How to add a shortcut to Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI

Adding shortcuts to Xiaomi’s home screen is a basic operation that every user faces after buying a smartphone. However, even experienced MIUI device owners don’t always know about all the available methods, from classic drag and drop icons to hidden features like creating duplicate applications or adding system utilities widgets. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for Redmi, POCO and Black Shark on MIUI 14/15 firmware, including nuances for different versions of the shell.

Xiaomi's interface is flexible in its desktop settings, where you can not only place standard shortcuts, but also group them into folders, fix weather or smart home widgets, and use gestures for quick access, and the logic of adding elements may vary depending on whether you use a default MIUI launcher or a third-party shell like Nova Launcher. We'll focus on standard solutions, but we'll mention alternatives for advanced users.

Method 1: Classically add a shortcut from the home screen

The most obvious method is to drag and drop the icon from the app menu, which works on all versions of MIUI and doesn't require any additional customization.

1. Touch the icon "Applications Menu"** (cog or circle of dots at the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the desired application in the list and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. Without letting go of your finger, drag the shortcut to a free space on the home screen.
4. Release your finger and the icon will be fixed.

If there is no free space on the screen, the system will automatically create a new page on the right, and to remove the shortcut later, just clip it and drag it to the top of the screen to the inscription "Delete"**.

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On POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 15, you can add shortcuts even from the off state: double tap the screen (if Double Tap to Wake is enabled) and hold the icon in the application menu.

Method 2: Adding through the context menu of the application

A lesser known but convenient way is to use the icon’s context menu, which is useful if you want to quickly create a shortcut for a frequently used app without searching the general list:

• 🔍 Find the app in the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 📌 Tap the icon once to open the context menu (some models need to hold the icons).
• 🖼️ Select “Add to Home Screen” (or “Create a Shortcut” on older versions) MIUI).
• ✅ The label will appear in the first free position.

This method is especially handy for adding Google Play Store, Settings or Camera shortcuts, which are often hidden in default folders. On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Black Shark 5 Pro, the context menu also allows you to immediately pin the icon to the dock panel (bottom bar with 4-5 frequently used apps).

Method 3: Duplicate the application (second label)

If you need two shortcuts for the same app (for example, for different accounts on Telegram or WhatsApp), MIUI allows you to create a duplicate without installing third-party launchers.This feature is called “Dual Apps”** and works on most models starting with the Redmi Note 10:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Dual annexes.
• 🔧 Find the desired app in the list and activate the switch next to it.
• 📲 After creating a duplicate, find it in the application menu (the icon will be with the icon “2”** in the corner).
• 🖼️ Drag the duplicate to the main screen as described in Method 1.

Note that not all apps support this feature. For example, you can’t duplicate Google Chrome or Mi Home. Also note that duplicates take up additional memory — on the 128GB POCO X5 Pro, this is not critical, but on budget models like the Redmi A2, this can be a problem.

Method 4: Adding widgets to the main screen

Widgets are mini-apps that display information directly on the home screen: weather, calendar, smart home management or player. To add a widget to Xiaomi:

1. Touch and hold the empty space on the home screen (not on the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen, a menu will appear – select “Widgets”**.
3. Scroll through the list and find the widget you want (like Weather or Notes).
4. Press the widget and drag it onto the screen. Some widgets (like Mi Fit) let you choose a size — stretch the frame to change it.

MIUI 15 has dynamic widgets that update real-time information (such as step counters or smart device data) that require:

• 🔄 Enable background activity for the application in Settings → Annexes → Battery management → Auto-start.
• 📶 Provide a stable Internet connection (weather and stock quotes require online access).

Check the MIUI version (widgets are stable with MIUI 13+)

Free up space on the main screen

Enable auto-start for the widget application

Connect to Wi-Fi (for widgets with online data)-->

Method 5: Shortcuts for quick action (e.g. direct dialing)

MIUI allows you to create shortcuts not only for applications, but also for specific actions within them, for example, you can add a button to the home screen for:

• 📞 Direct dialing of the contact number.
• 📧 Writing a message to a specific person.
• 🎵 Playlists in Spotify or Mi Music.
• 📍 Quickly start navigation to your home / work in Google Maps.

Instructions for creating such a label:

1. Open the app menu and find the app you want (like Phone).
2. Hold his icon, then drag it to the main screen.
3. In the menu that appears, select “Tags”** (not “Applications”).
4. Specify the action (e.g., “New Call”** → select contact).

On Xiaomi 14 and POCO F6 Pro with MIUI 15, it became possible to create shortcuts to run the game mode or read with a single touch – this is convenient for gamers and book lovers.

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Quick action shortcuts save time, but take up space on the screen, and optimally use them for the 2-3 most frequent tasks (e.g., calling your mom and launching the navigator).

Problems and Solutions: Why Not Add a Label?

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that shortcuts do not drag or disappear after a reboot.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI All the shortcuts are gone, check if the launcher settings have reset. → Annexes → Application management → Launcher and press "Reset»**.

If the problem persists, try resetting the launcher settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Reset

Additional tips on organizing the main screen

To keep the main screen comfortable and does not turn into chaos of icons, use these recommendations:

• 📁 Group similar applications into folders. For example, all messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) can be placed in the Chat folder.
• 🔒 Secure frequently used apps in the dock panel (bottom panel) and the default is Phone, Messages and Camera, but you can replace them with any other.
• 🎨 Use icon themes. In Settings → Registration → Themes can be downloaded icon packs that will change the appearance of all shortcuts.
• 🔄 Clean the home screen regularly, remove app shortcuts you haven't used for more than a month.

On Xiaomi 13T Pro and other flagships with MIUI 15, the Smart Sort feature** has been introduced, which automatically groups new applications into categories (social networks, games, tools) to enable it:

Settings → Main screen → Smart sorting → Enable

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If you don’t have enough space on the home screen but don’t want to remove shortcuts, try the swipe-down gesture to open your app search. On MIUI 14+, this gesture works even on a locked screen (if the option is enabled in Settings → Lock screen).

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi