How to reduce icons on the screen of the Xiaomi phone: all the ways from standard to hidden

Too big icons on Xiaomi desktop interfere with the comfortable use of a smartphone? You are not alone: according to statistics, one in three owners of devices on MIUI faces this problem after updating or changing the launcher. In this article, we will analyze all possible methods of reducing icons, from basic settings to little-known tricks for power users.

It is important to understand that the size of icons depends on three factors: version. MIUI, the launcher and screen resolution used, for example, on the Redmi Note 12 with FHD+ The icons will look different than on the display. POCO X5 s AMOLED-We took these nuances into account and developed universal solutions that work on 90% of Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO (Except for Android Go models).

If you have tried to scale through Settings → Display, but the result didn't work -- don't be too desperate. ADB-We've got teams that can control the size of icons more accurately than standard tools, and for those who are experimenting, we've prepared a review of alternative launchers with flexible grid settings.

1. Standard method: changing the screen scale

The simplest method that works on all versions of MIUI (10 to 14) is to adjust the overall scale of the system, which affects not only icons, but also fonts, interface elements and some applications, and is suitable for those who want to quickly reduce the entire content of the screen.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Display.
• 🔍 Find the item "Text size and display" (in MIUI 14 may be referred to as "Scanner Size")
• 📏 Move the slider to the left to reduce (recommended value) 85-90% Balance between readability and compactness)
• 🔄 Confirm the changes and restart the device (required for use)

⚠️ Note: This method has a side effect – some apps (such as Instagram or TikTok) may not display correctly. If artifacts appear in apps after zooming out, return the slider to 100% and use alternative methods from this article.

2. Set up the desktop grid in a standard launcher

If you only need to reduce your desktop icons without affecting system elements, use the grid settings, which work in the standard MIUI launcher and allows you to add more icons to the screen by reducing them.

How to change the grid:

1. 🖱️ Press and hold the empty space on the desktop with your finger.
2. 👆 Select Desktop Settings (or Screen Settings in older versions)
3. 📊 Find the "Grid Size" item and select the maximum value (for example, 5×6 or 6×7)
4. 🔄 Save the changes and wait for the automatic reboot of the launcher

💡 Useful tip: After changing the grid, icons may look too small.To compensate for this, increase the font size in Settings → Display. → Text size by 1-2 This will make the icons readable without changing their physical size.

3. Use of alternative launchers

If standard MIUI settings don't offer enough flexibility, install a third-party launcher.This software completely replaces the desktop and allows you to more accurately control the size of icons, indentations and animations. We tested 5 popular launchers and selected the best ones for Xiaomi.

Top.-3 launcher:

• 🥇 Nova Launcher – supports customization of icon size in 1% increments, has built-in themes for the user MIUI and optimized for AMOLED-Download the Play Market
• 🥈 Hyperion Launcher - free analogue with dynamic change of grid (up to the current version) 10×10) And gesture support. Perfect for POCO and Redmi with high resolution screen.
• 🥉 Lawnchair 2 is an open source launcher that mimics the Pixel Launcher, but with advanced icon settings (including their shape and shadows).

🔧 How to set up Nova Launcher for minimal icons:

1. Install the launcher and select it as the main one in the application settings
2. Press your finger on the desktop → “Settings” → “Desktop”
3. In the section "Icon size" set the value of 70-80%
4. In Desktop Grid, select 9×6 or 10×5 for maximum density.
5. Activate the option “Adaptive icons” for uniformity

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Third-party launchers may conflict with system gestures. If swipes to return to the back stop working after installation, turn off gestures in Settings → System system → Use the classic navigation buttons.

4. Hidden MIUI settings via ADB (for experienced)

This method requires connecting your phone to your computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows you to change system settings that are not available through the GUI, is only suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader or root rights, but works without root on most Xiaomi models.

Step-by-step:

1. 💻 Install. ADB Tools on PC and enable Debugging on USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then in Additional → For developers)
2. 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer and execute the command: Adb devices (you should display your device)
3. 📏 To change the size of the icons, type: adb shell settings put global icon_scale_factor 0.8 (significance 0.8 reduces icons 20%, range: 0.7-1.0)
4. 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes

📌 Available commands for fine tuning:

• 🔄 Replacement of the standard size: adb shell settings put global icon_scale_factor 1.0
• 📐 Change the desktop grid: adb shell settings put secure launcher_grid_size "5x6"
• 🖼️ Remove the shadows under the icons: adb shell settings put global icon_shadow_enabled 0

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause malfunctions in the shell. MIUI. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → System system → Backup. If the launcher stopped working after the changes, reset it with the command:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

5. Resizing icons through MIUI themes

Little-known fact: some themes in the MIUI Dark Store contain pre-configured profiles with reduced icons, a method that does not require root rights or ADB, but the choice of themes is limited.

How to find and apply the right topic:

1. 🎨 Open the Themes app on your Xiaomi
2. 🔍 In the search box, type "mini icons" or "small icons"
3. 📥 Download and apply one of the themes (we recommend "Minimalist") UI" or "Compact Style")
4. 🔄 After application, restart the device for correct display

🔍 List of checked themes with small icons (2026):

• 🖼️ "Pure Black Mini is a black theme with 70 percent standard size icons.
• 🌌 "Cosmic Compact – a futuristic design with a grid 6×7
• 📱 "Stock Android Feel – a pure Android imitation with small elements

⚠️ Note: Some themes can change not only the size of the icons, but also system fonts, color palette and animations. If the text readability deteriorates after applying the theme, return the standard theme in the settings or manually adjust the font size in Settings → Display.

6 Manually modifying system files (root only)

This is only suitable for advanced users with unlocked bootloaders and root rights. It allows you to manually edit the system files responsible for displaying icons. It is not recommended for beginners!

Instructions for root devices:

1. 📁 Install a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer)
2. 🔍 Cross the path: /system/priv-app/MiuiHome/MiuiHome.apk/res/values/
3. 📝 Find the file. dimens.xml Open it in the text editor.
4. 🔧 Find the lines with the parameters: icon_size cell_width cell_height and reduce the values on 15-20%
5. 💾 Save the file, set the rights 644 and restart the device

📌 Example of changes in dimens.xml:

<dimen name="icon_size">48.0dip</dimen>  →  <dimen name="icon_size">40.0dip</dimen>


<dimen name="cell_width">84.0dip</dimen> →  <dimen name="cell_width">72.0dip</dimen>

💡

Changing system files without a backup can lead to a "bootloop" (locked boot).Always create a backup via TWRP before editing files to /system.

7. Additional tips for optimizing the desktop

Reducing icons is only part of the task of creating a user-friendly desktop, and here are some more tricks to help make Xiaomi’s interface more compact and functional:

• 📂 Grouping icons: Create folders for similar applications (for example, "Social Networks", "Games", "Utilities.
• 🔄 Hiding Unnecessary Icons: In the Standard Launcher MIUI You can hide apps from the menu. → "Hide".
• 🌐 Widgets instead of icons: Replace frequently used apps (weather, calendar, music) with widgets that take up more space but provide information directly on the desktop.
• 🖥️ Second Desktop: Spread the icons across multiple screens. Add a new swipe to the left on the home screen.

💡 Useful advice for owners POCO: In series devices POCO F and POCO X has a hidden function called Gamer Mode, which automatically reduces the size of system elements during play, activated by a swipe from the top right corner of the screen, and you can use this mode for normal tasks, which makes the interface more compact.

FAQ: Frequent questions about reducing icons on Xiaomi