How to change the app icon on Xiaomi: full methods

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones offer users a lot of flexibility in personalization. One of the easiest and most effective ways to differentiate your device from others is to change the appearance of the interface. Standard graphic elements can get bored, and then you want to update the visual style to make it more unique or minimalistic.

The application graphics replacement procedure does not require root rights or deep programming knowledge. MIUI and the new HyperOS are customized in the first place, offering built-in tools for this purpose, but there are nuances to consider to ensure that the launcher does not disrupt the operation.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways that software can change images, and learn about built-in features, third-party apps, and the subtleties of shortcuts, which will allow you to create a truly customized desktop design.

Use of the built-in Themes application

The safest and most stable method of visual style change is to use the regular Theme app, which is pre-installed on all devices of the brand and has access to system resources, which ensures that all elements are correctly displayed. The catalog has thousands of ready-made sets that change not only icons, but also system windows, sounds and fonts.

To start, you need to start the Themes app and go to the Profile section (usually the human icon in the lower right corner). Here you should select the Topic item and find the Icon button at the top of the screen. The system will suggest selecting a graphics package from the already downloaded ones or downloading a new one from the directory.

After selecting a favorite set, click Apply. The system will automatically replace the standard images with new ones on all menus. If you like a particular style of icons but don't want to change the wallpaper or system sounds, you can often choose to use only graphic elements in the theme settings.

• 🎨 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
• 👤 Go to the user profile and select the theme tab.
• 🖼️ Click on the Icons section to view the available sets.
• ✅ Select a style and click Apply to activate changes.

It is important to note that some third-party themes may not have full support for all of your installed programs, and in such cases, standard images will remain for new or rare applications until the theme developer updates their package.

Manual replacement through theme settings

If you like the package in part, it allows you to fine-tune it, so you can replace the image for a particular application without changing the entire package, which is especially useful when you need to highlight frequently used programs or hide the visual noise from rarely used utilities.

To make a replacement, reopen the Themes app and go to your profile. Find an active theme and click on it. From the menu that opens, select Set up the theme. Here you will find a list of all categories, including App Icons.

In the list, find the app you want, and if you click on it, you'll see a gallery of alternate images from the current theme, or you'll be able to select a picture from the gallery, and the image you select will be cropped by the system according to the current theme mask.

⚠️ Note: When selecting your own photo from the gallery, the system can automatically crop it in a circle or square depending on the style of the theme. Prepare an image with a margin around the edges in advance.

This method allows you to create a unique combination, where, for example, social networks will be in one style, and working tools will be in another. MIUI It allows you to experiment without risking the stability of the system.

Application of third-party launchers

For users who don't have the standard shell, there are alternative launchers, apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher that completely replace the desktop, providing advanced shortcut management tools, one of the most popular ways for enthusiasts to use them.

Once you install the launcher, it will ask for default permission to use it. Once activated, you will have access to the look settings. In the Icon Library section, you can download your own packages or select individual images for each shortcut. The replacement process is simple: long-term clicking on the icon, choosing to edit and downloading a new file.

The main advantage of third-party solutions is independence from system updates. Even if Xiaomi changes the theme policy, the third-party launcher will continue to work as before, and they often support animated icons and more complex shapes that are not available in the stock shell.

• 📥 Download and install the selected launcher from Google Play.
• ⚙️ Activate it in the system settings as the main one.
• 🖌️ Go to the launcher settings and find the appearance section.
• 🔄 Select the application and replace its graphic element with your own.

It’s worth remembering that third-party launchers consume slightly more battery life than a standard shell. On older smartphone models, this can be noticeable, so watch for the device’s autonomy after installation.

Using applications to create shortcuts

There's a special class of utilities designed solely to create custom-designed shortcuts, and apps like X Icon Changer or Shortcut Maker don't replace the entire interface, they create new shortcuts on top of existing ones, which is the perfect tradeoff between beauty and functionality.

The way these programs work is simple: you pick a target app, you upload a picture from a gallery, or you pick from an embedded collection, and the program creates a new shortcut on the desktop. The original app stays on the menu, but a beautiful copy of it appears on the home screen.

This approach allows you to use any image, any image, any logo, any emoji, even text, and you can set any shape or size, without the limitations of the system theme, and it gives you the maximum creative freedom.

The following is the shortcut maker:


1. Open the application and select "Applications".




2. Find the desired program in the list.




3. Click on the icon and select "Gallery" or "Image".




4. Press "Create a label."

The disadvantage of the method is that notifications from such shortcuts may not be displayed correctly or at all, since the system perceives them as separate objects, and when you remove the application that created the shortcut, all copies created will disappear.

Comparison of personalization methods

The choice of method depends on your goals: whether you need a complete change of style or spot editing of details. Each method has its own technical features that affect the performance and stability of the smartphone.

As you can see from the table, standard Xiaomi tools are the most energy efficient, but to achieve a unique result, you often have to combine several methods, such as using a theme for system applications and Shortcut Maker for social networks.

Keep in mind that installing large numbers of heavy launchers or widgets can slow down your device.

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Save the original images in a separate folder in case you want to restore the original view or move the settings to a new device, which will save time when you reconfigure.

Possible problems and solutions

Users may encounter various technical difficulties in customization, most often due to launcher cache or application version conflicts, and understanding the causes helps to quickly troubleshoot problems without resetting the settings.

One of the common problems is that the icons that have been replaced disappear after a system reboot or update, which happens if the launcher has not been installed as the default default or if the system has forced the shortcuts to be updated, in which case you need to re-apply the theme or recreate the shortcuts.

Another common problem is poor image quality: the system can stretch small pictures, making them blurry. Always use high-resolution images, preferably in PNG format with a transparent background, to avoid white bezels.

⚠️ Note: Do not use images with watermarks or complex patterns around the edges. When the system automatically trims an important part of the picture can be lost.

If the interface starts to work unstable, try to clear the cache of the Themes or Launcher application through the settings of the Application → All Apps. In extreme cases, a temporary return to the standard theme to reset the graphics cache will help.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Combine methods: Use system themes for uniformity and third-party utilities to pinpoint customization of important applications.

Personalizing the interface is a great way to make smartphone use more enjoyable. Experiment with different styles, but always remember the balance between beauty and performance of the device. A properly configured interface not only delights the eye, but also improves performance.