Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is not just a tribute to fashion, but a way to make the use of the device more comfortable and visually enjoyable. Owners of Xiaomi gadgets often face the desire to replace standard icons with more stylish or themed ones to distinguish their device from the mass of others. The standard shell MIUI or the new HyperOS provides the basic tools for this, but their functionality is not always obvious to the average user.
There are several proven ways to transform the visual style of the desktop, from built-in themes to advanced launchers, the choice of the specific method depends on the version of the operating system, the region of the account and the desired level of detail of changes, some methods require minimal effort, while others allow you to achieve a radical transformation of the system.
In this article, we will take a look at all the algorithms available so you can choose the best option for your model. We will look at both standard tools and third-party solutions that are guaranteed to work on current versions of firmware. Get ready to turn your screen into a work of digital art.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The easiest and safest method to replace graphics is to use the Theme system application preinstalled, which is integrated deep into the system, ensuring stable operation and no conflicts with other processes. To start work, you need to launch the application and go to the Profile tab located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Next, select Themes from the menu that opens, and access a huge catalog of designs created by Xiaomi and independent designers, and you can search for themes by keywords like “iOS”, “Minimal” or “Neon” to find the appropriate style.
Once you've selected your favorite design, click Download and then Apply. The system automatically replaces the wallpaper, fonts and, most importantly, icons of all installed applications. If you need to change the graphics only for specific programs, this method may seem redundant, but it ensures maximum interface integrity.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party themes from the directory, system sounds and lock screen may change. Carefully check the description of the theme before installing to avoid unwanted effects.
It is important to note that in some regions of the Mi Account, the theme directory may be limited or completely absent, in which case you may need to change the region in the settings of the smartphone to India or Singapore, where the functionality of the Them is available in full without restrictions.
Manual replacement through the menu "Change icons"
If you don’t need a global theme change, and you only want to replace graphics for a select few apps, use the built-in manual replacement feature, which allows you to combine elements of different styles to create a unique composition on your desktop. Go to your device’s Settings and find the Themes section or open the theme app directly.
From the bottom menu, select Profile, then go to Change icons, and you will see a list of all apps installed on your smartphone with their current graphics design, and the system will suggest replacing the standard icon with an alternative of the already downloaded themes or graphics packages.
Click on any app on the list to see the available replacement options. You can scroll through the options with your finger and see the result instantly. Once you have selected the right option, just click on it and the change will apply instantly, without having to reboot the device.
This is especially useful when an updated app changes its logo to a less pleasant one and you want to bring back the old design, and it’s also a great way to highlight the commonly used messengers or social networks, making them more visible from the rest.
Application of third-party launchers
For users who lack the standard shell, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution. Programs such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher completely replace the desktop, providing advanced icon management features. Once you install the launcher from Google Play, you need to provide the necessary permissions.
Most advanced launchers support icon packs, and you can download a separate package from the app store and apply it to the launcher settings, which allows you to change thousands of icons at once, following a single visual style that may differ from the system.
The advantage of using third-party shells is that you can edit size, shape, and even animation icons. You can set up a desktop grid, hide app signatures, or change your behavior when you click, and this makes your smartphone a unique tool that is fully adapted to your habits.
⚠️ Attention: Installing a third-party launcher can increase RAM and battery consumption, as this is an additional background process. On devices with low RAM, this can lead to more frequent closure of background applications.
Note that newer versions of Android and HyperOS may have restrictions on third-party launchers, such as the inability to search for swipes or problems with animations to open apps.
Using apps to create icons
When standard sets aren't enough, specialized design apps like Shortcut Maker or X Icon Changer come to the rescue, and these snails allow you to create shortcuts of apps with any picture you upload from the gallery, giving you absolute creative freedom.
The process of creating is like this: you pick the application you want to modify, then you pick the image from the gallery or the application library, and then you create a new shortcut that you can place on your desktop next to or instead of the original.
The main advantage of this approach is that you can use any imagery you want: photos, brand logos, abstract graphics. You're not limited to ready-made designer kits. But remember, these shortcuts may not automatically update when you update your main application, although this rarely causes problems.
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To create a high-quality visual range, it is recommended to prepare images in PNG format with a transparent background in advance, which will allow the icons to look natural and not be out of the overall style of the interface, regardless of the color of the wallpaper.
Size and shape adjustment of icons
Visual perception of the desktop depends not only on the image, but also on its shape and size. In the settings of these or third-party launchers, you often find the option to change the shape of the icons, you can make them round, square, as a droplet or leave them as is.
Size change allows you to place more elements on the screen or, conversely, make important applications larger for easy access. In the standard shell of MIUI, these settings are often hidden in the section Additional settings in the application theme or in the editing mode of the desktop (two finger pinches).
Some users prefer to hide the signatures under the icons to create a clean screen effect, which can be done through launcher settings or special widgets, this approach requires good memory of the location of applications, but it looks very aesthetic.
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To create the perfect set of icons, download high-resolution images (minimum 512x512 pixels) so that they don’t blur on high-pixel density screens.
Experiment with desktop grid indentations. Increasing the spacing between icons can visually unload the interface and make navigation more enjoyable, especially on larger-screen devices.
Comparison of personalization methods
To make it easier for you to decide on the right way, we have prepared a summary table comparing the main characteristics of the methods of changing icons. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses, which are important to consider.
| Method | Difficulty | Flexibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in themes | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| Hand-substituted | Low. | Low. | Absent. |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Tall. | Average. |
| Design applications | Tall. | Maximum | Low. |
As you can see from the table, embedded tools are the safest and easiest, but they're limited in their choice. Third-party solutions give you complete freedom, but they require customization and system resources. The choice depends on whether you want stability or uniqueness.
For most users, a combination approach would be optimal: using system themes for overall stylistics and manually replacing individual icons that don’t fit into the design, thus maintaining a balance between beauty and performance.
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Combining system themes with manual replacement of individual icons is a golden mean for maintaining the stability of the system and obtaining a unique appearance.
Possible problems and solutions
Users may face a number of common problems during customization, such as when the system is updated, all the icons that have been changed can return to their original appearance, which is normal behavior, as updates often reset user interface modifications.
Another common problem is that third-party icons may look blurry or have a white background instead of a transparent one, and this is solved by using images of the right format and size, as well as using special patches in launchers.
- 🔄 Resetting: If the interface is unstable, try resetting the launcher or Themes app settings through the application management menu.
- 📉 Low performance: When using heavy animated icons or live wallpaper together with a custom launcher, a drop may occur FPS. Simplify the visual effects.
- 🚫 No changes: Make sure you apply the theme fully. Partial application (wallpaper only or font only) won't change icons.
If you use guide navigation (gestures instead of buttons), some third-party launchers may conflict with system gestures, in which case you may need to switch to button navigation in the screen settings for proper operation.
☑️ Checklist before changing icons
Always check that your chosen themes and launchers are compatible with your version of Android. Outdated versions of the software may not work properly on fresh firmware, causing crashes or system freezes.