How to change app icons on Xiaomi: from standard themes to custom packs (with pictures)

The app icons on Xiaomi smartphones are the first thing that catches your eye when you unlock the screen. The standard MIUI design is not popular with everyone: someone wants uniformity with wallpaper, someone is tired of round icons, and someone just wants originality. Fortunately, you can replace the icons with Redmi, POCO or flagship Mi/Xiaomi in several ways, from simple themes to manual patching through ADB.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods based on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS), explain the pitfalls of each method and give recommendations for choosing custom packs. Importantly, not all methods are equally safe - some require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which may be insecure, but there are also completely white-collar solutions without risks.

1. Standard MIUI themes: the easiest way

The most obvious and safe method is to use built-in MIUI themes, with thousands of free and paid packs in the branded theme store, many of which change not only wallpaper, but also icons, fonts, animations.

• 🔄 Does not require root or unlocking the bootloader
• 📱 It works on all models: from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra
• 🔒 Doesn't affect the guarantee.
• 🎨 There are themes with dynamic icons (change color depending on the wallpaper)

To change icons through themes:

1. Open the “Themes” app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Icons tab (or find a topic marked “Icons” in the description).
3. Select the package you like and click "Apply".
4. Confirm the change in the pop-up window.

Method limitations: not all apps support changing icons through themes, for example, system utilities (Settings, Phone, Messages) may remain unchanged, and some themes are paid (costs from 50 to 300 rubles).

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Or if you reset the theme, it'll reset to the standard one, and if you want to return custom icons, you'll have to reuse it.

2. Launchers from third-party developers

If there are few built-in themes, you can install an alternative launcher - a program that replaces the standard MIUI interface.

• 📱 Nova Launcher – supports custom icons through.icon packs, flexible grid settings and gestures.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher – lightweight launcher with support for adaptive icons.
• 🔧 Lawnchair – open launcher with Dynamic Colors function (icons are adjusted to wallpaper).
• 🌈 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, but limited customization.

How to install custom icons through Nova Launcher:

1. Download and install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Install your favorite icon pack (such as Whicons, CandyCons or Delta).
3. Press the free space on the main screen → Settings → Style of icons.
4. Select the installed pack of icons.
5. For individual applications: Press the icon → Change → Edit → Select a new icon.

Advantages of launchers:

• 🔧 Complete control over the appearance (icon size, indentations, animations).
• 📂 Support for folders with custom icons.
• 🔄 The ability to roll back to the standard launcher at any time.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers (such as Nova Launcher) consume more RAM than standard RAM MIUI Launcher. on weak smartphones (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) This can lead to a slowdown.

Download APK launcher from the official website|Make a backup copy of the current desktop|Check compatibility with the Android version|Disable battery optimization for launcher-->

3. Manually modifying icons via ADB (no root)

For advanced users who do not want to install launchers, there is a way to change the icons through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method doesn’t require root, but it does require unlocking. USB-debugging and PC connection.

Advantages:

• 🔧 It works on all versions. MIUI (including HyperOS).
• 📱 No need to install third-party launchers.
• 🎨 You can change the icons selectively (only for the right applications).

Instructions:

1. Turn it on. USB-Debugging in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Connect your smartphone to your 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 execute: adb shell pm list packages -f | find "mipmap" This will show a list of apps with icons.
5. Download the icon pack in.png format (resolution 192×192 pixels) and rename the files according to the packet names (for example, com.android.chrome.png for Chrome).
6. Replace the icons with the command: adb push local_path/icon.png /data/local/tmp/ adb shell su -c "cp /data/local/tmp/icon.png /data/app/package_name-1/base.apk/res/mipmap-xxxhdpi/" Note: This requires root, but there are workarounds through patching APK.

Important: This method can cause app crashes if the icons are incorrect resolution or format.

4.Use of Xposed Framework (root only)

For root-rights users and unlocked bootloader, the most flexible method is available: Xposed Framework or LSPosed (for newer versions of Android).

