How to flip icons on Xiaomi Redmi: a guide to set up a desktop

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to change the standard layout of apps immediately after purchasing the device. MIUI interfaces and the new HyperOS offer flexible personalization tools to turn a boring screen into a convenient working tool. However, unobvious grid settings or locking icons can confuse the inexperienced user.

Moving shortcuts is a basic skill that significantly affects how fast you interact with your gadget. In this article, we'll look at everything from just dragging your finger to creating complex folders to adjusting grid sizes, and you'll learn to organize the space so that the right apps are always at hand.

It's worth noting that the shell algorithms may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the specific model of your smartphone, but the basic principles remain the same across the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem.

Basic principles of label movement

The easiest way to change the layout of items on the desktop is to use a touch screen, so you need to find the icon you want and press it for a long time (about 0.5-1 seconds), and once the app sticks out of the background and starts to pulsate slightly, you can move it anywhere you want.

If you want to move the app to another page, just drag it to the right or left edge of the screen and hold it for a split second.The system will automatically switch the view to the next page where you can drop the shortcut.This is standard behavior for most launchers, including the stock Xiaomi Launcher.

However, there are situations where the icon does not move or returns to its original location, most often due to the inclusion of the layout fixing function or overcrowding of the status bar, in which cases pre-configuration of the display parameters is required.

It's important to understand the difference between moving a shortcut and removing an application. When you drag and drop to the top of the screen, you might see a "Delete" or "Basket" zone. If you release an icon there, the application will be uninstalled. Be careful not to accidentally delete system components.

Setup of the grid and lock layout

Often, users can't place icons exactly the way they want them to because of the hidden grid constraints. In the shells from Xiaomi, there is a separate menu to manage the desktop settings. To get there, you need to pinch two fingers in the free space of the screen or long press on an empty area.

In the lower row menu that opens, select Settings (cogs) and this is the Desktop Location Switch, which, if activated, will prevent you from moving, removing or adding new items, a useful feature for parents to keep kids from knocking down the settings, but interferes with customization.

And you can also use the grid option on this menu, and you can choose how many rows and columns you're going to see on the screen, and the standard value is often 4x6 or 5x6, but for people with poor vision, or for minimalist fans, there are other options available.

Changing the size of the grid will automatically redesign all the icons you have, so if you already have the perfect structure set up, you better choose the size first and then arrange the applications, otherwise you have to redo the entire layout.

Creating and managing application folders

To bring order to a large number of installed programs, folders are ideal. To create a folder on Redmi or Xiaomi, you just drag and drop one icon on top of another. The system automatically creates a container that will put both applications in.

Once you create a folder, you can rename it. Click on the default name (usually a category like Tools) and type your name, which allows you to group programs logically: Work, Games, Social Networks or Finance.

Inside the folder, you can also change the order of the icons. Open the folder, pinch the application you want, and drag it. If the folder is full, new icons may not be added until you delete the old ones or create a second page inside the folder itself (swipe left or right inside the open folder).

Deleting a folder automatically happens when there's only one application left in it, so just drag all the extra icons from the folder to the desktop, and the container disappears. It's a convenient mechanism for cleaning up space.

Working with widgets and variable windows

Xiaomi’s modern shells are tightly integrated with widgets, which can be either small squares with a watch or huge panels on a half-screen, and are added via the editing menu (two finger pinches) –> the Widget button.

Some widgets, especially those in the style of iOS, which is often copied in themes, can behave like "variable windows." These are interactive elements that change color or data in real time. They move in a similar way to normal icons, but they can take up more grid cells.

If the widget doesn't fit in, check if the target area is occupied by other elements. Widgets require a solid rectangle of free cells. If there is not enough space, the system will suggest moving existing icons or refuse installation.

Keep in mind that installing too many active widgets can increase battery consumption, and they keep updating data in the background, which puts a strain on the processor and the communication module.

Displacement problems and solutions

Sometimes users encounter bugs when icons jump on their own or don't want to get in the right cell, often because of a third-party launcher that was installed on top of the standard one. Apps like Nova Launcher have their own grid and behavior settings.

If the standard Xiaomi launcher is behaving incorrectly, try clearing its cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Xiaomi Launcher → Memory → Clear the cache. This will not delete your data, but will reset temporary files that may have caused the crash.

⚠️ Warning: If you choose Clear Data instead of Clear Cache for the system launcher, your desktop will return to factory appearance. All folders and widgets created will be deleted, only standard icons will remain.

There may also be problems after you upgrade, and in such cases, rebooting the device helps, and if that doesn't work, check if the "Simple Mode" mode (for older people) is on, which tightly fixes the size of the icons and prohibits them from moving.

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Periodically change the wallpaper to contrast. The colorful images show little of the icons' boundaries, making it difficult to position accurately when dragging.

In rare cases, damage to the sensor or protective glass is the culprit, and if the phone responds to latency or phantom taps, software won't help, it will require screen diagnostics.

Use of third-party launchers

The standard interface is not popular, so many users install alternative shells. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher give much more freedom to move icons, and you can move elements to pixel accuracy without ignoring the grid.

To install a third-party launcher, download it from Google Play. Once installed, Xiaomi will ask permission to use. You will need to select "Other" in the list of applications and tick the new launcher, and then click "Default".

However, newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have limitations, which can impose only two columns on the app menu or prohibit changing icons in the notification curtain without obtaining special permissions through a computer (ADB).

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Third-party launchers offer maximum flexibility, but can consume more battery life and don’t always integrate perfectly with Xiaomi’s system features, such as control gestures.

If you decide to go back to the stock view, just uninstall the third-party app.The system will automatically prompt you to return the standard Xiaomi launcher.All your desktop shortcuts will be saved as they are part of the system, not a third-party program.

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