How to add a shortcut to the Xiaomi desktop: apps, sites, folders and files

Have you just installed a new app on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, but you can’t see its icon anywhere? Or want to quickly open your favorite site right from the home screen without running your browser?In the MIUI shell, adding shortcuts works differently than in “pure” Android – there are nuances here, especially after upgrades to MIUI 14/15.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to create shortcuts, from standard (for applications and widgets) to hidden (for files, web pages and even system functions). And also explain why icons sometimes “disappear” after a reboot and how to fix it. Instructions are tested on Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5, but will be suitable for most Android models 11-14.

1. Standard method: application shortcut from the menu

The most obvious method is to add a program icon directly from the list of installed apps, which is a little different from what is done on other smartphones in MIUI:

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen).
2. Find the app you want in the list, and if it's not on the first screen, search (the magnifier at the top) or flip to the right.
3. Press the app icon for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
4. In the drop-down window, select Add to the home screen (or Create a shortcut on some versions of MIUI).

⚠️ Note: If the menu does not include Add to the main screen, then the application has already been added - check other pages of the desktop (swipe left / right).

Make sure the app is not hidden in the settings MIUI|Check if the shortcuts are disabled in Settings → Main screen screen|Restart your phone if the app menu is “hanging»|Update. MIUI last-minute-->

On some models (e.g. POCO F4), after a long press, the icon immediately “breaks off” – just drag it to a free place on the home screen. If the screen is full, MIUI automatically creates a new page.

2. Site shortcut: how to fix a web page on your desktop

Do you want to open VK, YouTube or corporate portal in one tap, without running a browser? in MIUI it is done through Google Chrome or the standard Xiaomi browser:

• 🌐 Open the desired site in the browser (for example, vk.com).
• 🔧 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Choose Add to the home screen (in Chrome) or Create a shortcut (in Xiaomi browser).
• ✏️ If you wish, rename the label (for example, from VKontakte to VK»).
• ✅ Click Add – the icon will appear on the desktop.

⚠️ Note: Site shortcuts created through Chrome can be opened in a mini version of the browser (without the address bar). If the site requires authorization, you will have to enter a login / password every time you open.

Google Chrome|Standard browser MIUI|Firefox|Opera|Other-->

On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, site shortcuts can be grouped into folders along with apps, such as creating a social media folder and putting VKontakte, Telegram and Twitter icons in there.

3. Hidden features: shortcuts for files, folders and contacts

Few people know, but in MIUI you can create shortcuts not only for applications, but also for:

• 📁 Folders (e.g., “Photos from a vacation” or “Working documents»).
• 📄 Separate files (PDF, Excel, Word).
• 👤 Contacts (a quick call or message to a specific person).
• ⚙️ System settings (e.g. direct access to Power Saving Mode).

For this:

1. Open the file manager (Files or Explorer).
2. Find the desired file or folder, pinch it with your finger → select Add to the main screen.
3. For contacts: open the phone, find a subscriber → ⋮ → Add to the main screen.

⚠️ Note: File shortcuts only work if the file is stored in the phone's internal memory. SD-Map or cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) is not suitable for this method.

4. Widgets vs. shortcuts: What's the difference and when to use what

Many people confuse shortcuts and widgets, but they are different things:

To add a widget to Xiaomi:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → select Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list and find the right one (for example, Weather or Yandex.Maps).
3. Press the widget and drag it to the screen. Some widgets can be stretched (like a calendar).

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If the widget isn’t updated (for example, the weather shows old data), try removing it and adding it again. Also check if background activity for the corresponding app is disabled in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Auto Run

5.Tags problems: why they disappear or don't get added

Xiaomi users often find that the shortcuts are:

• 🔄 Disappear after rebooting.
• 🚫 No Added (Menu Item Inactive).
• 📱 Reset after update MIUI.

Causes and solutions:

If the problem does not go away, try resetting the home screen settings:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → Home screen settings.
2. Select Reset Settings (this won’t remove apps, only returns the standard shortcut location).

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Before resetting the settings of the main screen, take screenshots of the current location of the shortcuts - this will help to quickly restore the usual look after resetting.

6. Advanced settings: shortcuts for system functions

In MIUI, you can create shortcuts even for hidden system functions.

• 🔋 Quick access to energy saving mode.
• 📶 Switching mobile networks (2G/3G/4G/5G).
• 🔊 Direct opening of sound settings.

For this:

1. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play (free).
2. Open it and find it in the Settings list.
3. Expand the list and select the desired function (e.g. Battery Saver Settings for energy saving).
4. Press it. → Create Shortcut.

⚠️ Note: Not all system features support shortcut creation. For example, Xiaomi with Android 14 may not be able to make a shortcut to unlock the bootloader or developer mode.

7.Alternative launchers: if the standard MIUI is not satisfied

If you don't like how shortcuts in the standard MIUI shell work, you can install an alternative launcher.

• 🏠 Nova Launcher - flexible configuration of icons, gestures, folders.
• 🎨 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows, synchronization with PC.
• ⚡ Lawnchair – Lightweight launcher with support for dark themes.

After installing an alternative launcher:

1. Click Home and select the new launcher as the main one.
2. Adding shortcuts usually works through a long click on the icon in the app menu.
3. In the launcher settings, you can adjust the size of icons, animations and even hidden applications.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may stop using gestures after installing a third-party launcher MIUI (This is treated in the gesture settings of the launcher itself.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi