How to change the order of screens on Xiaomi: 5 working methods for MIUI

The order of screens on Xiaomi smartphones is not just an aesthetic question, but a personalization tool that affects the usability of the device. Many users face a situation where after updating MIUI or resetting the desktops are mixed, and favorite widgets and applications are on the wrong screens. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the order of the screens, from standard functions to hidden features of the shell.

It’s important to understand that the screen algorithm depends on the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14) and the device model. For example, the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14 has additional gestures that are not available on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will be suitable for most of the brand’s devices, including POCO and Black Shark.

1. Standard method: Drag screens in MIUI

The most obvious method is to use the built-in shell functionality, which works on all versions of MIUI since the 11th, but has limitations on some budget models (e.g. Redmi 9A).

1. Unlock your smartphone and go to the main screen.
2. Make a long press (2-3 seconds) on any free area of the screen until the edit menu appears.
3. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see thumbnails of all the desktops, and you'll pinch the screen you want, and you'll drag it left or right.
4. After moving, click Ready (or Save in Older Versions) in the upper right corner.

This method is simple, but it has drawbacks: you can’t create a new screen out of nothing (just remove existing ones), and on some firmware, the screen thumbnails don’t show correctly. If you have MIUI 14, try an alternative gesture method — it often works more stable.

2. Change of order through launcher settings

If standard drag and drop doesn't work (like the custom-built POCO X3 Pro), you can use the hidden launcher settings, which require developer mode activation, but gives you more control:

• 🔧 Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press 7 times in a row.
• 📱 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and enable the debugging option USB.
• 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your PC and use the command: adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.miui.home/.settings.LauncherSettingsActivity

In the menu that opens, look for Screens (or Desktop Settings in English localization) and you can:

• 🔄 I'm in places screens with arrows.
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary desktops.
• ➕ Add new ones (if the version allows) MIUI).

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), this method allows you to change the order even for screens with a weather widget, which are usually locked.

3.Use of gestures for quick switching

MIUI 13/14 has a feature for fast switching between screens using gestures, which does not change the order physically, but allows you to instantly jump to the desired desktop:

1. Open the Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select Desktop Gestures.
3. Activate the Swipe down option to switch screens.

Now, if you swipe down the main screen, you'll see a preview of all desktops. Hold on and drag the thumbnail to change order. This works even on locked models (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G with proprietary firmware).

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If the gestures don’t work, check if they are disabled in the settings of special features (Settings → Special. features → Gestures).

4. Reset launcher settings (if screens are "sluggish")

Sometimes the order of the screens cannot be changed due to a software failure, in which case the launcher reset will help without losing data:

Take screenshots of the current icon location |Remember the widgets on each screen |Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone | Turn off two-step authentication for 10 minutes (if any)

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1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Launcher (or MIUI Launcher) and open its settings.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm action. Launcher will restart with factory settings.

⚠️ Note: This method removes all custom desktop settings, including folders and widgets. However, it often solves problems with the “stuck” screens on the Xiaomi Mi 11 and other models with a high-end design. MIUI 12.5.

After the reset, you will need to re-up:

• 📱 Set up the order of the screens.
• 📁 Restore folders with applications.
• ⚙️ Install widgets (weather and calendar data will be saved).

5. Alternative launchers for flexible settings

If standard methods don't work, consider installing a third-party launcher.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports unlimited screens, gestures and backup settings.
• 🎨 Microsoft Launcher - Windows integration, adaptive icons.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for gaming smartphones (Black Shark, POCO F).

Installation of an alternative launcher:

1. Download APK from the official website (for example, Nova Launcher).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. When you first start, select Always Open in this app.

⚠️ Note: on some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) third-party launchers may conflict with system gestures.

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Third-party launchers allow not only to change the order of the screens, but also to customize animations, icon sizes and hidden folders.

6. Solving problems with screen order

If none of the methods worked, the reason may be:

For the diagnosis of complex cases:

1. Check the system logs through Settings → About Phone → Error Report.
2. Turn off battery optimization for launcher (Settings → Battery → Optimization).
3. Try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI through Settings → System Update → Update

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen order on Xiaomi