How to make folders on Xiaomi: a complete guide to organizing a desktop

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, have a huge functionality that often remains hidden from the eyes of the average user. One of the basic but crucial skills for comfortable use of a gadget is the correct organization of the desktop space. When the number of installed applications is in the tens, the chaotic arrangement of icons turns the screen into unreadable porridge, and finding the right program takes precious seconds.

Creating folders not only allows you to visualize, but also structure the software into logical groups, which greatly speeds up navigation. Unlike some other operating systems, in an Android environment based on Xiaomi's proprietary firmware, this process is intuitive, but has its own nuances, which not everyone knows about. For example, few people realize that folders can not just create, but also invest in each other or hide content from prying eyes.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can group apps, from standard drag and drop to advanced space management techniques, how to avoid common sorting errors and what tools your system can use to make your Redmi or Poco interface truly user-friendly. A competent menu structure is the first step to making smart phone use efficient.

Basic method of creating a folder by drag and drop

The easiest and most common way to group apps is immediately available after unpacking the device and doesn’t require an internet connection or complex settings. The mechanics here are unified for most models, whether it’s the budget Redmi Note or the flagship Xiaomi 14. First, you need to unlock the screen and go to the main desktop, where all your shortcuts are located.

Find two apps that are in the same thematic group, like social media or banking, and tap the icon of the first app and drag it right over the icon of the second app, and as one icon is above the other, you'll see a translucent outline of the new folder form underneath.

Release your finger and the system will automatically create a group by assigning it a default name based on the application category (e.g., “Social Networks” or “Tools”). Within this new structure, there will already be two displaced applications, and the remaining icons can be added to the same by simply dragging them inside the created container.

• 📱 Touch and hold the icon of the app you want to move.
• 📂 Drag it over another icon of the same category.
• 🖐 Release your finger when the folder outline appears.
• ➕ Add the rest of the apps by dragging in.

⚠️ Warning: If you accidentally release your finger over the empty screen space while dragging, the app will simply move to a new position and the folder will not be created.

Once you create a group, the system will suggest you rename it to better reflect the content. Standard names like "Utilities" or "Entertainment" may be too generic, so it's better to give a specific name that you can understand, which is especially true if you're creating folders for rare programs or specific tasks.

Set up and rename the created groups

Once you have created a folder, you can give it a personal look and name, which will make it much easier to navigate visually. The standard MIUI interface allows you to change the group header in one click, which is an important feature for personalization. Just click on the created folder once to open its contents, and you will see the current name at the top of the window that opens.

Tap the title text, and the keyboard automatically pops up to type the new name, and you can use not only letters and numbers, but also special characters or even emojis if your keyboard layout supports that. Using emojis in folder names is a great way to make the interface bright and clear without unnecessary words, such as an airplane icon for travel applications.

It is important to note that the length of the title is limited by the width of the screen, and too long names will be cut by an ellipsis. The optimal use is short, capacious words of 5-8 characters that immediately give you the contents. In addition, you can move the folders themselves around the desktop or to other pages using the same drag and drop method as with conventional icons.

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Use emoji in folder names (for example, 💰 bank, ✈️ for travel), to visually read content in a fraction of a second without reading the text.

If you decide that you don't need the folder anymore, it can be easily deleted, so you just have to pull all the applications out of it one at a time, or use the deletion feature if this option is available in your firmware version with a long press. The system usually deletes empty folders automatically, but it's better to manually control this process.

Creating nested folders and grouping folders

One of the little-known but extremely useful features of Xiaomi’s shell is the ability to create nested structures, which are folders inside folders, which allows you to organize the desktop file system in a hierarchical manner, which is especially convenient for users with a lot of software installed. To do this, first create the main container folder, and then put other folders inside it, already ready.

The process of creating this design requires a certain skill. First, put the applications into several separate thematic groups, such as Banks, Stores and Food. Then create another folder, call it, for example, Finance and Shopping, and drag the previously created groups inside it, so that by opening one folder, you can access other subcategories.

This feature doesn’t always work the same on all versions of Android and MIUI, as it depends on the specific launcher. In some cases, the system may limit the depth of the attachment or require activation of special modes through the engineering menu, but in most modern models this option works out of the box.

Using nested folders helps free up space on the home screen, leaving it clean and minimal. Instead of having ten scattered icons, you'll have one neat group that has perfect order inside, which is especially important for devices with small screen diagonals, where every pixel counts.

Hidden folders and protection of confidential data

The security of your smartphone is a hot topic, and standard desktop folders don't offer any protection from prying eyes. If you want to hide certain apps or files, you'll need Hidden Folders or Second Space, which is available in Xiaomi's security settings. It's not just an interface organization, it's a full-fledged Privacy tool.

To create a hidden folder, you need to go to the Security app, which is pre-installed on all the brand devices. In the tool menu, find Hide Apps or Hidden Folders. The system will prompt you to set a special password, a pattern lock, or use a fingerprint to access this section.

Once activated, the apps you select will disappear from the home screen and from the menu of all programs, only through a special password input in the Security app or through a hidden gesture in your phone, which is the perfect way to hide banking apps, personal photos or instant messengers from curious colleagues or children.

⚠️ Warning: Don't forget the password from hidden folders! Unlike regular groups, restoring access to hidden data without a given code or a linked Mi Account may be impossible.

Also worth mentioning is the App Protection feature, which doesn't hide the icon, but requires you to enter a password every time you run it, which is less radical than a hidden folder, but it's effective if you need to open an application quickly, but you don't want anyone to use its contents.

Alternative ways of organizing space

Beyond the standard folders, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers other tools for ordering that may be even more effective in certain scenarios, such as Pocket Mode or widgets, which are more likely to display information than run programs. However, there are third-party launchers that extend the capabilities of grouping.

Installing a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allows you to create folders with more advanced features, such as nesting any level or changing the style of displaying icons within the group. The standard MIUI shell is quite conservative in this regard, so third-party solutions give more freedom of creativity.

Another method is to use the Tools folder, which is automatically created by the system when it first turns on, and many users ignore or delete it, but you can put in the rarely used system snails, calculator, voice recorder and compass, which allows you to keep the first screen clean, leaving only the essentials.

And remember, Simplify, which turns the smartphone interface into a set of large tiles that are convenient for the elderly or those who prefer minimalism, and in this mode folders are also created, but look different and have an increased font size, which improves readability.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the simplicity of the interface, users sometimes face problems when creating or using folders. For example, a folder may not be created due to a crowded device memory or a launcher failure. In such cases, a simple smartphone reboot helps, which clears the temporary cache of the system.

Sometimes, after a firmware update, all folders that are created are reset or moved, a well-known feature of some versions of MIUI that is treated by manual rearrangement. To avoid losing structure, take screenshots of the desktop before major system updates.

If the icons inside the folder don’t open or the app crashes when you try to open the folder, try clearing the Security or Themes app cache, as they’re responsible for the visual design of the interface. Also make sure the phone has the latest security update installed.

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Regularly cleaning the desktop from unused applications is the best prevention of problems with launcher performance and folder freezes.

In rare cases, the problem may be that you have corrupted system files, especially if you have experimented with root rights or installed modified themes, and going back to a standard theme and resetting screen settings often resolves these issues.