How to add icons to the Xiaomi desktop: 5 proven ways + secrets MIUI

The desktop of a Xiaomi smartphone is your personal control center, where each icon saves time. But what if the desired application is hidden in the depths of the menu and the weather widget is out of sight? Adding shortcuts to the home screen in MIUI seems simple — until you encounter the nuances: why some apps do not want to stick, how to return a deleted icon, or why widgets suddenly disappear after an update.

This article will not only show you how to add icons to Xiaomi’s desktop, but also reveal hidden MIUI 14 features (also relevant to MIUI 12/13) that the manufacturer does not advertise. You will learn how to bypass system limitations, return “banned” shortcuts (for example, developer settings), and why it is sometimes easier to use a third-party launcher instead of a standard one.

1. Standard method: Adding an application icon to the desktop

The most obvious method is to move the shortcut from the app menu.It works on all Xiaomi smartphones, from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but has its pitfalls. For example, some system applications (like Security or Themes) can be blocked for add-on.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 🔍 Find the app you want (use the search at the top if it’s hidden on the second page).
• 🖱️ Press the app icon on 1-2 until it is "separated" from the background.
• 📲 Drag it to a free space on the desktop or in the dock panel (bottom line).

Make sure there is free space on the screen (MIUI blocks the addition if there are no cells)

Check if the application is hidden in the Hidden Applications folder (Settings → Applications → Hidden)

Turn off Easy Mode (Settings → Special Opportunities) if the icons are not drag and drop.

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If the icon is not drag and drop, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🚫 The application is a system service (e.g. Google Play Services).
• 🔒 Children's Mode or Guest Mode Enabled.
• 📵 On the smartphone installed third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), which conflicts with the MIUI.

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If you want to add a system application icon (such as “Settings”), create a shortcut through the widget menu: pinch the empty space on the screen → “Widgets” → scroll down to the “Shortcuts” section.

2. Add widgets: weather, clock, notes and others

Widgets in MIUI are not just decoration, but tools for quick access to information. For example, the weather widget shows the temperature without opening the application, and the note widget allows you to create a reminder in one tap. However, not everyone knows that in MIUI 14 widgets can be scaled, and some (for example, Google Search) require separate installation.

How to add a widget:

1. Hold your finger on the empty space on the desktop.
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets.
3. Scroll through the list and select the one you want (like Weather or Calendar).
4. Press the widget and drag it to the screen. Some widgets (like the Watch) have multiple sizes — choose the right one.

In MIUI 14, you can group widgets together, you can squeeze the widget and drag it to another widget, and you'll see a folder with two widgets, which is useful if you want to save space on the screen, but you still have both the weather and the clock.

Weather.

Clock/alarm clock

Google Search or Assistant

Notes/calendar

Mi Fit or health

I don't use widgets.-->

3. Creating folders for icons: how to organize the desktop

If you have more than 20 icons on your desktop, you should think about organizing. MIUI folders allow you to group apps by topic (social media, games, work) and reduce visual chaos. But many users don't know that folders can not only be created, but also renamed, change their icons and even hide from prying eyes.

How to create a folder:

• 📱 Drag one icon to another – folder will automatically be created.
• 📝 Click on the folder name (default “No Name”) to rename it.
• 🎨 To change the folder icon, open it. → click on the current icon → Choose a new one from the gallery or the.

Secret Files of MIUI Files:

• 🔐 Hiding the folder: pinch the folder → "Hide" (will appear only after the function is included in Settings → Desktop → Hidden elements).
• 🔄 Sort: Inside the folder, click on three dots → Select Sort automatically (by alphabet, installation date, etc.).
• 📤 Export: Folders can be transferred to other Xiaomi smartphones via Mi Cloud (Settings) → Synchronization).

4. Add shortcuts for quick action (calls, messages, settings)

Few people know that MIUI can create shortcuts not only for apps, but also for specific actions: a quick call to a contact, sending a message, opening a specific setting (for example, Flight Mode), or even launching Google Assistant with a voice, which eliminates unnecessary taps and speeds up routine operations.

How to create a shortcut for quick action:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → select Widgets.
2. Scroll down to the Shortcuts section (or Quick Actions in English firmware).
3. Select the type of label: 📞 Contact Call – Select a Contact from the List. 💬 Message to contact - specify the recipient and text (template). ⚙️ Settings – Select a specific section (such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). 🔍 Google Search – Quick Access to the Search Line.

Add to the desktop

Example: If you often turn on Power Saving Mode, create a shortcut for it. Now one tap is enough, instead of the Customization path → Battery → Energy Saving mode.

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Quick Action shortcuts work even in Do Not Disturb mode and do not require unlocking the screen (if the option “Quick Actions on Locked Screen” is enabled in the security settings).

5 Problems and Solutions: Why icons are disappearing or not being added

Xiaomi users often experience icons suddenly disappearing after a MIUI update, reset or install a new launcher. Sometimes the system simply “forgets” shortcuts, and sometimes blocks their addition for no apparent reason. Consider typical problems and ways to solve them.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI all widgets have disappeared, do not try to restore them manually - reset the desktop settings: → Desktop → Reset. It'll bring back the standard layout without losing data.

If none of these methods worked, try clearing the launcher cache:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher (or “Desktop”) → Storage → Clear cache

In extreme cases, reset the launcher settings (without data loss):

Settings → Desktop → Additional → Resetting settings

6.Alternative methods: third-party launchers and automation

If standard MIUI features don’t suit you (like more flexibility in setting up icons or automatically sorting apps), you should pay attention to third-party launchers, which not only allow you to add any icons without restrictions, but also offer additional features: gestures, themes, hiding applications.

Top.-3 launcher for Xiaomi:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher - flexible customization of icons, folders and gestures. Supports backup layout.
• 🎨 Microsoft Launcher - Windows integration, PC widgets, wallpaper synchronization.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – minimalist design, adaptive icons, support MIUI-then.

How to install a third-party launcher:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click Home → select a new launcher as the main one.
3. Customize the desktop to your needs (for example, in Nova Launcher you can change the size of icons, indentations, animations).

To automate the addition of icons, you can use Google Assistant:

• Activate the assistant with a voice: “OK, Google, open WhatsApp on your desktop.”
• Or manually: press the Home button → click on the assistant icon → tell the command.

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In Nova Launcher, you can create a gesture to add an icon: for example, swipe up on the desktop opens the app menu, and swipe down - search. This speeds up the process by 2-3 times.

7 Hidden MIUI features: how to return deleted icons and more

MIUI hides a few useful features that can be useful when working with icons, for example, did you know that you can restore a deleted icon even after a week or attach a folder to a dock panel for quick access?

Secret possibilities:

• 🗑️ Recovering Deleted Icons: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Remote. Find the right application and click Restore (works for 30 days).
• 📌 Folder attachment to the dock panel: Create a folder and drag it to the bottom line (doc panel). Now it will be available on all desktops.
• 🔄 Fast switching between desktops: Swipe left/right on the docking panel quickly switches screens.
• 🎭 Hiding icons without removing: Press the icon → "Hide" (will appear in the folder "Hidden applications").

Another little-known feature is changing the size of icons without third-party launchers:

Settings → Desktop → Icon Size → Select “Small”, “Mediocre” or “Large”

If you lack standard features, try the developer mode:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Enable “Debugging on USB” and “Do not turn off the screen”

FAQ: Frequent questions about adding icons to Xiaomi