Personalizing a mobile device is one of the most popular ways to express your individuality and make using the gadget more enjoyable. Owners of smartphones running shell MIUI or new HyperOS are often faced with the desire to change the standard visual style of the system. The manufacturer offers built-in tools, but they do not always cover all user needs, especially when it comes to specific graphics sets.
Changing icons on Xiaomi does not require root access or complex software. In most cases, the standard Themes application or a third-party launcher available on Google Play is sufficient. However, the process may vary depending on the firmware version and device region, which sometimes causes confusion among beginners.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for replacing graphical interface elements. You will learn how to use ready-made packages, create your own sets and adjust the display of system elements to completely transform the appearance of your smartphone.
Using the built-in Themes application
The easiest and safest way to change the appearance of icons is to use the official content store from Xiaomi. The application Themes is pre-installed on all devices of the brand and contains thousands of design options created both by the company itself and by independent designers.
To get started, open the application and go to the section Profile or My resourcesin depending on the interface version. Here you will find the “Icons” category, where a variety of packages are collected. Some of them change graphics for all applications at once, others offer selective replacement only for popular services.
It is important to understand that free themes often contain advertising or require watching videos to activate. Premium content is available via subscription or one-time payment. After downloading the package, the system will offer to apply it immediately or configure it selectively.
⚠️ Attention: When applying global themes, the system interface may change radically, including the notification panel and settings menu. If you only need new icons, select the "Apply icons only" option or use packages marked as compatible with the current version MIUI.
The application process is as follows: select the set you like, click the "Download" button, and then "Apply". The system will automatically redraw the desktop. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can always return to the standard design through the same profile section by selecting a theme Classic or No theme.
Customizing icons through system parameters
In addition to downloading new packages, the Xiaomi shell allows you to flexibly customize the display of already installed ones elements. This feature is especially useful if you want to change the shape of icons or their size without downloading heavy theme packages. Go to your smartphone and find the section. In some firmware versions, this item may be called “Home Screen”. Here you have options to change the grid size, disable labels and, most importantly, change the shape of the icons.
Go to Settings smartphone and find the section Desktop. In some firmware versions, this item may be called “Home Screen”. Here you have options to change the grid size, disable labels and, most importantly, change the shape of the icons.
You can choose round, square, teardrop or custom shapes. This setting applies to all applications at once, creating a consistent visual style. Here you can also enable the “Large Icons” feature, which makes navigation easier for users with low vision.
- 🔹 Go to the desktop settings by long pressing on an empty area of the screen.
- 🔹 Select "Advanced settings" to access hidden options.
- 🔹 Experiment with grid size to change the density of elements.
It is worth noting that on older smartphone models the number of available forms may be limited. Owners of flagship devices with the latest HyperOS get access to more advanced customization tools, including animated icons and dynamic effects.
If, after changing the shape, the icons look incorrect (cut off or stretched), try clearing the cache of the “Themes” application in the phone settings and reboot the device.
Installing third-party launchers for complete customization
If the standard system capabilities are not enough for you, the best solution would be to install a third-party launcher. These are special applications that completely replace the Android desktop, providing unlimited possibilities for customizing the appearance.
Popular solutions, such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher, allow you to change not only the graphics, but also the logic of the menu, control gestures and transition animations. To change icons in such launchers, it is usually enough to download a third-party icon pack in the format APK or select it from the built-in library.
The process of installing a third-party desktop is simple: download the application from Google Play, open it and follow the instructions in the setup wizard. The system will offer to make the new launcher the default application. After this, you will have access to an expanded menu of appearance settings.
| Launcher name | Setting complexity | Support for icon packs | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Average | Full | High |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low | Partial | Average |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Low | Automatic | High |
| Lawnchair | High | Full | Optimal |
Using third-party launchers may slightly increase battery consumption due to additional processes in the background. However, on modern Snapdragon and MediaTek processors, this difference is almost invisible to the user in everyday use scenarios.
