Desktop MIUI Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide to Setup and Capabilities

Desktop MIUI — It's not just a background with icons, but a central element of Xiaomi's smartphone interface that determines how you interact with the device. Many users don't even realize that there are dozens of settings, widgets and hidden features behind the standard wallpaper and app layout. How you organize this screen depends on the speed of access to the right tools, the convenience of multitasking and even battery consumption.

Unlike the “bare” Android, the shell MIUI It offers unique solutions, from dynamic wallpapers to integrated Xiaomi services, but without the right setup, the desktop can turn into a chaos of unnecessary widgets and duplicate icons. In this article, we’ll explore how to turn it into a tool that works for you, not against you.

You'll learn how:

• 🎨 Customize the appearance to your preferences (themes, icons, animations)
• ⚡ Optimize the location of the elements for maximum productivity
• 🔍 Use hidden gestures and functions that are silent in the instructions
• 🛠️ Solve typical problems (hangs, widget failures, slow work)

What is a desktop? MIUI How it differs from standard Android

Work table in MIUI — It's a modified version of the launcher, which is deeply integrated with the firmware, unlike the Google Pixel or Samsung One. UI, where the launcher can be easily replaced by a third-party one (for example, Nova Launcher), in Xiaomi this is more difficult because of the close connection with system services:

• 🌌 Dynamic wallpaper with support for paralax (the effect of depth when tilting the phone)
• 📱 Dual applications (cloning of messengers without root rights)
• 🔄 Smart sorting of icons by category (games, tools, social networks)
• 🎯 Context menu with quick access to features (for example, screenshot or screen recording directly from the desktop)

It is important to understand that MIUI It doesn't just change the look, it redefines the logic of the interaction. For example, in standard Android, swipe up the app menu, and in the app menu, it's a swipe. MIUI This gesture can trigger Control Center or Search, and these nuances often confuse new users, but once set up, they become an advantage.

⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 14 Xiaomi has started to actively implement advertising in system applications, including desktop, and you can only turn it off through deep settings or using the help of ADB-More about this in the section on hidden functions.

Desktop Structure: What Items Can Be Configured

Desktop MIUI It's made up of several zones, each of which is set up separately:

1. Main screen – App icons, widgets and folders are displayed here, and the number of screens is unlimited (you can swipe left/right).
2. The dock bar is the bottom bar with 4-5 fixed icons (default: phone, messages, browser, camera) that can be hidden or replaced with a gesture.
3. App menu – opens by swiping up (or clicking on the All Apps icon) and stores all installed programs.
4. Widgets and brief data – weather, calendar, notes, control elements (for example, a player or a dark mode switch).
5. Gestures and animations – transitions between screens, effects when opening applications.

Feature MIUI — No classic app drawer like the Pixel or Samsung. All the default icons are displayed on the desktop, but you can change this in the launcher settings. Another unique element is the Tools folder (appears after upgrading to the desktop). MIUI 12+), where system utilities are automatically grouped (calculator, flashlight, voice recorder).

How to change wallpaper and themes: from standard to custom solutions

Wallpaper and themes are the first thing that catches your eye when you turn on your phone. MIUI their setting is made in a separate application "Themes", which offers:

• 🖼️ Static wallpaper (from gallery or standard collections)
• 🌅 Dynamic wallpaper (changes depending on the time of day)
• 🎨 Design themes (change icons, fonts, animations, sounds)
• 🔄 Wallpaper changer (on schedule or when changing geolocation)

To change the wallpaper:

1. Press and hold your finger on the free space of the desktop.
2. Select "Wallpaper" (or "Themes" for complex changes).
3. Scroll through the collections or click "My Wallpaper" to upload your images.
4. Apply the changes to your desktop, lock screen, or both at the same time.

V MIUI 14 appeared the function "Super wallpaper" - animated 3D-backgrounds that respond to gestures and time of day, which consume more battery, but visually transform the interface. → Wallpaper. → Super wallpaper and choose your favorite option (for example, "Earth" or "Mars").

⚠️ Note: When using themes from the store MIUI Some system icons may not display correctly (e.g., battery icon or network indicators!

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If you don’t like standard wallpapers but don’t want themes installed, try WallpapersCraft or Backdrops – they offer wallpapers optimized for Xiaomi screen resolution (including 120Hz models).

