Standard icons on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO do not always match your style or design preferences. Fortunately, the system MIUI offers several ways to customize them - from simple themes to deep settings via ADB. But not all methods are equally safe: some require unlocking the bootloader, others may reset the settings after updating. In this article we will look at 5 proven methods change the color of icons, their pros, cons and pitfalls.

It is important to understand that customization options depend on the version MIUI and model of the device. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro s MIUI 15 some options are available, and on Redmi Note 10 s MIUI 12.5 others. Also keep in mind that deep changes to system files can lead to loss of warranty or unstable operation of the device. If you are not ready to experiment, start with safe methods - themes and launchers.

1. Using built-in MIUI themes

The easiest and safest way is to use one of the pre-installed themes. Xiaomi offers both free and paid options with unique icons, fonts and color schemes. To change the theme:

  1. Open the application Themes (brush icon).
  2. Go to the tab Popular or For you.
  3. Select the theme you like and click Apply.
  4. Confirm the changes in the pop-up window.

Disadvantages of the method:

  • 🔄 Limited choice free themes - most interesting options are paid (from 50 to 300 rubles).
  • 🎨 Icons change only within the theme - you cannot selectively change the color of individual applications.
  • 🔄 After updating MIUI, the theme may be reset to standard.

📊 How often do you change themes to Xiaomi?
Once a week
Once a month
Only when buying a phone
Never changed

If built-in themes are not enough, consider third-party launchers. They offer more flexibility, but can slightly slow down the system on weaker devices (for example, Redmi 9A).

2. Installing third-party launchers

Launchers replace the standard interface MIUI, allowing you to customize icons, animations and even gestures. Popular options:

  • 📱 Nova Launcher — supports icon packs (.apk or .zip), customizing size, shape and shadows.
  • 🎨 Lawnchair —lightweight open source launcher with support for adaptive icons.
  • 🔧 Hyperion Launcher —optimized for Xiaomi, saves gestures MIUI.
  • 🌈 Apex Launcher — allows you to change the color of folders and labels, as well as hide icons.

To install the launcher and change icons:

  1. Download the launcher from Google Play (for example, Nova Launcher).
  2. Install icon pack (for example Whicons or Delta from Play Market).
  3. In the launcher settings, select Icon style → Icon pack and apply the downloaded set.

Make a backup copy of your home screen

Check the launcher's compatibility with the Android version

Clear the cache of the standard launcher (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Memory)

Disable battery optimization for launcher-->

Third-party launchers consume a little more RAM, but on modern smartphones (Xiaomi 12T, POCO F5) this is not critical. The main advantage is the ability selectively change. icons for individual applications, which cannot be done through standard themes.

3. Using icon packs without a launcher

If you don’t want to change the launcher, but need custom icons, use applications like Icon Changer or X Icon Changer. They allow you to replace icons one by one without affecting the system files. actions:

  1. Download an icon pack (for example, CandyCons or Lines from Play Market).
  2. Install Icon Changer (link).
  3. Open the application, select icon to replace and specify a new icon from the package.
  4. Confirm the changes - the new icon will appear on the home screen.

Limitations of the method:

  • ⚠️ Icons change only on the home screen; in the application menu they will remain standard.
  • 🔄 When resetting settings or updating MIUI, you will have to repeat the procedure.
  • 🎨 Not all icon packs support responsive design (stroke or size mismatch may appear).

💡

Before installing an icon pack, check its rating and reviews - some sets contain ads or do not support the latest versions Android.

4. Changing icons via ADB (for advanced users)

If you are ready to experiment, you can change system icons via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) (This method requires an unlocked bootloader and superuser rights (root), but gives maximum freedom. Attention: incorrect actions can lead to data loss or device bricking.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Turn on USB Debugging to Settings → About phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the version line, then return to Advanced settings → For developers).
  2. Connect your phone to the PC and confirm permission to debug.
  3. Download ADB Tools to your computer and open the command line in the folder with utilities.
  4. Enter the command to extract system icons: 
    adb pull /system/product/overlay/
  5. Edit icon files (format .png or .xml) in a graphic editor (for example, GIMP or Photoshop).
  6. Get the files back: 
    adb push your_file.png /system/product/overlay/
  7. Reboot the device.

What to do if the icons have not changed after ADB?

If the icons remain the same, check:

1. The correctness of the file paths (in different versions of MIUI) they may differ).

2. File access rights (must be 644 or 755).

3. System cache - try clearing it through Settings → Memory → Clear cache.

If the problem persists, return the original icon files from the backup.

