Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 remains a popular device due to its excellent price-to-quality ratio, but the standard size of MIUI elements is not suitable for all users. Often, device owners notice that the icons of the application are too small for comfortable use, especially if the vision is not perfect or large fingers. owners of Redmi Note 7 are looking for ways to make navigation more convenient without buying a new gadget.
Small interfaces are a problem that can be solved by standard system tools, but many features are hidden in the engineering menu or require activation through special developer settings. In this article, we will discuss all available scaling methods, from simple menu switches to advanced DPI manipulations. You will learn how to safely zoom in so that icons become larger without disrupting the layout of other applications.
Before we make any changes, it’s worth noting that the MIUI shell has its own features that distinguish it from pure Android. Some settings may be called differently or located in unexpected places. We’ll provide relevant navigation paths relevant to the various firmware versions installed on the Redmi Note 7. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid visual artifacts.
Standard settings of font size and elements
The safest and easiest way to change the visual experience of the interface is to use the built-in personalization tools. MIUI has a separate section that deals with the appearance of the system, and you can zoom in not only text, but also some graphic elements, which indirectly affects the overall size of the icons.
To access these settings, open the Settings menu and search for the Screen section. In some firmware versions, this item may be called the Display or be inside the Additional subsection. This is where the slider adjusts the font size is located. Moving the slider to the right instantly increases the text in the menu, messages and app names under the icons.
⚠️ Warning: Excessive font enlargement may cause text in some applications to stop being placed in designated fields, causing line overlap or word cropping.
Also, the same section often includes the option to resize interface elements. Activate the function Large mode (if available in your version of MIUI) rebuilt the desktop grid, making all elements more cumbersome and convenient for older people. It is a comprehensive solution that changes the logic of displaying content.
Using Developer Mode to Scale
If standard settings aren't enough, you can turn to more powerful tools, and Android's developer mode allows you to change the pixel density per inch (DPI) and interface scale, and this is the most effective method to zoom in on the Redmi Note 7 icons globally.
First, you need to activate the hidden menu. Go to Settings. → About the phone and find the line version MIUI. You need to press this line quickly. 7-10 Once in a row, until a pop-up notice that you have become a developer appears, and then a new option will appear in the settings menu. → For developers.
Inside the developer menu, you need to find the Drawing or Hardware Acceleration section. We're interested in the Less Wide (or Min Wide) item. The default value for Redmi Note 7 is usually 392 dp or so. Reducing this number will lead to an increase in all interface elements, including icons.
☑️ Checking before change DPI
Be careful: setting a low value can make the interface unreadable or cause system failures. If the screen has turned black or the elements have stopped displaying correctly, you will need to reset the phone settings.
Setup of the desktop and launcher grid
The MIUI shell allows you to flexibly customize your desktop, and changing the number of columns and grid lines directly affects the size of icons, and the fewer cells you put on the screen, the larger they will look.
To change the grid, pinch with two fingers on your desktop or tap and hold the empty area. At the bottom, a menu will appear where you want to select Settings (the gear icon). Find the Grid item or the Grid Size. To maximize the icons, choose the 4x5 or 4x6 configuration if available.
| Grid configuration | Number of icons | Size of icons | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x7 | 35+ (without folders) | Small-time | For advanced users |
| 5x6 | 30 | Medium. | Standard version |
| 4x6 | 24 | Big one. | Optimal for the Redmi Note 7 |
| 4x5 | 20 | Very large | For the visually impaired |
There's also a new option called Enlarged Icons in the launcher settings, and if you turn on this switch, the app icons will get bigger, but the number of apps on the screen will decrease, and it's a regular feature that doesn't require superuser rights.
Hidden opportunities of the launcher
Application of design themes to change the size
MIUI Theme Store is a powerful customization tool that is often overlooked, and many users are looking for ways to zoom in on icons through customization when the finished solution is already packed into the theme, and can completely replace the graphical assets of the system.
Go to the Themes app and search for queries like “Large icons,” “Big icons,” or “For the elderly.” Download your favorite theme and apply it. Note that some themes only change icons, while others change the entire interface, including the notification bar and settings.
When applying a theme, the system can alert you to compatibility, and if the interface is unstable after applying the theme, you can always go back to the standard Classic or Default theme through the same application, which is a safe way to experiment with the visual.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party themes downloaded from unverified sources (not from the official store) may contain malicious code or cause regular launcher flights.
Installation of third-party launchers
If Xiaomi’s built-in capabilities don’t suit you, there’s nothing stopping you from installing an alternative launcher from Google Play, a radical but effective move. Popular launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher give you full control over the size of the icons.
Once you install an application (like Nova Launcher), you need to make it the primary one. MIUI will prompt you to select the default launcher when you first start or when you press the Home button.
Third-party launcher settings typically have a separate Appearance or Desktop section where you can slide the exact size of the icons in percentages or pixels, giving you the maximum flexibility not available in standard firmware.
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When installing a third-party launcher, disable the option “Extended Screen” in the MIUI settings to avoid display conflicts and the appearance of a second search line.
Possible problems and solutions
When scaling the interface on Redmi Note 7, there may be unexpected situations, and users are more likely to find that after changing the DPI, some applications stop opening or their interface “floats”, which is due to the fact that application developers do not test their software at extreme pixel density values.
If you notice that the keyboard has become too large and overlaps half the screen, or the buttons in the menu have become unpressable, you need to return the settings to their original values, the easiest way to do this is by resetting the screen settings in the developer menu.
In the worst case, when the interface becomes completely non-functional, resetting to factory settings will help. Before serious experiments, always back up the data. Also, problems can arise when updating the system when custom settings are reset or conflict with the new version of MIUI.
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Any change to the system settings of the DPI or the installation of unknown launchers should be carried out only after a complete backup of important data has been created.