Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the problem of visual chaos on the desktop. After installing dozens of apps from Google Play or GetApps, the screen turns into a messy mosaic where you can not quickly find the right icon. This is not only annoying visually, but also reduces the speed of the device, causing you to spend precious seconds searching.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools for putting order. You can not just move icons, but also create smart folders, change the screen grid, hide system debris, and even completely change the logic of displaying applications. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to organize space.
Understanding how the launcher works will help you master the finer settings. It's important to know that in new versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the application sorting algorithms in the All Apps menu can work automatically, but manually configuring the desktop remains a user priority. Let's take a look at where to start transforming your interface.
Basic principles of movement and grouping of icons
The most obvious, but often ignored, method is manual movement. But there are some things about Xiaomi, which is that if you hold your finger on the icon, you activate editing mode, and at that point you can not only drag apps around the screen, but you can also instantly create folders. Just drag and drop one icon over the other, and the system automatically creates a container.
To effectively manage the space, use Shake to Clean. If you accidentally shift a lot of icons or widgets, you don't have to manually put every item back in place. You just have to shake it hard enough with your smartphone (if the function is activated in the settings), and all the icons will be grided. This is a unique MIUI feature that saves you from long manual editing.
- 📱 Press the icon and drag it to the top of the screen to open the quick access menu for widgets or app information.
- 📂 Create thematic folders (e.g., Finance, Social Networks, Games) for instant access to a group of programs.
- 🗑 Use the Remove button in edit mode to quickly get rid of unnecessary shortcuts without removing the app itself.
Remember, you can change the size of the screen grid. If you go to the theme or desktop settings, you can choose 4x6, 5x6, or even 6x9. The more cells, the more apps you can fit on a single screen, the smaller the icons themselves. For people with good eyesight and large displays, a tight grid is a great way to keep everything at hand.
⚠️ Note: When changing the grid size, some widgets may shift or change their size. Always check if important widgets (weather, clock) are displayed correctly after changing the screen configuration.
Setting up the All Apps menu and sorting
Unlike iOS, where all apps are on the desktop, Android and MIUI have a separate All Apps menu, where you can type in an order that will affect search speed, and by default, the system sorts programs by installation time or alphabetically, but the user can take control.
Go to the desktop settings and find "App Sorting," where you can choose manual mode, which allows you to take commonly used but rarely noticed programs (calculator, voice recorder, scanner) to the top of the list, and take entertainment content down, which makes navigation more logical.
And you also have to look at Hidden Apps, which is a hidden folder that you can create in your security settings or folder settings, and it's accessed by gesture or password, and it's the perfect way to get out of sight of apps that you don't use very often or don't want to show to others.
- 🔍 Use the search bar in the All Apps menu to instantly launch programs if there are many.
- 🔒 Hide sensitive apps through Hide Apps in Security Settings.
- 📈 Sort manually so that important utilities are always in the top of the list, regardless of the installation date.
Using widgets to save space
One of the best ways to organize icons on Xiaomi is to replace some of them with widgets. Widgets take up more space on the screen, but they act as multiple icons at once. For example, the widget "Calendar-Plans" from Xiaomi can display 4-5 events at once, taking up the place of just one shortcut, but bringing much more benefit.
Modern widgets in MIUI 14 and HyperOS support resizing, so you can stretch the weather widget half the screen, eliminating the need for a separate app, or compress the music widget into a compact strip, allowing you to create personalized dashboards.
MIUI's Secret Widgets
When using widgets, it is important to keep a balance: a crowded screen with widgets can overload the processor and reduce autonomy, as they require constant updating of data. Try to use widgets only for the most relevant information: weather, currency rates, steps, upcoming meetings.
| Type of widget | Replaces icons | Recommended size | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather/Time | Weather appendix | 2x2 or 4x2 | Low. |
| Notes | Annex Notes | 2x2 | Minimum |
| Music. | Player. | 4x1 | Average. |
| Calendar | Calendar | 4x4 | Average. |
Hiding system applications and folders
Xiaomi smartphones out of the box contain a lot of preinstalled apps that can't be removed by standard methods. They take up space and create visual noise. Fortunately, they can be hidden. To do this, go to the settings, find the "Apps" section, and select "Hide Apps."
Once activated, swipe your thumb from the bottom up in the All Apps menu (or use a special button depending on the version of MIUI) and tick a box that will tick the programs you want to remove from the public domain, disappear from the desktop and menu, but remain in the system.
☑️ Checklist for clean-up
This is especially useful for Google services you don’t use daily, or for Xiaomi’s Chinese services if you live in a region where they’re not relevant. Remember that hiding doesn’t equal deleting: hidden apps continue to take up memory and can receive updates.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t hide critical system components like Security, Files, or Settings if you’re not sure how to access them later.
Customization through Topics and Third-Party Launchers
If standard MIUI tools don't seem flexible enough, a theme store comes to your aid. Themes app doesn't just offer wallpaper, it offers entire icon packs. You can replace standard square icons with round, neon or minimalist ones, which will visually organize the space without changing the folder structure.
For advanced users, third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher are available. They allow you to create nested folders (a folder inside the folder), customize swipe gestures by icons and completely ignore the limitations of Xiaomi’s system.
However, using third-party launchers on Redmi and POCO can lead to conflicts with system navigation. Animations can work in jerks, and back gestures can conflict with launcher gestures. Before installing, weigh the pros and cons.
- 🎨 Download icon packs in the store To unify the style of all applications.
- 🚀 Third-party launchers give more freedom, but can consume more battery power.
- ⚙️ Check the launcher’s compatibility with your version of Android before installing.
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Expert advice: Before mass installation of new themes or launchers, take a screenshot of the current location of the icons, which will help you quickly restore the usual structure if the new system is uncomfortable.
Optimizing the desktop for different scenarios
Arranging icons is not a one-off action, but a process of adapting to current tasks. Each user has a different use case. Gamers are comfortable keeping games in one folder on the bottom row. Office workers need quick access to mail, messengers and documents on the first screen.
Use One Hand Mode in conjunction with a smart icon layout. If you use your phone with one hand often, place the main shortcuts in the bottom third of the screen, and give the top to widgets or rarely used apps that you need to reach.
Don't forget the Widget Tape (swipe to the left of the home screen), where you can take out the widgets of news, sports or promotions, freeing up the main desktops for a clean running of applications, which creates a sense of minimalism and order.
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The key takeaway: The perfect order on the screen is not when there are no icons, but when the right app is under your finger in one second. Adapt the structure to your habits, not to the design standards.