How to Increase the Icons on Xiaomi’s Desktop Phone: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones feature high-pixel density screens and impressive diagonals, allowing you to display a huge amount of information. However, for many users, especially those who have vision problems or simply prefer minimalism, the standard size of icons may seem too small. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide flexible personalization tools, but they are not always obvious at first glance. Increasing the interface elements is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to make interaction with the gadget more comfortable and faster.

Unlike standard Android, where settings are often limited to basic parameters, Xiaomi’s ecosystem allows you to scale almost all visual elements. You can influence the desktop grid, system fonts and even scale the entire interface through hidden developer menus. It is important to understand that changing one setting can affect others, so you need to act consistently. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from simple settings in the menu to advanced manipulations that will help you customize the screen perfectly for your needs.

Before we make any changes, it's worth noting that the menu's appearance may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. However, the logic of the system remains the same for all current models. Settings navigation is usually done through a standard system settings application. If you want to drastically resize items, you'll need access to advanced features, which we'll discuss in detail below. Let's start with the simplest and safestacks that don't require special skills.

Resizing the desktop grid

The easiest and most effective way to make icons bigger is to change the density of the items on the desktop. The logic is simple: the fewer cells in the grid, the more space each icon takes up. In the standard MIUI launcher, this is done through the built-in editing menu. You don't have to download third-party apps or get root rights. Just make a few finger taps on the screen.

To start, unlock your smartphone and go to the main screen. Push two fingers together (put them together) or press and hold your finger in blank until the edit menu appears. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the Settings button (the gear icon). When you click on it, you'll be taken to the desktop settings menu where the Grid option is located. Here are options from 4x5 to 6x10 or more, depending on the device model.

⚠️ Note: When choosing a grid with fewer cells (e.g, 4x5) Some widgets may not fit on the screen or shift. Prepare in advance for the fact that you have to redistribute applications across pages.

The choice of the optimal grid depends on the diagonal of your screen and personal preferences. For devices with a diagonal of up to 6 inches, a 5x6 grid is often enough, whereas on tablets or large smartphones of the Redmi Note series you can afford a denser layout. Once you change the setting, the system will automatically apply the changes, and you will immediately see the result. The icons will become noticeably larger, and the distance between them will increase.

It's also worth noting that changing the grid affects not only the size of the icons, but also the size of the font underneath them. This is a complex change that improves readability. If after changing the grid, the text under the application names still seems small, move to the next section, where we'll look at the system's font settings.

Adjust font size and display

Often the problem with interface perception is not the size of the graphics, but the text that accompanies them. Xiaomi has a separate section that allows you to independently adjust the font size and display scale (DPI), which gives you subtle control over how the information is displayed. To access these settings, you need to go to the Settings menu → Screen → Text Size.

In the window that opens, you'll see a slider that changes the size of the font throughout the system: in menus, messages, browsers, and, of course, under desktop icons. However, to scale things more globally, including indentations and button sizes, you need to click on the element size button (or "Read/Scale Mode" in some versions).

• 📱 Small: contains maximum information, elements are very small, suitable for large screens.
• 📏 Standard: balance between convenience and spaciousness, default settings.
• 🔍 Large: the best choice for improving readability without losing functionality.
• 👓 Huge: Maximum magnification, interface rebuilt, some elements may be cropped.

Changing this parameter affects most applications, some programs may not display content correctly at extreme zoom values, so it is recommended to change the value gradually, checking the performance of frequently used applications after each step, this is especially true for social networks and instant messengers, where the layout of the interface is important.

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After changing the font size, restart the device so that all system services update their interfaces correctly and there are no “cut” elements left.

Use of themes and third-party launchers

If standard tools are not enough, MIUI Theme Store comes to the rescue. Designers around the world create themes that completely change the visual style of the system, including the size of icons. Some themes are specifically designed for people with visual impairment or for use in one-hand mode, where the interface elements are enlarged. To find them, open the Themes app and search for queries like "Large icons", "Big icons" or "Senior mode".

