How to reduce the icons Xiaomi: DPI settings and launchers

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with high-pixel density displays and a large diagonal, which allows manufacturers of the MIUI or HyperOS interface to make controls large and easy to press. However, the standard size of application icons often seems to users redundant, especially on models with screens over 6.5 inches, where every centimeter of the desktop is worth its weight in gold. The desire to place more widgets or simply change the aesthetic of the device to a more minimalist is quite natural and easy to implement software methods.

In this article, we’ll go into a few ways to reduce icons on Xiaomi, ranging from built-in system features to advanced settings through an engineering menu. Changing the interface scale allows not only visually reduce app pictures, but also increase the usable screen area, making navigation more efficient. You won’t need superuser rights (Root) to perform basic operations, although they can expand the customization capabilities.

Before you start to change, it is worth understanding that the interface Xiaomi is based on Android, where the size of the elements is often tied to the system pixel density (DPI). Manipulation with this parameter requires caution, as too much reduction can make the text unreadable or disrupt the layout of some applications. We will look at safe ranges of values and methods of returning to factory settings if necessary.

Use of built-in design themes

The easiest and safest way to resize icons is to use the standard Theme app preinstalled on all of the brand’s smartphones. Developers create thousands of designs where graphic elements can be significantly smaller than standard ones, while keeping signatures readable. To do this, open the Topics app on the home screen and go to Profile, then select Settings and find Set the theme by default if you want to reset the current changes first.

Next, in the theme directory, search for queries like "Small icons", "Minimal" or "Compact." Once you download your favorite theme, apply it, but note that you can often only use icons without changing wallpaper and system sounds. To do this, after downloading the theme, click Apply and select the "Only icons" option in the menu that appears, this will save your current wallpaper and notification style, changing only the graphical display of the applications.

Not all themes support selective application of components, so read the design description carefully. Some authors make icons small, but add a lot of empty space around them, which does not visually reduce the area occupied. Experiment with different options to find a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

It is worth noting that third-party themes may not display correctly when upgrading MIUI to a new version. If after updating the firmware you notice that the icons have “got” or become square instead of round, just reapply the theme or return to standard design through the settings.

Setting the font size and screen

The second method, which directly affects the size of the icons, is in the system settings of the display. Changing the font size often automatically adjusts the size of the surrounding interface elements, including the icons of the applications on the desktop and in the menu. Go to Settings, select the Screen (or Display) section, and then find the text size and display.

And here you'll see a scale-adjusting slider, and by moving it to the left, to the smaller "A" icon, you'll reduce all the text tags and, generally, the app icons themselves. This is a standard Android engine that is guaranteed to work on all Redmi and Poco models. However, the effect may not be as radical as when you change the DPI, but it's completely stable-safe.

system's inclination.

⚠️ Attention: Excessive font reduction can make app signatures unreadable, especially for people with visual impairments.

Also, there's often a separate slider on this menu for the size of the interface elements, so if you have this option on your HyperOS or new MIUI device, it's going to be a priority. Changes are instant, so you'll see the result immediately and you can adjust the settings to your preferences.

It's important to understand the difference between screen resolution and pixel density. Resolution (e.g., 2400×1080) is a physical characteristic of the matrix and doesn't change software without flashing it over. We work with logical resolution, which the operating system interprets to render elements.

Change the DPI density through the developer settings

The most effective way to reduce icons on Xiaomi to the smallest possible size is to change the density of DPI (Dots Per Inch).This parameter tells the system how many dots should be per inch of the image. Increasing the number of DPIs makes the system think the screen has a higher density, and it automatically reduces all elements to match the physical size.

To access this feature, you need to activate the developer menu. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once the notification "You became a developer" appears, return to the main settings menu, go to Additional → For Developers. Find the Minimum Width (or Smallest Width) item in the list.

The default value varies depending on the model: for most it is 392, 411 or 360 dpi. Increase the value gradually by adding 20-30 units. For example, if it is 392, try to put 420 or 450. Once you enter the value and confirm the screen blinks, and all interface elements, including icons, become smaller.

Do not immediately set maximum values (above 600-700), as this can cause the interface to become unusable, and the status bar or keyboard may disappear from the visibility. If this happens, the device will most likely have to restart in Safe Mode or reset through Recovery to regain control.

To get it back to normal, just type in the original DPI value you wrote down before you started the experiments, which doesn't delete the data or require you to reboot, but it applies on the fly.

Application of third-party launchers

If the system methods don't suit you, an alternative launcher is a great solution. The standard MIUI shell is quite conservative in terms of grid customization and size, whereas third-party launchers give full control over every pixel of the desktop.

Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you not only to resize icons, but also to customize the desktop grid.You can set a 10x10 or even 12x12 grid, which automatically reduces icons and places them tighter. The launcher settings usually have a separate Size or Icon Size slider that adjusts the scale regardless of the system DPI.

To install a third-party launcher, download it from Google Play Market. Once installed, the system will prompt you to select the default app for the home screen. Select the installed launcher and press Always. Now you can press the empty space on the screen for a long time to enter the settings and begin fine-tuning the dimensions.

The advantage of launchers is also the ability to create folders with variable size and transparency, which visually “unloads” the desktop even more. However, it is worth considering that third-party launchers can consume slightly more RAM than the built-in solution from Xiaomi.

Set up special features and scale

Android has a feature that is designed to scale all content, which is originally intended for people with visual impairments, but can be used in the opposite direction. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special. features. Find the section related to the size of the displayed text or elements (the name may differ in different versions of the OS).

You can find a scale slider here, and you can move it, you change the scaling ratio of the entire system, and unlike DPI, it can also affect the size of the fonts in applications, making them disproportionately small in relation to the icons, which is a less preferred method for fine-tuning the icons, but it can be useful if you want to scale the interface globally.

⚠️ Attention: Changing the settings in the "Special Features" section may affect the work of screen readers and other assistants.

Also in some versions MIUI In the section for developers, there is a section called Windows animation scale, Transition animation scale, although they are responsible for the speed of animation, in some custom builds or through the use of the software. ADB-The commands can be changed and the window scaling factor, which indirectly affects the perception of the size of the elements.

Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is an advanced method for those who are not afraid of the command line. By connecting the phone to a PC, you can enter the command adb shell wm density 450, where 450 is the desired DPI value. This is analogous to manually adjusting, but through a computer. To reset, you use the command adb shell wm density reset.

Possible problems and solutions

When you actively interfere with the system settings of the display, artifacts can arise. For example, after changing the DPI, the icons can become too small, and the text in the settings menu will no longer fit into the lines, going beyond the screen. In this situation, the main thing is not to panic. If you see at least part of the interface, try to touch or poke to get into the developer menu and reset the DPI value.

If the interface is gone completely (black screen or status bar only), try rebooting the device to Safe Mode, which usually requires pressing the off button and then holding the "off" button on the screen for a long time until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears, in which third-party launchers are turned off, and the settings can return to default.

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If the screen is unmanageable after the change DPI, plug in USB-mouse to phone OTG-Adapter. Mouse cursor will allow you to get to the right menu items for resetting settings.

Another common problem is that widgets are not displayed correctly, and once the icons are reduced, the weather or calendar widgets can go or become too small, and the solution is to remove the old widget and add it again from the widget menu, choosing a size that fits harmoniously into the new grid.

Remember, changing the DPI is not a permanent action that cannot be reversed. Any change can be reversed with the original value, so the first step before any experiment is to write down the original numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The best way to reduce icons is to combine a standard theme with small icons and easily increase the DPI in the developer settings.