How to change the places of desktops on Xiaomi: space management

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS offer users a huge opportunity to customize the interface. However, the standard logic of working with desktops often seems unobvious: simply dragging one page on top of another, like files in a folder, is impossible here. Many device owners face difficulties when trying to reorganize the screen space to place widgets and application shortcuts in the most convenient order. Understanding how to swap Xiaomi desktops is key to creating an ergonomic environment.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available reorganization methods, from built-in edit mode functions to advanced computer settings. You will learn to delete unnecessary empty pages, change their sequence and even hide confidential applications. Competent organization of the digital space not only improves visual perception, but also significantly increases the speed of working with the gadget in everyday life.

Before you start taking action, it is important to realize that the Android system in conjunction with the shell from Xiaomi has its limitations. For example, the main screen (Home Screen) always remains fixed and cannot be moved or removed, being the starting point of navigation. All other changes are exclusively related to secondary desktops that the user creates himself or that appear when installing new applications.

Basics of navigation in editing mode

To start any manipulation of screen space, you need to go into a special editing mode, and you can do this by touching the free area on any desktop and holding the press for one to two seconds, the screen instantly "retracts" by showing thumbnails of all available pages, and it is in this mode that desktop management becomes accessible and understandable.

At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a toolbar where the main commands are located, where you can add new blank pages, delete current ones, or move to more detailed settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the basic logic remains the same: visualization allows you to see the structure as a whole.

⚠️ Attention: When you go into editing mode, accidentally clicking the cross in the corner of the thumbnail will instantly delete the page with all the widgets and folders on it. Be extremely careful not to lose important shortcuts.

It's worth noting that dragging thumbnails of pages horizontally in this mode doesn't usually change their order, it just scrolls through the view. Other techniques are required to change the sequence, which we'll talk about later, and understanding this feature saves time and prevents confusion.

Direct movement of icons between pages

The most common way to change desktop content is to manually move application icons, although this doesn't change the physical order of the pages themselves (e.g. page 3 won't become page 2), it allows you to logically redesign the space, so you can move frequently used programs to the first screen and rarely used programs to the last.

To do this, press the desired icon on the home screen until it "sticks" and there is a vibration. Without letting go of your finger, drag the application to the edge of the screen left or right. The system automatically switches the view to the adjacent desktop, allowing you to place the object in the right place. This method requires a certain skill, especially if you need to move the application through 5-6 pages.

• 📱 Press the app icon before the vibration appears.
• 👉 Drag the object to the right or left edge of the display.
• 🔄 Wait for the automatic switch to the next page.
• ✅ Release your finger to lock the app into a new cell.

If you need to move a group of apps at once, create a folder by dragging one icon to another. Folders take up less space and allow you to keep order. HyperOS also has the ability to quickly move widgets that can occupy several cells, which requires even more accurate finger movements.

Deletion and addition of desktops

Often, the problem of organizing space is solved not by moving, but by cleaning. Xiaomi smartphones accumulate empty or half-empty pages over time, which only interfere with navigation. Removing extra tables is the first step to order. In editing mode (long tap on the screen), the page miniatures usually display a basket icon or cross in the top corner.

By clicking on this icon, you delete the page you've selected, and all the apps and widgets that you've been on don't disappear, they automatically move to the next vacant spot or the home screen, but if there's not enough space, the system can suggest that you delete objects permanently, so backing up important data or screenshots of icons will not be superfluous.

Adding new pages happens automatically when you drag and drop the app outside the last existing table, or manually through the + button in edit mode.

Use of hidden space and folders

For users who want to hide certain applications from prying eyes or simply remove rarely used software from view, MIUI and HyperOS have a Hidden Apps feature, which is not exactly desktops in the classical sense, but an effective way to manage the visibility of content.

To access hidden applications, you need to open the standard Tools (or Services) folder and select the appropriate shortcut, or use a special gesture in the Gallery or Manager app if it is configured.

Also worth mentioning is the Second Space feature, which is a full-fledged second desktop with separate settings, passwords and apps, and switching between the main and second spaces is fast, allowing you to separate work and personal content, effectively doubling the number of desktops available to you.

Advanced management through ADB and PC

For those who want full control of the system, including the ability to force a change in the order of loading desktops or remove system restrictions, there are debugging tools. Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to interfere with the launcher structure at a deep level.

This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable and switching on the mode "Debugging by USB» In the Developer menu, commands are entered in the PC command line and allow, for example, to reset the Launer settings to factory ones, which can help if the order of the tables “goes off” after the update.

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

This command will completely clear the cache and settings of the home screen, returning it to the “out of the box” state. All your folders and icon locations will be reset. Use this method only in extreme cases when the usual tools do not help correct interface glitches.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB This can cause the system to run in an unstable way if used improperly. Before executing any commands, make sure you understand their operation and save important data.

Features of work in HyperOS

With the release of HyperOS, Xiaomi has significantly redesigned the logic of the launcher, with support for more complex widgets that can take up several pages, and has changed the animation of flipping, table management has become more smooth, but added new restrictions on the customization of the grid.

The new shell features Big Folders, which allow you to run applications inside a folder without opening it, while occupying 2x2 or 2x3 space on the desktop, which changes the way you organize, so instead of having a lot of small icons, you can create functional blocks, and you need to move large objects with more care.

HyperOS also improves widgets, which can be stretched and compressed directly on the desktop, affecting the space available for other items. If you’ve recently upgraded, note that older widgets may not display correctly and require resizing.

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Use the Dark Theme feature not only to save battery, but also to visually separate desktops. In dark mode, the boundaries between widgets and background become more contrasting, making navigation easier.

Solving Display Problems

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where desktops do not flip, freeze or icons disappear, most often due to overflow of the launer cache. If the standard smartphone reboot does not help, try to clear the data of the Louncher application in the settings.

Go to Settings → Applications → All Applications → Launcher (or System). Select Clear Data or Clear Cache here. Note that full data cleanup will return the icons to factory location, so this step is worth taking consciously.

• 🔄 Reset the device to reset temporary errors.
• 🗑️ Clear the launer cache through application settings.
• 📉 Reduce the number of widgets if the phone is slow.
• 🔍 Check for system updates in the About Phone menu».

If the problem persists, it may be a conflict that is caused by a third-party application setting its themes or fonts. Try temporarily disabling third-party themes in the Themes app and checking if the desktops will recover normal operation.

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Regular cleaning of unused widgets and applications is the best prevention of interface lags on Xiaomi smartphones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)