How to rename a folder on the desktop of the Xiaomi phone: all the ways

Why can’t you just rename your folder like you do on your computer?

Many Xiaomi users face an unexpected problem: the usual actions with folders on the desktop of a smartphone work differently than on a PC. In MIUI (the company shell of Xiaomi), folders on the home screen are not just containers for files, but special widgets-organizers who behave according to their own rules.

If you try to press the folder for a long time, as on Android "in pure form", then instead of the renaming menu, either the contents of the folder or the deletion / move options will open. This is due to the fact that MIUI is optimized for one-handed control - many actions are hidden behind gestures or additional taps. Moreover, the logic may differ in different versions of the shell (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15).

Another nuance: on some models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12), desktop folders can be of two types: system (created by MIUI automatically) and custom (created by you manually), the former often blocked from editing.

Method 1: Standard renaming via folder menu (MIUI 14/15)

This is the most obvious method that works on most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with current firmware versions.

1. Open the folder you want to rename with one tap.
2. Tap the folder name at the top of the screen (above the app icons).
3. A text box will appear – enter a new name and click Ready or OK.

If the text field does not appear:

• 🔹 Check that you do not have a system folder (for example, “Utilities” or “Google").
• 🔹 Try not to tap on the text itself, but on the icon of the pencil (✏️), If it is on the right of the name.
• 🔹 On some models (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi K60) You need to press three points first (⋮) top-right corner of the folder.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5 and below, this method may not work.

Method 2: Rename through desktop editing mode

This method is universal and works even on older versions of MIUI, and is suitable for those who do not have a standard renaming.

1. Activate editing mode: Long-press on the empty space on the desktop (not the icon!) and select Widgets or Screen Settings (depending on the model).
2. Find the folder in the list of widgets (it will be labeled as "App Folder" or "App Folder").
3. Slip on the folder and hold for 1-2 seconds, and the context menu will appear.
4. Choose Rename (or Edit the Name).

If the menu does not contain the "Rename" item:

• 📱 Try to remove the folder to the desktop first (if it was in the Dock panel).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes it throws off interface glitches.
• 🛠️ Check if a third-party launcher is installed (e.g., Nova Launcher or HyperOS Launcher).

Method 3: Reset and Recreate Folders (Radical Method)

If the first two things don't work, the nuclear option is to delete the folder and recreate it with the right name, which works 100 percent of the time, but requires all applications to be ported.

1. Open the folder and remember (or take pictures) which apps are in it.
2. Hold the folder and drag it to the basket (or click Delete in the context menu).
3. Create a new folder: Drag one application to another on your desktop. Open the folder you created and tap by name (by default, "Unnamed" or "New Folder"). Type the name and save it.

Bring back the apps

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi) K40) When you delete the folder, the apps are scattered across different screens. To avoid this, move all the icons to one screen before you delete them.

Features of renaming on different versions of MIUI

The logic of folder work has changed from version to version, and here are the key differences:

• MIUI 12.5 and below: 📁 Renaming is only available through a long tap on the empty screen space → Screen settings → folder-picking. 🔒 System folders (e.g., "Tools") cannot be renamed.
• MIUI 13–14: ✏️ It was possible to edit the name directly in the open folder (tap by name). 🎨 Added color themes for folders (on some models).
• MIUI 15 / HyperOS: 🤖 AI prompts when renaming (for example, offers the name "Social Network" for the folder from the VK, Telegram, Instagram). 🔄 Synchronize folder names with the Xiaomi Cloud (if enabled).

On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), when you rename a folder, the name automatically syncs with other Xiaomi devices under the same Mi Account.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even in a simple renaming procedure, users make mistakes that lead to data loss or interface failures.

• 🚫 Use of Prohibited Symbols: MIUI Blocks folder names with symbols: / \: *? " < > |. If you try to keep that name, the system will either trim it or make it back.
• 🔠 Too Long Names: The maximum length of a folder name is 20 characters (in the MIUI 15 extended to 30. Exceeding causes pruning or failure.
• 🔄 Name conflict: You can't create two folders with the same name on the same screen. The system will automatically add a number (e.g., Game 1, Game 2").
• 📵 Power Saving Mode: With Ultra Battery Mode Activated, some interface features are turned off, including renaming folders.

💡

If you need to use the folder name symbols that MIUI Blocks (e.g. slashes), replace them with similar ones: instead / use ⧸ (U+29F8), instead * — ⋅ (U+22C5).

Alternative ways to organize the desktop

If renaming folders seems inconvenient, consider alternative approaches to organizing applications:

• 📂 Use tags in POCO Launcher: On devices POCO With a proprietary launcher, you can assign tags to applications (for example, #work, #games) and sort them without folders.
• 🔍 Search by gesture: B MIUI 14+ You can turn on the search for applications swipe down on the desktop (Settings) → Desktop → App search makes folders less necessary.
• 🎨 Color tags: In HyperOS, folders can be colored in different colors (e.g. red for important applications, green for entertainment).
• ⚙️ Third-party launchers: Apps like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher offer flexible folder settings, including renaming without restriction MIUI.

⚠️ Warning: Installing a third-party launcher disables some features MIUI, such as super wallpapers and screen transition animations.

💡

If you need to rename folders often or create a complex structure, consider using a third-party launcher.This is the only way to get around MIUI's limits on folder count and nesting.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions