How to reduce icons on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI and HyperOS

Why Users Want to Reduce Badges on Xiaomi – and When to Really Need It

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of too large icons on the desktop. MIUI (And the new HyperOS, the default icon size is optimized for a comfortable fingerstroke, but for many users, it looks unaesthetic or takes up too much space. POCO F5 Pro, where more shortcuts could fit on the desktop.

There are practical reasons: reducing icons allows you to place more frequently used applications on one screen, makes it easier to organize your workspace, and can even increase battery life by reducing the distance between taps (less finger movement = less energy), but not all methods are equally safe: some require superuser rights (root), others can reset after updating the system.

Important: if you use Xiaomi with a shell from a third-party manufacturer (e.g. Global) ROM With customized launcher, some of the instructions may not work. ADB third-party launchers.

Method 1: Change the size of icons through the settings of the MIUI launcher

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in options of the standard MIUI launcher.It does not require root rights and works on most devices, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and flagship Xiaomi 14 models.

Instructions:

Long tap on the free desktop space → select Screen Settings (or Home settings in the global version).
Go to the section Icon size.
Move the slider to the left to reduce the size, and the available values are usually between 75 and 120%.
Click Ready or Apply to save the changes.

Limitations of the method:

🔄 It does not work on some customized firmware (for example, MIUI EU without formal support).
📏 The minimum size of icons is limited by the system – less than 75% will not be installed.
🔄 After updating MIUI The settings may be reset (rarely, but it happens).

📊 What kind of launcher are you using on Xiaomi?

Standard MIUI

Nova Launcher

Lawnchair

Other

I don't know.

Method 2: Use of the ADB-fine-tuning

If built-in options aren’t enough, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android devices, which allows you to resize icons at the system level, but requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and turning on the developer mode.

Step-by-step:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Click on the line with the version 7 times in a row until the notification You became a developer appears!.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

adb shell settings put global icon_scale_factor 0.8

Here 0.8 is the scale coefficient (you can set from 0.6 to 1.2).

Reset the device.

Important nuances:

🖥️ If the command fails, try replacing global with system: adb shell settings put system. icon_scale_factor 0.75
🔧 On certain devices (e.g, POCO M6 Pro) you may need to reset your current settings first: adb shell settings delete global icon_scale_factor
⚠️ Note: Incorrect values (e.g., 0.5) can lead to icons disappearing or launcher errors. Optimal range is 0.7–0.9.

☑️ Preparation for ADB-setting

Install Xiaomi drivers on PCEnable the developer modeDownload ADB Tools (Platform Tools)Connect your phone to the original cable

Done: 0 / 4

Method 3: Installation of a third-party launcher (Nova, Lawnchair, Apex)

If the standard methods don't work, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher.

🌟 Nova Launcher – supports icon scaling from 50% to 150%, flexible grid settings and gestures.
📱 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher optimized for Xiaomi.
🔧 Apex Launcher – allows you to resize the icons and text below them separately.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

Install a launcher from Google Play.
Assign it to the default launcher (at the first start, the system will prompt you to do this).
Long press on the desktop → Settings → Screen size and icons.
Adjust the slider icon size (values from 50% to 150%) are available.
In the Desktop Grid section, you can increase the number of rows and columns (for example, up to 6×6 instead of the standard 4×5).

Advantages of the method:

🎨 Full customization: changing the shape of icons, animations, fonts.
🔄 Settings are saved after the update MIUI.
📲 It works even on devices without root.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) system widgets (weather, steps) may disappear after installing a third-party launcher. To return them, temporarily switch back to the standard launcher.

Method 4: Edit system files (root only)

This method is suitable for advanced users who are ready to get root rights, it allows you to resize icons at the system file level, but there are risks:

🚨 Loss of warranty on most Xiaomi devices).
🔧 Possibility of "filling" the phone in case of error.
🔄 Repeat the procedure after each major update MIUI.

If you are ready for this, follow the instructions:

Get root rights with Magisk (see the XDA Developers forum for instructions for your model).
Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
Cross the path: /data/system/users/0/ Find the file. icon_scale_factor.xml (If it is not, create it manually).
Open the file and change the parameter value icon_scale appropriate (e.g., appropriate, 0.7).
Save the changes, restart the device.

