How to Add an Icon to Xiaomi’s Desktop: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS provide users with a wide range of options for personalizing the interface. One of the basic but important functions is managing application shortcuts, widgets and fast links. However, despite the system’s intuitiveness, many users have a question: how to add an icon to the Xiaomi desktop if there is no standard icon on the start screen or you need to create a shortcut for a web resource.

Device owners often face a situation where, after installing a new software, the icon does not appear automatically, or the system application was removed from view, but remained in memory. Also relevant is the topic of creating shortcuts for sites to open your favorite resources with a single touch, as full-fledged applications. In this article, we will discuss all existing methods, including hidden menu functions and working with browser widgets. You will learn not only to return missing items, but also to optimize your workspace.

Before you start setting up, it’s worth noting that the menu structure may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the shell modification. However, the basic principles of navigation remain the same for the entire model range, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi series.

Return of standard app icons via the menu

The most common scenario is that the user accidentally deleted the app shortcut from the desktop, thinking that he was deleting the program itself. In reality, the application remained in the phone's memory, but its visual representation disappeared. To return the icon, you need to refer to a general list of all installed programs. On Xiaomi smartphones, this menu is often called "App Drawer" or simply a list of applications.

To start, unlock the device and swipe up from the bottom of the screen (if you have No buttons on) or press a special button in the navigation bar. You will see a full list of all the installed software. Find the desired program in the alphabetical list. If you find the application you are looking for, but it is not on the desktop, do a long press on the icon with your finger.

Once you've pinched the icon, the system goes into editing mode. If you hold your finger on the icon, drag it to the free area of the home screen or one of the panels. If simple drag and drop doesn't work, try another method: press and hold the icon until the context menu appears, and select the "Add to desktop" option.

• 📱 Swipe up to open a full list of all programs.
• 🔍 Find the right application through the search bar or scroll through the list.
• ✋ Press and hold the icon, then drag it to a free space.
• ⚙️ Check the launcher settings if drag and drop is blocked.

It's important to understand that some Xiaomi system processes don't have default user shortcuts, because they're designed for background work. If you're looking for a specific utility and you can't find it, it may be hidden in the Tools folder. This is the standard space optimization practice that the manufacturer uses.

Creating shortcuts for websites through the browser

Often users need access to a particular site and want to see it as a separate desktop icon, bypassing opening a browser and entering an address. This is especially convenient for frequently visited resources such as social networks, news portals or personal accounts. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Mi Browser is the standard browser, but many prefer Google Chrome or Yandex Browser.

Consider the algorithm of actions on the example of the most popular browser Google Chrome. Open the application and go to the site that you want to create a shortcut. After loading the page, click on three dots in the upper right corner of the screen to open the browser settings menu. In the dropdown list, you need to find the item "Add to the main screen" or "Create a shortcut".

The system will prompt you to confirm the action and, if necessary, change the name of the shortcut. Once you click the Add button, the icon will appear on your desktop, it will look almost like a regular application, but when you click it will immediately open a specific page in the browser, which is a great way to create a personalized quick access menu.

⚠️ Note: If you use Full-screen browsing mode in the shortcut settings, the site can open without a browser address bar, creating the illusion of a separate application.

In the regular Mi Browser, the procedure is similar: menus (three bars or dots) → Add to desktop. If it doesn't appear immediately after creating a shortcut, check for free space on desktop pages. Sometimes the system places new items at the end of a list or on a new, empty page.

Adding and configuring widgets on MIUI and HyperOS

Widgets are dynamic elements that display real-time information directly on the desktop. Unlike static icons, widgets can show weather, currency rates, steps or news. The MIUI and HyperOS widget shells focus on widgets, and they are divided into two types: standard Android widgets and Xiaomi branded widgets.

To add a widget, you need to go to desktop editing mode. To do this, pinch with two fingers on the screen (finger mixing), or press and hold your finger in empty space until the bottom menu appears. Select "Widgets" (or "Add widgets"). You will see a library of available items.

