How to change the cover of the application on Xiaomi: 4 proven ways

Why users change app icons to Xiaomi and when they really need to

Xiaomi's MIUI-enclosed app covers are often the subject of experimentation, with some wanting to refresh the look of the system, some wanting to hide the standard social media icons from prying eyes, and some people just don't like the design from the manufacturer, but before you start making changes, it's important to understand that not all the ways are equally safe.

Official methods (through themes or launchers) do not require root rights or disrupt the system. APK-file-making ADB-This can lead to failures, especially on models. POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 with the latest versions MIUI. It is also important to note that after updating the firmware, all changes can be reset.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to change icons to Xiaomi in 2026, including hidden MIUI features, third-party launchers, and advanced methods for power users.

Method 1: Using embedded MIUI themes (without root and third-party programs)

The safest and most recommended method is to use ready-made themes from the official MIUI Themes store, which works on all models, from the Redmi 9A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and does not require any additional rights.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search box, type the theme name with your favorite icons (for example, "Minimal Icons" or "Dark Icons Pack").
• 🎨 Select your favorite theme and click Apply. Icons will change automatically for all supported applications.
• ⚙️ To apply only icons without changing wallpaper and fonts, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Setting theme.

The advantages of the method are: no risk to the system, the ability to roll back changes in one click, regular updates to themes from developers, but there are also disadvantages: not all applications are supported (especially little-known ones), and some topics are paid (price is usually 1-3 $).

Add the Mi Account in the settings

Connect to Wi-Fi for quick downloading themes

Check the space available (themes weigh 5–50 MB)

Make a backup copy of the current registration (Settings) → Additionally. → Backup)-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global 14.0.5) after applying themes, the animation of opening applications may disappear. This is not a critical error - just reboot the phone.

Method 2: Third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Hyperion)

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

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – the most flexible, with support for icon packs and gestures.
• 🎯 Apex Launcher – Lightweight, with good optimization for weak devices (Redmi) 8A, POCO M3).
• 🔥 Hyperion Launcher – Minimalistic, with a focus on performance.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

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

Launchers not only allow you to change icons, but also customize gestures, hide applications, change the size of the desktop grid. However, they consume additional RAM (about 100-300 MB), which can be critical for Xiaomi budget models with 2-3 GB of RAM.

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If Xiaomi’s weather or calendar widgets are missing after installing the launcher, add them again through the widget menu. Standard MIUI widgets are compatible with most launchers.

Method 3: Manual change through ADB (for power users)

This method requires connecting your phone to your computer and using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).It is suitable for those who want to change the icons of individual system applications (such as Settings or Phone) that do not change through themes.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
4. Open the command line in this folder and type: adb shell pm list packages -f | find "mipmap" This will show a list of applications with paths to their icons.
5. Download the icon in.png format (size) 192×192 pixels and rename it according to the original name (e.g, ic_launcher_phone.png).
6. Replace the file in the application folder through ADB: adb push ic_launcher_phone.png /data/app/com.android.phone-1/base/res/mipmap-xxxhdpi/ (The path may differ depending on the version MIUI).
7. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB For example, if you get the icon resolution wrong for com.android.systemui, the phone might freeze on the boot. Always back up the original files!

This method works on Xiaomi with the bootloader unlocked, but does not require root rights, but after the MIUI update, all changes will reset, and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Method 4: Change APK-files (requires root or patched) MIUI)

The most radical method is editing APK-It allows you to change any icons, including system ones, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked Bootloader (Unlocked Bootloader).
• 🛠️ Root rights (Magisk) or patched firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu).
• 💻 Skills with APKTool and Smali.

Instructions:

1. Download the APK of the application you want to change (for example, via APK Extractor).
2. Unpack. APK using APKTool: apktool d base.apk -o output_folder
3. Find the icon folder (usually res/mipmap-xxxhdpi) and replace the files.
4. Gather it. APK back: apktool b output_folder -o modified.apk
5. Sign the APK with a uber-apk signer.
6. Install the modified application via ADB: adb install -r modified.apk

This method gives maximum freedom, but is fraught with:

• ❌ Loss of updates for modified applications.
• ❌ Possible errors at launch (if edited incorrectly) AndroidManifest.xml).
• ❌ SafetyNet is working, which will block Google Pay and some games.

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If you need root rights just to change icons, consider alternatives.The risks (loss of warranty, problems with SafetyNet) often outweigh the benefits.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users have difficulty, and these are the most common ones:

Problem 1: Icons don’t change after the theme is applied.

• 🔄 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI caches old icons.
• 🗑️ Clear the app's cache Themes in Settings.
• 📥 Check if the theme supports your app (some icon packs only work with popular programs).

Problem 2: The launcher is slowing down or flying off.

• 🧹 Clear its cache in the application settings.
• 🔋 Turn off animations in the launcher settings.
• 📉 Reduce the number of desktops or widgets.

Problem 3: After ADB-Teams are missing system applications.

• 🔄 Reinstall them via Mi App Store or APKMirror.
• 📦 If the application is system (for example, Settings), restore it through a backup or firmware.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions