Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the urge to personalize the interface or simply put things in order in the chaos of apps.The standard MIUI shell, and now the new HyperOS, offers flexible options for managing screen space. However, the feature of adding a new blank page is sometimes hidden from the eyes of the beginner, which raises questions.
Understanding how to add a desktop to Xiaomi is essential to efficiently organize apps and widgets. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve device productivity. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the nuances of creating new pages, moving them around, and adjusting display settings.
It is worth noting that the algorithms of actions can vary slightly depending on the version of the software. We will consider universal methods that are relevant to most modern models, including the Redmi Note series, Xiaomi Mi and POCO.
Basics of navigation in the interface MIUI and HyperOS
Before you start to act, it's important to understand the basic logic of the launcher: the main screen is not a static picture, but a dynamic area consisting of several slides, each slide can be filled with application icons, widgets or remain empty.
The Android system that Xiaomi devices run on allows you to create almost unlimited number of such pages, but by default, new cells are not created automatically when you delete applications, which requires manual intervention of the user, this is done in order not to clutter the interface memory with unnecessary elements.
It's done through editing mode, and in this mode, you see smaller copies of all your screens, and that's where the magic of repositioning and creating new space happens, and you don't have to be an expert in programming to enter this mode, you just have to do a few simple touches.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove system shortcuts in editing mode unless you are sure of their purpose.This can cause important features such as phone or messages to disappear, although they can always be returned via settings.
It's important to understand the difference between a launcher and system settings. A launcher is a desktop looker. At Xiaomi, it's usually a standard launcher, but you can replace it with a third-party one if you don't like the standard functionality, but there are plenty of built-in features for basic tasks.
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Before you start a major desktop remodel, take a screenshot of your current layout, which will help you quickly restore the icons’ familiar layout if the new layout is uncomfortable.
Ways to add a new desktop page
There are several proven methods to create a new blank area for your files, and the specific method you choose depends on whether you want to do it: just expand the space or move existing groups of applications.
The simplest and most intuitive method is drag and drop, and when you hold your finger on the app icon and start pulling it to the right outside the last screen, the system automatically generates a new blank page, which is the fastest way to add a desktop without logging into complex menus.
The second option is more suited to global reorganization: when you enter editing mode (two finger pinches or a long tap on an empty space), you will see all your screens in thumbnail. At the end of this series, there is often (but not always) a + button or just an empty space where you can drag an existing page or create a new one.
☑️ Screen-creating algorithm
The third method is widgets, where if you try to add a large widget (like a calendar or weather) and there's not enough space for it on the current screen, the system will suggest you create a new page or move content, which is a smart space optimization feature.
| Method | Difficulty | Speed. | It's best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragging over the edge | Low. | Tall. | Quickly add 1-2 pages |
| Editing mode | Medium | Medium | Global restructuring |
| Addition of widgets | Low. | Tall. | Automatic expansion of space |
Editing Mode: Complete Space Management
Editing mode is the center of control of your interface, so to get there, you have to pinch it with two fingers on the home screen, or press it for a long time in the open space, and it opens up possibilities that are not available in normal use.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see thumbnails of all your desktops. If you swipe left or right, you'll find the far right position. If there's an add button (often looks like a plus-square), clicking on it will create a new blank page. If there's no button, just drag any existing page to the right, and the space that's vacant becomes a new screen.
In this mode, you can change the order of the pages, you can squeeze the thumbnail of the screen and drag it to any place in the row, which allows you to bring the most important widgets or applications to the foreground, and rarely used to remove at the end.
Hidden functions of the editing mode
And remember folders. In editing mode, you can not only move entire pages, but you can also create folders right from scratch, although more often this is done by dragging one icon to another. Properly using folders saves space and avoids creating unnecessary desktops.
Configuring widgets and their placement
Widgets are live interface elements that display real-time information, take up more space than regular icons, and are often the main reason a user needs to add a desktop to Xiaomi.
To add a widget, go to edit mode and select "Widgets" (or "Add" depending on the version), and you will see a library of available items, and you can find hours, weather, news, contact shortcuts, and more.
When you select a widget, the system will show you the sizes available. Large widgets require more space. If there is not enough space on the current page, you will either have to delete the extra icons or, following our theme, create a new page. Just drag the selected widget to the right, outside the screen to provoke the creation of a new slide.
- 🕒 Clock and date – classic, occupying from 2 to 4 cells.
- 🌤️ Weather is an informative element, often combined with news.
- 📞 Quick call – allows you to call contacts in one touch.
- 🎵 Music – Player control without opening the application.
By placing them on your desktop, especially in large numbers, you put more strain on your CPU, and optimize their number if you notice a decrease in autonomy.
Removing and Hiding Excess Desktops
Sooner or later, the reverse is that there are too many screens and it's not easy to browse through them, and it's as easy to delete the extra page as it is to create it, and then we go back into editing mode.
Find the thumbnail of the screen you want to eliminate. In the top corner of the thumbnail, you usually see a basket icon or cross (sometimes you have to click on the thumbnail to call the action menu). By clicking on it, you confirm the removal. All the applications on this page will not disappear, but simply move to the application menu or to nearby vacant places.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting the desktop in editing mode doesn't remove apps from the phone; it just removes shortcuts from the home screen. Your data and programs remain safe in the shared list.
There's also a hide-of-page feature, which in some versions of the shell, you can make the page invisible when you're scrolling, leaving it only accessible through editing mode, which is useful for the rarely used widgets that you need from time to time.
If you accidentally delete an important page, don't panic. You can go back through the launcher settings or just pull the apps from the menu again. Xiaomi is quite forgiving to the user's mistakes in this regard.
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users find that the desktop is not added or behaves strangely, most often due to a crowded memory of the device or the launcher cache. If the screen is "slowing" when creating new pages, try to clear the cache of the Security application or the launcher itself.
Another common problem is the inability to move the icon, which may be due to the enabled lock of the layout change. Check the settings: go to Settings → Desktop and make sure that the "Blocking layout" switch is turned off.
If nothing works, you might need to reset your launcher settings, which will bring the desktop back to its factory appearance by removing all your folders and widgets, but resolve software conflicts.
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If the launcher interface is unstable, first check for system and security updates, as they often contain patches for interface errors.
In conclusion, mastering desktop management is key to making a smartphone more comfortable: experiment with location, use widgets wisely, and don’t be afraid to create new pages to group tasks into categories.