How to add a desktop on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones of the brand, but even its owners sometimes face a shortage of space on the home screen. Add desktop (or more) on this device can be either standard means MIUI or using third-party applications. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways – from basic to advanced – and also tell you how to avoid typical errors when setting up.

It's important to understand that the term desktop in the context of Android is often replaced by the concept of "main screen" or "launcher." On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the branded launcher MIUI Launcher is installed by default, which supports up to 9 desktops. However, users do not always know how to add or remove them. If you want to not just expand the space for icons, but also customize the interface to your needs, read on.

1. Adding a desktop through the standard MIUI launcher

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI Launcher features, which require no additional applications and works on all firmware versions for the Redmi Note 8 Pro (from MIUI 11 to MIUI 14).

To add a new desktop:

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen.
2. Make a gesture of clamping with two fingers in the free space of the screen (not on icons!).
3. In the menu that opens, select Screen Settings (or Desktop Settings depending on the MIUI version).
4. Scroll down to the Desktops section and click Add.
5. Confirm the action – the new screen will appear to the right of the current one.

If Add is inactive, you have already reached the limit of 9 desktops, in which case you will have to delete one of the existing ones or use alternative methods (about them in the following sections).

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To quickly switch between desktops, swipe left/right on the home screen. If gestures don't work, check the settings in Settings → Additional → Gestures

Removal and repositioning of desktops

If you add too many screens or want to optimize their order, you can do it in a few seconds.

• 📱 Press two fingers on the home screen and select Screen Settings.
• 🗑️ Click on the basket icon at the top of the screen (above desktop thumbnails).
• 🔴 Drag the unnecessary screen into the cart and confirm the deletion.

To remake, just press the desktop thumbnail in the settings menu and drag it left/right. Note: the main screen (center) can not be removed - it can only be moved.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the desktop, all the widgets and icons on it will be permanently deleted. If you want to save them, first transfer the elements to another screen.

3.Using third-party launchers for flexible setup

If the standard 9 desktops aren’t enough or you want a deeper customization, install an alternative launcher.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – Supports up to 9×9 icons on the screen, endless scrolling of desktops and gestures.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher – allows you to configure transitions between screens and hide unnecessary elements.
• 🔧 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, wallpaper synchronization and widgets.
• 📱 Lawnchair 2 – Lightweight launcher with support for themes and adaptive icons.

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. In the launcher settings, find the Desktop (or Desktop) section and add the required number of screens.

The advantage of third-party launchers is the ability to configure the scroll of desktops on a cycle (infinite swipe), change the number of rows and columns of icons, as well as add gestures for quick access to applications.

4. Hidden Desktops: How to Hide Personal Screens

If you want to hide some desktops from prying eyes (for example, with personal photos or work applications), you can use the Hidden Folders feature in MIUI or third-party utilities.

• 🔒 Install a launcher with support for hidden screens (for example, Apex Launcher or Smart Launcher 6).
• 📁 Use the Nova Launcher Prime app (paid version) with Hide Apps.
• 🕵️ Create a second user profile in Android settings (Settings) → Users), but this will require a reboot to change profile.

To hide icons without third-party applications:

1. Press the app icon on the home screen.
2. Then, put it in the back of the door and put it in the back of the door.
3. The app will disappear from the desktop, but will remain in the menu of all applications.

⚠️ Note: Hidden icons can be easily found through a search by device (Settings) → For complete privacy, use the Safe Folder in MIUI or third-party file managers with encryption.

5. Desktop optimization: widgets, folders and gestures

Adding desktops is only half the battle, and in order for them to be really useful, you need to organize the space right. Here are some tips:

Widgets: The Redmi Note 8 Pro supports weather, calendar, notes and even system widgets (like Quick Settings or Data Use).

1. Hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select Widgets from the bottom menu.
3. Drag the desired widget on the screen and adjust its size.

Folders: If there are too many icons, put them together into folders.

• 📂 Drag one icon to another – folder will automatically be created.
• 🏷️ Name the folder (for example, “Social networks” or “Games»).
• 🔄 To change the order of the icons in the folder, open it and press the icon to drag and drop.

Gestures: In MIUI, you can configure gestures for quick access to applications:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Gestures.
2. Select Start Gestures and add a new one (e.g. swipe up with two fingers for the camera).

Remove unnecessary icons|Combine similar applications into folders|Add widgets for quick access|Set up gestures for frequently used functions|Set wallpaper with contrasting background for better readability-->

6. Problem Solving: Desktops Are Not Added or Disappear

Sometimes users of the Redmi Note 8 Pro are faced with the fact that desktops suddenly disappear or they can not be added.

If desktops are lost after a reboot, it may be due to a launcher cache error.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find MIUI Launcher and select Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: This Will Reset All Home Screen Settings!).
4. Reboot the phone.

If your desktops didn’t recover after clearing the launcher data, try returning the standard settings via Settings → About Phone → Reset (select Launcher Resets).This won’t affect your files, but will return the original screen configuration.

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Before resetting the launcher settings, take screenshots of the current arrangement of icons - this will help to quickly restore order after resetting.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the desktops on the Redmi Note 8 Pro