How to reduce icons on the Xiaomi desktop: all ways to MIUI 12-14

Previous articleToo large icons on the Xiaomi desktop interfere with the comfortable use of the smartphone? you are not alone: according to statistics, 38% of users MIUI At least once tried to rescale the icons, but not everyone knows that there are many more customization options than the standard menu offers. 9A, POCO C31) or when using themes with unoptimized elements.

In this article, we will explore all available methods, from basic settings to hidden functions and third-party solutions, and learn how to not only reduce the size of icons, but also set up a desktop grid, change the indentations between icons, and bypass restrictions. MIUI All instructions are relevant to MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Important: customization options depend on the shell version and the device model. 12T Pro MIUI 14 available 5 options scale icons, while on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5 is only 3. We will specify all the nuances for different versions.

1. Standard method: resizing through theme settings

The most obvious method is to use built-in options. MIUI. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, But it has limitations of flexibility.

To reduce the icons:

1. Long pressing on the free space of the desktop → Select “Screen Settings” (or Home) → Settings in some versions).
2. Go to the section “Size of icons” (or Scale of icons).
3. Move the slider left to reduce or select a pre-set size (usually available) 3-5 variant).
4. Click on “Apply” and confirm the changes.

⚠️ Limitations of method:

• 🔄 The minimum size is often too large for compact display.
• 📱 In some models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) the slider is locked when using third-party launchers.
• 🎨 Changes are reset when changing the theme of the design.

If the standard settings don't work, move on to the following ways, for example, setting up the desktop grid allows you to place more icons on the screen without even changing their size.

2. Set up the desktop grid for compact display

Changing the number of rows and columns on the desktop indirectly affects the perception of icon size, and the tighter the grid, the smaller the icons appear — even if their physical size remains the same.

How to set up the grid:

1. Long press on the desktop → Screen settings → Desktop grid.
2. Select the number of rows and columns. The options available: 📱 4×5 (standard) 📱 5×6 (optimally for Xiaomi 11/12 series) 📱 6×7 (Maximum density may be uncomfortable on small screens)

Save the changes and restart the launcher (if necessary).

💡 Advice: On models with AMOLED-With screens (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the tight grid visually reduces the distance between icons, but does not impair text reading due to high contrast.

Check the current version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Take a screenshot of the current location of the icons (in case of reset)

Make sure there are no important widgets on the desktop (they may shift)

Close all background applications for stable operation of the launcher-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 12.5 Enhanced for Redmi K40) netting 6×7 Icon captions may disappear. To return them, go to theme settings. → Badges → Showing names.

3.Use of alternative launchers for flexible setup

If built-in options MIUI It's not okay, third-party launchers offer a lot more customization options, including fine-tuning icon sizes, indentations and even their shapes:

Top.-3 launcher:

🔧 How to install and configure Nova Launcher:

1. Download Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Set it as the default launcher in Settings → Apps → By default.
3. Hold your finger on the desktop → Settings → Size of badges.
4. Move the slider to the desired value (we recommend starting with 70% for the balance of convenience and compactness).
5. In the Distances section, reduce the indentations between icons for even greater density.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ When using third-party launchers, system widgets (such as weather or steps) may disappear. To return them, temporarily switch back to the standard launcher and manually update the widgets through Settings. → Widgets.

4. Hidden settings MIUI: editing of configuration files

For advanced users, there is a way to resize icons by editing system files, and this method works on all versions. MIUI, but requires root rights or use ADB.

🛠️ Instructions for experienced users:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate Debugging USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times on the line with the version, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
2. Open the command line on the PC and type: adb shell su cd /data/system/users/0 ls Find the file com.miui.home.preferences.xml (or similarly-named).
3. Download the file on PC: Adb pull /data/system/users/0/com.miui.home.preferences.xml
4. Open the file in the text editor and find the lines: <string name="pref_icon_size">1.0</string> <string name="pref_icon_text_size">14</string> Change the values to: <string name="pref_icon_size">0.7</string> <string name="pref_icon_text_size">12</string>
5. Save the file and download it back: adb push com.miui.home.preferences.xml /data/system/users/0/ adb shell chmod 666 /data/system/users/0/com.miui.home.preferences.xml
6. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of configuration files can cause a launcher settings reset or even a cyclic reboot.Before making changes, back up the file and make sure you have access to recovery to recover.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.

