How to Create and Install Your App Icons on Xiaomi: From Design to Installation

Creating your own icons for applications on Xiaomi smartphones is not only a way to personalize the device, but also a chance to highlight frequently used programs, make the interface more convenient and even improve the visual experience. MIUI, Custom icons allow you to show creativity: from minimalistic designs to themed sets for games or work tools.

In this article, we will analyze all the stages – from creating icons from scratch (including without design skills) to installing them on Redmi devices, POCO Or Mi. You will learn what tools to use for drawing icons, how to get around the restrictions. MIUI When replacing standard icons, and why some applications (e.g. system) may not be customizable, we will also look at alternative methods, from launchers to manual editing. APK-Files for Advanced Users.

Important: The procedure differs depending on the shell version (MIUI 12/13/14), Smartphone models and root rights, and we'll give you all the nuances so you can choose the right way.

1.Preparation: What to Know Before Creating Badges

Before you start designing, it is worth understanding the technical limitations and possibilities. MIUI. Unlike Android in its pure form, the shell Xiaomi imposes a number of rules on customization of icons:

• 📱 Resolution and format: Optimal size of icon — 192×192 pixels (for MIUI 14), The system automatically scales up the images to 108×108 or 144×144 The format should be.png with a transparent background.
• 🔒 System Restrictions: Not all icons can be replaced without root rights. For example, Settings, Phone, or Message icons are often blocked at the system level.
• 🎨 Design styles: MIUI Supports adaptive icons (with dynamic background), but custom icons may not be displayed correctly if this is not taken into account.

Critical detail: on devices with MIUI 14 and later, when installing custom icons through launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) can work protection "Optimization" MIUI", So the solution is to disable optimization for a particular launcher in the battery settings.

Please note that for some methods (e.g. editing) APK) need:

• 🖥️ A computer with Android Studio installed or APK Editor.
• 🔌 Debugging by USB (ADB) and the developer mode enabled.
• 📦 Backup of data (when working with system files).

2. Methods of creating icons: from simple to professional

There are several approaches to creating icons – choose one that fits your skills and tasks:

For beginners, the best option is to use online builders, for example, Canva has icon templates, and IconKit can download your graphics and automatically trim it to the desired size. GIMP (Free analogue of Photoshop with a plugin for export to.png with transparency.

If you want to create icons manually, follow these guidelines:

• 🎯 Use a grid (for example, 192×192 px indented 10% from edges) for precise positioning of elements.
• 🖌️ For minimalist style, limit yourself to 2-3 colors and simple forms.
• 🔍 Check how the icon looks on a dark and light background (in the image). MIUI You can switch themes).

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If you create icons for games, add a light shadow or trim to them – this will help distinguish them from system applications on the desktop.

3. Installation of icons without root rights: launchers and themes

The safest way to replace icons is to use alternative launchers or themes. MIUI. This method does not require superuser rights and is suitable for most Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others.).

Option 1: Launchers with support for custom icons

Applications like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Lawnchair allow you to set your own icons for each application.

1. Install Nova Launcher from Play Market and make it the default launcher.
2. Press and hold your finger on the desktop → select Settings.
3. Go to the Appearance. → Style of icons and select Adaptive icons (turn off if necessary).
4. To replace the icon of a particular application: click on it → Edit → Icon → select a file from the gallery.

Option 2: Themes MIUI custom-icon

That's the store. MIUI (Topics → Online) there are icon sets, but there's a limited choice of icons:

1. Download the archive with icons in.mtz format (you can create through the MIUI Theme Editor on PC).
2. Place the file in the MIUI/theme folder on the internal drive.
3. In the settings, select Locals. → Import and apply the topic.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4 s MIUI 13) after the system update, custom themes may be reset. To avoid this, turn off automatic themes updates in the settings.

Download and install Nova Launcher|Create a folder with icons in format PNG|Turn off optimization MIUI launcher|Make a backup of current settings-->

4. Manual editing APK: for advanced users

If you want to replace the icons at the system file level, you will need to edit. APK This method is suitable for experienced users and requires caution, as incorrect actions can lead to failures.

Step 1: Extract APK

With help. APK Extractor (from Play Market) save APK For example, to replace the icon Gallery download the file com.miui.gallery.apk.

Step 2: Editing icons

Use it. APK Editor on PC:

1. Open the APK in APK Editor and go to the res/drawable folder.
2. Find the icon files (usually have names like ic_launcher.png or app_icon.png).
3. Replace them with your files, keeping the original names and permissions.

