Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the challenge of personalizing the interface to their needs. One of the basic but critical skills is the ability to quickly create and place app shortcuts on the desktop, allowing instant access to frequently used features without having to wander through menus.
The MIUI shell, or the new HyperOS, offers flexible tools for managing workspace. However, standard settings sometimes hide features that are only apparent to power users. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to create shortcuts, including hidden features and web applications.
Properly organizing the desktop not only improves visual perception, but also significantly saves time. We will look at methods for different versions of the firmware and discuss the nuances that can arise during the configuration process.
Basic ways to add applications to the desktop
The simplest and most obvious method is to move the icon from the menu of all programs, so you can unblock the device and swipe up to open a list of all installed applications, find the desired program in the alphabetical list or use the search bar at the top.
Hold your finger on the app icon for a few seconds. The interface will change slightly and you will feel a slight vibration. Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to the top of the screen or to any free area if the menu is open as a grid. The system will automatically create a copy of the shortcut on the home screen.
⚠️ Note: Removing the shortcut from the desktop does not remove the app itself. However, if you drag and drop a single icon from the menu, make sure you understand the difference between removing the shortcut and uninstalling the program.
In some versions of the shell, if you press the icon long enough, the context menu may appear in the application menu, and you should select “Add to the home screen” or the same if the automatic drag and drop for some reason did not work.
If an app has been recently installed, Xiaomi’s system often suggests that it automatically be labeled on the desktop immediately after the installation is complete.This behavior can be monitored in the GetApps store settings or Google Play.
Add widgets and tools to the lock screen and desktop
Widgets are dynamic elements that display information in real time without requiring an application to start. To add them, you need to do a long tap (press) on an empty desktop space.
In the menu that appears, select "Widgets" and you'll see a library of available items, sorted by category or application, and you'll find hours, weather, currency rates, calendars, or quick switches.
- 📅 Select the calendar widget for a quick date view without unlocking.
- 🌤️ Add a weather widget to see temperature and rainfall probability.
- 🔋 Use the battery widget to monitor the charge of the device and connected gadgets.
- 🎵 Music player will allow you to control playback directly from the screen.
Once you select the widget, it will appear on the screen. Often the same widget has multiple sizes: 1x1, 2x1, 4x2, and others. Choose the right size and drag it to the right place. Some widgets require additional adjustment after you place it.
☑️ Checking widgets
If you notice a quick discharge, analyze the number of active widgets on the screen.
Creating shortcuts for web pages and specific functions
The convenience of a smartphone is that you can turn any web page into an app, which is especially true for sites that you use often, but do not want to install their official apps that take up space in memory.
To implement this method, you will need a Google Chrome browser or a standard MIUI Browser. Open the desired site, such as a news portal or online bank. Click on the browser menu (three dots in the corner).
In the drop-down list, find "Add to the home screen" or "Create a shortcut." The system will prompt you to confirm the name of the shortcut. Once confirmed, an icon will appear on the desktop, which will open the page immediately when you click on it.
| Type of label | Place of establishment | Demands the Internet. | Update of data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex | Menu of all applications | Depends on the app. | At launch. |
| widget | Widget menu | Yeah (mostly) | Automatically. |
| Web label | browser | I'll be sure. | Opening |
| Fast team. | Settings/Annex | Depends on the action. | Instantly. |
Also in modern versions of MIUI, there is an App Shortcuts feature, where if you press an application icon (like Phone or Camera), a quick action pop-up menu will open, and some of these actions can also be put on the desktop as a separate shortcut if the system supports such a feature for a particular application.
Secret Testing Menu
Customization of appearance and size of labels
The aesthetics of the interface play an important role. Xiaomi allows you to change not only the location, but also the visual style of the elements. To change the size of the icons or the desktop grid, make a long tap on the empty space of the screen and select Settings.
You can resize the grid here. It's standard 5x6 or 6x6, but you can increase the density to 7x7 or more on high-resolution screens, so you can place as many shortcuts as possible without using folders.
To change the style of the icons, go to the Themes app, and in the Profile or Icon section, you can choose a different set of graphic elements, which will change the appearance of all the shortcuts at once, making the interface more unique.
⚠️ Note: When you change theme or icon set, some third-party apps may not get the new style and will remain with the standard Android design.
There's also a feature called "Enlarged Mode," which changes the size of fonts and icons throughout the system, which is useful for visually impaired users or those who prefer large controls.
💡
Use the transparent widgets from the Themes app to create the effect of soaring icons, a popular technique for creating a minimalist desktop where only a beautiful background is visible.
Solving problems with disappearance or incorrect display
Users sometimes experience a situation where shortcuts spontaneously disappear or appear as white squares, often due to the MIUI optimizer, which aggressively manages memory and processes.
If the shortcut is gone, check if the application has been removed or hidden. In some cases, cleaning the launcher cache helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find System Launcher (or System Launcher) and select Clear Data.
Important: cleaning the launcher data will reset all icons and widgets to factory status. All folders and movements you create will be lost, so it is worth remembering the current configuration before this action.
- 🔄 Rebooting the device often solves temporary graphical glitches.
- 🚫 Check Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode, they can hide widget notifications.
- 📂 Make sure the label isn’t accidentally moved to the folder.
If the problem is with a particular application, try reinstalling it. Errors in the application manifest can cause the system to fail to properly render its icon on the desktop.
Using third-party launchers for enhanced capabilities
Xiaomi’s standard launcher is functional, but third-party solutions like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer an unprecedented level of control.
For example, you can create a shortcut that does not open the app when you click, but immediately turns on a flashlight, launches a specific playlist in Spotify, or opens a navigator with a route to the house.
💡
Third-party launchers give access to hundreds of hidden app activities, turning the desktop into a powerful smartphone management tool, not just a collection of icons.
To install a third-party launcher, download it from Google Play, launch it and follow the installation instructions as your primary. After that, you will have access to additional gesture settings, animations, and complex shortcuts.
It’s worth noting that on newer versions of HyperOS, third-party launcher integration may be a bit limited compared to pure Android, but the basic shortcut creation functionality works steadily.