Many smartphone users are faced with a situation where standard application icons seem too small. This is especially true for people with low vision or owners of devices with high-resolution screens, where the pixel density makes interface elements microscopic. In the operating system Android 9 Pie Google engineers have provided several built-in mechanisms to solve this problem that do not require installing third-party software.
Changing the size of icons directly affects the ergonomics of using the gadget. Large icons are easier to click, reducing the likelihood of accidental clicks and speeding up access to the features you need. However, before changing the settings, you should understand that increasing some interface elements can lead to a decrease in the number of visible lines on the desktop or a change in the proportions of other widgets.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to increase icons: from standard launcher settings to hidden developer menus. You will learn how to adapt the interface to your needs using only the system tools. We will also look at the nuances of working with various manufacturers' shells, such as Samsung One UI or Xiaomi MIUI, which may have their own scaling algorithms.
Using home screen settings
The most obvious and safe method of changing the size of icons lies in the settings of the launcher itself - the app responsible for displaying the desktop. In the stock version Android 9 and most custom shells this option is brought to the surface, although sometimes you need to look for it in additional menus. Usually the path is through a long press on an empty area of the screen.
After calling the context menu, select the item Settings or Desktop options. Here you will find a slider that adjusts the size of the grid or directly the size of the icons. Moving this slider to the right will visually enlarge all app icons, but will automatically reduce the number of cells in the grid. For example, instead of a 6x6 grid, you can get a 4x4, where each element will take up more space.
It's worth noting that some manufacturers, such as Huawei or Honoroffer ready-made grid styles. You can select the “Large icons” option, which the system will apply automatically. In other cases, for example on a blank Android One, resizing can be tied to the overall scale of the interface, which we will talk about in the following sections.
- 📱 Long pressing on an empty area of the desktop opens the editing menu.
- ⚙️ The “Grid Size” option is often hidden in a subsection “Advanced.”
- 🔍 On devices Samsung this setting is located in the Home Screen menu.
- 🔄 Changing the size may require confirmation and a restart of the launcher.
⚠️ Attention: If you select a grid that is too large, some widgets may no longer fit on the screen or may overlap at each other. Check the arrangement of elements after each change.
Adjusting font size and screen scale
If the launcher settings do not allow desired result, the next step is to change the global scale of the system. In Android 9 these parameters are located in the Settings → Screensection. Here you can adjust not only the font size, but also the overall scale of interface elements, which will also affect application icons.
The “Screen Size” (or “Display Scale”) function works differently than simply increasing the font. It changes the image output density (DPI), causing the system to redraw all elements larger. This is the most effective way to make the interface easy to read, since the proportions are preserved and objects become physically larger on the display matrix.
When you zoom in, the system may warn you that some applications may not display correctly. This is normal behavior for old software that is not optimized for different pixel densities. However, for most modern apps from Google Play this change will not be noticeable, except for visual enlargement.
Before changing the screen scale, take a screenshot of the current settings. If you don't like the new look, you can quickly return the original values by checking the image.
It is important to distinguish between the concepts of “Font Size” and “Screen Size”. The first affects only text information in menus and messages, leaving the icons the same. The second changes all graphic elements evenly. For the task of enlarging icons, we need the second tool.
| Parameter | Influence on icons | Influence on text | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Font size | No | Strong | For reading messages |
| Screen scale | Strong | Moderate | For improvement visibility |
| Bold font | No | Medium | For contrast |
| Theme | Indirect | No | For style |
Activating the Easy Mode
For users for whom the standard settings are not enough, there is a special mode, often called “Easy Mode” or “Mode for Elderly”. This functionality radically changes the appearance of the operating system, making the interface as large and clear as possible. Android 9 There is a special mode, often called "Easy mode" or "Senior mode". This functionality radically changes the appearance of the operating system, making the interface as large and clear as possible.
Activation of this mode is usually available through the main settings menu in the section System → Simplicity mode or Screen → Simple mode. After turning on, the launcher is rebuilt: the icons become huge, the fonts are as large as possible, and unnecessary controls are hidden. This is an ideal solution for those who experience serious difficulties with vision or finger motor skills.
In simplicity mode, the ability to install third-party launchers or widgets of complex configurations is often blocked so as not to overload the user. Exiting this mode is also simple: just go to the settings and switch the toggle switch back to the “Standard mode” position. All your data and applications are saved.
- 👴 Simplicity mode increases icons to the maximum possible size.
- 🚫 In this mode, some customization functions may not be available.
- 📞 The appearance of the lock screen and phone book often changes.
- 🔙 Returning to normal mode takes a few seconds.
⚠️ Attention: On some smartphones of brands Xiaomi i Redmi this mode may be called “Second Space” or be integrated into the “Classic” theme. Carefully read the description before activation.
Simplicity mode is a software shell, not a separate firmware. You can switch between it and normal mode without losing data.
