How to change the app icon on Xiaomi phone: 5 working ways

App icons on Xiaomi smartphones are the first thing that catches the eye when unlocking the screen. MIUI They don't always match your aesthetic preferences or desktop themes. Fortunately, the manufacturer and third-party developers offer several ways to change them, from simply changing the theme to deep customization through the user experience. APK-In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for Redmi devices, POCO and Xiaomi on the base MIUI 12/13/14 HyperOS.

It is important to understand that customization options depend on the firmware version and the phone model. For example, flagship devices (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro) support more features than budget ones (Redmi 12C). Some methods also require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights - we will specify these cases separately. If you are a beginner, we recommend starting with the simplest methods and then moving to advanced ones.

1. Changing icons through built-in MIUI themes

The safest and most official way is to use the built-in themes from Xiaomi.This method does not require root rights or third-party applications, but the choice of icons is limited to the MIUI Themes collection.

To change the icons:

• 📱 Open the Topics app (brush icon on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search box, type a query, such as "minimalism icons" or "dark icons".
• 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply. The icons will change automatically along with the wallpaper and fonts.
• ⚙️ For precise settings go to Settings → Registration → Icons and choose the style from the available ones.

Note: some themes are paid (priced from 50 to 300 rubles), free options are updated less often and may contain advertising, and not all themes support a complete replacement of icons - sometimes only the icons of system applications (Calls, Messages, Settings) change.

2. Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

If the built-in themes are not enough, install an alternative launcher.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – supports icon packs from Google Play, flexible zoom and animation settings.
• 🎯 Apex Launcher – lightweight launcher with support for gestures and customization of icons.
• 🌿 Lawnchair - open launcher with Adaptive Icons function (automatic trimming of icons under the form of the).

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Download icon packs (such as Whicons, Delta or CandyCons).
3. Press your finger on the desktop → Settings → Style of icons.
4. Select the downloaded icon pack and apply the changes.

The advantage of this method is complete control over the appearance. You can combine icons from different packs or even assign individual icons for each application manually. However, some Xiaomi system applications (such as Security or Mi Home) may not change the icons due to the limitations of MIUI.

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If after changing the launcher widgets (for example, weather or pedometer) disappeared, return them via Long Press → Widgets → Xiaomi.

3. Manual icon replacement via APK (for advanced users)

This is a good way to replace the icon of a particular application without changing the theme or launcher.

• 🖥️ Computer installed ADB and APK Editor.
• 🔓 Permission to debug USB (included in the settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — 7 times tap the version).
• 📦 Backup copy of the original APK-file.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the APK of the application you want to change (for example, via APKMirror).
2. Open the file in APK Editor and go to the res → drawable folder.
3. Replace the icon files (usually have names) ic_launcher.png, ic_launcher_round.png) on their own.
4. Re-assemble the APK and install it via adb install:

adb install -r -t name apk

⚠️ Note: This method can disrupt the digital signature of the application, which will lead to update errors through Google Play, and it does not work with system applications without root rights.

4. Applications for changing icons (Icon Changer, X Icon Changer)

If the previous methods seem complicated, use specialized utilities:

• 🎨 Icon Changer – allows you to replace icons one by one, creating shortcuts on the desktop.
• 🔄 X Icon Changer – Supports batch replacement of icons for all applications.
• 🖼️ Icon Pack Studio – a tool for creating your icon packs.

How to use Icon Changer:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select the app you want to change the icon.
3. Upload a new image (resolution is recommended 192×192 or 512×512 pixels).
4. Create a shortcut on your desktop.

The downside is app duplication, a new shortcut will appear on the desktop, and the original app will remain on the menu, and some launchers (including the standard MIUI Launcher) can reset custom icons after the update.

Download the app from the official store |Prepare images of icons in PNG|Make sure there is enough space on the desktop |Disable battery optimization for Icon Changer (in MIUI settings)

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5. Change icons through ADB (no root)

For users who don’t want to install launchers or edit APKs, there’s a way through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) that allows you to change system application icons without superuser rights, but requires a PC connection.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer and enable debugging via USB.
2. Download Google’s Platform Tools and open the terminal in the adb.exe folder.
3. Enter the command to back up the original icon:

adb pull /system/app/Application.apk

1. Edit the APK (as in method 3) and return it back:

adb push Appendix.apk /system/app/Application/

1. Reboot the phone:

adb reboot

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This method can cause data loss or a cyclical reboot of the phone, which is recommended only for advanced users, and it may not work on newer versions. MIUI Due to enhanced integrity checks on system files.

6. Features for Xiaomi with HyperOS

In 2026, Xiaomi started the transition to a new firmware, HyperOS, which brought changes to theme and customization.

HyperOS has introduced Dynamic Icons, icons that change color depending on wallpaper or time of day, to enable this:

1. Go to Settings → Design → Dynamic icons.
2. Choose a style (Light, Dark or Auto).
3. Apply changes – the icons of system applications (Phone, Contacts) will be updated automatically.

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HyperOS has made it easier to customize icons, but some features (like replacing icons for third-party apps) still require launchers or ADBs.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you change icons, users often face problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• ❌ Icons are reset after the update → Use launchers with Icon Lock feature (e.g. Nova Launcher).
• ❌ System application icons do not change → For Xiaomi, this is normal – root rights are required or ADB.
• ❌ Blurred or distorted icons → Check the resolution of images (optimally) 192×192 or 512×512).
• ❌ The app stopped opening. → Bring back the original APK or reinstall the application.

If after the changes the phone began to brake, clear the launcher cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find your launcher (like Nova Launcher) and select Clear Cache.
3. Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions