How to put your pictures on the icons of applications on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Why Xiaomi’s Standard Icons Aren’t Always Good for Users

Xiaomi’s MIUI shell is famous for its flexibility and customization capabilities, but even it has limitations. Many users want to make their smartphone stand out by making it unique — and replacing standard icons with their own images is becoming one of the most popular ways to personalize. However, not everyone knows that MIUI does not have a built-in direct icon replacement through customization, as in some launchers from Samsung or Google.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to put your images on app icons on Xiaomi, from simple root-free solutions to advanced methods for power users. It’s important to understand that some methods can reset after a MIUI update or require reconfiguration when you change the theme.

Before you start, make sure you have the right images.Icons should be in.png format with a transparent background (preferably) and a resolution of at least 192×192 pixels to avoid pixelation.If you're not sure about the sizes, you can use online cropping services like Canva or IconKit.

Method 1: Using third-party launchers (the easiest method)

If you don’t want to dig into the system settings, the quickest way to change icons is to install an alternative launcher. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Microsoft Launcher support replacing icons through icon packs or manually uploading images.

Here’s how it works with the Nova Launcher:

• 📱 Install Nova Launcher from Google Play and make it the default launcher.
• 🖼️ Long click on the app icon → Change. → Icon → Gallery or Package of Icons.
• 🔄 If you select an icon package, the launcher will automatically apply the style to all supported apps.
• 💾 Save the changes – the icon is updated!

The advantage of this method is that it does not require root rights and works on any Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 13. However, there is a disadvantage: when you return to the standard launcher MIUI, all changes will reset.

Method 2: Manual modification through "Themes" (limited functionality)

MIUI has a built-in Theme app that allows you to customize the icons partially, but here’s the caveat: you can’t download an arbitrary picture — just choose from pre-installed themes or download icon packs from the Xiaomi theme store.

How to do this:

1. Open the Themes app on your Xiaomi.
2. Go to the Icons section (or Icon Style in the new versions of MIUI 14/15).

This is suitable for those who do not want to install third-party apps, but it is very limited: you can not put your own unique picture, only ready-made sets.

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If you find a favorite icon package, but it's paid, try looking for a free one based on the keywords in the title, and designers often put simplified versions for free.

Method 3: Applications for replacing icons (without root)

If you need to replace the icons of specific applications with your images, you can use specialized utilities such as Icon Changer, Awesome Icons or X Icon Changer. These applications create shortcuts with custom icons without changing the original files of the system.

The following steps are taken for Icon Changer:

1. Open the Icon Changer and click Create a shortcut.
2. Select the app you want to change the icon.
3. Click Select an icon and upload your image from the gallery.
4. Confirm the creation of the shortcut - it will appear on the main screen.
5. (Optional) Remove the original icon to avoid duplicates.

It is important to note that such shortcuts are not automatically updated (for example, badge with the number of notifications may not appear), and when you reset your settings or update your MIUI, the shortcuts may disappear.

Method 4: Change icons through ADB (for advanced users)

If you're ready to dive into the technical details, you can change the system application icons through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to replace the system-level icons.

Warning: Mistakes through ADB may cause MIUI to malfunction.We recommend you back up your data before starting.

⚠️ Note: This method only works for non-system applications (installed by the user). Changing system application icons (e.g. Settings or Phone) without root rights is impossible and can cause errors.

Instructions:

1. Use the command to replace the icon (example for the Chrome app): adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/icon.png /data/app/com.android.chrome-1/base.apk/res/mipmap-xxxhdpi/ic_launcher.png mount -o ro,remount /system Replace the paths and file names with the ones that are relevant to your application!

This is more complicated than the previous ones, but it gives you more control, but it's not good for beginners and it requires caution, and if you're not sure what you're doing, you'd better use one of the first three.

Method 5: Complete replacement of icons through custom firmware (for enthusiasts)

If you’re willing to go further, you can install custom firmware (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience, or HavocOS) that supports Substratum or OMS themes. These firmware allows you to change icons at the system level, including standard Xiaomi apps.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔧 Complete control over the appearance of the system.
• 🎨 Support for themes with modifiable icons, fonts and animations.
• 🔄 The ability to roll back to standard firmware if necessary.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Risk of "bricking" of the device when installed incorrectly.
• 🔌 Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
• 📱 Not all functions. MIUI It can work (e.g. Second Space or Game Turbo).

If you decide to take this step, we recommend you follow the instructions from the forums. XDA Developers or 4PDA, where there are detailed guides for specific Xiaomi models. TWRP before-fixing!

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Custom firmware gives you maximum customization freedom, but requires technical skills and may deprive you of some branded MIUI features.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make the choice easier, we have collected the key characteristics of each method in the table:

For most users, a combination of a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) and an icon replacement app (like Icon Changer) will be the best solution, which gives you enough flexibility without risk to the system. If you want full customization, consider custom firmware — but only if you are prepared for the possible difficulties.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When replacing icons with Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

1. Icons are reset after rebooting: This is typical of shortcut-based methods (e.g. Icon Changer).Solution: Use a launcher with backup support for settings (e.g. Nova Launcher has an export/import configuration option).
2. The new icon is displayed blurry: You probably used a low-resolution image. Optimal size is 192×192 pixels or higher. Also check that the background is transparent (.png).
3. You can't change the system application icon: Without root rights or custom firmware, you can't replace icons like Settings or Messages, and only replace the launcher or firmware completely.
4. The icon replacement app doesn’t work: Check if the app permissions are included in Settings → Apps → Permissions. Also make sure you’re not using power saving mode for that app.

⚠️ Note: If you change the icons through ADB The app stopped running, try to clear its cache in the settings or reinstall. In extreme cases, you may need to reset to factory settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions