Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are faced with the desire to change the standard visual style of the system. The shell MIUI (or its new version HyperOS) offers many functions, but its desktop may seem overloaded or unusual after pure Android. A logical question arises: is it possible to completely remove this interface and replace it with something more concise?
In fact, it is technically impossible to completely “remove” the system launcher without obtaining root access, since it is a critical component of the operating system. However, you can easily disable use it as your main interface by installing an alternative application. This process is safe and reversible, allowing you to return to factory settings at any time.
In this article we will examine in detail all the legal methods of replacing a standard desktop. We'll look at installing third-party launchers, customizing navigation gestures, and ways to minimize the impact of Xiaomi's proprietary features on your user experience. You will learn how to make your smartphone unique without violating the warranty and stability of the device.
Why do users want to replace the standard MIUI launcher
The standard interface from Xiaomi has its own characteristics that not everyone likes. Users often complain about the abundance of pre-installed software, advertising integrations in system folders, and the specific logic of the menu. Replacing the shell allows you to return the feeling of “pure” Android, characteristic of Pixel or Motorola smartphones.
In addition, customization opens up access to thousands of icons, widgets and animations that are not available in the stock firmware. Third-party launchers They often work faster on older devices, as they consume less RAM. This is especially true for budget models of the Redmi series, where every megabyte counts.
⚠️ Attention: Before making changes to the system, make sure that you have an alternative way to control the phone. Although modern versions of Android protect against interface freezes, experimenting with system applications always carries a minimal risk of instability.
Another reason is the desire to remove proprietary MIUI gestures, which may conflict with navigation in some applications. The standard desktop sometimes forcibly changes the screen orientation or scales icons in a way that the user does not like. A third-party solution gives you full control over the desktop grid and dock panel.
Choosing an alternative desktop to replace
The Google Play application market offers dozens of replacement options. The choice depends on your goals: whether you want maximum performance, unique design, or iOS-like functionality. It is important to choose applications with a high rating and a large number of installs to avoid malicious code.
One of the most popular solutions is Nova Launcher. It is considered the gold standard of customization, providing incredible flexibility in customizing every element. Another worthy option is Microsoft Launcher, which integrates perfectly with the Windows ecosystem and offers a convenient news feed to the left of the main screen.
- 🚀 Nova Launcher - the standard for speed and fine-tuning of animations and gestures.
- 🎨 Smart Launcher 6 - automatically sorts applications into categories, saving space on the screen.
- 📱 Lawnchair - as close as possible to the interface of pure Android Pixel with open source.
- 🍏 Launcher iOS 17 —for those who want to visually turn Xiaomi into an iPhone.
When choosing, pay attention to the requirements for screen resolution and Android version. Some heavy launchers may experience stuttering on entry-level processors such as the Snapdragon 400 series. Lightweight options, for example Niagara Launcher, are ideal for minimalists who prefer a text list of applications instead of a grid of icons.
Before installing a new launcher, go to the settings of the current one and take a screenshot of the location of important widgets. This will help you quickly recreate a convenient structure on the new desktop.
Step-by-step guide for installing and activating the new interface
The process of replacing the desktop on Xiaomi smartphones is quite simple and does not require connecting to a computer. All actions are performed directly on the device through the app store and system menu. The main thing is to carefully follow the sequence of steps so that the system correctly recognizes the new application.
First, go to the Google Play Store and install the selected launcher. Once the download is complete, open the app. Usually, when you first start it, the system will immediately prompt you to select it as the default interface. If this does not happen, you will have to do it manually through the settings.
☑️ Launcher replacement algorithm
For manual activation, go to the menu Settings → Applications → Manage applications. In the upper right corner, click on the three dots and select “Default Applications”. Find the “Desktop” (or “Launcher”) section and tap on it. In the list that opens, select the new launcher you installed.
| Action | Path to the MIUI menu | Alternate path |
|---|---|---|
| Select launcher | Settings → Applications → Default | Settings → Home screen |
| Reset settings | Settings → Applications → Management → MIUI Launcher | Settings → Advanced settings |
| Disable gestures | Settings → Home screen → Gestures | Settings → Accessibility |
After selection, the system can load the resources of the new one for a few seconds interface. The screen may blink or go black for a moment - this is normal behavior. Now, when you press the Home button or swipe up, a new desktop will open, rather than the standard MIUI.
⚠️ Attention: On some versions of HyperOS, the launcher selection item may be hidden. If you cannot find it in the settings, try entering the phrase “default” or “default apps” in the settings search.
Setting up gestures and navigation in the new shell
One of the most common problems when changing the launcher on Xiaomi is a conflict of gestures. The MIUI system intercepts swipes from the edges of the screen to manage windows or go back, which may interfere with the work of the side panels of the new launcher. To avoid this, you need to properly configure the navigation mode.
