Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to tailor the interface to their individual needs. The standard size of controls can seem too small for people with visual impairments or simply uncomfortable when using the device with one hand. Modern MIUI shells and the new HyperOS provide flexible tools for personalization, but not all of them are on the surface.
Rescaling items is not just a matter of aesthetics, but an important accessibility feature. By increasing app icons, you make desktop navigation more comfortable and reduce eye strain. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the methods available, from simple system settings to the use of advanced developer capabilities.
Note that scaling algorithms in Android work nonlinearly, meaning that changing a single parameter can affect how text, buttons, and indentations are displayed across applications, so it’s important to understand which tool to use to achieve the desired result without losing functionality.
Basic setting of font size and elements
The easiest and safest way to change the visual experience of the interface is to use standard screen settings. In shells from Xiaomi, this option is often associated with the font size, which automatically affects the dimensions of some system icons. To access these settings, you need to go to the Settings menu → Screen → Text Size.
When you move the slider to the right, you'll notice that not only does the text on the menu increase, but the controls in standard applications also increase, because the system recalculates the pixel density (DPI) for the content being displayed. However, this method has its limitations: it doesn't always proportionally increase third-party applications like games or specialized software.
⚠️ Warning: Excessively increasing the size of text can cause some words on the menu to crop or go beyond the screen, making the interface unreadable.
If standard magnification isn't enough, you can try changing the theme, and some of the themes in the MIUI Themes store were originally designed with larger interface elements, which can be a great solution for those who don't want to go into the technical settings of the system.
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Use themes marked “Big Icons” or “Senior Mode” in the MIUI theme store to instantly change the style of icons without manual adjustment.
Use of the regime for the visually impaired
Android and MIUI have a special mode designed specifically for visually impaired people, which radically changes the way we display information, making all elements as large and contrasting as possible, and activate it through the Settings path → Advanced Settings → Special features → Visual → zoom in.
When you turn on this feature, the interface goes into high contrast mode, and the size of the icons on the desktop and in the application menu increases to the maximum values that the developers of the system provide. This is the most effective way if standard scale settings are not enough for you, and it is important to understand that this mode changes the logic of some gestures.
In addition, this mode often turns off some visuals and animations, which can positively affect the performance of older models of smartphones.The system starts to work more responsively, since the processor does not need to render complex graphics of the interface.
- 👁️ Mode significantly increases the readability of the text and the distinguishability of elements.
- 📱 The interface is becoming simpler and more understandable for older users.
- 🔋 Reducing the load on the GPU can save a little battery power.
- ⚙️ Some complicated navigation gestures may work differently or be disabled.
Setup through the Developer Menu
For a more subtle setup that affects the pixel density, not just the font size, you will need access to a hidden menu.This method allows you to increase the icons on Xiaomi more aggressively than standard means. First you need to activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the line MIUI Version or OS Version.
Once activated, a new option will appear in the settings menu called “Developers For” and we’re interested in “Minimum Width” (or “Less Width”), which is the default value that depends on the screen resolution of your smartphone (e.g., 360, 392 or 411 dp), reducing this number will lead to an increase in all interface elements, including icons.
Recommended value: current value minus 40-60 unitsBe very careful when changing this setting, and if you set it too small, the interface can become so big that you can't press the back button or log in to get it back, and then you can only reset the phone completely.
⚠️ WARNING: Write down the initial "Minimum Width" value before changing! This is the only way to quickly return everything to its place in the event of a critical display error.
☑️ Secure setup DPI
Application of third-party launchers
If the system limitations of HyperOS or MIUI don’t suit you, installing a third-party launcher is the best solution, replacing the standard desktop with unlimited customization options, and popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher.
In the settings of these launchers, there's a separate section that tells you how big the grid and the icons are, so you can literally stretch the icon to the right size, or you can choose presets like "Large," "Huge," which gives you maximum freedom and doesn't require superuser rights or access to hidden menus.
In addition, third-party shells often allow you to change not only the size, but also the shape, style of signatures and behavior when pressed, which makes the smartphone a unique tool that is fully adapted to your preferences.
| Launcher | Size flexibility | Memory consumption | Russian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Tall. | Low. | There is. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Medium | Average. | There is. |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Automatic. | Low. | There is. |
| NIAGARA Launcher | Minimum | Minimum | There is. |
The impact of launchers on the battery
Problems with scaling in individual applications
Users often notice that after the icons on the system are enlarged, within specific applications (for example, Instagram, Telegram or YouTube), the interface remains small or, conversely, “floats”, this is because many applications have their own, rigidly defined layout parameters that ignore the system settings of scale.
In such cases, the only way to make a difference is to change the DPI density globally in the developer menu, as discussed above. However, even this does not guarantee 100% results. Some app developers specifically block scaling to maintain the integrity of their design across all devices.
If an application becomes unusable due to improper zooming, try to find the option “Font Size” or “Interface” in its internal settings, often hidden in the “About App” or “Accessibility” sections inside the software itself.
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The global change to DPI affects the entire system, but does not guarantee that elements are correctly displayed in applications with a hard layout.
Frequent questions and troubleshooting
Users often face unforeseen challenges in the process of customization, such as when they change their settings, icons can become blurred, because raster images lose quality when they zoom in, and vector icons in modern versions of Android scale without loss, but older apps can use raster.
It's also possible that the sensor will fail when the large elements overlap, making it impossible to press the desired button, and then you can quickly reboot the device or temporarily connect the mouse through the device. OTG-Adapter to get to the settings and roll back changes.
Keep in mind that an operating system update can reset your personalized scale settings. After a major MIUI update or a switch to HyperOS, it is recommended to check the screen settings again.