2.Look for System Launcher (or com.miui.home).

3. Click on "Clear Cache" and restart the device.

This will bring back the icons without losing their location.-->

5.Use of the topics MIUI slimmed-down

Many users do not know what is at the center of the topic. MIUI And you have themes that are compact, and these themes not only change the design, but they also automatically reduce the size of the icons on your desktop.

🎨 How to find and apply this topic:

1. Open the “Themes” app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Classic or Minimalist section.
3. In the search bar, enter the requests: 🔍 «Small icons (English query often gives more results) 🔍 «Compact icons» 🔍 «Mini icons»

"Apply"

Settings of the topic → Badges → Size

📌 Best themes for compact icons (2026):

• 🌌 «Dark Mini – a dark theme with icons 30% smaller than the standard.
• ☁️ «Cloud Light is a bright theme with a focus on minimalism.
• 🖤 «Pitch Black – ultra-compact icons (suitable for use in the AMOLED-screen).

⚠️ Attention: Some topics from the center MIUI They're advertising or collecting data. Before you install, check the reviews and the rating of the theme. If after you use the theme, the smartphone starts to slow down, clear the cache in Settings. → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

6. Additional tricks: change DPI and scale up

For the most radical changes, you can use the pixel density setting (DPI). This will affect not only the size of the icons, but the entire interface of the system, and it requires caution, because the wrong values can make the text unreadable.

📏 How to change DPI rootless:

1. Activate Developer Mode (see Section 4).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Developers → Minimum width.
3. The default value is usually 360dp or 411dp. Reduce it by 20-30 units (e.g. with 411 before 380).
4. Reset the device.

📊 Recommended values DPI popular:

⚠️ Important: Change DPI may lead to:

• 🔠 Overlaying interface elements in some applications.
• 📵 Incorrect display of system dialog windows.
• 🔄 Reset after update MIUI (I'll have to re-configure).

If, after the change, DPI The text has become too small, return the standard value or increase the font size in Settings → Screen. → Size of text.

💡

Change of change DPI — It's the most powerful, but also the most risky method, and it affects the entire interface, not just the icons. If you want to reduce just the icons, you'd better use alternative launchers or grid settings.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you resize icons, users often encounter unexpected bugs, and we've collected some of the most common problems and ways to fix them.

🔧 Problem 1: Icons dropped after the update MIUI

• 📌 Solution: Update the launcher via Google Play (if you use a third-party) or clear its cache in Settings → Annexes.
• 📌 If you use a standard launcher, check if the theme settings have reset in Settings. → Topics → My subjects.

🔧 Problem 2: Signatures under icons are cut off

• 📌 Reduce the text size in Settings → Screen. → Size of text.
• 📌 In alternative launchers (like Nova), turn off text cropping in Settings. → Badges → Scope of text.

🔧 Problem 3: The badges have become too small and uncomfortable

• 📌 Return the standard settings to the screen settings → Size of badges.
• 📌 If you've used ADB alteration DPI, return the original values (see sections 4 and 6).

🔧 Problem 4: After the grid change, the widgets are gone

• 📌 Remove and add widgets again (long press on the desktop) → Widgets).
• 📌 If the widget is system (such as weather), temporarily return the standard launcher and update the widget.

🔧 Problem 5: Nova Launcher changes are still in place

• 📌 Check that the launcher is set as default in the application settings.
• 📌 Clear the launcher cache in Settings → Annexes → Nova Launcher → Warehouse.
• 📌 Update the launcher to the latest version.

1. Set up the grid. 5×6.

2. Reduce the icon size in Nova Launcher to 70%.

3. Reduce. DPI before 380dp (permit-model FHD+).

This will give maximum compactness without loss of convenience.-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions