How to Add a Shortcut to Xiaomi’s Desktop Phone

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS provide users with extensive options for personalizing the interface. One of the basic but critical functions is to create shortcuts to quickly access your favorite apps, widgets or specific sites. Many device owners have difficulty in trying to bring the desired item to the main screen, as the logic of the menu can differ from stock Android.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can add shortcuts, including hidden features and solutions for unusual cases. You will learn not only to move icons, but also to create full-fledged web shortcuts for frequently visited resources, which will significantly speed up your work with the browser. Understanding the principles of organizing the workspace will help turn a chaotic set of icons into an ergonomic and convenient tool.

It’s worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and regional settings, but the basic algorithms of actions remain the same throughout the brand ecosystem, and we’ll look at both the standard methods available out of the box and more advanced techniques that require attention to the details of the settings menu.

Standard Adding Application Shortcuts from the Menu

The most obvious and frequently used way is to transfer the icon of an already installed application from the general list of programs to the desktop. In Xiaomi shells, this process is implemented through prolonged pressing, which is the industry standard. However, users often confuse folder editing mode and drag and drop mode, which causes the action to not be performed the first time.

To successfully add a shortcut, open the menu of all applications and find the desired program. Make a long click on the icon before the vibration response appears or the grid scale changes, at which point the system goes into editing mode, allowing you to move objects between pages or folders.

It is important to note that on some versions of MIUI with Security Mode enabled or in corporate profiles, the movement may be limited by security policies.If the icon is “shaking” but not moving, check if the space on the current page is full.

⚠️ Note: Drag an icon to another application area may automatically create a folder. If your goal is a separate shortcut, be careful with finger positioning so that you don't accidentally combine programs.

The process is as follows:

• 📱 Find the app in the shared menu and pinch it with your finger.
• 📂 Wait for the desktop thumbnail to appear at the bottom of the screen.
• 🖐️ Drag the icon to a free home page cell or to an existing folder.
• ✅ Release your finger to fix the label in a new position.

Creating website shortcuts through browsers

Often users don't need to access an app, but rather a specific page of a web resource, such as a bank account or a news portal, which creates a web shortcut that looks like a regular icon but launches a browser with a specific link open, which is especially true for sites that don't have native apps on Google Play.

The algorithm depends on the browser you use. Google Chrome, which is preinstalled on most global versions of Xiaomi smartphones, you need to open the desired site, click on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and select the option “Add to the home screen.” In Chinese versions of firmware, which uses the Mi Browser browser, the logic is similar, but the menu item can be called “Add shortcut”.

When you create a shortcut, the system will suggest editing the name, which is a useful feature, since the original site names are often long and unreadable on a small screen, and you can shorten the name to 2-3 words for convenience.

Here’s what it looks like in different browsers:

• 🌐 Chrome: Menu (three dots) → «Add to the main screen» → «Add».
• 🦊 Firefox: Menu (three dots) → «Page» → «Add to the main screen».
• 🧭 Mi Browser: Menu → «Add a label» → Confirmation.

Work with widgets and their placement

Widgets are dynamic interface elements that display real-time information without having to run an app. On Xiaomi smartphones, they are given special attention, especially in new versions of HyperOS, where large interactive widgets have appeared. Adding a widget is technically an addition of a special type of shortcut.

To access the widget menu, you need to pinch your two fingers on an empty desktop space or press the free area for a long time. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a toolbar where you choose the "Widgets" section, and here you will find a huge selection of elements from simple watches and calendars to complex smart home control panels.

Some widgets require additional adjustments immediately after posting, such as the Notes widget asking which note to display, and the weather widget asking permission to access the geolocation, ignoring these requests may result in the widget remaining empty or showing the default data.

Widget sizes range from 1x1 to 4x2 grid cells. When dragging, large widgets can "push" adjacent icons, occupying a significant portion of the screen, and it is recommended to plan the layout of the desktop in advance to avoid chaos.

Desktop and grid settings

Before you add a lot of shortcuts, you need to optimize the very structure of the desktop, and MIUI and HyperOS have flexible grid settings that allow you to place more elements on a single screen, which is especially true for users with large fingers or those who like minimalism.

You can change the settings through the desktop editing menu. Press and hold the empty space, then select Settings (usually the gear icon or button in the corner). Here you will find the Grid option, where you can select a configuration, for example, 5x6 or even 6x6 on large screens.

⚠️ Attention: Increased icon density (e.g., up to 6x6) It can make text under labels unreadable for people with visual impairments, and it is recommended to check the readability of fonts after changing the settings of the grid.

Also available on this menu is the "Stick to Memory" feature, which, if enabled, will keep the desktop interface active, which will prevent it from rebooting if there is a shortage of RAM, which is useful if you often fold applications and return to the home screen.

Additional parameters allow:

• 🔒 Block the change (positioning) of icons.
• 🔄 Automatically add new applications to the desktop.
• 🗑️ Cleaning out unused widgets to save resources.

Solving the Problems of Missing Labels

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the application is installed, but its shortcut has disappeared from the desktop or is not created at all. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this is often associated with the operation of the system application "Security" or launcher settings. Don't panic and delete the application - most likely, it is simply hidden or moved to the library.

The first thing to check is the Hidden Apps mode, and some versions of the shell have a privacy icon hiding feature, so to check this, open the Security app, scroll down to the Hidden Apps section, and make sure the program you want isn't there.

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If the shortcut is gone after a system update, try clearing the System Launcher app cache in the application settings.This often returns the missing icons without losing data.

Another common reason is the Hide Headers option enabled, or the use of a third-party launcher that intercepts desktop control.If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher), make sure it is given all the necessary permissions to display over other windows and manage the desktop.

In case of a software failure, resetting the launcher settings will help:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find the System Launcher (or MIUI Home) list.
3. Select "Clean» → «Clear all data».

After this action, the desktop will return to the factory appearance, and the labels will have to be placed again, but the functionality will be restored.

Using folders to organize labels

When the number of shortcuts grows, the desktop becomes chaos. Xiaomi offers an effective grouping tool, folders. Foldering is simple: just drag and drop one shortcut to another. The system automatically creates a container where you can fold thematically related applications.

Folders in MIUI have advanced functionality, and when you click on a folder, it can open up to the entire screen or occupy part of the display, showing the nested applications as a grid, which saves space and keeps the interface visually clean, you can rename the folder by tapping its name, and select a color accent.

There is also the possibility of creating smart folders, although this depends on the firmware version. Some folder widgets allow you to take the most commonly used applications out of the crowd, dynamically changing content. However, for static grouping, it is better to use the standard drag and drop method.

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Grouping apps by icon colors or usage frequency is the best way to keep desktop ergonomics on large-screen devices.

Recommendations for organization:

• 📁 Create folders by categories: “Social networks”, “Work”, “Games».
• 🎨 Use color-coded folders for quick visual search.
• 📉 Don't keep it in folders anymore. 9-12 Applications to avoid complicating navigation.