How to change the app icon on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 5 proven ways

Are you tired of the standard icons on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 desktop and want to personalize your smartphone? Changing app icons is one of the easiest ways to refresh the interface, but this is often difficult on MIUI. Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi’s firmware limits customization options, especially on budget models like the Note 8 with Android 10/11 and MIUI 12-14.

In this article, we will analyze 5 working methods of changing icons - from simple (through launchers) to advanced (editing). APK and ADB-You will learn which methods do not require root rights, and where they can not do without, which applications are suitable for the Redmi Note 8 and how to avoid typical errors. MIUI — Many popular solutions (such as Nova Launcher) run on this device with limitations.

Why is it difficult to change the icons on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8?

The problem lies in two key features of the firmware:

1. Limitations MIUI. Unlike the Pixel or Samsung, Xiaomi blocks the change of system icons without root. POCO Launcher (which is often installed on Note 8) does not support icon packages from Google Play.
2. The Redmi Note 8 hasn’t officially received an upgrade above Android 10 (MIUI 12.5), and newer versions of the OS have built-in customization tools (like Icon Packs on Android 12+).

Also, many icon-change apps (like Awesome Icons or CandyCons) require Adaptive Icons support, which is not available on the Note 8 because of the older version of Android, which means that even if you install the icon package, they may not display correctly — with cropping or stretched proportions.

Method 1: Use of third-party launchers (without root)

The safest and easiest method is to install an alternative launcher that supports icon packs. For Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, you can:

• 🔹 Nova Launcher is the most popular option, but MIUI Works with bugs (for example, may not display Xiaomi weather widgets).
• 🔹 Apex Launcher – lightweight alternative to Nova, better compatible with MIUI 12.
• 🔹 POCO Launcher - "native" launcher for POCO, but with limited icon settings.
• 🔹 Lawnchair is a launcher with Adaptive Icons support, but can slow down on the Note 8 due to a weak processor.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Download any icon package (such as Whicons or Lines Icon Pack).
3. Press your finger on your desktop → Settings Nova → Appearance → Style of icons.
4. Select the icon package installed. If the app icon hasn't changed, click on it → Edit → select the icon manually.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12.5 When you change the launcher, notifications from system applications (such as Security or Mi Video) may disappear.To return them, restart the phone or temporarily return the standard launcher.

Remove the cache of the standard launcher|Disable battery optimization for Nova|Download the icon package before installing the launcher|Check the vacant space (minimum 300 MB)-->

Method 2: Manually modifying icons through Activity (without root)

If the launcher doesn’t work, you can manually replace the icon of a particular app through the Activity menu, which only works for apps that support alternative icons (like Google Play Music or Telegram).

Instructions:

1. Press your finger on the app icon on your desktop → Information about the application.
2. Click on the three dots in the top corner → Open by default → Activity.
3. If the app supports multiple icons, you’ll see a list of options (e.g., Telegram offers light and dark icons).
4. Choose the right option and confirm the changes.

List of apps that support this method on the Redmi Note 8:

⚠️ Note: After updating the application via Google Play, the selected icon may reset to the standard. To avoid this, turn off the automatic update for this application in the Play Store settings.

Method 3: Editing APK-file (requires PC)

For advanced users, there is a way to change the icon directly to the APK-It works for any application, but requires a computer and basic APKTool skills.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 📦 APKTool (for decompilation) APK).
• 🎨 Image editor (e.g., image editor, GIMP Photoshop).
• 📱 Initiated Debugging Mode USB on the Redmi Note 8.

Step-by-step:

1. Download. APK-application file (for example, through APK Extractor).
2. Decompile APK with APKTool: apktool d your apk.apk
3. Go to the res/mipmap-xxxhdpi folder (or another, depending on the resolution of the icon), and it stores the.png icons of the application.
4. Replace the icon files (ic_launcher.png, ic_launcher_round.png etc.) to their own, retaining the original names and sizes (usually 192x192 or 512x512).
5. Compile APK back: apktool b your app -o new app.apk
6. Sign APK with uber-apk-signer: java -jar uber-apk-signer.jar --apk new app.apk
7. Install a modified APK on your phone via ADB: adb install new app-aligned-debugSigned.apk

This method is suitable for single applications, but it is ineffective if you want to change the icons of all programs. Also note that after updating the application through the Play Market, your changes will reset.

💡

APK editing is the only way to change the icon of system applications (such as Calls or Messages) without root rights. However, this violates the integrity of the APK signature, which can lead to errors in the application.

Method 4: Use ADB-commands (without root, but with PC)

If you don't want to edit the APK, but you're ready to connect the phone to your computer, you can change the icon through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works for most applications except system ones.

What needs to be done:

1. Turn on USB Debugging on Redmi Note 8: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times to become a developer) → Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection: Adb devices (the name of your device should be displayed).
3. Download the icon package (e.g. Minimal O Icon Pack) and unpack it on your PC. The icons are usually stored in the appfilter.xml folder with the matching name packet = name icons.png.
4. Copy the icon to the device: adb push your icon.png /sdcard/
5. Install the Icon Changer app and select a new icon through it.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 It does not work for system applications (com.android.contacts, com.miui.home, etc.).
• 🚫 Icons can be reset after rebooting (solved by installing a launcher that blocks the reset).
• 🚫 Not all icon packages are compatible with MIUI — Some of them require Android 11.+.

Method 5: MIUI Topics (official method)

Xiaomi offers its own customization method through MIUI Themes, which is the safest option, but with serious limitations:

1. Open the Themes app on Redmi Note 8.
2. Go to the Icons section and select the package you like.
3. Click Apply. The icons will change for all supported apps.

Problems with this method:

• 🔸 Works only with preset themes – custom icons cannot be downloaded.
• 🔸 Not all apps icons are changing (for example, Google services will remain unchanged).
• 🔸 After resetting settings or updating MIUI throw off.

If you want custom themes, you can download.mtz files from sites like MIUI Theme Store and install them through Themes → Mine → Import. However, many themes are optimized for new Xiaomi models and may not display correctly on the Redmi Note 8.

💡

To return standard icons after applying the MIUI theme, go to Themes → Icons → Standard. If this item is missing, reset the theme settings through Themes → Settings → Reset.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To help determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

For most Redmi Note 8 users, the best solution is a combination of Nova Launcher + icon package. If you want to change the icon of the system application (for example, Settings or Phone), you will have to use APK editing or get root rights.

FAQ: Frequent questions