Too big icons on the screen Xiaomi Redmi prevent comfortable use of the smartphone? You are not alone: according to statistics, 38% of MIUI users at least once tried to change the scale of icons. The problem is relevant for owners of models with small screens (Redmi 9A, Redmi 10A) and for flagships like Redmi K50 Pro, where large icons eat up useful space.
In this article, 5 proven ways to reduce icons, from basic MIUI settings to little-known tricks using ADB and third-party launchers, we will break down the nuances for different versions of the shell (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), warn against typical errors and show how to return everything back if something goes wrong.
⚠️ Important: Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or the rights of the superuser. If you're a beginner, start with the standard settings and then move on to advanced ways.
1. Standard setting of the desktop grid
The easiest way to reduce icons is to change the number of rows and columns on the home screen, which doesn't reduce the icons themselves, but makes them visually smaller by compacting the layout.
How it works:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Desktop.
- 🔧 Select the Desktop Settings item → Grid size.
- 📏 Drag the slider to the right to increase the number of icons (for example, with the 4×5 on 5×6 or 6×7).
- ✅ Click Ready and confirm the changes.
On MIUI 14, options up to 6×8 are available, but note that the tighter the grid, the harder it is to tap on the desired icon. The optimal balance for most users is 5×6.
Make sure there are no important widgets on the desktop (they can move out)
Remember the current configuration (take a picture of the screen)
Check if your MIUI theme supports tight grids
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⚠️ Note: some models (Redmi Note 11, Redmi 10) may lose folder location after changing the grid, and we recommend that you first transfer all important shortcuts to one folder, and then experiment with settings.
2. Screen scaling (Display Size)
If you want to reduce not only icons, but all interface elements (fonts, buttons, panels), use system scaling. This method works on all versions of MIUI and does not require root rights.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings. → Screen.
- Select the screen size (or Display Size in English firmware).
- Move the slider to the left to reduce the scale (Default is standard, Small is minimal).
- Confirm the changes and restart the device (optional, but recommended).
The effect will be noticeable immediately: icons, fonts and even elements of system applications (Calls, Messages) will become smaller, and the minus of the method is reduced everything, including text in the browser and messengers, which can create discomfort for users with poor vision.
| Parameter of scale | Size of icons | Type size | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default | Standard (100%) | Standard. | It's good for most people. |
| Small | Reduced by 15-20% | Reduced by 10% | Best for large screens (Redmi K60) |
| Smallest | Reduced by 30% | Reduced by 20% | It can be uncomfortable on <6.5 screens. |
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If after zooming some applications (such as games) don’t display correctly, try turning off the “Autoscale” option or setting a fixed resolution in their settings.
3. Use of alternative launchers
The standard MIUI launcher is limited in settings, but third-party shells (e.g. Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher) allow you to flexibly manage icon size, indentations and even their shape.
Top.-3 launcher:
- 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports resizing icons from 50% to 150%, setting indentations and even replacing icons through packs.
- 🎨 Apex Launcher – Similar to Nova, but with more flexible gesture settings.
- 🔄 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher optimized for weak devices (Redmi) 8A, Redmi 9C).
How to adjust the size of icons in Nova Launcher:
- Install a launcher from Google Play.
- Press the finger free space on the desktop → Settings.
- Go to the desk. → Size of icons.
- Move the slider to the desired value (recommended 70-80% to start).
- In Home Screen → Retreats, reduce the margins if the icons are too loose.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 When installing a third-party launcher, Xiaomi's weather and calendar widgets may disappear. To return them, you will have to temporarily return to the standard launcher.
Standard. MIUI|Nova Launcher|Apex Launcher|Lawnchair|Other|I don't know what it is.-->
4. Editing system files (for advanced)
If standard methods don't work, you can manually change the icon display settings through system file editing, which requires root rights or access to ADB.
Important: improper actions can lead to a failure of the launcher!
Instructions for MIUI 13/14:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate Debugging via USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number → return to Additional → For developers).
- Open the command line on your PC and type in: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system
- Go to the folder with the launcher settings: cd /data/data/com.miui.home/shared_prefs
- Open the file. com.miui.home.preferences.xml in the text editor and find the lines: <string name="pref_icon_size_factor">1.0</string> <string name="pref_icon_text_size_factor">1.0</string> Change the values to 0.7 or 0.8 downsizing.
- Save the file, restart the device.
Critical information: Some firmware (MIUI Global for Redmi Note 12) may reset the theme after manual file editing. To avoid this, export the current theme to Topics → My Themes → Export before changing.
What if the launcher stopped working after editing?
5. Hidden developer settings for scaling
MIUI has hidden parameters that allow you to zoom in more accurately, and they're available through the developer menu.
How to turn on and use:
- Activate Developer Mode (see Step 1 in the previous section).
- Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Find options: Minimum width (dp) - affects the scale of all elements. Increase the value (for example, with a 360 before 400) I'm going to reduce the icons (DPI) — Standard value for Redmi with Full HD-screen — 440. Reduce it to 400-420 more compactly.
After the changes, restart the device.
⚠️ Attention: parameter changes DPI It can cause some applications (such as banking or gaming) to display incorrectly.If the SberBank Online or Tinkoff interface becomes blurred after the changes, return the standard settings.
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Changing DPI is the most powerful tool for reducing icons, but also the riskiest. Always test the new values for the performance of critical applications.
6. Reduce icons in folders and application menus
Even if you've reduced the icons on your desktop, they can stay large in the app menu and folders, and you can fix this in two ways:
Method 1: through the theme settings
- 🎨 Go to Topics. → My subjects. → Edit.
- 🔍 Choose the icons. → Size of icons on the menu.
- 📉 Set the value of Small or Medium.
Method 2: via ADB (requires a PC)
If the themes do not have the option to resize, use the command:
adb shell settings put global icon_size_scale_factor 0.8Where 0.8 is the scaling factor (range from 0.5 to 1.5).
To return to the standard settings, enter:
adb shell settings delete global icon_size_scale_factorFrequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When changing the size of icons, users often face some problems, and here's how to prevent them:
- 🔄 Reset icons: Before you change the grid, take a screenshot of your desktop or write down the location of important labels.
- 👓 Too small text: if it becomes difficult to read after zooming in, return the standard font settings to Settings → Screen. → Type size.
- 🚫 Widgets don’t work: some widgets (like Weather or Steps) may disappear when using third-party launchers.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption: a dense grid of icons and frequent redrawing of the screen can slightly increase power consumption. → Battery.
⚠️ Attention: Redmi with AMOLED-screens (Redmi) K40, Redmi 11 Pro+) Too small icons on dark themes can cause a "noise picture" effect. If you notice this, increase the size of the icons or change the theme to a light one.