☑️ Preparing to install the launcher
Manually replacing icons by creating shortcuts
For those who want to replace the icon of only one specific application without affecting the rest of the system, there is a method for creating custom shortcuts. This method does not require installing additional software, but does require a little more time for the initial setup.
You will need any image in the format PNG or JPGthat you want to use as an icon. Save it to the phone's memory, and then use the built-in functionality for creating shortcuts or a third-party application like Shortcut Maker.
Open the application for creating shortcuts, select the desired app from the list and click on the icon area. Select the prepared image from the gallery. After saving, a new shortcut with your picture will appear on the desktop, which will launch the target application.
⚠️ Attention: When you delete the original application, the created custom shortcut will stop working. In addition, notifications from an application may not be displayed correctly on a custom icon, since the system does not always recognize it as a system element.
This method is ideal for creating thematic folders or highlighting particularly important applications. You can group shortcuts with the same design into a separate folder, giving your desktop a unique style without completely changing the theme.
Working with folders and grouping applications
Organizing space on your desktop is an important aspect of customization. Xiaomi allows you to create folders, the appearance of which can also be customized. This helps to maintain order when the number of installed applications is in the dozens.
To create a folder, simply drag one icon onto another. By default, the system gives the folder a name based on the application category, but you can rename it to whatever name you prefer. In new versions HyperOS the function of changing the background color of a folder to match the wallpaper or a manually selected shade is available.
Inside folders, icons are also subject to general theme settings. If you applied an icon pack, the graphics inside the folders will update automatically. However, if you use manual shortcut replacement, you will have to update the icons inside folders individually.
- 📁 Tap on a folder name to rename it or change the background color.
- 📁 Use the Collapse Folder feature to save space on your home screen.
- 📁 Add widgets inside folders for quick access to information without opening applications.
Some users prefer to hide folder names to achieve a “clean” desktop effect. This can be done in the desktop settings by turning off the display of captions. In this case, you will have to navigate only by the visual images of the icons.
Secret function of folders
In some versions of MIUI, if you hold your finger on an empty space inside an open folder for a long time, you can change the background of the folder to your own image from the gallery, although this function is often hidden or depends on the firmware region.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
The customization process does not always go smoothly. Users may experience icons not being applied, displaying incorrectly, or being reset after a reboot. Most often this is due to a conflict between software versions or limitations of a specific device model.
One of the common problems is that the resolution of the icons in the package does not match the system requirements. If graphics look blurry or cropped, try finding an alternative package or using a launcher that can scale images on the fly.
It's also worth considering that Android security updates may block some third-party themes from working, especially if they ask for suspicious permissions. In such cases, the system can automatically roll back the changes to the standard view.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and available functions may vary depending on the firmware version and region (Global, China, EEA). If you do not find the described menu items, check for system updates or look for information specifically for your model in the official community.
To solve problems with “flying” themes, it is recommended to fix the launcher in memory. Go to the multitasking menu, hold down the launcher window and select the lock icon. This will prevent it from being unloaded from RAM and save the appearance settings.
The stability of the custom interface directly depends on the number of background processes. Do not install more than one active launcher at the same time to avoid conflicts and system freezes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to return standard icons after installing the theme?
Yes, this is possible at any time. Go to the application Themes, go to section Profile -> Themes and select a topic Classic or No theme. Click “Apply”, and the system will return the factory appearance of all interface elements.
Does changing icons affect the speed of work? smartphone?
Replacing static images itself does not affect performance. However, using heavy animated themes or resource-intensive third-party launchers can increase RAM consumption and slightly reduce responsiveness on older devices.
Why do some icons not change after applying the theme?
This happens if the theme author has not rendered the graphics for a specific application. In this case, the system displays the standard icon from the basic Android set. This can only be corrected manually by creating a shortcut with the desired image, or by waiting for the theme to be updated.
Is it safe to download themes from unverified sources?
Downloading themes in the format .mtz from third-party sites carries certain risks. Although themes rarely contain viruses, they can disrupt system operation or collect usage data. It is recommended to use only the official store GetThemes or trusted forums.