How to add a folder to the Xiaomi desktop: all ways to MIUI 14/15

Xiaomi’s MIUI desktop allows you to organize applications flexibly, but not all users know how to properly create folders for a convenient grouping of icons. Unlike iOS or standard Android, MIUI has several nuances: from hidden gestures to restrictions on the number of folders in one area of the screen, this guide will be suitable for all modern smartphones of the brand – from Xiaomi 14 Ultra flagships to budget Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5.

We'll look at not only the basic way to create folders (drag and drop icons), but also alternative methods: through Launcher Settings, using widgets, and how to restore a accidentally deleted folder. Separately, we'll focus on the typical errors that cause folders to not be created or disappear after a reboot. If you use a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Hyperion), there's a separate section at the end of the article with instructions for them.

1. Basic method: creating a folder by dragging icons

This is the most obvious and versatile method that works on all versions of MIUI – from 12 to 15, suitable even for older models like Redmi 9A or POCO M3. The main condition is that the desktop must have at least two application icons (not widgets!).

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Press and hold the icon of any app (such as Google Chrome or Gallery) for 1-2 seconds until it “sticks” off the screen.
• 👆 Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to another icon (for example, on YouTube or Settings).
• 📁 Once the second icon is lit up in yellow, release your finger. The folder will be automatically created.

By default, the folder will be named by app category (e.g., "Google" or "Tools") to rename it:

1. Tap the name of the folder (it will be illuminated).
2. Enter a new name (up to 12 characters).
3. Press Ready on the keyboard.

Important! MIUI 14/15 has a limitation: you can only store 24 applications in one folder (up to 16 in the older versions). If you try to add more, the system will give you a "Folder is full" error. You can't create a folder inside another folder, which is a technical limitation of the shell.

2. Create a folder through launcher settings (hidden method)

Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden launcher settings menu where you can manually manage folders, including creating empty folders (without apps), which is useful if you want to pre-plan your desktop structure or restore a remote folder.

Instructions:

1. Go to the desktop and make a gesture with two fingers down the screen (as in calling the notification bar, but on the home screen).
2. Select the Folder option (or Folder Management in MIUI 15).
3. Click Create a new folder and specify its name.
4. The folder will appear on the desktop as a blank icon, and now you can add apps to it with standard drag and drop.

This method is especially useful for users who often reinstall applications or reset their smartphone to factory settings. Created through the launcher settings, folders are saved even after reset, unless internal memory is formatted.

3. Use of widgets to organize folders

If you need to not just group apps, but create an interactive folder with additional features (for example, quick access to contacts or notes), you can use widgets. MIUI has a built-in tool folder widget that allows you to combine applications and shortcuts.

How do I add:

• 🖱️ Press and hold an empty space on the desktop.
• 📌 In the menu that appears, select Widgets.
• 🔍 Scroll through the list to Tools and select Tool Folder (or Smart Folder in the Tools section). MIUI 15).
• 📲 Drag the widget to the desktop and customize its contents.

Widget-p folders take up more screen space (usually 2×2 or 4×1 cells), but for example, you can add to the Tool Folder:

• 📞 Quick dialing shortcuts (contacts)
• 📝 Notes or reminders
• ⚙️ Shortcuts for quick access to settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.)

4. Why the folder is not created: typical errors and solutions

Sometimes users find that folders on the Xiaomi desktop are not created or disappear, and here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

⚠️ Attention! If you use the child mode (Parent Control), folder creation may be blocked. → Parental Controls and Disable the Restriction on Change of Desktop.

Another common problem is that folders don't sync to the cloud. If you're logged in to the same Mi Account on multiple Xiaomi devices, desktop folders don't automatically migrate. To save the structure, use backup:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select System Settings and mark Launcher Settings.
3. Back up and transfer it to another device via Mi Cloud or Xiaomi Share.

💡

If the folder accidentally deleted, check the Recycle Bin in the MIUI launcher. To do this, click and hold the empty space on the desktop → Recycle Bin. Remote folders are stored there for up to 5 days.

5. Work with folders in third-party launchers (Nova, Hyperion, POCO Launcher)

If you use an alternative launcher (like a Nova Launcher, Hyperion Launcher, or POCO Launcher), the folder creation process may be different. In most cases, the algorithm is similar to standard MIUI, but there are nuances:

For Nova Launcher:

• 📱 Drag one icon to another and hold on for 1-2 seconds.
• 🎨 To change the style of the folder, click on it. → Edit → Select folder style (for example, "Vertical List" or "Grid").
• 🔒 To block the folder from random changes, turn on the option to Lock the folder in the launcher settings.

For POCO Launcher (set by default on some POCO models):

• 📁 The folders are created in the same way as in the standard MIUI, But gestures are supported: swipe up the folder opens it in the full screen.
• 🔍 To find the app inside the folder, use search: swipe down on the desktop → enter the name.

⚠️ Attention! When using third-party launchers backups MIUI To transfer settings to a new device, use the built-in launcher backup functions (for example, in Nova Launcher this is Settings). → Backup).

If after installing a third-party launcher folders from the desktop disappeared, check:

1. Are they hidden in the launcher settings (e.g., in Nova Launcher: Settings → Home Screen → Hidden Items).
2. Have you reset after updating the launcher (in this case, recovery from backup will help).

6. Additional chips: hidden folders, passwords and automation

MIUI has a few hidden folder features that few people know about:

• 🔐 Password folders: you can hide the contents of the folder under PIN-It's a code or a fingerprint:
• 👁️ Hidden folders: To hide the folder out of sight, drag it to the Hidden Area (available in the Hidden Area) MIUI 14/15). For that:

Automatic sorting

MIUI 15

Smart Folders

1. Go to Launcher Settings (gesture two fingers down).
2. Select Smart Folders and turn on the switch.

💡

Password folders in MIUI don't encrypt data - they just hide icons from outsiders. For full protection of confidential files, use Private Storage in Settings → Privacy

If you use the same folders often, you can create shortcuts for them on the lock screen:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Shortcuts.
2. Select the folder and specify the desired folder from the desktop.
3. You can open it quickly without unlocking your phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about folders on Xiaomi