It is recommended to switch from gestures to classic navigation buttons if the new launcher does not support MIUI full-screen gestures perfectly. Go to Settings → Home screen → System navigation and select “Buttons”. This is guaranteed to prevent accidental triggering of system menus on top of your new interface.
If you want to save gestures, make sure that the “Use system gestures” option is enabled in the settings of the launcher itself. In Nova Launcher, for example, you need to go into the gesture settings and explicitly specify actions for swiping up, down and in the corners of the screen, duplicating the functions of the navigation buttons.
What to do if gestures do not work?
Sometimes the system blocks third-party launchers in full battery optimization mode. Go to the battery settings, find your new launcher and select the “No restrictions” mode. This will prevent the application from being forced to stop in the background and will return the responsiveness of gestures.
It is also worth disabling the “Accelerated application launch” function in the MIUI settings, as it may conflict with the animations of third-party shells. This action will slightly increase the time it takes to open apps, but will make transitions between screens smoother and more predictable. Stability of operation is more important than the split second saved during startup.
Returning to the standard MIUI desktop
If the experiment with the new interface was unsuccessful or you simply missed the usual look, returning everything back is very simple. You don't need to uninstall the third-party app, just change the default setting in your phone menu. The standard launcher does not disappear anywhere and remains in the system.
Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications. Find the launcher you installed in the list (for example, Nova Launcher). Tap on it, scroll down to “Default” and tap the “Clear default settings” button.
After this operation, press the “Home” button on your smartphone. The system will again ask you which app to use for your home screen. Select System launcher (System Launcher) and click "Always". The interface will instantly return to the factory appearance with all Xiaomi folders and widgets.
⚠️ Attention: If your phone gets stuck on a black screen after resetting the settings, try rebooting the device into safe mode. To do this, hold down the power button, and when the menu appears, hold your finger on the “Shut down” item for a long time until you are prompted to boot into safe mode.
Removing a third-party launcher through the app menu will not affect the operation of the system if it is not set as the active interface. You can safely remove any test shells by first switching to the standard one. This will free up memory space and remove unnecessary processes from the background.
Returning to the factory interface takes less than a minute and does not require resetting the phone data. It is enough to clear the default settings for a third-party application in the app management menu.
Common problems and ways to solve them
When using non-standard solutions on MIUI, users may encounter a number of specific problems. Most often this is due to the aggressive energy saving built into the Xiaomi shell. The system can “kill” the background process of the launcher, which is why when you return to the main screen you see a standard stub or a reboot of the interface.
To solve the problem with crashes, you need to add a new launcher to startup and disable battery optimization for it. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Battery and performance → Select applications → (Your launcher) → No restrictions. It is also useful to pin the application in memory through the multitasking menu.
Another common problem is widgets not displaying correctly or not appearing. Third-party Android widgets may not appear on the MIUI desktop if the native launcher is active, and vice versa. When changing the shell, make sure that the widgets you want to use are compatible specifically with the new interface you have chosen, and not with the system as a whole.
- 🔋 Problem: The launcher resets after a reboot. Solution: Enable autorun in the application settings.
- 📉 Problem: Animations work in jerks. Solution: In the settings for developers, reduce the animation scale to 0.5x.
- 🔒 Problem: Fingerprint unlocking on the launcher lock screen does not work. Solution: Use the system lock screen by disabling it in the settings of a third-party application.
Sometimes after updating MIUI firmware and launcher settings may be lost. This occurs because an updated system component resets application priorities. In this case, simply repeat the procedure for selecting the default application. Regular system updates are good, but they require a little re-customization.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Will the standard MIUI launcher be removed if I install another one?
No, the standard launcher is a system application and cannot be removed in the usual ways without root access It will simply stop launching when you press the “Home” button, remaining in the phone’s memory as a backup option.
Does changing the desktop affect the warranty of the smartphone?
Installing applications from Google Play and changing the launcher using software methods does not affect the warranty. This is a standard feature of the Android operating system. The warranty is lost only when you unlock the Bootloader or get root access.
Why is the new launcher slower than MIUI?
This may be due to the fact that the new launcher is not optimized for the specific hardware of your phone, or the MIUI system limits its resources. Try disabling animations in the launcher settings and adding it to the list of power saving exceptions.
Is it possible to return iOS-style application icons to Xiaomi?
Yes, you don’t have to change the entire launcher for this. You can install an iOS-style Icon Pack and apply it through the MIUI theme or through the settings of a third-party launcher that supports icon packs.
What to do if the status bar disappears after changing the launcher?
Some launchers hide the status bar to create an immersive effect. Go to the settings of the installed launcher, find the “Appearance” or “Status Bar” section and turn on the display of time and notifications.