Why Standard Icons Are Irritating and How to Change Them
Are you tired of the monotonous icons on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T? Minimalist design MIUI is not popular — especially when dozens of apps are merging into gray matter. The good news is that you can change icons without root rights and complex manipulation. Bad — not all methods are equally convenient.
In this article, we will analyze 5 working ways of customizing icons: from standard MIUI themes to third-party launchers and manual editing of APK. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of the Redmi Note 8T (model M1908C3JG), where some features may differ from the flagship Xiaomi. For example, this device does not have built-in support for Icon Packs through system settings – but there are workarounds.
Before you start, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone. At the time of writing, MIUI 12.5–14 for the Redmi Note 8T is current, and the options available depend on it. If you have older firmware, some methods may not work, upgrade through Settings → System Update.
Method 1: Using the built-in MIUI themes
The easiest and safest method is to apply one of the preset themes. MIUI has hundreds of free themes with unique icons, but not all of them change all the icons of applications. For example, system icons (Settings, Phone) often remain standard.
How to do this:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
- 🔍 In the search box, type in a “icon pack” or “icon icon” query».
- 🎨 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply. Pay attention to the rating and the number of downloads – this will help to avoid low-quality themes.
- ⚙️ After application, go to Settings → Desktop → Style of icons to fine-tune the display.
The main disadvantage of the method is limited choice. Many themes only change the background, fonts and widgets, leaving the icons intact. To check which icons change, scroll through the preview to the App Icons block before applying the theme.
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If some icons are still standard after changing the theme, try rebooting your phone. Sometimes MIUI doesn't apply the changes right away.
Method 2: Third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Hyperion)
To fully control the icons, you will need a third-party launcher. The Redmi Note 8T works best:
- 🚀 Nova Launcher – the most flexible, supports Icon Packs and gestures.
- 🎯 Apex Launcher – Lightweight, with good optimization for Xiaomi.
- ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Minimalistic, with a focus on performance.
Instructions for Nova Launcher (similar to others):
- Install a launcher from Google Play.
- Download your favorite Icon Pack (such as Whicons, CandyCons, or Minima).
- Click the empty space on the desktop → Settings → Style of icons.
- Select the downloaded pack of icons in the section Pak icons.
- For individual applications: long-click on the icon → Change → Icon → select from the pack.
On the Redmi Note 8T with MIUI 12.5+, there may be a conflict between the system launcher and Nova.
Install Nova as a default launcher|Turn off animations in Nova settings|Clear the system launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher)|Disable battery optimization for Nova-->
Important: Some MIUI firmware may reset system icons (such as Camera or Gallery) after upgrading, due to Xiaomi’s security policy, which is tied to system APKs and cannot be completely replaced without root.
Method 3: Manually Replace Icons with Shortcut Maker
If you only need to change the icon for a few apps without installing a launcher, use Shortcut Maker (or analogues like Icon Changer), a method that creates shortcuts with custom icons without affecting the original files.
Step-by-step:
- Install Shortcut Maker from Google Play.
- Open the application and select Activity (for system applications) or Application (for regular applications).
- Find the app you want in the list (e.g. com.android.contacts for Contacts).
- Click on the icon in the upper right corner and select Gallery or File Manager to upload your picture.
- Save the shortcut, it will appear on the desktop, and you can remove the original icon in the folder or disable it.
Advantages of the method:
- ✅ Doesn't require root rights.
- ✅ It works even on blocked Redmi Note bootloaders. 8T.
- ✅ Any images can be used (PNG, JPG) transparently.
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Labels do not update notification counters (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).
- ❌ When you remove Shortcut Maker, all custom shortcuts will disappear.
How to make an icon with a transparent background?
Method 4: Install custom firmware (for advanced)
If you're willing to take drastic measures, custom firmware like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc-OS offers complete customization freedom, including replacing icons at the system level. 8T This process is nuanced:
| Firmware | Icon support | Complexity of installation | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| LineageOS | Full (via Substratum or Launchers) | Medium | Loss of warranty, possible camera bugs |
| Pixel Experience | Partial (requires Magisk modules) | Tall. | Problems with the fingerprint sensor |
| MIUI EU | Expanded themes | Low. | No. OTA-update |
To install custom firmware on the Redmi Note 8T, you will need:
- Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (waiting 7-15 days).
- Install TWRP Recovery (codename Redmi Note 8T for willow).
- Switch to firmware and Magisk (for root rights).
- Install Substratum or Icon Pack via Magisk.
⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 8T with firmware based on Android 10+ Unlocking the bootloader resets all data! make a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Also note that Google Pay and some banking apps will not work after unlocking (due to the lack of SafetyNet).
Method 5: Editing APK-Files (for experienced files)
This method is suitable if you want to change the icon of the system application (for example, Calls or Messages) without changing the firmware.
- 💻 Computer with Android Studio or APKTool.
- 🔧 Knowledge of decompilation APK.
- 🔓 Root rights (optional, but simplifies the process).
Instructions:
- Download the APK of the desired application from your phone (for example, via APK Extractor).
- Decompile it with APKTool: apktool d com.android.contacts
- In the res folder, find the icons (usually in drawable-xxhdpi or mipmap-xxhdpi).
- Replace your icon files (.png) with your own, keeping the original names.
- Compile APK back: apktool b com.android.contacts
- Sign a new APK with a Uber-apk-signer.
- Install a modified APK on your phone (via adb install or file manager).
Risks of the method:
- 🚨 If the compilation error, the application will stop working.
- 🔄 After updating MIUI change.
- 🛡️ Some systemic APK Signature verification – they cannot be replaced without root.
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Editing APK system applications can disrupt Google and MIUI services. Always back up the original APK before making changes!
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
The choice of method depends on your goals and level of preparation. If you need minimal changes, enough built-in themes or Shortcut Maker. Nova Launcher + Icon Pack is suitable for full customization. Radical methods (firmware, APK editing) are only justified if you are ready for risks.
| Method | Difficulty | Need root? | Is it suitable for system icons? | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in themes | ⭐ | No. | Partially. | Yes. |
| Third-party launchers | ⭐⭐ | No. | Yes (except for some systems) | Yes. |
| Shortcut Maker | ⭐ | No. | No (shortcuts only) | Yes. |
| Custom firmware | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes. | Yes. | Partially. |
| Editing by APK | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Preferably. | Yes. | With a backup. |
On the Redmi Note 8T, we recommend starting with Nova Launcher, which gives maximum risk-free flexibility. If you need system changes, try MIUI EU (unofficial firmware with advanced themes) or Magisk modules like Iconify.