How to Rename the Android Shortcut to Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s current Redmi and Poco smartphones offer users a huge opportunity to personalize their interfaces. The MIUI shell, and now the new HyperOS, allows them to change everything from icons to system fonts. However, one of the most common challenges owners face is changing the name of the app on their desktop, which can be to create folders with clear names, sort programs alphabetically or just for aesthetics.

Unfortunately, the standard Android operating system means that you can't rename the system application. The name you see under the icon is taken directly from the APK installation file. However, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers several workarounds to achieve the desired result without obtaining the rights of the Root superuser. We'll look at all the available methods, from built-in features to the use of specialized software.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to create a new shortcut with the right name, how to use built-in themes to change names, and why some applications still do not lend themselves to renaming. You will learn about the nuances of the launcher and how to avoid typical errors when modifying the desktop. Changing the shortcut does not affect the internal name of the application in the system, changing only its display on the screen.

Features of the shell MIUI and HyperOS

MIUI and HyperOS interfaces are very different from pure Android, which can be seen on Google Pixel or Motorola devices. Xiaomi engineers have implemented many restrictions and changes to the launcher to ensure stability and a uniform style. Which is why the standard long-press icon, which in other systems allows you to edit the name, here often only leads to vibration and the appearance of the widget management menu or removal.

The problem is that the system rigidly attaches a desktop shortcut to the original application package, and if you try to simply rename a file or folder, as you do in a file manager, the system will ignore the changes. The launcher reads metadata from the manifesto, and you can't change it on the fly without special tools.

⚠️ Warning: Attempts to infiltrate the launcher system files without proper knowledge can lead to a cyclical reboot of the interface or the disappearance of icons. Always back up important data before deep interference with system settings.

However, there is a proven method that works on most current firmware versions, which is not to edit an existing shortcut, but to create a new one using the built-in Theme tool, which is safe and does not require the installation of suspicious software from unknown sources.

The method of renaming through the app “Themes”

The most reliable way to rename an Android shortcut to Xiaomi Redmi is through the standard Themes app, which allows you to create a copy shortcut that can be assigned any name, even any icon, from a huge library, which takes just a few minutes and is completely reversible.

To start, you need to open the Themes app, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones. From the bottom menu, select the Profile tab (usually indicated by the human icon). Next, find the Settings section and select Create a theme. Don't be afraid of the word "create", we will not draw a design from scratch, but use a ready-made template.

In the theme designer interface that opens, you need to select the application icon option. This will show you a list of all installed programs. Find the application you want to rename and click on it. The system will suggest you choose a new icon, but what matters is that in the title field that becomes active, enter the desired name. Once you save the changes, the the theme will apply, and a new shortcut will appear on the desktop.

• 📱 Open the Topics app and go to the user profile.
• 🎨 Choose to create a new theme and go to the icon editing section.
• ✏️ Find the desired application and enter the new name in the appropriate field.
• ✅ Save the changes and apply the created theme to the current design.

It's important to understand that after you use this theme, the old name will disappear and the new name will remain, and if you want to return everything as it was, you just need to select the default option to reset components in the same theme settings section or delete the design element you created.

Use of third-party launchers

If the built-in techniques seem too complex or you want more flexible desktop control, installing a third-party launcher is a great solution. Apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher completely replace Xiaomi’s standard shell and provide features that MIUI developers have hidden from users.

Most advanced launchers have a naming feature, which is to press the app icon, select the Edit option (often pencil-coded) in the context menu, and the name field is available for change, which works instantly and does not require the creation of those or complex manipulations of files.

However, when installing a third-party launcher on Xiaomi Redmi, there may be specific limitations: Android security and additional MIUI protections may require special permissions to display over other windows or access desktop management, and sometimes there are problems with unlock animation or gestures.

It’s worth noting that using a third-party launcher changes the entire visual experience of interacting with a smartphone, the app menu, folders and widgets will look different, and for many users, this becomes a nice bonus, allowing you to forget about the standard design of Xiaomi.

Working with widgets and contact labels

Often, users confuse app shortcuts with widgets or contact shortcuts, and if your goal is to rename a contact that you have on your desktop for quick access, the procedure is very different, and in this case, you change not the name of the program, but the signature of the particular item.

To rename a contact shortcut or a folder created by hand, you need to make a long press on the object. In the menu that appears, you should look for the Change button or the pencil icon. If you are talking about a folder, when you open the folder, a field with its name often appears on the top, which is also editable.

Widgets are more complicated. Most widgets (weather, clock, calendar) draw data from the main application. To change the name of the city or event displayed on them, you need to go to the settings of the widget itself or the main application. Direct renaming of the widget header on the desktop is not supported by all components of the system.

⚠️ Note: Removing the renamed contact shortcut will not remove the contact itself from the phone book. However, removing the widget may reset its individual settings if they are not synced to the cloud.

If you use widgets from third-party developers (like KWGT for widgets or Google Contacts), you may have the option to customize the title text right in the widget size settings, which gives you more freedom than standard MIUI tools.

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Use blank characters to hide the names. If you want to leave an icon without a signature, try inserting a special invisible character in the name field (you can find it online as "blank character"), this will create a clean icon effect.

Creating folders and grouping applications

Renames are often required not for individual applications, but for folders that are created. In the Xiaomi shell, the process of creating folders is intuitive, but has its own peculiarities. To create a folder, you need to drag and drop one application icon to another. The system will automatically create a container and prompt you to enter its name.

The folder name field appears immediately after you create it, and if you miss this point or want to change the name of an existing folder, just click on the current folder name area (usually under the icons inside the open folder), the keyboard will pop up automatically, allowing you to enter any text, including emoji.

Grouping applications by function and then renaming folders is a great way to clean up, like creating folders like Finance, Social Networking, Games or Work, which not only visually organizes the desktop, but also helps you find the programs you want faster.

• 📁 Drag an icon of one application to an icon of another to create a folder.
• 🔤 Click on the folder name to open the keyboard to enter.
• 🎨 Use emoji in folder names for better visual navigation.
• 🗑️ To remove the folder, drag all applications from it to the desktop.

Interestingly, MIUI allows folders to be nested into each other (although newer versions sometimes remove this feature and return it in updates). If your firmware version supports this, renaming the nested folders is done using the same algorithm: opening -> clicking on the header -> typing.

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Folders are the only native desktop element that can be renamed without restrictions and third-party tools at any time.

Frequent problems and their solution

Xiaomi Redmi users may face a number of challenges in personalization, such as resetting shortcuts created through Themes to the original names after updating the firmware, because the updated system icon file overrides user settings, and then the theme creation process will have to be repeated.

Another common problem is not being able to click on a folder or shortcut, often because Simple Mode is activated or special features for people with disabilities are enabled that change the logic of how you interact with the screen. Check the settings for Special Features in the phone menu.

Also worth mentioning is the problem of duplicating shortcuts. When using third-party launchers or methods with themes, two icons of the same application can appear on the desktop: the old one and the new one. The old one can be simply removed (remove from the desktop), this will not affect the application itself. However, if you use the theme method, you need to delete carefully so as not to knock down the applied design.

To sum up, the challenge of renaming the Android shortcut to Xiaomi Redmi is solved in a number of ways, depending on your goals. A built-in theme builder is ideal for a one-time change, and a powerful third-party launcher is better for permanent customization. Experiment with settings to make smartphone use as comfortable as possible.