Alternative path (for MIUI 14+):

/system/priv-app/MiuiHome/MiuiHome.apk/res/values/dimens.xml

You can change the parameters in this file. icon_size and icon_text_size, but it requires decompilation APK.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 14) The path to system files may be different. Before editing, back up the partition. /system through TWRP.

What if the phone doesn’t start after editing system files?

If after changing the files, the launcher stopped working or the device was getting stuck on the boot, try it: 1. Go in. TWRP and roll back the section /system. 2. Connect to ADB Recovery and return original files with command: adb push original_file.xml /data/system/users/0/ 3. If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (data loss!).

Method 5: Use MIUI themes with modified icons

A lesser-known but working way is to install themes from MIUI Themes, which initially contain smaller icons, and many themes are optimized for compact display without the need for manual adjustment.

How to find the right topic:

Open the Themes app on your Xiaomi.
Search for small icons compact layout minimalist icons

View the preview topics – pay attention to the size of the icons on the desktop.

Set up your favorite topic and apply it.

Popular themes for reducing icons:

Title of the topic	Size of icons	Compatibility	Features
Minimal UI	70% of the standard	MIUI 12–15	Dark theme, rounded icons
CompactOS	65% of the standard	MIUI 14+	Enlarged grid (6×7), monochrome icons
Pixel Like	80% of the standard	All versions.	Google Pixel-style icons, adaptive grid
Dark Minimal	75% of the standard	HyperOS	Support for dynamic wallpaper

Advantages of this method:

🎨 Simultaneous change of icons, fonts and wallpaper.
🔄 Settings are saved after updates.
📲 Does not require rooting or ADB.

Disadvantages:

🔍 Not all topics support the Russian language.
📏 The size of the icons is fixed (you can not customize more accurately than the theme offers).

💡

If after applying the theme icons became too small, try to manually zoom in in the launcher settings. for this long press on the desktop → Screen settings → Scale.

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To determine the best way, assess your needs and technical capabilities:

Method	Difficulty	Required. root/ADB	Minimum size of icons	Compatibility with updates
Settings of the MIUI launcher	⭐	❌ No.	75%	⚠️ Maybe she'll drop.
ADB-team	⭐⭐	✅ ADB	60%	✅ It's still there.
Third-party launcher	⭐	❌ No.	50%	✅ It's still there.
Editing system files	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Root	Anybody.	❌ Resetting.
MIUI themes	⭐	❌ No.	65–80%	✅ It's still there.

Selection recommendations:

📱 For beginners: use the launcher settings or third-party launcher (Nova).
🔧 For advanced users: ADB-team-piece MIUI.
🛠️ For enthusiasts: editing system files (backup only!).

💡

Third-party launchers (like Nova) are the most versatile way, as they work on any Xiaomi device, are independent of the MIUI version and do not require technical skills.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the size of icons, users often face the following difficulties:

❓ The icons are too small to be seen. How to get back to the standard size?

If you've used ADB, Enter the command: adb shell settings delete global icon_scale_factor For third-party launchers (like Nova), reset your settings in the Settings section. → Reset.

❓ After updating MIUI Icons are big again. How to fix them?

This is a typical problem when using ADB or edit system files. Solutions: Repeat the procedure with ADB-If you've used root, check if you've lost your rights after the update (reinstall Magisk). Set up a third-party launcher, and it's not reset.

❓ My Xiaomi doesn't have the "Badge Size" option in the launcher settings?

Probable reasons: You have customized firmware (for example, MIUI EU The device runs on HyperOS – the path to settings may be different (try Settings). → Display. → Element sizes. The manufacturer has disabled this option for your model (often found on budget Redmis). ADB side-launcher.

❓ Can you reduce only the icons on the desktop, but leave the standard in the app menu?

Yes, but only with third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Apex) in the standard MIUI launcher, the icon size changes globally.

❓ Will there be performance problems if you install a third-party launcher?

On modern devices (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 or Dimensity 9000+), the performance difference is minimal. However, on budget models (for example, Redmi 12C with Helio G85), minor lags are possible in animations. To reduce the load: Turn off unnecessary widgets. Use light themes without complex effects. Limit the number of desktops.