At the top of the widget menu, you'll see a switch between "Recommended" (or Xiaomi widgets) and "Classic" widgets. Branded widgets are modern in design and deep integration with the system, but require an Internet connection to update content. Classic widgets are simpler and more reliable.

Pick the widget you want, click on it and hold it to drag it to the desktop. Many widgets support resizing. Once you put the widget on the screen, press it and hold it, then release it and pull it around the edges to resize the item, and this allows you to tailor the information space to suit your needs.

Using folders to group icons

As the number of apps installed grows, the desktop becomes a chaotic pile of icons. To maintain order and ergonomics on Xiaomi smartphones, you can effectively use folders, which allows you to add an icon to the logical group, making room for other important elements.

The process of creating a folder is elemental. Take one app icon, pinch it, and drag it over another icon that you want to combine with the first one into one group. The system automatically creates a folder with a preset name, like "Folder" or by app category, and you can rename the folder by clicking on the name inside it.

You can put up to a few dozen apps inside a folder, and in fact, in recent versions of HyperOS, it has become possible to take individual applications from the folder directly to the desktop as mini widgets or leave them inside to save space, especially for rarely used but necessary programs.

• 📂 Drag one icon to another to create a group.
• ✏️ Click on the folder name to rename in a clear way to you.
• 🗑️ Delete the folder occurs when you remove all applications from it.
• 🎨 Some design themes change the style of folders and icons inside.

It is worth noting that folders can have different display styles depending on the chosen theme, and if you don’t like the standard folder style, you can change it by going to the Themes app and choosing a new visual style for the entire system.

Solving the Problems of Losing Labels

Sometimes users are faced with an unpleasant situation: the icon is added, but after a reboot or update, it disappears, this can be due to the work of the MIUI optimizer, which aggressively manages memory and can “clean” shortcuts, considering them garbage, or with errors in the launcher cache.

The first step in solving the problem is to clean the cache of the Security app and the launcher itself. → Annexes → All applications. Search the "Security" list and click "Clean Data" →"Clear the cache. A similar procedure should be done for System Launcher).

If the problem persists, check the access permission settings. The launcher may be prohibited from doing certain things. Go to Settings → Applications → Access Management → Other permissions. Make sure the system launcher is allowed to display on top of other applications and auto-start.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting the launcher will return the desktop to factory status, all folders created, the location of widgets and icons will be lost to the original position.

It’s also worth checking if Easy Mode (for older people) is enabled, which has a limited number of icon spaces and its own set of shortcuts. Switch back to Settings → Advanced Settings → Simple Mode by selecting Normal Mode.

Additional options for setting up the desktop

HyperOS shell and later versions of MIUI offer advanced customization capabilities that go beyond just adding icons. You can change the desktop grid to make cells smaller or larger, allowing you to place more elements on a single screen.

To change the grid, press the empty space on your desktop, select Settings (cogs), and find More Settings or Grid. Here you can choose a configuration like 5x6 or 6x6. This (directly) affects how many icons will fit on the screen without scrolling.

Another interesting feature is the Wallpaper Carousel, which, although it's related to the lock screen, is very much about the visual experience of the system, and on the desktop, you can turn on the zoom effect as you move between pages, which makes navigation more smooth, and all of these settings are in the desktop editing menu.

• 🔲 Changing the grid allows you to fit more icons on the screen.
• 🌊 The effects of transitions make flipping pages more pleasant.
• 🔒 Lock screen and desktop settings are often combined.
• 🎨 Using themes can completely change the look of all icons.

Remember that too many widgets and live wallpapers can have a negative impact on battery autonomy. If you notice that the phone has become more discharged after adding a lot of widgets, try removing the heaviest ones or replacing them with static ones.

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Use Notes or Tasks widgets on your desktop to see your to-do list without opening your apps, which greatly improves productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Proper desktop organization using folders and widgets not only improves the appearance, but also speeds up access to the frequently used features of your Xiaomi.