• 🎨 XIconChanger – allows you to change icons for any application.
• 🔧 GravityBox – a complex module with the function of customization of icons.
• 📱 Iconify – supports dynamic icons and packs from Nova Launcher.

How to determine:

1. Unlock the bootloader and get root (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install LSPosed (for Android 10+) or EdXposed (for Android 9).
3. Download a module (like Iconify) and activate it in LSPosed.
4. Reboot your smartphone and set up the icons in the module interface.

⚠️ Note: Xposed modules may conflict with system services MIUI, Especially on HyperOS. Before installation, backup through TWRP Also, some modules are not updated for newer versions of Android (for example, GravityBox may not work on Android 14).

💡

Before installing the Xposed module, check its compatibility with your version of MIUI on the XDA Developers forum, especially for HyperOS smartphones, where many modules are not yet adapted.

5. Custom firmware (for experienced users)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can install custom firmware based on AOSP (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or crDroid), and in such firmware, icons are changed through:

• 🎨 Built-in themes (e.g. Pixel Experience has Styles & Wallpapers with dynamic icons).
• 🔧 Launchers with support for Android 12+ (Lawnchair 12 with Monet function).
• 📦 Magisk modules (e.g. Icon Pack Studio for creating your icons).

Advantages of custom firmware:

• 🔄 Full customization freedom (including system icons).
• 📱 No restrictions. MIUI (For example, blocking changes through ADB).
• 🔒 You can return the standard firmware through Fastboot.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the bootloader is unlocked).
• 🔋 Possible battery or performance problems.
• 📡 Certain functions MIUI (Second Space or Game Turbo may not work.

Instructions for installing custom firmware:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account binding and wait 7 days).
2. Install TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery.
3. Download firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience for your model) and GApps (if you need Google services).
4. Download to the recavator and run Wipe → Format Data (all data will be deleted!).
5. Install firmware and GApps, then restart.

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Custom firmware is the most powerful, but also the riskiest way to customize. Before installing, make sure the firmware supports your Xiaomi model (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Xiaomi 13T may have different versions of TWRP).

Where to download quality icon packs?

Not all icon packs are equally good. Here are proven sources:

• 🎨 Google Play – official packs (e.g. Whicons, CandyCons, Lines).
• 📱 XDA Developers – unique packs from the community (often free).
• 🔧 Forum XDA (Icon Packs section – custom icons for Xposed and launchers.
• 🌈 DeviantArt – Artistic Pacas (e.g. Material You style).

When choosing a pack, pay attention to:

• 🔍 Resolution of icons - optimal 192×192 or 256×256.
• 🎭 Style – should be combined with your wallpaper (e.g. minimalism, neon, 3D).
• 📌 Support for adaptive icons (for Android 8)+).
• 🔄 Update Frequency – Good packs regularly add icons for new apps.

Example of popular packs:

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing icons to Xiaomi, the following errors may occur:

• 🔄 The icons don't change -- clear the launcher's cache or reboot your smartphone. ADB, Check the rights to files (Chmod 644).
• 📱 The app stopped opening, most likely damaged. APK When you manually patch. Reinstall the app.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption - some launchers (like Nova Launcher) can consume more power.
• 🎨 The icons look blurry - check the resolution of the pack (should be at least) 192×192).
• ⚠️ The smartphone stopped loading – if it happened after the changes ADB or Xposed, try booting into Safe Mode (press the power button) → Restarting in Safe Mode).

If there are any failures after changing the icons through ADB or Xposed, you can return the standard icons as follows:

1. For ADB: execute the command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home This will reset the launcher's cache.
2. For Xposed: Disable the module in LSPosed and restart.
3. For launchers: Return the standard launcher in settings (Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher).

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If some apps are left with standard icons after changing icons through MIUI themes, try applying the theme again or clearing the com.miui.theme.manager app cache via ADB.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions