How to replace the standard app icon on Xiaomi with your photo: a detailed guide

Why users change icons to Xiaomi

App icons on Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI shell often cause users to displeasure: they seem too bright, inappropriate for style or just boring with time. This is especially true for owners of Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T devices, where the manufacturer actively imposes a corporate design. Replacing standard icons with your own photos is one of the most popular ways to personalize the interface.

Unlike iOS, which requires workarounds through Shortcuts, Android (especially on Xiaomi) offers several formal and semi-official methods. However, not all of them are equally convenient: some require root rights, others only work on certain versions of MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 or later). In this article, we will discuss three working methods to take into account the limitations of Xiaomi, including the method through ADB, which bypasses system locks.

It is important to understand that replacing icons is not just a cosmetic procedure; it can affect launcher performance, theme compatibility, and even some system utilities (such as Security or Game Turbo) so we recommend backing up data through Settings → About Phone → Backup before you start.

Method 1: Use of the built-in MIUI theme editor (without root)

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI Themes functionality, which is available on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices (except for models for the global market with cropped firmware), which does not require superuser rights, but has limitations: replaced icons will only be visible in the current theme and can be reset after the system update.

To replace the icon through MIUI Themes:

1. Open the Themes app (icon in the form of a brush).
2. Go to the section My topics → Edit.
3. Select App Icons and find the desired app in the list.
4. Click on the icon and select From the gallery, then upload your photo.
5. Save the changes and apply the theme.

This method works on MIUI 12-14, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Only.png and.jpg formats with at least a resolution are supported. 192×192 px.
• 🔄 After updating MIUI Icons can be reset to standard.
• 🎨 Not all system applications (such as Settings or Calls) are editable.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra for the Chinese market) icon editing feature may be blocked due to manufacturer policy.

Method 2: Installation of a third-party launcher (Nova, Hyperion, Lawnchair)

If the built-in MIUI tools don't suit, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports adaptive icons, gestures and deep customization.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – optimized for Xiaomi devices and POCO, has a built-in icon editor.
• 🍃 Lawnchair is a lightweight open source launcher that supports dynamic icons.

Instructions for replacing icons through Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Press your finger in the free screen space and select Settings Nova.
3. Go to Appearance → Icon Style → Adaptive Icons and turn on the option.
4. Return to the home screen, press the app icon and select Edit.
5. Click on the icon and select Gallery, then upload your photo.

Advantages of this method:

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, when using third-party launchers, you may have problems displaying notifications on a locked screen. To fix this, go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Autostart and enable autostart for the selected launcher.

Download APK from the official website (not from third-party sources)

Backup your current launcher via Titanium Backup (optional)

Disable battery optimization for launcher in MIUI settings

Reboot the device after installation-->

Method 3: Replace icons via ADB (for power users)

If the first two methods don’t work (for example, due to firmware limitations or a desire to change system icons), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to replace icons at the system level, including Settings, Calls and Messages applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable debugging.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
4. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and do:

adb shell pm list packages -f | find "mipmap"

This command will display a list of apps with paths to their icons. For example, for a Calls app, the path might look like this: /system/priv-app/Contacts/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_launcher_contacts.png.

Next:

1. Download the icon in.png format (size 192×192 px or 512×512 px for high resolution).
2. Rename the file to match the original icon name (e.g, ic_launcher_contacts.png).
3. Replace the file on your device via ADB:

adb push ic_launcher_contacts.png /sdcard/


adb shell




su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/ic_launcher_contacts.png /system/priv-app/Contacts/res/drawable-xxhdpi/




chmod 644 /system/priv-app/Contacts/res/drawable-xxhdpi/ic_launcher_contacts.png




reboot

Important: this method requires root or unlocked bootloader rights, which voids the Xiaomi warranty. On devices with a locked bootloader (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G for the global market), it is impossible to replace system icons through ADB without additional manipulation.

How to Create the Perfect Replacement Icon: Image Requirements

It is not enough to simply take any photo from the gallery – the icon must meet several technical requirements to correctly display in MIUI:

• 📏 Size: minimum 192×192 px, optimally 512×512 px (for adaptive icons).
• 🎨 Format:.png only with transparent background (for system icons).
• 🖼️ Style: Avoid small details – they will be illegible on the screen of the smartphone.
• 🌈 Colors: Use contrasting tones, as MIUI Can automatically apply filters.

Recommended tools for creating icons:

If you replace an icon through Nova Launcher or MIUI Themes, you can use images with an opaque background. However, for system icons (replaced via ADB), transparency is mandatory, otherwise the icon will appear with a white square.

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To check how the icon will look on the screen, use the Icon Preview app from Google Play. It shows previews in different sizes and with MIUI effects (such as rounded corners).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing icons with Xiaomi, users experience common mistakes, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1. The icon does not change after the application of the theme

• 🔹 Restart the device – sometimes MIUI caches old icons.
• 🔹 Remove the app cache Topics in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔹 Check if you have an icon package installed from Google Play – it can block your changes.

2.The launcher brakes after replacing icons

• 🔹 Turn off animations in the launcher settings (for example, in Nova Launcher: Settings) → Animation. → No animations).
• 🔹 Clear the launcher cache through Settings → Annexes.
• 🔹 If you are using Hyperion Launcher, disable Dynamic Effects.

3.System icons are reset after MIUI update

• 🔹 It's normal behavior — MIUI Overwrite system files when updating.
• 🔹 To avoid losing changes, use Magisk Module to fix edits (root required).
• 🔹 Alternative: Backup your modified files through ADB pull and restore them after the update.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) attempts to modify system icons through ADB If you don't root, you can reset the launcher to a standard one, and then you can only reset the settings completely or flash it over.

Alternative methods: icon packs and workarounds

If none of the methods described are suitable, consider alternative options:

1.Install icon packages from Google Play

The app store has thousands of free and paid icon packages compatible with MIUI. Popular options:

• 🎨 Whicons are minimalist white icons.
• 🌌 Delta – dark icons with accent colors.
• 💎 CandyCons – bright icons in the style of “candy".

To apply the package, install it, then in the launcher settings, select Icon Style → Icon Package.

2.Use of labels with custom icons

If you can’t replace the app icon, create a shortcut with the desired image:

1. Install the Shortcut Maker app from Google Play.
2. Select the target application and click Create a shortcut.
3. In the Icon section, upload your photo.
4. Save the label on the main screen.

The disadvantage of this method: when you remove the original application, the shortcut will stop working.

3. firmware custom recovery (TWRP) and modified MIUI

For advanced users, there is a radical way to flash a modified firmware (such as MIUI EU or Pixel Experience) where the restrictions on replacing icons are lifted.

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (cancelles warranty).
• 🛠️ Installations TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.
• 📱 Compatibility with your model (check out the forum) XDA Developers).

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On devices with MIUI 14 and later, custom recovery firmware can block access to banking applications (due to the SafetyNet trigger).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions