How to change icons on Xiaomi: from standard themes to deep customization

Standard icons on smartphones Xiaomi often look boring or don’t fit into your style. Fortunately, the system MIUI (and the new HyperOS) offers several ways to change them - from simple themes to manual editing of system files. In this article we will analyze all the current methods, including those that work without rootrights.

It is important to understand that customization options depend on the firmware version. On MIUI 14/15 i HyperOS (2026) both built-in tools and third-party solutions are available. If you are using an older version, some methods may not work. Also note that deep modification of system files always carries risks, so before experiments, make a backup copy of your data through Settings → About phone → Backup.

1. Using built-in MIUI/HyperOS themes

The easiest and safest way is to install one of the official themes. In Xiaomi this is done through the app Themes (icon with a brush). Algorithm of actions:

1. Open the application Themes (if it is not there, download it from Google Play).
2. Go to the tab Icons at the bottom menu.
3. Select the icon pack you like and click Apply.
4. Confirm the changes - the system will automatically update the icons on the desktop and in the application menu.

Please note Please note: free themes often have a limited set of icons. Paid packs (from 50 to 300 rubles) cover more applications, including third-party ones. Also, some themes change not only icons, but also fonts, wallpapers, animations.

2. Installing third-party launchers

If there are few built-in themes, use alternative launchers. They completely replace the interface MIUI, including icons. Popular options:

• 🎨 Nova Launcher — flexible adjustment of icon sizes, support for packs from Play Market.
• 🖼️ Apex Launcher —lightweight, with support for gestures and hiding icons.
• 🌈 Lawnchair —open source launcher that imitates Pixel Launcher.
• 🔧 Microsoft Launcher —integration with Windows, adaptive icons.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play.
2. Click Home and select Nova as the default launcher.
3. Hold your finger on the desktop → Settings → Icon style.
4. Select Icon pack and install any of Play Market (for example, Whicons or CandyCons).

⚠️ Attention: Some launchers (for example, Lawnchair) require permission to access Notifications for widgets to work correctly. You cannot deny this permission recommended - without it, notification icons may disappear.

3. Manual replacement of icons via ADB (without root)

For advanced users, there is a way to change system icons without obtaining root-right - via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method works on most devices Xiaomi s MIUI 14+, but requires connection to a PC.

You will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB tools.
• 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (Settings → About phone → MIUI version - press 7 times, then return to Advanced → For developers).
• 📁 Pack of icons in format .png with resolution 192×192 pixels.

Steps:

1. Connect your phone to the PC and run the command:

   adb devices

   Make sure that the device is detected.

2. Download icons (for example, from the site icons8.com) and rename them according to the application names (for example com.android.chrome.png for Chrome).
3. Download icons to a folder on your phone:

   adb push your_icon.png /sdcard/Download/

4. Use the command to replace (you need to know the path to the system icon):

   adb shell "su -c 'mount -o rw,remount /system && cp /sdcard/Download/your_icon.png /system/app/ApplicationFolderName/res/drawable/'"

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect ADB command may cause system applications to crash Before experimenting, check. compatibility of your model with this method on the forums 4PDA or XDA-Developers.

How to find the name of the application folder?

Use the command adb shell pm list packages -fto see the paths of all installed applications. For example, for Chrome the path may look like /system/priv-app/Chrome/.

4. Changing icons using Magisk modules (root)

If your Xiaomi is installed Magisk (to receive root-right), you can use modules for deep customization. Popular solutions:

Module	Description	Compatibility
MiuiHome Mods	Changes icons, fonts, animations in MIUI Launcher.	MIUI 12–15
Iconify	Support for icon packs for system applications.	Android 10–14
Xiaomi.eu Customizer	Modification package for firmware Xiaomi.eu.	Only for Xiaomi.eu ROM

Instructions for Iconify:

1. Install Magisk and module Iconify through it.
2. Download a pack of icons (for example, Fluid or Delta) in the format .apk.
3. Open Iconify Manager and select the installed one pack.
4. Apply the changes and restart the phone.

The advantage of this method is support for adaptive icons (which change shape depending on the theme). However, Magisk may conflict with some banking applications and Google Pay.

Back up data|Unlock bootloader (if not unlocked)|Install TWRP Recovery|Download the current version of Magisk|Checking compatibility with your phone model-->

5. Editing system files manually (for experienced)

This method is only suitable for users with root-rights and experience with system files files. It allows you to replace icons directly in /system, but requires caution.

Algorithm:

1. Using Root Explorer (or Mixplorer) go to /system/app or /system/priv-app.
2. Find the folder of the application whose icon you want to replace (for example, Phone for a standard dialer).
3. In the folder res/drawable or res/mipmap find files with extension .png (usually ic_launcher.png).
4. Copy your icons there, after renaming them and maintaining the original resolution.
5. Change the access rights to 644 (rw-r--r--).
6. Reboot the phone.

Example paths for popular applications:

• 📞 Dialer: /system/priv-app/Phone/res/drawable/ic_launcher_phone.png
• 📱 Contacts: /system/priv-app/Contacts/res/mipmap-xxxhdpi/ic_launcher_contacts.png
• 📧 Messages: /system/app/Mms/res/drawable/ic_launcher_mms.png

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect modification of system files can lead to bootloop (loop reboot). Always have a backup copy on hand TWRP or the ability to flash the phone via Fastboot.

6. Hiding icons without deleting

If you don’t like some icons, but don’t want to delete applications, you can hide them. In MIUI this is done like this:

1. Hold your finger on the desktop → Settings.
2. Select Hide applications.
3. Tick unnecessary icons and click Done.

In third-party launchers (for example, Nova), hiding works differently:

1. Hold your finger on the desktop → Nova Settings.
2. Go to Hide applications.
3. Select applications that you want to hide from the screen.

Hidden icons will remain in the menu of all applications, but will not be displayed on the desktop. This is convenient for system utilities that cannot be removed (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music).

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Method	Complexity	Requires root	Risks	Flexibility
Built-in themes	⭐	❌ No	Absent	Limited
Third-party launchers	⭐⭐	❌ No	Conflicts with widgets	High
ADB	⭐⭐⭐	❌ No	Application crashes	Medium
Magisk modules	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	Bootloop, conflicts	Maximum
Manual editing	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	Critical system failure	Maximum

For most users, the optimal solution will be built-in themes or third-party launchers. If you need uniqueness, try ADBFor complete control over the interface, Magisk modulesare suitable. require technical skills.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to return standard icons after changes?

Yes. If you used themes or launchers, just reset the settings in them. After manually editing system files or ADB, you will have to reinstall the icons back or reset the phone to factory settings.

Why, after replacing icons via ADB, are they reset after the update?

System updates MIUI overwrite files in /system. To avoid this, use modules Magisk (for example, MiuiHome Mods), which apply changes after each reboot.

How to change icons in folders on the desktop desktop?

In the standard launcher MIUI the folder icons change along with the theme. In Nova Launcher you can set individual icons for folders: hold your finger on the folder → Edit → Icon.

Do these methods work on POCO and Redmi?

Yes, since POCO and Redmi work on the same firmware MIUI/HyperOS. The exception is models on POCO Launcher (for example, POCO F5), where the paths to system files may differ.

Is it possible to change the icons in the notification panel?

Icons in the notification panel (for example, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are changed only through deep modification of system files or custom firmware (for example, LineageOS). In standard MIUI this is not possible without root.