Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users a wide range of personalization options. One of the first steps after buying a device is to customize the home screen to ensure maximum comfort in everyday use. Many owners are faced with the need to bring a frequently used application to prominence or return a accidentally deleted shortcut.
The process of adding interface elements can vary depending on the software version and regional settings of the device. Standard methods allow you to instantly create shortcuts for applications, weather widgets, clocks or system functions. Understanding the logic of the launcher will help to organize the space efficiently and speed up access to the desired functions.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can create shortcuts, including working with hidden system utilities, and learn not only to move icons, but also to create functional widgets, as well as eliminate typical interface display errors. Desktop organization is the key to a productive smartphone experience.
Basic methods for adding application shortcuts
The most common use case is to move an app from the general menu of all programs to the home screen, and Xiaomi's shells have an intuitive drag and drop mechanism in place. Open the app menu, find the icon you want, pinch it with your finger, and drag it to the free desktop area, and if you let your finger go over the existing folder, the app will automatically fit inside it.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after updating the system or resetting all shortcuts disappear from the screen, remaining only in the menu. In this case, you need to manually restore the structure of the desktop. Note that some system applications can be hidden by default in certain modes of operation, for example, in the “Simple interface” mode for older people.
There is also an alternative way through settings that allows you to add shortcuts even for some system features that don’t have their own icon on the menu. Go to Settings → Desktop and check the display settings. Here you can activate the display of icons of Google services or other system components that are usually hidden from the user’s eyes.
It is important to distinguish between shortcuts and widgets. A shortcut is simply a link to an app launch, whereas a widget displays dynamic information such as news, currency rates or weather, and these elements are added in a similar way, but have their own technical features within the Xiaomi ecosystem.
Working with widgets and tools on the desktop
MIUI and HyperOS are famous for their deep customization capabilities through widgets. To add a widget, you need to make a long tap (tap and hold) from the empty desktop space. In the bottom menu that opens, select "Vidgets" or "Tools." Here is a wide list of available modules, from simple watches to complex dashboards.
Some widgets require additional configuration after placement. For example, the Notes widget will allow you to select a specific list, and the Music widget will prompt you to select a play source or playlist. The setting interface is called automatically when you first add or when you press a widget that is already placed, followed by selecting the Settings item.
☑️ Check before adding a widget
Special attention should be paid to widgets from third-party developers who may behave unstable on Xiaomi devices. If the widget disappears or stops updating, check the permissions in Settings → Applications → Application Management. Autostart and work in the background should be allowed for proper functioning.
⚠️ Warning: Placing too many active widgets, especially those that are updated in real time (weather, news), can significantly increase battery consumption and reduce device performance.
Foldering and grouping of elements
To keep the desktop in order, folders are recommended. Xiaomi folders are created in a simple way: drag and drop one app icon on top of another. The system automatically creates a container that can fit up to several dozen applications into it, freeing up space and visually structure the menu.
Folders in MIUI have advanced functionality. Inside the folder, you can not only store applications, but also place widgets if the shell version allows, and there is a feature that renames the folder for clear navigation, such as "Social Network", "Games" or "Work", long clicking on the folder name allows you to change it.
Secret Folder Functions in MIUI
Deleting or disaggregating applications is also easy: Open the folder, press the desired application and drag it outside the container to the free space of the screen. If you want to delete the entire folder, you need to remove all the applications from it — the empty folder will disappear automatically.
Adding Contact Labels and Websites
Desktop functionality is not limited to apps. You can create a direct shortcut to call a particular contact. This is especially useful for emergency numbers, close relatives or colleagues. To do this, open the Contacts app, select the desired entry, click on three dots in the corner or click on the "More" button and select "Create a shortcut".
The same is true of web pages: If you visit a particular site frequently, you don't have to open your browser and enter an address every time. Using Mi Browser or Chrome, open the page you want, click on the menu (three dots) and select Add to Home Screen. The system will create an icon that will lead directly to the specific URL.
| Type of label | origination | Launch action | Removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex | Menu of all applications | Launch of the programme | Yeah (screen) |
| Contact | Handbook/Contacts | Dialing number | Yes. |
| Website | browser | Opening the URL | Yes. |
| widget | Widget menu | Display of information | Yes. |
| System function | Settings/Special Opportunities | Calling the function | Depends on the type. |
Contact and site shortcuts take up desktop space just like regular apps, can be moved, grouped into folders, and deleted, but remember that removing the contact shortcut does not remove the contact itself from the phone's memory or SIM-map.
Use of special features and hidden functions
Xiaomi has tools for people with disabilities that can also be useful for users to quickly access. In the Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features section, you can find the label "Special Features Menu" that can be displayed to quickly switch functions such as zooming or voiceover.
There's also the option of adding shortcuts to the mode of operation, for example, the "No sound" or "Do not disturb" label can be placed through the control panel, but in some themes and versions of MIUI, separate tumble widgets are available, which allow you to change the state of the system in one touch without diving into the depths of the settings menu.
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Use the Toggle Widget widget if it's available in your firmware version, and it allows you to place up to 9 quick access buttons on your desktop to features like flashlight, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, flight mode, and more, which is much more convenient than lowering the notification curtain every time.
For advanced users, there is a way to shortcut certain actions within applications through third-party utilities or embedded scripts. However, standard tools add only basic entry points. Macro experiments require additional software from the GetApps store or Google Play.
Solving problems with displaying icons
Sometimes users find that the icon is not added, displayed in white square or disappears after a reboot. Most often this is due to a crowding of the launcher cache or an error in a specific theme of the design. If you are using a third-party theme from the Themes store, try switching to a standard theme and check for a problem.
The second common cause is a crowded system cache memory. In this case, cleaning the launcher cache helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → find Louncher (or Desktop) → Memory → Clear the cache. This action will not remove your shortcuts, but update the display database.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse "Clear Cache" with "Clean All" (or "Reset") in the Launcher settings. Complete reset will return the desktop to factory status, and you'll have to re-arrange all icons and widgets.
If you only have one particular application problem, try removing updates or reinstalling it again. In rare cases, resetting application preferences in the Special Opportunities section helps, but this is an extreme measure requiring you to reconfigure all permissions.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Why did all the icons from the desktop disappear after the firmware update?
Can I change the size of the widget after adding it?
How to remove the words “Google” or “Mi” in the search bar on the desktop?
Why does the app icon appear as a white square?
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Regularly organizing the desktop and removing unused shortcuts not only improves visual perception, but also reduces the load on the device’s RAM, making the interface work smoother.