How to enlarge icons on Android 11: 5 ways + FAQ

Small icons on a smartphone screen are a common cause of discomfort, especially for users with low vision or owners of devices with high screen resolutions. Android 11 offers several ways to scale the interface, but not all of them obvious. In this article we will look at 5 working methodsincluding system settings, third-party launchers and even ADB commands for advanced users.

It is important to understand that the ability to resize icons depends from shell manufacturer (One UI, MIUI, OxygenOS etc.) and firmware version. In some places, a couple of taps are enough, but in others you will have to delve deeper into the developer options. We tested the instructions on Samsung Galaxy S20 (One UI 3.1), Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (MIUI 12.5) and Google Pixel 4a (pure Android). If your model is different, check the availability of menu items before starting.

We warn you right away: some methods require developer rights or installing third-party software. This is not dangerous for the device, but may reset the personal settings of the launcher. We recommend creating a backup copy of your home screen via Settings → System → Backup.

1. Standard screen scaling in Android 11

The easiest way is to use the built-in function for changing the size of fonts and interface elements. It is available on all devices with Android 11, but not in all shells it affects desktop icons (for example, in MIUI it scales only system applications).

How to enable:

Open Settings → Accessibility → Visibility (or Settings → Display → Font and display size on some devices).
Select item Display size or Screen scale.
Move the slider to the right to enlarge. Changes are applied immediately.

Method limitations:

⚙️ Does not work for desktop icons in Samsung One UI i Xiaomi MIUI —scales only system menus.
📱 On Google Pixel and devices with pure Android increases all elements, including icons.
🔄 After changing the scale, you may need to restart the launcher (long press on the desktop → Restart).

💡

If the widgets disappear after scaling, return the standard size, then install the widgets again - this will solve the compatibility problem.

2. Changing the size of icons through the launcher settings

Many manufacturers allow you to customize the desktop grid, which indirectly affects the size of the icons. For example, reducing the number of rows/columns automatically increases the size of the icons. example of popular shells:

Manufacturer	Path to settings	Max. icon size	Notes
Samsung (One UI)	`Long press on the desktop → Settings → Home grid screen`	4×5	The minimum grid (4×5) gives the largest icons. Widgets can move!
Xiaomi (MIUI)	`Settings → Desktop → Desktop grid`	4×6	When changed, folders on the desktop are reset.
Google Pixel	`Long press → Settings → Icon style → Size`	120%	There is a separate slider for icon scale.
Oppo/Realme (ColorOS)	`Settings → Personalization → Desktop layout`	4×6	Changes the size of icons and text signatures.

On Samsung and Xiaomi after changing the grid, the icons become larger, but the distance between them increaseswhich may look unaesthetic B Google Pixel more flexible control is implemented - you can scale only the icons without affecting them. the rest of the interface.

Take screenshots of the current arrangement of icons

Remember the location of widgets

Check the free space on the desktop (after changing the grid, icons may overlap)

Restart the launcher after changes (long press → Restart)-->

3. Using third-party launchers for fine tuning

If the standard settings are not satisfactory, the best solution is to install an alternative launcher. They offer theme support and additional features. Top 3 options for pixel control of icon size, theme support and additional features. Top 3 options for Android 11:

🔧 Nova Launcher —allows you to set the icon size as a percentage (from 50% to 150%), supports adaptive icons and gestures. Free version is limited to 5 desktop pages.
🎨 Apex Launcher —offers separate settings for desktop icons and application menus. There is a “smart scaling” function for automatic adjustment to screen resolution.
🖼️ Microsoft Launcher —simple interface with the ability to enlarge icons up to 125%. Integrated with Windows 10/11 for file synchronization.

Instructions for Nova Launcher (the most flexible option):

Install the launcher from Google Play.
Set it as the default launcher (a prompt will appear when you launch it for the first time).
Go to Nova Settings → Icon size.
Adjust the slider Desktop icon size (we recommend 110–120% for a balance between readability and the number of icons).
In section Additional → Signature font size enlarge the text under the icons if necessary.

The advantage of Nova Launcher is saving settings when updating AndroidHowever, on some devices (Huawei, Honor), you may need to disable battery optimization for the launcher. otherwise it will reboot.

How to return the standard launcher?

To roll back to the native launcher, go to Settings → Applications → Default Launcher and select the standard option (for example, One UI Home for Samsung or Launcher3 for Pixel).

4. ADB commands for advanced users

If you need deep zoom (for example, for a tablet or device with a large screen), you can use ADB. This method works on all devices with Android 11, but requires connecting to a computer and enabling debugging USB.