Advantages of the method:

  • 🎨 Full control over the design of icons (color, shape, shadows).
  • 🔧 Ability to change system icons (for example, for Settings or Phone).

⚠️ Attention: Changing system files via ADB may break MIUI, especially if you edit files in folders /system or /vendor. Before experiments, create a full backup via TWRP or Mi Flash Tool.

5. Using Magisk modules (root required)

If on yours Xiaomi installed Magisk (to obtain root access), you can use modules to customize icons. Popular solutions:

Module Description Compatibility
MiuiColorTools Allows you to change the color of system icons, fonts and accent elements. MIUI 12–14
Iconify Support for icon packs for system applications (requires Xposed). Android 10–13
GravityBox Advanced interface customization, including icons and animations. MIUI 11–13

To install the module:

  1. Download the module file (.zip) from the forum XDA Developers or 4PDA.
  2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the section Modules.
  3. Click Install module and select the downloaded file.
  4. Reboot the device.

Warnings:

  • 🔧 Modules may conflict with each other - install no more than 2-3 at a time.
  • 🔄 After updating MIUI, modules often require reinstallation.
  • ⚠️ Some modules contain malicious code - download only from trusted sources.

💡

Magisk modules provide maximum customization, but require root access and can disrupt system stability. Use them only if you are prepared for possible bugs.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your skills and goals. Below is a comparison table:

Method Complexity Risks Flexibility Reset after update
Built-in themes ⭐ No Low Yes
Third-party launchers ⭐⭐ No Medium No
Icon packs ⭐⭐ No High Yes
ADB ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High Maximum No
Magisk modules ⭐⭐⭐ Average Maximum Partly

For most users, the best option is a combination of launcher and icon packs. This gives enough flexibility without risks to the system. If you need complete customization (for example, to create a unique design), consider ADB or Magisk, but only after backing up your data.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing icons to Xiaomi errors may occur. Here's how to fix them:

  • 🔄 The icons were reset after the MIUI update → Reapply the theme or icon pack. For launchers, check the default settings.
  • 🖼️ New icons are displayed with a black border → Install an adaptive icon pack or edit them manually (remove the alpha channel in .png).
  • ⚠️ The system stopped booting after ADB → Boot into Fastboot and restore the original files via Mi Flash Tool.
  • 📱 Launcher slows down → Clear its cache or disable animations in the developer settings (Settings → Advanced → For developers → Animation scale → Off).

If the problem cannot be solved, check the error logs via ADB Logcat or contact thematic forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA).Indicate the device model and version MIUI - this will help you find a solution faster.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 11 s MIUI 13) after changing icons through ADB the sound in the speaker may disappear. This is due to damage to the files in /vendor/overlay. In this case, a complete reset is required.
Is it possible to change the color of icons without root access?

Yes, the following are suitable for this:

  • Built-in themes MIUI.
  • Third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Lawnchair).
  • Applications for replacing icons (Icon Changer).

root access is only needed for deep customization via ADB or Magisk.

Why do they look blurry after changing icons via ADB?

This is due to a resolution mismatch. Standard icons in MIUI have a size of 192×192 px (for xxxhdpi). If you replaced them with images with a different resolution, the system automatically scales them, which leads to blur. Solution:

  1. Open the original icon in the editor (for example, GIMP).
  2. Check it). size and format (.png with transparency).
  3. Create a new icon with the same parameters.
How to return standard icons if something went wrong?

The method depends on the change method:

  • For themes: Apply a standard theme in the application Themes.
  • For launchers: Remove the launcher or reset its settings.
  • For ADB/Magisk:
    1. If there is a backup copy, restore the original files.
    2. If not, reset the settings (Settings → About phone → Reset settings).
Will these methods work on POCO F5 with MIUI 14?

Yes, all the described methods are compatible with POCO F5 on MIUI 14, but:

  • Some themes may not support the new version - check the compatibility in the description.
  • For ADB an updated version of utilities may be required (for example, platform-tools 34.0.0).
  • Magisk modules must be adapted to Android 13.

Before experiments, check the latest information on the forum XDA or telegram chat POCO Russia.

Is it possible to change the color of icons in the application menu (and not just on the home screen)?

Changing icons in the application menu (App Drawer) is more difficult:

  • Standard themes MIUI they change icons everywhere, but the choice is limited.
  • Launchers like Nova Launcher allow you to hide the application menu or replace it with a custom one, but do not change the icons inside.
  • The only way to completely replace icons in the menu is to edit system files through ADB or Magisk.