How to put your app icons on Xiaomi smartphones: 5 proven ways

Replacing standard app icons with Xiaomi is one of the most popular ways to personalize your smartphone. Even without the superuser rights (root), you can install unique icons that will make your Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi 13/14 stand out among other devices. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods from the use of launchers to manual replacement through ADB, including nuances for new versions of MIUI 15 and HyperOS.

It's important to understand that customization options vary with the firmware version and the phone model. For example, on the POCO F5 with HyperOS, some of the ways may work differently than on the Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14. We tested all the methods on current devices (2023-2026) and specify the limitations for each option. If you want to not just change the icons, but completely redesign the interface, check out the section on custom launchers.

Before you start, check your firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help you avoid errors when choosing a method. Also prepare a.png icon package in advance (recommended resolution is 192×192 px or 256×256 px for HyperOS).

1.Use of launchers with support for customization of icons

The easiest and safest way to do this is to install a third-party launcher, which replaces the standard MIUI interface and allows you to flexibly customize your look, including your icons, and we recommend three proven options:

• 🔹 Nova Launcher – supports icon packages (.iconpack), adaptive icons and manual replacement for individual applications. Works on all versions of Xiaomi, including HyperOS.
• 🔹 Lawnchair is a free, open source launcher optimized for Android 13/14. Supports dynamic icons and themes.
• 🔹 Apex Launcher – Suitable for older models (Redmi 9, POCO X3) Due to low resource requirements.

To change the icons through Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Download your favorite icon package (such as Whicons or Delta).
3. Press the free space on the main screen → Settings → Style of icons.
4. Select the downloaded package or click Edit to manually replace individual icons.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with HyperOS may miss the return gesture to the main screen after installing the launcher. To return it, go to Settings → System system → Gestures → Customization of launcher gestures.

2. Manually modifying icons via ADB (no root)

If you don’t want to install third-party launchers, you can replace the icons directly through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most Xiaomi devices, but requires USB debugging and computer connectivity, with the advantage of the changes being applied to the standard MIUI launcher.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to press the version → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📁 Folder with icons in.png format, renamed by the template com.android.chrome.png (where com.android.chrome is the batch name of the application).

Instructions:

adb shell


pm path com.miui.home | awk -F= '{print $2}' | xargs -I{} cp {} /sdcard/



Copy the launcher backup to a memory card



adb push your daddy with icons /sdcard/miui_icons/




adb shell




su -c "mount -o rw,remount /system"




cp -r /sdcard/miui_icons/* /data/app/com.miui.home-/oat/arm64/




chmod 644 /data/app/com.miui.home-/oat/arm64/*.png




reboot

⚠️ Note: The path to the icons may be different on HyperOS. If the icons haven't changed since the reboot, check the folder. /data/app/~~random_string==/com.miui.home-/ — It's generated automatically.

USB debugging enabled

Installed ADB Tools on PC

Created folder with icons (format: batch name.png)

Backup of MIUI launcher made

Original connected USB-cable (not all cables support debugging)-->

3. Apps for replacing icons without root

If ADB seems complicated, you can use specialized applications that work on the principle of overlay and do not require superuser rights.

How to use Icon Changer:

1. Install the application and provide access to Settings → Applications → Special Access → Creating shortcuts.
2. Select the application you want to change the icon for.
3. Upload your picture or select from the gallery.
4. Save the changes – a new shortcut will appear on the home screen.

On HyperOS, some applications (like Shortcut Maker) may not display responsive icons correctly, in which case use static.png images with transparent backgrounds.

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If the icons look blurry after replacing, check their resolution. HyperOS is optimally sized at 256×256 px with transparency (PNG-32 format).

4. Replace icons through MIUI themes (official way)

Xiaomi offers its own system to those where you can find ready-made icon sets, this method does not require installing additional applications and works on all devices with MIUI 12+ or HyperOS.

How to change icons:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Icons section or find a theme marked "Castom icons".
3. Select the set you like and click Apply.
4. If you don’t have the right topic, try to find it in Online Topics (web required).

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 It is impossible to replace icons for individual applications – only a complete set of icons.
• 🚫 Not all themes support adaptive icons on HyperOS.
• 🚫 After updating MIUI topics can be dropped.

5.Castom firmware: complete freedom of change

If you're willing to take drastic measures, installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will open up unlimited customization options, and you can change icons on these firmwares through:

• 🔧 Built-in theme settings (e.g. Styles & Wallpapers in Pixel Experience).
• 🔧 Magisk modules (e.g. Iconify or Icon Pack Studio).
• 🔧 Manual editing of files in /system/app (knowledge ADB root).

Instructions for Pixel Experience:

1. Install firmware via TWRP (instructions are available on the XDA Developers forum).
2. Download the Iconify module for Magisk.
3. In Magisk Manager, install the module and restart the phone.
4. In the theme settings, select an icon package or download yours.

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware will void Xiaomi's warranty and may result in a brick (inoperability) device. TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.

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Custom firmware gives maximum customization freedom, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing TWRP. On new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13), this process is complicated due to the protection of Anti-Rollback.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing icons with Xiaomi, users face typical errors, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:

If after all the manipulations the icons have not changed, try:

1. Clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Clear the cache).
2. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Restart in Safe Mode) and check if any app is blocking the changes.
3. Install a different version of the launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher Beta for HyperOS).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions