How to Move Icons to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup an Interface

Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer huge possibilities for personalization, but standard customization is not always convenient for every user. Often there is a need to change the layout of items on the desktop to speed up access to frequently used features or just put order in the chaos of applications. Understanding how to move icons on Xiaomi is the first step to creating a truly ergonomic interface.

In this article, we will take a look at the nuances of working with a desktop in the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS. You will learn not only to drag shortcuts, but also to create complex structures, hide excess and optimize screen space for your needs. This guide will help turn your smartphone into an ideal tool for work and entertainment.

It’s worth noting that the interface algorithms may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and device model, but the basic principles remain the same across the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO ecosystem. Let’s start with the basics and move on to advanced settings.

Basic principles of navigation on the desktop

The foundation of any customization is understanding the logic of the system. Unlike some other Android shells, MIUI has its own peculiarities in touching and dragging objects. The standard action is a long press of a finger on any element of the interface, and it is this gesture that puts the system in editing mode, when the icons start to "shake", signaling readiness to move.

It's important to distinguish between the two main screen states: view mode and edit mode. In normal mode, you just run apps. In editing mode, which is activated by a long tap, additional features are available, such as deleting widgets or creating folders. If you try to drag and drop an icon without first pressing long, you'll likely just open the app or nothing happens, depending on the sensitivity settings.

There's also a difference between moving within a page and moving between screens: when you hold an icon, the system is waiting for your command. If you hold your finger to the edge of the screen, you'll automatically scrolle through the pages. This is the basic mechanism that allows you to distribute applications across different desktops, creating thematic groups, such as "Social Networks," "Games" or "Work."

⚠️ Warning: When dragging an icon into the widget or other folder area, be careful – an accidental hit can create a new nested structure or widget that will have to be removed separately.

Creating and editing application folders

Space management is a key skill for smartphone owners with a lot of software installed. To create a folder, you don't have to search for special menus in the settings. Everything is done intuitively on the desktop. Just drag and drop one icon on top of the other. The system automatically creates a container that fits both apps.

Once you create a folder, you can rename it so you don't know what's inside. Open the group you've created and click on the text box at the top (usually "Folder" or the name of the first app), and you can choose the names you've proposed based on the content from the menu that opens, or you can type your own text, which helps you navigate the sea of shortcuts quickly.

• 📁 Drag the Telegram shortcut to the WhatsApp shortcut to create the Communication folder".
• 🎨 Click on the folder name to change it to a more understandable one.
• ➕ Add new apps by simply dragging them inside an open folder.
• ❌ To remove the application from the folder, open it and drag the icon outside the container.

Inside folders, you can also change the order of items. Open a folder, pinch the icon you want, and move it to a convenient location. This is especially useful if you want the most commonly used messenger or game to be at the top of the list, at hand. The folder structure on Xiaomi does not limit you to the number of nested elements, allowing you to create extensive archives of rarely used programs.

Work with widgets and their placement

Widgets are dynamic elements that display information to the desktop without having to open the application. On Xiaomi smartphones, they are given special attention, especially in the latest versions of HyperOS. To add a widget, you need to go to the desktop editing mode (double pinch with two fingers or long press on an empty area) and select "Vidgets" or "Add".

The widgets require more space than the icons, and the system will tell you where to put the item by highlighting the available areas of the grid, and if the widget doesn't fit, there are too many cells in the area, so you have to make room by moving adjacent icons or removing unnecessary shortcuts.

Some widgets are interactive. For example, the Notes widget allows you to quickly write a thought without opening the application, and the Music widget gives you playback control. However, it is worth remembering that a large number of active widgets, especially those that are updated in real time (weather, news), can increase battery consumption.

💡

Use contact widgets: they allow you to call your loved ones in one touch directly from your desktop, bypassing the phone book.

Hiding applications and protecting privacy

The privacy issue is acute, and Xiaomi offers built-in tools to hide unwanted apps, not just moving an icon, but completely disappearing from the desktop and menu. To take advantage of this feature, go to Settings → Applications → Hidden Apps. Here you can choose the programs you want to hide from prying eyes.

There's also a more ingenious way that's available in the launcher: Go into desktop editing mode (two finger pinches), swipe your finger to the right to open the hidden app section, and add the right shortcuts to it, and then they disappear from the general list, and you have to use a special gesture or password to call them, if it's installed.

Hiding an icon doesn’t mean removing an app; it keeps running in the background, receiving notifications (unless otherwise configured) and taking up space in memory.It’s a useful feature to hide financial apps, personal photo galleries or work tools that shouldn’t be eye-opening or accessible to children.

⚠️ Warning: If you forget your password or method of accessing hidden apps, it can be extremely difficult to restore access to them without a data reset.

Set up the grid and size of the icons

The comfort of use depends on how many items fit on the screen. The standard grid in MIUI is often 4x6 or 5x6, but this can be changed. To do this, press the empty space on the desktop, select Settings (cogs) and find Grid Size.

Changing the grid affects the size of all icons and widgets. If you choose a 6x9 grid, the icons will become small, but there will be a lot of them. This is convenient for users who like to keep all the shortcuts on hand and don't like to hide applications in folders. 4x5 grid will make the elements large and easy to press, which is true for people with large fingers or low vision.

You can also change the icons in the theme settings. Xiaomi Theme Store offers thousands of options. You can download an icon package that completely changes the visual style of your smartphone, making it unique. Once you apply the theme, all shortcuts automatically update, while maintaining their location.

Solution: icons don't move

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the icons "stagnate" and do not respond to drag and drop, most often this is due to the enabled function "Desktop Lock". Check the launcher settings: if the layout lock is enabled, the system will not allow you to change the location of the elements. Disable this option to again have full freedom of action.

Another reason could be a crowded RAM or a temporary system failure: If the phone is slow, the launcher may not have time to process drag and drop animations, in which case a simple reboot of the device or clearing the launcher cache through the application menu will help.

If the problem persists after the reboot, the desktop configuration file may be damaged. In extreme cases, you can reset the launcher to factory settings. This will return the standard layout of the icons and widgets, but solve the software conflict. Remember to back up important data before doing this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

Proper organization of icons and widgets not only decorates the smartphone, but also significantly saves time on finding the necessary functions, making the use of the device more productive.