Step 3: Installation of the modified APK

Connect your smartphone to your PC, turn on debugging USB and install the modified APK team:

adb install -r -d path to file.apk

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and included verification of the signature of applications (MIUI Optimization) modified APK You may not be able to install it. ADB: adb shell settings put global miui_optimization_disabled 1 After the device is restarted.

This method allows you to replace icons even for system applications, but has risks:

• 🚨 When you update the application through the Play Market, the icon will reset.
• 🔄 Some applications (e.g. Security) may stop working.

5.Use of apps to automatically replace icons

If manual methods seem complicated, you can use specialized applications that simplify the process, but they have their own nuances.

1. Icon Pack Studio

The application allows you to create your own sets of icons and apply them to all applications:

• 📲 Download Icon Pack Studio from Play Market.
• 🎨 Choose Create a new pack and upload your icons (or use templates).
• 🔄 Apply the pack via the launcher settings (e.g. Nova Launcher).

2. Awesome Icons

This app offers over 10,000 free icons and allows you to replace them with one at a time:

• 🔍 Find the right app in the list.
• 🖼️ Choose an icon from the collection or upload your own.
• 📱 Apply changes (permission to overlay windows is required).

3. X Icon Changer

The utility for replacing icons without a launcher, but does not work on all Xiaomi devices:

• ⚙️ Include Special Opportunities → X Icon Changer.
• 📌 Select the app and click Change the icon.
• 🖌️ Cut and save the new icon.

⚠️ Note: Apps like X Icon Changer create shortcuts on the desktop instead of replacing the actual icons on the system, which means that the original icons will remain on the app menu.

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For stable operation of custom icons on Xiaomi, it is recommended to use a combination of Nova Launcher + Icon Pack Studio, which is a minimal intrusion method and does not require root rights.

6. Solving common problems

When replacing icons with Xiaomi, users often encounter common mistakes.

If you use MIUI 14 and above, notice the Adaptive Icon feature, which can automatically crop your custom icons by adding a background to turn it off:

1. Open the launcher settings.
2. Go to the Appearance. → Icon style.
3. Choose the original view instead of the adaptive one.

For devices with POCO Launcher (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) additional adjustment may be required:

adb shell pm grant net.poclauncher.android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

This command unlocks access to changing system icons.

Alternative methods: widgets and shortcuts

If you can not replace the application icon, you can go a workaround - create a shortcut with a custom icon or use widgets.

Method 1: Labels through “Activity”

Some launchers (like Nova Launcher) allow you to create shortcuts for specific application activities with your own icons:

1. Press and hold on to the desktop. → Widgets → Activity.
2. Select the application and the activity you want (e.g.,.MainActivity).
3. Assign your icon and name.

Method 2: Imaging icon widgets

Apps like this KWGT or UCCW allow you to create interactive widgets that are visually indistinguishable from icons:

• 📱 Install. KWGT and download the widget template.
• 🎨 Edit the widget by adding your graphics.
• 🔗 Set up the action by pressing (launching the application).

Method 3: Wrapping applications

Utilities like Shortcut Maker or Tasker can create shortcuts with custom icons that redirect to the desired applications:

• 📌 In Shortcut Maker, select Application and specify the target application.
• 🖼️ Download your icon and keep the label.

These methods do not replace the original icons in the system, but allow you to achieve a visually similar result without risking the stability of the device.

8. Design Tips: How to Make Icons Stylish and Comfortable

Custom icons should not only look beautiful, but also remain functional. Here are some recommendations from designers:

• 🎨 Uniform style: Use the same color palette and shape for all icons, for example, if one icon is square with rounded corners, the rest should be the same.
• 🔍 Readability: Avoid too small details – they will be indistinct on the smartphone screen. The optimal size of the main element is 60-70% of the total area of the icon.
• 🌗 Adaptability: Check how the icons look on a dark and light background. MIUI You can quickly switch topics to Settings → Screen. → Dark subject.
• 📌 Unique: For frequently used apps (messengers, social networks), make icons more contrasting or bright.

Examples of successful styles:

• 🖤 Minimalism: Monochrome icons with one accent color (e.g. black and red).
• 🌈 Gradient: Smooth transitions of colors (suitable for creative themes).
• 🎮 Thematic: Retro-style icons for gaming apps.

If you are not sure about your design skills, use the free templates:

• 🌐 Flaticon - icons in format SVG (editable).
• 🎨 Freepik – sets of icons for Android.
• 📱 IconFinder – a platform with filters in style and resolution.

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To test icons before installing, use the Icon Preview app – it shows how icons will look on the desktop, taking into account the scaling. MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions