The visual component of the operating system Android often becomes the subject of controversy among users, especially when it comes to standard interface elements. Many smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung, Xiaomi or OnePlus, introduce their own shells that add unique design elements, but sometimes limit the owner's freedom of action. One of the most common problems is the presence of a colored background for application icons, which can disrupt the overall harmony of the desktop or simply irritate the eye with its diversity.
Changing the appearance of shortcuts is not just a whim, but a way to personalize the device to suit your needs and tastes. Standard design themes often impose certain color schemes that do not always match the chosen wallpaper. In this article, we will examine in detail various methods that allow you to get rid of an unwanted background or change its color, using both built-in system capabilities and third-party tools.
It is worth noting that the customization process may vary depending on the version of the operating system and the model of your gadget. Interface Android is constantly evolving, and functions available in one version of the shell may be absent or called differently in another. Therefore, it is important to carefully follow the names of menu items and the sequence of actions described below.
Using built-in themes in MIUI and HyperOS
Users of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco face the problem of the colored background of icons most often, since this is a proprietary feature shells MIUI and new HyperOS. Fortunately, the developers have provided a fairly flexible mechanism for controlling this parameter through the “Themes” system application. You don't need to have superuser rights or install complex patches to achieve the desired result.
First, you need to go to the device settings and find the section responsible for appearance. The path may look like Settings → Wallpaper and personalization or simply Themes. In the menu that opens, pay attention to the “Profile” tab or the settings button in the upper right corner of the screen. This is where the key switches that control the display of interface elements are hidden.
In the personalization menu you need to find an item related to the icon system. It is often called "System Icons" or "Icon Style". Inside this section, you can select the "Classic" or "Android" option, which will automatically remove the colored background, replacing it with transparent or white, depending on the selected theme. If the standard options are not suitable, you can download a third-party theme in which the icons initially have no background.
It is important to understand that using a new theme can change not only the icons, but also other interface elements, such as the notification panel or menu settings. Personalization v MIUI works comprehensively, so before installation it is recommended to view a preview of all components. If you are only interested in changing the background of the shortcuts, it is better to use the built-in styles rather than download heavy theme packages.
Before installing a new theme, take a screenshot of your current desktop to easily return everything back if the result does not suit you.
Customizing icons in Samsung One UI
Owners of devices Samsung with a shell One UI have their own tools for managing the appearance of shortcuts. The company Samsung pays great attention to design, so there is no direct “remove background” switch, but there are functions that allow you to achieve a similar effect or change the style beyond recognition. The main tool is located in the "Good Lock" menu, which is the official module for deep interface customization.
First, you should check the standard settings. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and style. Here you can change the system color accent, which affects the background of folders and some icons if the Color Palette function is enabled. However, for more radical changes you will need an application Theme Park from the store Galaxy Store. This is a powerful tool that allows you to create your own themes from scratch.
In the application Theme Park you can select a basic template and edit icon settings. You can change the shape, size and most importantly the background color or make it transparent. The process of creating your own theme may seem difficult for a beginner, but the result is worth it. After editing, the theme is installed as a regular one, replacing the standard system view.
⚠️ Attention: The Good Lock application and Theme Park module are not available in all regions. If you don't find them in the Galaxy Store, you may need to change the region of your Samsung account or download the installer through third-party resources, which carries certain risks.
An alternative method is to use the "Simple Mode" function or change the size of the desktop grid, which visually changes the appearance of the icons, although it does not directly remove the background. Optimization space on the screen often helps to hide the visual shortcomings of the standard design. It is also worth paying attention to system updates, since Samsung regularly changes the logic of the interface.
☑️ Setting up One UI
Using third-party launchers
If the built-in capabilities of the system seem limited to you, the best solution would be to install a third-party launcher. The launcher is an application that completely replaces the standard desktop, providing access to thousands of settings. The most popular and functional are Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher and Smart Launcher. They allow you to completely ignore manufacturers' system restrictions.
After installing the launcher, you will need to download a separate icon pack. There are thousands of sets on the Play Market, including completely monochrome or transparent icons that are perfect for your case. The installation of the pack occurs through the settings of the launcher itself in the “Appearance” or “Icons” section. After applying the pack, all shortcuts on the desktop and in the application menu will change their appearance.
Deserves special attention Nova Launcher, which allows you to customize every aspect of the shortcut display. You can change the size, add shadows, change the shape and, of course, work with backgrounds. In the paid version Nova Prime functions are available for creating groups of icons and fine-tuning indents, which makes the interface truly unique. Customization via the launcher - this is the most flexible method.
| Launcher | Difficulty | Russian language | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Average | Yes | Maximum flexibility, gesture support |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low | Yes | Integration with Microsoft services, ease |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Low | Yes | Automatic sorting, adaptive design |
| Lawnchair | High | Yes | Open source, Pixel style |
It is worth remembering that third-party launchers may consume more battery resources than standard solutions. This is due to additional animations and features that run in the background. If you have a device with a small amount of RAM, choose lighter options, for example Niagara Launcher, although the ability to change icons there may be limited.
Can a launcher slow down your phone?
Yes, heavy launchers with 3D effects and widgets can consume more RAM and battery batteries. On older devices, it is better to use lightweight versions (Lite) or standard launchers with minimal settings.
Changing accent colors in Android 12 and later
Starting with version Android 12, Google has implemented a design system Material You, which dynamically changes interface colors depending on the selected wallpaper. This directly affects the appearance of the icons, especially in the standard launcher Pixel Launcher. The background of shortcuts, folders and widgets can automatically adjust to the dominant color of the image on the desktop.
To manage this process, you need to go to Settings → Wallpaper and style. Here you will see a preview of your screen with the current colors. By clicking on the color circles, you can choose a different shade from the proposed palette, which is generated by an algorithm based on your wallpaper. This allows you to make the background of the icons paler, more saturated, or completely change its hue without installing additional applications.
However, Material You does not work the same in all applications. Some app developers ignore system colors, leaving their branded icons with the original background. In such cases, only using a system theme or using a launcher that forcibly recolors the icons helps. Adaptability interface is a key feature of modern versions of Android.
⚠️ Attention: The “Wallpaper and Style” settings interface may differ on smartphones from different manufacturers. For example, in ColorOS from Oppo or OriginOS from Vivo these settings can be placed in a separate "Themes" application or located in the "Personalization" menu.
An interesting feature is the ability to create your own color palette You can choose a specific color that will dominate the system, and the background of the icons in the folders will change accordingly. This is a great way to make the interface more strict or, conversely, brighter, without resorting to complex manipulations with system files.
Dynamic colors Material You is a native way to control the background of icons, which does not require installing additional software and saves battery power.
Manually replacing icons through editor applications
For those who want to achieve the perfect result and are willing to spend time, there is a method for manually replacing each icon. This method is suitable if you need to change the background only for a few specific applications, and not for the entire system at once. To implement your plan, you will need applications for creating shortcuts, such as Shortcut Maker or X Icon Changer.
The principle of operation of such apps is simple: you select the application for which you want to create a new shortcut, then select an image or background color, and the app creates a new icon on the desktop. In fact, this is a shortcut to a shortcut, but visually there is no difference for the user. You can use your own images downloaded from the Internet, or generate simple colored squares in a graphics editor.
The advantage of this method is complete freedom of creativity. You can make the icon background transparent, translucent, gradient, or add text to it. However, this approach also has a significant drawback: when updating the main application, the new shortcut may stop working or look incorrect, since it is not directly related to the original update package. Modification shortcuts require periodic checking of their functionality.
In addition, notifications on such custom icons may display incorrectly. The standard unread message counter (badge) often does not appear on shortcuts created by third-party apps. Therefore, this method is best used for static applications, such as a calculator, calendar or games, where the presence of a notification counter is not critical.
Frequently asked questions and problem solving
During the customization process, users often encounter the same difficulties. Below are answers to the most popular questions that will help you avoid common mistakes and quickly resolve problems that arise. If the suggested solutions do not help, it is possible that your firmware version has unique limitations.
Why did the icons become black squares after changing the theme?
This means that the selected icon pack does not contain a graphic element for a specific application. In such cases, the system displays a standard stub. Solution: use an icon pack with a large number of support (more than 5000 icons) or create a shortcut manually through Shortcut Maker.
Is it possible to remove the background of only folders, leaving the icons?
Yes, in many launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) the transparency settings for the background of folders and the background of icons are separate. In standard shells, this depends on the theme: some themes provide transparent folders with colored icons.
Is it safe to install modified themes from unverified sources?
Themes usually contain only graphic resources and XML configuration files, so the risk of viruses is minimal. However, download files only from trusted resources or official theme stores to avoid damaging system interface files.
Will the setting be reset after a system update?
Yes, a major Android update (for example, from 13 to 14) or a firmware update from the manufacturer often resets the launcher and theme settings to factory settings. It is recommended to make a backup copy of the launcher settings (if such a function exists) before updating.
How to get everything back if nothing works?
Simply remove the installed third-party launcher through the app settings. The system will automatically switch to the standard launcher. If the theme has changed, select the standard theme "Classic" or "Default" in the Themes application.