When you install a theme, pay attention to the preview: icons often occupy a significant part of the grid cell. However, this method has a nuance: along with the icons, the style of the notification curtain, the settings menu and other system elements can change. If you need to change only the desktop, this method may be redundant, in which case it is better to consider installing a third-party launcher.

Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher offer much more flexible grid and icon size settings than a standard shell. By installing a launcher from Google Play, you can manually size each icon as a percentage of the grid cell, which achieves a perfect balance that is not available in stock settings.

⚠️ Note: Installing a third-party launcher may affect some functions MIUI, After installing a new launcher, the system can request permission to use it as its primary launcher.

To install a third-party launcher, download the application, launch it, and follow the instructions on the screen. The system will suggest setting the start screen and navigation buttons, and then you can go to the launcher settings and set the settings in the Desktop or Grid section, which gives you maximum freedom, but takes time to set up the initial settings.

Regime for the elderly (Second Space)

Xiaomi's firmware has a special mode, often called "Simple Mode" or "Self-Mode," which radically changes the interface of the phone, making all the elements as large and clear as possible. The icons become huge, the font increases, and the unnecessary functions are hidden. This is the perfect solution if the phone is designed for someone with poor eyesight or for those who are just mastering smartphones.

You can activate this mode through the Settings menu. → Second (in some versions of the Settings) → Advanced settings → Simple Mode: Once turned on, the phone will prompt you to select an emergency contact and configure the main screen. The interface will be simplified to basic functions: calls, messages, camera and gallery, presented in the form of large tiles.

In this mode, you can't accidentally delete the system app or get confused in the menu. All actions are duplicated with large hints. However, you should consider that the functionality of the smartphone in this mode is limited. You can't use the widgets as usual, and some settings will be unavailable. This is more a separate user profile than just a customization of the appearance.

Switching between modes is instantaneous. If Simple Mode doesn't work for you, you can turn it off in the same settings menu, returning the usual interface with all the data and applications, a secure feature that doesn't delete your personal files.

Advanced settings through the developer menu

For power users who want full pixel density control (DPI), there is a hidden developer menu, where you can set the exact numerical value of the screen density, which will allow you to make interface elements larger or smaller than standard sliders allow. It's a powerful tool, but it requires caution.

To activate the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once the message "You became a developer" appears, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For Developers. Find the section related to drawing or display and the option "Smallest width".

Remember the original value before changing! Standard values are usually in the range of 360-411 dp. Reducing this number makes all elements larger. For example, changing from 392 to 320 will significantly increase the size of icons and fonts. However, too much reduction can lead to the interface becoming unreadable or some applications will stop running.

⚠️ Attention: Set too low a value DPI (For example, less than 200 can make the phone virtually unusable, as the control buttons can go beyond the screen.

This method allows you to achieve unique scaling that you can't do in other ways, and it's especially useful on very high-resolution devices where standard settings don't zoom in enough, but remember, it's an interference with the system's debugging parameters.

Solving scaling problems in applications

Sometimes the system icons are enlarged, but in specific applications the interface remains small or, conversely, “floats.” This is due to the way application developers adapt their software to different screens. Android and MIUI have forced scaling settings for individual applications.

You can find them by Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features → Scaling (the path may differ in different versions) and you can enable forced stretching or, conversely, prevent scaling for selected programs, which helps when the text in the application hits buttons or clips after enlarging the fonts.

And I also want to mention the feature called Screen Enlargement in the Features section, which works like a magnifier: you assign a button combination or triple tap, and part of the screen gets bigger, and it doesn't change the size of the icons all the time, but it allows you to temporarily look at the little details, and it's a useful addition to the basic interface setting.

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A comprehensive approach to magnifying elements – a combination of grid settings, fonts and, if necessary, DPI – gives the best result without losing image quality.

In conclusion, customizing Xiaomi’s interface is a creative and personal process. Start by changing the grid and fonts, as it’s safe and reversible. If that’s not enough, experiment with themes or developer menus, with caution. A properly customized smartphone is not only more convenient, but also reduces eye strain on daily use.