How to install new icons on the smartphone Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Standard icons on Xiaomi smartphones often look boring or do not fit into the overall style of the interface. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several ways to change them, from built-in MIUI tools to third-party solutions. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of installing custom icons, including hidden system functions, working with themes and alternative launchers.

It’s important to understand that customization options depend on the firmware version (MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS) and the device model. For example, on Xiaomi 13/14 flagships, advanced personalization options are available, while budget Redmi Notes may require additional manipulations.

1. Modifying icons through built-in MIUI themes

The easiest way to change icons is to use the official MIUI Themes store.This method does not require super-user rights (root) and works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with current firmware.

To apply a new theme:

• 📱 Open the Topics app (brush icon on desktop)
• 🔍 In the search bar, type in a query like “icon pack” or “minimalism icons"
• 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply
• 🔄 If the icons have not changed, restart the device.

Note that some themes only change the icons of system applications, leaving the icons of third-party programs unchanged, in which case a combination of themes with alternative launchers will help (we will discuss this below).

2. Installation of icons through third-party launchers

If built-in themes are not enough, you can use alternative launchers from Google Play. Popular solutions like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher support the installation of icon packs and offer flexible configurations.

Instructions for setting:

1. Install a launcher (like Nova Launcher)
2. Download your favorite icon pack (search for "icon pack" in the Play Market)
3. Click the empty space on the desktop → Settings → Style of icons
4. Select the installed icon package

The advantage of this method is the ability to combine different styles of icons for different applications, for example, you can leave standard icons for system utilities, and for social networks to install minimalistic options.

Remove unnecessary widgets from the desktop

Make a backup of current settings

Check the compatibility of icon pack with your version of Android

Disable battery optimization for launcher-->

3 Manually changing icons without root rights

For advanced users, there is a way to change individual icons without getting root access, which requires installing the Shortcut Maker app and works on most Xiaomi devices with Android 10+.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Shortcut Maker
2. Select the app you want to change the icon.
3. Click Create → Change the icon
4. Upload your own image (recommended size 192×192 px)
5. Keep the label on your desktop

Importantly, this method creates a duplicate of the icon, not a replacement for the original one, and if you remove the label, the standard icon will remain on the app menu.

4.Use of icon packs with root access

With root access, you can completely replace system icons, including icons in the app menu and settings, a method suitable for advanced users who are ready for potential risks.

Tools required:

• 🔧 Root access (obtained via Magisk or analogues)
• 📁 File Manager with root access (e.g. Root Explorer)
• 🖼️ Package of icons in.apk format or individual files.png

Replacement algorithm:

1. Download the icon package (for example, from the xda-developers website)


2 Unpack APK- file of icon packet




3. Copy icon files to /system/app/[Application Name]/res/




Change the access rights to 644 (r-w r--- r----)




5. Reset the device

5.Creating your own icons for Xiaomi

If you don't find the right style, you can create unique icons yourself, which requires basic skills in working with graphic editors and compliance with the technical requirements of MIUI.

Requirements for icons:

To create icons suitable programs:

• 🎨 Adobe Illustrator (Vector Graphics)
• 🖌️ Figma (Free Online Editor)
• 📱 Icon Pack Studio (mobile application)

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Use templates from Google Material Design to create MIUI-compatible icons. You can download them on the official Material.io website.

6. Solving problems with displaying icons

Sometimes, when icons are changed, there are problems: icons don't update, they show up in low resolution, or they go back to the standard look, and let's look at typical situations and how to fix them.

Frequent problems and solutions:

• ⚡ Icons haven’t changed after applying the theme: clear the theme app cache in the settings
• 🔄 Old icons return after reboot: disable Adaptive icons in launcher settings
• 🖼️ Low quality icons: check the resolution of the source files (should be at least) 192×192 px)
• 🚫 Not all icons have changed: some system applications block icon changes

If problems persist, try resetting the launcher settings to standard:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Your Launcher] → Storage → Clear Data

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Before resetting your launcher settings, export the current configuration (if supported) and this will keep the widgets and shortcuts.

7.The Best Sources of Icons for Xiaomi in 2026

Choosing quality icon packages is half the success of customizing the interface, and we selected proven sources where you can find stylish and well-optimized kits for Xiaomi devices.

Top.-5 resource:

• 🌐 XDA Developers Forum – unique packages from the community
• 🎨 Icon Pack Studio – the designer of own icons
• 🖼️ DeviantArt – art collections from designers
• 📱 Play Market – official packages with support for updates
• 🔧 GitHub – Open Source Projects

When choosing a package, pay attention to:

• 📅 Date of last update (up-to-date packages are updated at least 1 time in 3 months)
• ⭐ User rating and reviews (avoid packages with a score below 4.0)
• 📱 Compatibility with your version MIUI/HyperOS

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing icons on Xiaomi

Remember that deep customization is always a balance between unique design and device stability: Start with simple methods (embedded themes, launchers) and only move on to complex root-access solutions when necessary. Regularly back up data before experimenting with system files.

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For HyperOS devices (MIUI 15), the process of installing icons may be different. Before you start, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.