Using the developer menu
If the built-in system tools do not allow you to achieve the desired size, you can use the hidden developer menu. This section is intended for testers, but contains powerful tools for fine-tuning the interface, including forcing changes to the minimum screen width.
To access this menu, you must first activate it. Go to Settings → About phone and find the item “Build number”. Quickly click on it 7 times in a row until the message “You have become a developer” appears. After this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu: Settings → About phone The value is measured in dp (density-independent pixels). Decreasing this number makes all interface elements larger. For example, if your value is 360 dp, try changing it to 320 dp. It is not recommended to reduce the value below 300 dp, as the interface may become unreadable or elements will extend beyond the screen. System → For developers.
Inside the menu, find the item Minimum width (Smallest Width). The value is measured in dp (density-independent pixels). Decreasing this number makes all interface elements larger. For example, if your value is 360 dp, try changing it to 320 dp. It is not recommended to reduce the value below 300 dp, as the interface may become unreadable or elements will extend beyond the screen.
Standard value: 360 dpRecommended for increasing: 320-340 dp
Critical value: < 300 dp
Be extremely careful when changing this parameter. Reducing the width too aggressively may leave you unable to press the back button or open the settings menu to return everything to the way it was. In this case, only rebooting the device in safe mode or resetting the settings will help.
What to do if the interface is broken?
If after changing the dpi the screen has become unusable, try connecting the mouse via a USB-OTG adapter to get to the settings and return the original value. If this is not possible, perform a Hard Reset using the volume and power buttons.
Installing third-party launchers
When the capabilities of the standard firmware are exhausted, third-party launchers come to the rescue. App stores offer dozens of solutions that allow you to flexibly customize the size of icons, the desktop grid, and even the shape of icons, regardless of system limitations.
Popular options such as Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcherhave dedicated settings for grid size. You can set a 3x4 or 4x5 grid on a high-resolution screen, which will automatically make every cell and every icon inside it very large. In addition, many of them allow you to stretch icons manually.
The installation process is simple: download the launcher you like from Google Play, launch it and press the “Home” button. The system will prompt you to select a default application for the home screen. Select the installed launcher. After that, go to its settings and find the “Desktop” or “Grid” section.
- 🚀 Third-party launchers often work faster than stock ones.
- 🎨 Ability to change icon packs for greater contrast.
- ⚙️ Flexible settings for indentation and size signatures.
- 📲 Some features may only be available in paid versions.
⚠️ Attention: Installing a third-party launcher does not remove your applications, but it may change the layout of widgets. Some system widgets (for example, weather from the manufacturer) may not work on a third-party desktop.
☑️ Selecting a launcher
Compatibility issues and visual artifacts
When enlarging icons using any of the described methods, you may encounter visual defects. This is due to the fact that not all icons in the system are vector. Many of them are raster images of a fixed resolution, which, when greatly enlarged, begin to become “soapy” or pixelated.
Particular attention should be paid to the icons of system applications. A Android 9 some interface elements are tightly bound to system resources and may ignore user scale settings. In such cases, installing an alternative icon pack through the same third-party launcher discussed above helps.
It is also possible to overlay the application signature text on the icon itself or on adjacent elements if the grid is set up too tightly. The solution to this problem is to increase the indentation in the launcher settings or switch to a display mode without labels (icons only), which will further visually increase the area of the icon.
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Blurry icons | Stretch bitmap | Change icon pack |
| Text overlay | Small grid cell height | Increase indents or font |
| Out of bounds | DPI scale too large | Reduce minimum width |
| Black squares | No graphics for size | Restart launcher |
Use icons in SVG format or high-quality packages from the Play store to avoid loss of quality when scaling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will enlarging icons affect the speed of the smartphone?
Itself By itself, the process of drawing larger icons does not have a significant impact on processor performance or system speed. However, if you install a “heavy” third-party launcher with a lot of animations, this can increase RAM consumption and slightly reduce the responsiveness of the interface on older devices.
Is it possible to enlarge only the icons without touching the font?
Yes, this is possible. The best way is to use the grid settings in the launcher or install a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher), where the icon size and caption font size are adjusted with separate sliders. The system screen scale changes all elements at once.
Are settings reset after rebooting the phone?
No, all changes made through standard settings, simplicity mode or installed launchers are saved in the device memory. They will remain in effect forever until you manually change them back or uninstall the third-party application.
Why are the settings lost after updating Android 9?
Major system updates sometimes reset user launcher configurations to factory settings. This is standard behavior to ensure the stability of the new software version. You will need to re-adjust the grid size or scale after the update is complete.
How to return all the settings back if they become inconvenient?
If you changed the settings in the developer menu, return the original "Minimum Width" value (usually 360 or 411 dp). If you used a third-party launcher, delete it or select “Reset launcher settings” in the settings. For simplicity mode, just disable it in the main screen settings.