Widgets on the desktop: what are there and how to add them

Widgets in MIUI — These are mini-programs that display information directly on the desktop without having to open the application:

• 📅 Information: weather, calendar, exchange rates, news.
• 🎵 Media: Player, control of music or video playback.
• 📊 Utilities: notes, to-do list, timer, alarm clock.
• 🔧 System: switches Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Battery monitoring, memory usage.
• 🎮 Gaming: widgets to run games or display achievements (in Game Turbo).

To add a widget:

1. Press and hold your finger on the free space of the desktop.
2. Select "Widgets" (icon in the form of a square with a plusic).
3. Scroll through the list of available widgets or use the search.
4. Drag the selected widget to the desktop and adjust its size (stretching the edges).

Some widgets require additional permissions, such as the Weather widget asking for geolocation, and the Notes widget asking for storage. If the widget isn't updated, check the permissions in Settings. → Annexes → Permit management.

Hidden functions and gestures of the desktop MIUI

MIUI It's known for its Easter eggs and hidden possibilities that are not mentioned in the official manuals:

• 🔍 Desktop search: Swipe down on the home screen will open a search bar that looks not only for apps, but also for contacts, messages, files.
• 📂 Hidden folders: If you drag and drop an icon onto another, you create a folder, but if you put a dot in the folder name (like ".Secret"), it becomes translucent and less visible.
• 🔄 Quick theme switching: Tap the free space on your desktop twice to switch between light and dark theme (works in the desktop). MIUI 12+).
• 🎯 One-hand mode: swipe the dock bar to the right or left will reduce the interface for easy control of the large screen.
• 🔇 Disabling Advertising: C Settings → About the phone tap 5 times according to the version MIUI, Then go to the additional settings. → Special facilities → Delete the advert.

Another little-known feature is the For Kids mode, which blocks access to settings and restricts the launch of applications, so you can activate it.

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Mode for Children.
2. Set a password (it will be requested when you leave the mode).
3. Select the applications that can be opened.
4. Activate the mode – the desktop will turn into a simplified interface with large icons.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 Xiaomi has added a feature called “Smart Grouping”, which automatically sorts icons into categories (e.g., “Social Networks”, “Games”). If you don’t like this feature, turn it off in Settings. → Desktop → Smart grouping, otherwise, after each update, the icons will move independently.

Problem Solving: Desktop MIUI It's slowing down, the widgets aren't working.

Even with optimization in mind MIUI Sometimes you have problems with your desk. Here are the typical symptoms and their solutions:

If the desktop has stopped responding to touch completely, try the following steps:

1. Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → "Restart in Safe Mode. If the problem has disappeared, the third-party application is to blame.
2. Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear the data.
3. Update MIUI to the latest version: Settings → About Phone → System Update.
4. In extreme cases, reset to factory settings (don’t forget to make a backup!).

If the problem arises after installing a custom theme, return the standard one. MIUI They contain bugs that break the interface. You can find the themes you've tested on the forum. XDA Developers or in telegram channels dedicated to Xiaomi.

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Before resetting the launcher settings, take screenshots of the location of icons and widgets - after cleaning the data, they will return to the standard view, and you will have to configure everything again.

Desktop Customization: Third-Party Launchers and Tools

Despite the flexibility MIUI, Some users prefer third-party launchers for deeper customization.Here are the most popular options for Xiaomi:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – supports gestures, adaptive icons, backup settings.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – a light launcher with support for Android 12+ style and dynamic colors.
• 🔧 Hyperion Launcher – for fans of minimalism and high performance.
• 🖥️ Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows and Office Tools.

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download it from Google Play.
2. After installation, click "Home" and select a new launcher as the main one.
3. Customize the interface to your taste (icon size, gestures, themes).

Important: When using third-party launchers, some features MIUI They may stop working:

• No access to Super Wallpaper.
• The gestures don't work. MIUI (For example, swipe up for the control center).
• Xiaomi widgets (weather, steps, control center) may disappear.

If you still want to return the standard launcher, go to Settings → Annexes → By default. → Launcher and select "Luncher" MIUI".

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For maximum performance, turn off animations in the developer settings. To do this, go to Settings. → About the phone, tap 7 times on "Version" MIUI", Then go back to the main settings and open "Developers" here, turn off "Window animation," "Change animation" and "Duration of animator".

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about the Desktop MIUI