How to Create a Desktop Folder on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s current smartphones have a huge number of pre-installed apps and features, which often leads to cluttered desktops. Users are faced with a situation where the screen is literally littered with icons, and finding the right program becomes a difficult task, which is why the ability to structure space is a basic skill for any owner of an Android device.

Creating a folder is the easiest and most efficient way to clean up the interface, and it doesn’t require root rights or third-party software, because it’s built into the standard MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. Competent application grouping allows you to speed up access to frequently used services and visually unload the interface.

In this article, we'll go into detail about how you create, configure and edit folders, and you'll learn not only the basics, but also the intricacies of working with the system elements of the interface. Let's start organizing your digital space.

Basic algorithm for creating a folder on the desktop

The process of forming a new group of applications on Xiaomi and Redmi devices is as simple and intuitive as possible. You don't have to look for hidden menus or complex settings. The whole operation is performed by drag and drop method, which is familiar to anyone who has ever used a touchscreen smartphone.

First, you need to unlock the device and go to the home screen, find two app icons that you want to group together, which can be social media, games, or system utilities, and it's important that these elements are on the same desktop page.

Make a long press on one of the icons until it sticks out of place. Then, without taking your finger off the screen, drag the icon right over the second icon you plan to add to the folder, and once you release your finger, the system automatically creates a container.

Once you do this, you'll see that both programs fit inside a new folder, and the system usually gives it a standard name based on a category of applications, like Social or Tools, which you can always change manually to make it easier to navigate.

Note that some versions of firmware may have slightly different behaviors depending on the display modes on. If you have Classic Menu mode on, folders are created only on the desktop. In Standard Menu mode (similar to iOS), folders are also generated in a similar way, but the logic of working with a list of all applications can vary.

Customization of appearance and renaming of folders

Once a group of applications is created, it can and should be customized to suit your needs. Standard names like "Folder" or "Tools" don't always reflect the content, so changing the name is the first thing you should do for convenience.

To rename a folder, just click on it once to open the contents. At the top of the window that opens, you'll see a text box with the current name. Tap it, and the keyboard will appear on the screen to type the new name.

In addition to text, users are often interested in changing the size or color of a folder. In the stock shell of MIUI, customization is limited to system themes. However, by installing a third-party theme, you can radically change the appearance of folders to make them transparent, round or color.

• 🎨 Change theme: Go to the Themes app, select a new design and apply it to change folder style.
• 📝 Editing: Long clicks on an open folder can sometimes quickly rename it or change the order of pages inside.
• 🗑️ Cleanup: If the folder is empty, it will automatically disappear from the desktop.

It's important to understand that the font size inside the folder depends on the overall system settings. If the name text is not readable, check Settings → Screen → Text Size. You can zoom in the font throughout the system, making the captions under the icons and inside the folders larger.

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Use short and clear folder names that are no longer than 10-12 characters long so that they fully appear on the screen without cropping.

Delete and unlock the contents of the folder

Sometimes you have to remove the created group or, conversely, remove applications from it. The process of deleting the folder on Xiaomi is implemented through the disbanding mechanism. You do not need to look for the Delete folder button in the settings.

To eliminate the folder, open it and start pulling the applications out. Take the first icon, drag it outside the folder window to the free desktop space. Repeat this procedure with all the remaining elements.

Once the last application is left in the folder or it is completely empty, the container will disappear automatically, a protective mechanism that prevents the creation of "junk" empty shortcuts in the system.

⚠️ Warning: If you drag the system application from the folder and delete the folder itself, it won't delete the program from the phone's memory.

There is also a situation where the folder may stick or behave incorrectly after the system update, in which case a simple reboot of the device helps, and if the problem persists, try changing the theme to the standard one and returning it back.

For users who like to experiment with launchers, it is worth noting that when installing a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), the deletion algorithm may differ, and there often appears a context menu with a long press on an empty folder.

Working with widgets within application groups

One of the convenient features of the MIUI shell is the ability to place widgets right inside folders, which saves space on the desktop, while maintaining quick access to important information such as weather, currency rates or notes.

To add a widget, open the folder you created. At the bottom of the screen, next to the app icons, you often see a "+" button or add icon. By clicking on it, you'll be taken to the cell size-compatible widget selection menu.

Not all widgets support folder placement, but only those that are compact in size, usually small square or rectangular modules.

• 🌤️ Weather: Compact temperature widget without unnecessary details.
• 📅 Calendar: Displaying the current date and upcoming events.

If you want to remove the widget from the folder, just hold it with your finger and drag it to the top of the screen, where the basket icon or the words "Delete" appear.

Comparison of folder creation in MIUI and HyperOS

With Xiaomi’s move to the new HyperOS operating system, many users have noticed a change in the interface logic, and while the basic principle of folder creation has remained the same (drag and drop), the visual part and additional features have changed.

The new shell folders became more integrated with the widget system, it became possible to adjust background transparency and opening animations more flexibly, and it also improved the work with folders in split-screen mode.

Below is a table comparing the key features of working with folders in the old and new versions of firmware.

Despite the evolution of the interface, the skill of creating folders remains universal. If you learned to do it on a single Xiaomi smartphone, you can easily cope with any model, whether it is a budget Redmi or a flagship Xiaomi 14.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Despite the fact that the system is fine, users sometimes face difficulties, and one of the common problems is the inability to create a folder, often because there is simply not enough space on the screen or the mode that blocks editing is turned on.

Check to see if Lock Layout is activated. If this is enabled, you can't move icons or create new groups. To turn it off, pinch it with two fingers on your desktop, press Settings, and find the appropriate switch.

Another situation is the spontaneous disappearance of folders after rebooting, which may indicate a launcher malfunction, in which case it is recommended to clear the cache of the application "Themes" and "System Launcher" through the Settings menu → Applications → All applications.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete system launcher files through root-right file managers, this can lead to an endless restart of the phone (bootloop).

If a folder is created but doesn't display icons (an empty white square) inside, try changing the theme to a standard one. Third-party themes often contain layout errors that are manifested by screen resolutions.

And there's a scaling problem, too, because some very high-resolution models can have fonts in folders bumping into each other, and adjusting the size of the font in the system usually solves this problem.

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Most folder problems are solved by switching the theme to standard or resetting the launcher settings.

Additional Sorting Opportunities on Xiaomi

Foldering isn't the only way to organize space. Xiaomi's ecosystem offers a range of tools for usability, such as Second Space, which allows you to create a completely separate desktop with your own folders and applications.

This is useful for separating work and personal life, so you can create a Job folder in the main profile and a similar folder in the second space, filling them with different content, and switching between them is instantaneous.

Also, use One-Hand Mode to easily access folders on large screens. Swipe from the bottom corner of the screen to move the interface downwards. Now the top folders are available to the thumb.

• 📂 Alphabetical Sorting: In the menu of all applications, you can sort icons, which makes it easier to search if there are too many folders.
• 🔍 Search: Use the search bar to quickly open apps inside deep folders.
• 🖼️ Wallpaper: properly selected wallpaper helps visually highlight folders with a transparent background.

Using folders with these features makes your smartphone a powerful and organized tool, and don’t be afraid to experiment with the layout of items until you find the perfect configuration.