How to Add a New Screen to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a desire to personalize the interface or simply need additional space for app icons. The standard home screen grid does not always accommodate all the necessary widgets and shortcuts that the user is used to seeing. The question of how to add a new screen to Xiaomi becomes especially relevant after the transition to new versions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, where the logic of the work sometimes changes.

The process of expanding the workspace depends on the installed version of the operating system and the type of launcher used. The built-in features allow you to manage desktops flexibly, but often require additional functions to be activated or grid settings changed. Understanding these mechanisms will help you create the most convenient and ergonomic interface adapted to your personal habits of using the gadget.

In this article, we will explore all the ways you can add desktops, customize widgets, and solve typical problems when screens stop being created automatically. You will learn about the hidden features of the shell that are not obvious when you first get acquainted with the device.

Basic principles of MIUI and HyperOS interface

The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS are built on the principle of dynamically expanding the workspace. Unlike some other systems, where the number of screens is fixed or limited by rigid frames, new pages are created as existing ones are filled. When you drag an application icon outside the right edge of the current screen, the system automatically generates a new empty area. This is a fundamental principle that you should remember before you start setting up.

However, automatic creation may not work if the Fixed Grid mode is turned on or if the launcher is experiencing a software failure. In such cases, the user must know alternative management methods. It is important to understand that each screen is a separate layer in the launcher structure, which has its own coordinates and display parameters.

It’s worth noting that in recent updates, Xiaomi developers have implemented stricter widget layout rules. Large widgets can take up space equivalent to several standard cells, which affects the rate of new screens. If you use heavy widgets with live content, the system may require more resources to render a new page.

⚠️ Attention: When screens are added and removed frequently, there may be a temporary decrease in interface performance, due to recalculation of grid coordinates by the launcher.

To effectively manage the space, it is recommended to periodically clean the cache of the system application "Security" or the launcher itself, which helps to avoid the accumulation of errors in the database of icon location.

Automatically create a screen through drag and drop

The easiest and most intuitive way to get an extra workspace is to use Drag-and-Drop, so you don't have to search for hidden menus or enter special codes, just unlock your smartphone and go to the home screen, and this works in most standard situations and doesn't require root rights or a computer connection.

To implement this method, find any app icon or widget on the current screen. Press it and hold your finger until the vibration or the interface zooms in. Without letting your finger go, start moving the object to the right side, outside the visible area of the screen. Once the cursor crosses the boundary, the system must create a new blank page and place the drag and drop object there.

• 📱 Click and hold the app icon on the home screen.
• 👉 Smoothly drag the object to the right, behind the edge of the display.
• ✅ Wait for the new page to appear and let your finger go.
• 🔄 If the screen doesn’t appear, try slowing down a bit or pausing at the edge.

Sometimes automatic creation may not work the first time. This often happens if you move too fast or, conversely, too slow. Optimal speed is a confident but smooth movement. Also make sure that there is free space on the screen for maneuvering, although the system usually shifts the icons automatically.

Set up grid and icon density

If standard methods don't work, you should look at the grid settings. Xiaomi's system settings allow you to change the number of rows and columns. Increasing the density of icons allows you to fit more elements on one screen, but also affects how quickly space is filled and the next one is created.

To change these settings, go to Settings → Desktop. Here you will find Grid. Choosing a larger grid, like 5x6 or 6x6, instead of a standard 4x5, drastically changes the organization of the space, and with this configuration, new screens will be added less often, as more applications fit on one sheet.

Changing the grid also affects the size of the widgets. Some widgets may not properly scale or crop when you change the settings of the grid, so after changing the parameters of the grid, it is recommended to check the display of all critical widgets. If any element looks distorted, it is better to return the previous settings or find a compromise.

It’s important to consider your screen diagonal when choosing a grid. On compact models like the Xiaomi 13 or the SE Series Redmi Note, a tight 6x6 grid can make icons too small to be easily pressed. At the same time, on flagships with large displays like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, high density looks organic and improves performance.

Using widgets to expand functionality

Widgets are not just a decoration, they are powerful tools for organizing the workspace, and using widgets correctly reduces the number of screens you need by grouping information into logical blocks, but if you want to add a new screen to accommodate decorative or informational blocks, widgets will become the main content of these pages.

To add a widget, swipe right to the end of the home screen or pinch the screen with two fingers. In the menu that opens, select the "Widgets" section. Here's a vast catalog of items from simple watches and calendars to complex interactive smart home control panels. Dragging the widget into a vacant space can also trigger the creation of a new screen if the current one is full.

There's a nuance to the so-called smart widgets in HyperOS, which take up dynamic space and can change their size, and when you place them, the system automatically adjusts the grid around them, which can cause other icons to suddenly shift to adjacent screens.

Remember that every active widget consumes RAM and battery power. Placement of ten to fifteen heavy widgets on new screens can significantly reduce the autonomy of the device. Optimize the number of active elements, leaving only the most necessary on desktops.

Solving launcher problems and system failures

There are situations where neither drag and drop nor change settings help add a new screen, which may indicate a failure in the system launcher com.miui.home. In such cases, a deeper intervention in the settings of the application is required. Often the problem is solved by simply cleaning the launcher data, but this will lead to resetting all desktop settings to factory.

To perform the reset, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Desktop or System Launcher. Select Memory and click Clear Data. After that, the device will restart the interface and all your screens will disappear, returning to the "out of the box" state. This is a radical but often the only way to fix layout errors.

• 🗑️ Cache Cleanup Can Solve the Problem Without Losing Data.
• 🔄 Update the launcher through the GetApps store or Play Market.
• ⚙️ Resetting launcher settings to factory values.
• 📲 Installation of an alternative launcher if the system is not working properly.

If the problem persists even after a reset, it may be a specific version of the firmware. In some MIUI betas, there are bugs that block the creation of new workspaces, in which case you should wait for the official update or, if you have the skills, roll back to a stable version of the software.

⚠️ Attention: Before clearing the launcher data, be sure to take screenshots of the location of the icons or use the Xiaomi Cloud backup function, otherwise you will have to arrange the applications again.

It's also worth checking if the "Simple Mode" mode is on (for older people), which is a very simplified mode, and the number of screens can be limited by the developers, and switching to normal mode removes these restrictions.

Alternative launchers as a solution to constraints

If Xiaomi’s regular tools don’t seem flexible enough, there’s always the option of installing a third-party launcher. Apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Smart Launcher offer much more advanced desktop management capabilities, not only adding screens, but also configuring endless scrolling, gestures, and hidden pages.

Installing a third-party launcher requires special permissions, and once you install the application, the system will suggest you set it up as your primary launcher, you will need to confirm the replacement of the standard launcher in the appropriate system window, which will completely change the appearance of your smartphone, providing new tools for organizing space.

The advantage of third-party solutions is that they are independent of MIUI updates. Even if Xiaomi changes policy in future versions of Android, the third-party launcher will retain its functionality. In addition, they often run faster and consume less resources, as they lack the heavy add-ons of the manufacturer.

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When installing a third-party launcher on Xiaomi, a security ad window may appear. Simply click OK and select Always Use This App to confirm your choice.

However, it is worth considering that some features specific to Xiaomi (such as second-level gestures or double tapping to turn off the screen) may not work correctly or require additional adjustment through third-party utilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The flexibility of the Xiaomi interface allows you to adapt the device to any needs, but requires an understanding of the principles of the launcher and grid.