How to make your app icons on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi’s standard app icons get boring over time: monotonous shapes, boring colors, and lack of personality. Fortunately, MIUI offers several ways to personalize, from simple theme change to deep manual customization through third-party launchers. In this article, we’ll break down all the current techniques, including the hidden features of MIUI 14, bypassing the restrictions on some Redmi/Poco models, and even creating unique icons from scratch.

It’s important to understand that customization options depend on the firmware version and device model. For example, the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro or Poco F5 support more options than the budget Redmi 10A. We will take these nuances into account and provide alternative solutions for each case, and also uncover myths about the “harmfulness” of third-party launchers for battery and performance – with the data from the tests on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Mediatek Helio G99.

1. Method: Using the built-in MIUI themes

The easiest and safest method is to use pre-made themes from the official Theme Store, which includes both fully designed icon packs and separate icon replacement kits, the advantage of which is that it does not require root rights, does not affect performance and is compatible with all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models on MIUI 12-14.

To find the right topic:

• 📱 Open the Topics app (brush icon on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search box, enter the queries: “minimalism icons”, “neon icons” or “pack icons".
• 🎨 View the results in the Icons section – here are the themes that change only icons, not the entire interface.
• ⬇️ Download your favorite theme and apply it through the "Apply" button".

Note that some themes can only change icons for system applications (Calls, Messages), leaving the icons of third-party programs intact, in which case a combination of themes or manual replacement (more on this below) will help.

Method: Third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Hyperion)

If built-in themes aren't enough, use alternative launchers. They offer flexible customization of icons, including support for packages from the Play Market (such as CandyCons or Lines).

• 🚀 Nova Launcher is the best choice for fine tuning (free version limited).
• ⚡ Apex Launcher – Lightweight and fast, suitable for weak devices (Redmi) 9A, Poco M3).
• 🌌 Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for MIUI, retains the gestures and functions of the system.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play and select it as the main one in the settings (Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher).
2. Press your finger on the desktop → “Desktop settings” → “Icon style”.
3. Select "Icon Pack" and select the downloaded pack (e.g. Whicons or Minimal O).
4. For individual applications: Press the icon → “Change” → “Icon” → select the picture from the gallery.

💡

If MIUI gestures are missing after installing the launcher (for example, swipe down for the notification panel), turn on the option to “Imitate MIUI gestures” in the Hyperion Launcher settings.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 when using third-party launchers, access to Control Center (notification curtain) may be lost:

⚠️ Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Sign Notifications and enable the “Show Notification Panel” option for the selected launcher.

Method 3: Manual replacement of icons through "Adaptive icons"

The Adaptive Icon feature is introduced in MIUI 13 and allows you to reshape icons without launchers. It works on all Android 12+ devices, including Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and later.

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → “Desktop style”.
2. Select "Badge Style" → turn on the "Adaptive Icons" switch.
3. Click "Form" and select one of the proposed ones (circle, rounded square, drop, etc.).
4. To adjust the color tap "Color" and select a palette or turn on "Auto" (the color will adjust to the wallpaper).

The method is limited: only the shape and color change, not the image of the icon itself. To completely replace it, you will need to combine this method with launchers or themes.

4. Method: Creating custom icons by hand

For a unique design, you can create your own icons from scratch.

• 🖌️ Image Editor: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (Free of charge or Canva (online).
• 📏 Size of the icon: 192×192 pixels (standard for MIUI).
• 🎨 Format: PNG transparent background (required!).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the icon template for MIUI here (or create a new 192×192 px file in the editor).
2. Draw a design that keeps the background transparent. Use Flaticon or IconFinder for inspiration.
3. Export the image to PNG.
4. Install a launcher (like Nova) and select “Gallery” in the icon settings, then specify the path to your file.

To automate the process, use the Icon Changer app (available on the Play Market) which allows you to:

• 🔄 Massively replace icons from the folder with your images.
• 📁 Create backup copies of original icons.
• 🔍 Consider changes before application.

5. Method: Use of Xposed/EdXposed (for advanced)

For users with root rights or unlocked bootloader, the method is available through the EdXposed framework. It allows you to deeply modify system icons, including icons in Control Center and Settings. This method is risky for beginners - wrong actions can lead to bootloop.

Tools required:

• 📱 Device with unlocked bootloader (instruction from Xiaomi).
• 🔧 Installed by Magisk + EdXposed module.
• ⚙️ Miui Home Mod (to change system icons).

Instructions:

1. Install EdXposed via Magisk.
2. Download the Miui Home Mod from the Xposed repository.
3. In the module settings, select "Icon Pack" and specify the path to the icon pack (should be in.apk format).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and Android 13+ Xposed modules may conflict with Google Play Services. Before installing, disable automatic updates to Google Services in Settings → Annexes → Application management.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To determine the method, evaluate your skills and goals:

For most users, the best solution is a combination of built-in themes + Nova Launcher, which gives maximum flexibility without risk to the system. Advanced users can experiment with EdXposed, but only on a backup device or after creating a backup through TWRP.

💡

Third-party launchers (like Nova) are the only way to replace all apps without root rights. MIUI They only work with system icons.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change icons, you're going to see some common mistakes.

Problem 1: After applying the theme, the icons reset to standard.

Solution: Go to Settings → Themes → My Themes and re-apply the theme. If the problem recurs, clear the Topic app cache (Settings → Apps → Application Management → Themes → Clear the cache).

Problem 2: Nova Launcher doesn’t use icon packs.

Solution: Make sure the icon pack is installed as an application (a.apk file, not a picture folder). Restart the launcher or reinstall the pack.

Problem 3: The icons in Control Center don't change.

Solution: System icons in the notification curtain are only replaced via Xposed or manual file editing framework-res.apk (requires root). Alternatively, use the Hyperion launcher with the option "Dark Theme for Control Center."

Problem 4: After the MIUI update, all launcher settings were reset.

Solution: Back up your settings in the launcher itself (Nova Launcher → “Backup”). After the update, restore the settings from the backup.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions