects the entire system, not just the desktop.

To start, go to Settings, then select Additional and find Text Size. The text size slider can be moved to the left to the minimum value. This action often results in a proportional reduction of application icons, since they are tied to the overall interface scaling system.

A more advanced method is to use the developer mode to change the screen density. To activate this mode, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After the developer mode activation notification appears, go back to the settings menu, select Additional → For developers.

Settings → About the phone → 7 clicks according to MIUI → For developers → Minimum width

In the developer’s list of options, find the “Minimum Width” (or Smallest Width) item. The standard value is usually 360-400 dp. Increasing this number (for example, to 450 or 480) will make the system think that the screen is higher resolution, and it will automatically reduce all interface elements, including icons.

• 🔧 Activate Developer Mode with Quick Clicks on the Build Number.
• 🔧 Find the Minimum Width option in the Developer Menu.
• 🔧 Write down the original value so you can get it all back.
• 🔧 Increase the value by 20-40 Units and check the result.

It's important to be careful: abruptly changing this parameter can make text too small to read. Pixel density is a powerful tool, but it requires care. If after changing the values, the screen starts to behave strangely or the buttons disappear, just restart the device, in most cases the settings will reset or become available through safe mode.

Application of third-party launchers

If Xiaomi’s built-in capabilities don’t suit you, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. Launcher is an application that completely replaces the standard desktop, providing limitless options for customizing the size, shape and behavior of icons.

Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to set the exact size of the grid in increments of one cell, as well as adjust the size of the icons themselves as a percentage. You can make the icons tiny by leaving huge gaps in between, or vice versa, compact the space.

Once you install the launcher, Android will ask you which app to use as the default home screen. Select the launcher installed. Now, in its settings, you can find the desktop or icons section, where the slider adjusts the size, which gives exactly the result that is not possible in standard firmware.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, some gestures of Xiaomi’s native shell may stop working, such as swiping down to search or double tap to turn on the screen.

Using an alternative desktop also allows you to install icon packs from the Google Play Store. You can download a set of thousands of minimalist icons that are smaller by default and do not overload the visual space. The combination of a third-party launcher and a set of icons gives the best visual result.

Hiding App Names to Visually Reduce

Often the problem is not the size of the app picture itself, but the caption below it. The name text takes up space and visually "detach" the icon. Deleting captions is a simple trick that makes the desktop cleaner, and the icons seem smaller and more neat.

The latest versions of MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in app name hiding feature. To activate it, go to the desktop settings (long tap on the empty area → Settings), find the Hide App Names or Show Names switch and deactivate it.

If your firmware version doesn’t have this option, it’s easy to install a theme that doesn’t have a signature, or use a third-party launcher where it’s always there. In Nova Launcher, for example, you can disable shortcuts for each folder or the entire desktop separately.

The lack of text allows you to place the icons closer together without the risk of accidentally clicking, since the area of the clickable zone remains the same, but visually the elements are separated, this is especially true for Redmi Note models with narrow screen frames, where every millimeter counts.

• 👁️ Open the settings of the desktop design.
• 👁️ Find the option to manage app signatures.
• 👁️ Turn off the display of names for a clean look.
• 👁️ If necessary, use the widgets-separators.

Frequent questions and problem-solving

Users often face nuances during the setup process that are not obvious the first time, and here are answers to the most common questions related to scaling the interface on Xiaomi devices.

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Tip: Before making a global change to system settings (DPI, fonts), take a screenshot of the current settings or write down the initial numbers, which will help quickly restore the phone to work in case of an error.

To sum up, reducing icons on the Xiaomi Redmi Note is a multi-way task. Start by changing the grid, it's the easiest step. If you need more flexibility, move to themes or third-party launchers. And remember, the comfort of using a smartphone is made up of little things, so don't be afraid to experiment with the interface settings.