How to increase icons on the Xiaomi Redmi desktop: all the ways from standard to hidden

Small icons on the Xiaomi Redmi desktop interfere with comfortable use? Do you constantly miss when clicking or just want to make the interface more readable? In this article, we will examine all possible ways to increase icons, from standard MIUI settings to alternative launchers and technical tricks.

The problem of too small icons is especially relevant for users with thumbs or low vision. Fortunately, Xiaomi provides several built-in tools for zooming, and third-party solutions allow you to flexibly customize the appearance of the desktop. We tested all methods on the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and POCO flagships – the instructions are universal for MIUI 12-14.

It's important to understand that changing icon sizes can affect the number of rows and columns on the screen. In some cases, you'll have to sacrifice the density of the elements for convenience. If you need to not just enlarge the icons, but completely redesign the desktop, look at the alternative launchers in the last section of this article.

1. Standard scale setting in MIUI

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, and the manufacturer has provided the ability to resize icons without installing additional apps.

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Select the text size and display.
3. In the Size of Elements section, move the slider to the right to enlarge.
4. Click Apply in the upper right corner.

This method scales up all interface elements, including menu and app text, and if you only want to zoom in on your desktop icons, move on to the next one.

⚠️ Note: With maximum zoom, some interface elements may be cropped on screens with a resolution below Full HD+ (Like Redmi. 9A In this case, try to reduce the font size in the same menu.

If after changing the scale icons became too large, and the desktop lost accuracy, return the slider to the original position and try to change the desktop grid:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select the Desktop Settings.
3. Go to the Desktop Grid.
4. Set a minimum number of rows and columns (e.g., 4×5 instead of 5×6).

2. “Small text” regime for visually impaired

For users with visual problems, MIUI has a special mode that not only increases icons, but also the text within applications.

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select Increase. → Large text.
3. Activate the switch and adjust the font size.

This mode works systemically and affects all applications, including WhatsApp, Telegram and Google Chrome. The main disadvantage is that some interface elements may look disproportionate, for example, on Instagram buttons will become huge, and the text of comments will remain the same size.

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If after zooming some applications are rendered incorrectly (for example, text is cropped in VK or Tinkoff Bank), clear their cache in the App settings. This often solves layout problems.

3. Use of alternative launchers

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, the best solution is to install the launcher side, which allows you to flexibly adjust the size of icons, the indentations between them, and even the shape, and we tested three of the most popular options:

• 🔹 Nova Launcher is the most flexible launcher with the ability to resize icons from 50% to 150.
• 🔹 POCO Launcher – Optimized for Xiaomi, has built-in themes and customization of icon scale.
• 🔹 Microsoft Launcher – a simple interface with the ability to change the size of icons and add widgets.

Let’s look at the Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop → Settings.
3. Go to the desk. → Size of icons.
4. Move the slider to the desired value (recommended 120-130% for balance between size and number of icons).
5. In the Desktop Grid section, set the number of rows and columns.

Nova Launcher allows you to set different sizes of icons for the desktop and application menus – this is a unique feature that is not in the standard MIUI launcher. You can also include adaptive icons (Settings → Icons → Adaptive icons) in the settings so that all icons have the same size and shape.

Install from Google Play|Make it a default launcher|Set up the size of the icons (120-130%)|Set up a grid. 4×5 or 5×5|Include adaptive icons-->

4. Change the size of icons through ADB (for advanced)

If you are ready to dive into the technical details, you can change the size of the icons through the ADB-This method requires you to connect your smartphone to your computer and enable the developer mode, but it gives you maximum flexibility:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and install ADB Tools.
4. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and type: adb shell settings put secure icon_size 1.3 (where 1.3 — The scaling factor can be specified from 0.8 before 1.5).
5. Reset the device.

This method works on all versions of MIUI, but has several nuances:

• 🔧 After updating the firmware settings can be reset.
• 🔧 Some system icons (such as those in the notification bar) will not change.
• 🔧 If it is too large a value (1.5).+) The icons can overlap with each other.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-commands can cause interface failures. Before experimenting, back up your data through Settings. → System system → Backup: If the icons are missing after the change or the desktop is no longer responding, reset the launcher settings: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

5. Customization through MIUI themes

Few people know, but there are some topics for MIUI They change the default size of the icons, for example, the themes marked "Big Icons" or "Easy View" automatically increase the icons on the icons. 20-30%. Here's how to find them:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. In the search bar, enter big icons or large icons.
3. Choose your favorite topic and apply it.
4. If the icons have become too large, go back to the themes settings and adjust the scale.

We tested several themes and ranked the best ones for increasing icons:

The main advantage of this method is that you don't have to manually customize anything, just apply a theme, and all the icons will automatically become larger, and the disadvantage is that there is a limited choice of themes with this functionality, and not all of them are free.

6. Hidden developer settings for scaling

There are hidden parameters in MIUI that allow you to zoom in more precisely, and these are not for the average user, but they can help you achieve the perfect size of the icons. Here's how to activate them:

1. Enable Developer Mode (as described in the ADB section).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the items: Minimum width (set 400dp to zoom in) Display Density (default 440dpi, reduce to 400dpi for large icons)

Reset the device.

These parameters affect the pixel density (DPI), which determines the size of all interface elements. The lower the DPI, the larger the icons and text will be.

• 📱 Redmi Note 10/11/12: 400-420dpi
• 📱 Redmi 9/10: 380-400dpi (because of the lower screen resolution)
• 📱 POCO F3/F4/F5: 420-440dpi (High resolution allows higher values to be used)

⚠️ Attention: A change in the display density may cause some applications (e.g. banking or gaming) to display incorrectly. DPI Sberbank Online or Tinkoff stopped working normally, return the standard value (440dpi) or clear the app's cache.

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The most stable result is a combination of standard MIUI scale (110-120%) and display density 400-420dpi, which allows you to zoom in on icons without critical interface distortion.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you resize icons, users often experience side effects, and we've collected some of the most common problems and ways to solve them:

If after all the manipulations the icons are still too small, check the following points:

• 🔍 Make sure you're in the Settings → Screen. → The permit is set to a maximum value (for example, FHD+ instead HD+).
• 🔍 Turn off Adaptive Brightness – Sometimes it resets the scale.
• 🔍 Check if there are restrictions in the settings → Special facilities → Deletion of animations.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions