How to add an app to the home screen of Xiaomi: all ways to MIUI 12, 13 and 14

Adding apps to Xiaomi’s home screen seems like a simple task — until you face the unexpected limitations of the MIUI shell. Unlike “pure” Android, there are nuances here, from the lack of an icon on the menu to automatically hidden icons after the update. This article covers all the current ways to place apps on the home screen, including little-known tricks for Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi’s flagship 13/14 models.

We will not only discuss basic methods (drop-and-drop from menus or search through App Search), but also advanced ones – for example, how to return disappeared icons after resetting settings or why some applications (like Google Play Games) refuse to display.

If you’re using MIUI 14 or later, some of the features may have changed — the article has up-to-date screenshots and explanations for the latest firmware versions, and for owners of devices with POCO Launcher or third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher), there’s a separate section with customization features.

1. Basic method: Adding through the application menu

The most obvious method works on all versions of MIUI, but many users miss key details to add the app to the home screen:

1. Tap the app menu icon (usually as a circle of dots at the bottom of the screen or swipe up from the dock panel).
2. Find the app you want in the list. If you don't have one, use the search bar at the top.
3. Press the app icon for 1-2 seconds until it is “detached” from the background.
4. Drag it to a free space on the home screen or in the dock panel (the bottom fixed panel).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13/14 If you hold it for a long time, you can open a context menu instead of dragging it:

• 🔹 Try a short tap with immediate drag and drop (without waiting for vibration).
• 🔹 Turn off Long-Tap for the Context Menu in Settings → Main screen screen → Additionally.
• 🔹 If the icon “does not catch” – check whether the Easy mode (simplified interface) is turned on).

Some system applications (e.g. Security or Themes) may be blocked from moving, in which case use alternative methods in the following sections.

2.Search and add through App Search

If the app doesn’t appear in the menu (for example, after installation via APK or hidden by the system), use the built-in search:

1. Swipe down the main screen to open the search bar (or tap the magnifiers in the dock panel).
2. Type the name of the app. If it doesn't find it, check the spelling correctly or try a part of the name (for example, "insta" instead of "Instagram").
3. In search results, pinch the app icon and drag it to the main screen.

🔍 Why is the app not in? Possible reasons:

• 📱 Application installed for another user (if Multi-user mode is enabled).
• 🔒 The application is hidden by the device administrator (for example, in corporate phones).
• 🗑️ The app is removed but the cache is still (check in Settings). → Annexes → Application management).

If the search doesn’t help, try reinstalling the app or use the method in the next section.

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On POCO F4/F5 and other models with POCO Launcher, application search can be disabled by default. To enable: press the empty space on the home screen → Settings → App search → turn on the slider.

3. Creating a shortcut through Widgets (for hidden applications)

Some apps (such as Google Play Services or MIUI bootloader) don’t have a visible icon, but they can be added through widgets:

1. Click the empty space on the home screen and select Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the Application Shortcuts section (or Shortcuts in English firmware).
3. Find the right app and drag its shortcut to the screen.

⚠️ Note: Tagged labels and full-fledged icons behave differently:

For system applications (such as Settings or Camera), shortcuts may not work – in this case, use the ADB method from Section 6.

4. Add icons through Settings → Main screen

If the application disappeared after updating or resetting, it can be returned through system settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select Hidden Applications (or Home Screen Application Management on older versions of MIUI).
3. Find the desired application in the list and uncheck the Hide option.
4. Return to the main screen – the icon should appear automatically.

🔧 What to do if there is no Hidden Apps option:

• 📌 The application is not hidden by the system, but deleted (check Settings). → Annexes → Application management → Remote).
• 🔄 Your version. MIUI It uses a different path. Try it: settings. → Annexes → Application management → Filter (three dots) → Hidden applications.
• 🛠️ The device has custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where this functionality may not be available.

On Xiaomi 12T/13 Pro and other flagships with MIUI 14, the path may be different – use the search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

Make sure the application is installed|Check if it is hidden in the settings.|Update. MIUI last-minute|Restart the device if the icon does not appear-->

5. Solving problems with duplicate icons

A common problem with Xiaomi is that it has duplicate icons after updating or migrating data, due to a conflict between:

• 🔹 System shortcuts (created by MIUI automatically).
• 🔹 User shortcuts (added manually or through launcher).
• 🔹 Widget tags (from the Widgets section).

🛑 How to remove duplicates:

1. Click the duplicate icon and drag it up to the inscription Delete (or Remove).
2. If the icon is not removed, it's a system shortcut. Try: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.home ⚠️ This command will reset the settings of the main screen.
3. For POCO Launcher: Press the icon → Label Information → Delete.

On the Redmi Note 11/12 with MIUI 13.0.6+, duplicates may appear due to a bug in the launcher's cache.Solution: Clear the Launcher app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Clear the cache).

6. Advanced method: Adding via ADB (for system applications)

Some system applications (e.g. Hardware Testing or Developer Mode) do not have icons, but they can be added via ADB.

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command: adb shell cmd shortcut create-home -n "Tagname" -a "Intent action" -p "package.applications" Example for settings: adb shell cmd shortcut create-home -n "Settings" -a"android.settings.SETTINGS" -p"com.android.settings"
3. The label will appear on the home screen, and if necessary, rename it.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect Intent commands can cause crashes. Here are proven examples for popular system applications:

MIUI 14 may require an additional --user 0 in command. If the shortcut doesn't appear, check the logs through adb logcat.

💡

Use ADB only if other methods have failed. Wrong commands can disrupt MIUI!

7. Features for POCO Launcher and Third Party Launchers

POCO devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro or the POCO F4 GT) use a modified launcher where standard methods may not work.

• 🔹 There is no app menu, all icons are displayed on the home screen by default. To hide the unnecessary ones, press the icon. → Hide.
• 🔹 The docking panel supports up to 7 icons (instead of 5 in the standard). MIUI).
• 🔹 Gestures to add: swipe up the icon in the dock panel opens the quick action menu.

For third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher):

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Assign it as the default launcher in Settings → Apps → By default → Launcher.
3. Add icons via the launcher menu (usually long press → Add to the home screen).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 Some launchers may conflict with system gestures (e.g. swipe up for returns:

1. Turn off Full-screen gestures in Settings → Display → Full-screen mode.
2. Or configure the launcher exceptions in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Special Access → Use on top of other apps.

FAQ: Frequent questions