Step-by-step guide:

Activate Developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → Build number and tap on it 7 times.
Go back to Settings → System → For developers and enable Debug by USB.
Connect the phone to the PC, install ADB-tools and run the command:
```
adb shell wm density 440
```
where 440 is the pixel density (DPI), the larger the elements: 380–480.

Reboot your device:
```
adb reboot
```

Impact of changing DPI:

✅ Increased all interface elements, including icons, fonts and menus.
⚠️ Some applications (for example, games or banking apps) may not be displayed correctly.
🔄 To return the standard value, do adb shell wm density reset.

💡

Changing DPI via ADB is the only way to globally enlarge icons on devices with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where there are no standard settings scaling.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (Xiaomi, Oppo), after changing the DPI, face or fingerprint unlocking may be reset. Before the procedure, add a backup PIN code to Settings → Security → Screen lock.

5. Hidden functions of manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei)

Some brands hide additional scaling options in service menus or developer settings. These methods are little known, but are often more effective than standard ones.

For Samsung (One UI):

🔍 Enter the code in the telephone dialer #0#.
In the menu that opens, select Mega icons (if the option is available).
📌 Alternative: in Settings → Additional functions → Laboratory there may be an item Enlarged icons (not available on all models).

For Xiaomi (MIUI):

🛠️ Activate Mode developer (as in the section about ADB).
Go to Settings → Advanced → Laboratory → Icon scale.
🔢 Set the value 1.2x or 1.3x for moderate increase.

For Huawei/Honor (EMUI):

🖥️ In Settings → System → For developers find the item Minimum width (dp).
Set the value 411 (standard - 360). This will increase the size of icons and fonts.

⚠️ Attention: Service codes and hidden menus may vary depending on the firmware region. For example, on European versions Samsung the code #0# may not open the menu with icon settings. Do not enter unknown codes - this may lead to a reset!

6. Alternative solutions: widgets and folders

If you can’t enlarge the icons, you can optimize the desktop in other ways:

📁 Folders with large icons: Group applications into folders, and place only the most important ones on the desktop. For example, the "Social networks" folder with WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram will take the place of one icon.
📊 Widgets instead of icons: Widgets Google Search, Weather or Calendar often have large controls. For example, the widget 4×2 from Google displays application icons in an enlarged form.
🔍 Search by application: Use the swipe down gesture to call up search (on most launchers) - this way you don’t have to look for small icons in the menu.

For users with vision problems, it is useful to combine these methods with voice assistant. For example, Google Assistant allows you to open applications by voice:

Say: "Okay, Google, open WhatsApp".
Or use the command: "Okay, Google, show me my messages."

This will not replace enlarging icons, but will make interaction with the phone more comfortable.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about enlarging icons on Android 11

Is it possible to enlarge icons only on the desktop, without affecting the application menu?

Yes, but only with the help of third-party launchers (for example Nova Launcher or Apex LauncherIn the standard settings of Android 11 there is no such option - scaling is applied to the entire interface or only to system elements (depending on the shell).

After changing the DPI via ADB, some applications began to look blurry?

Blurriness occurs due to incorrect scaling of application resources. Solutions:

Return the standard DPI value with the command adb shell wm density reset.
Or set a fixed DPI value for the problematic application via adb shell dumpsys display (root access required).
Update the application - some developers are adding support for different DPIs in new versions.

On my Samsung Galaxy A51 there is no option to change the desktop grid. What should I do?

On budget models Samsung (A and J series), the grid settings function is often missing. Alternatives:

Install Nova Launcher or another third-party launcher.
Use Zoom mode in Settings → Accessibility → Zoom (increases everything with a triple tap).
Try updating the firmware - new versions of One UI sometimes add missing options.

How to enlarge icons in the application menu (in the list of all apps)?

This cannot be done using standard Android 11 tools - the application menu is scaled only along with the entire interface (through the screen scale settings or ADB):

Google Pixel: in Nova Launcher there is a separate setting for the application menu (Settings → Icon size →). Application menu icons).
Xiaomi: in MIUI 12.5+ you can enable Large icons in Settings → Desktop → Icon style.

Will the settings be reset after updating Android?

Depends on the method:

Standard settings (screen scale, launcher grid) - will be saved.
ADB commands (DPI change) - will be reset to standard after a major update.
Third-party launchers —Nova Launcher/Apex settings will remain, but you may need to reassign the default launcher.

We recommend taking screenshots before updating current screen settings.

How to enlarge icons on Android 11: from standard settings to hidden tricks