Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to optimize desktop space. Standard app layouts can be inconvenient and widget layouts illogical for everyday use. The ability to quickly change screen order allows for a personalized interface that speeds access to frequently used features and makes device management more comfortable.
Moving screens to Xiaomi with MIUI or HyperOS shells doesn’t require root rights or third-party software. All the necessary tools are built into the default system. However, many users are unaware of hidden gestures or don’t understand the difference between moving an individual icon and an entire page. In this guide, we’ll look at all the available methods, from basic drag and drop and drop to advanced grid settings.
Before we start to make changes, it's worth noting that the desktop structure on Android devices is a single tape that is scrolled horizontally. The main screen is usually the centerpiece of this tape, but its position can be changed. Understanding the logic of the launcher will help avoid confusion when moving widgets and folders. Below we will describe each step in detail.
Basic principles of working with the MIUI and HyperOS desktop
Xiaomi shells have their own navigation specifics. Unlike stock Android, it can be enabled by default to divide into application pages and widgets, or they can be combined into a classic mode. For easy screen movement, it is important to first determine the display mode. Switch between them occurs through the launcher settings, where you can choose "Classic" or "Simple" mode.
In classic mode, all installed programs are displayed directly on desktops, giving the user full control over their location. Simple mode hides applications in a separate menu, leaving only shortcuts added manually on screens. Classic mode is more flexible for those who like to constantly change the order of pages and widgets, as each page is filled with content as needed.
It's important to understand that the system doesn't allow you to create empty pages in the middle of the feed. If you delete all the icons from the screen, it automatically disappears and neighboring pages close. This is the standard behavior of the Android operating system, which prevents memory from cluttering with unnecessary interface elements. So moving often involves not just shifting the empty space, but rearranging the content.
⚠️ Note: When changing the theme, some widgets may change their size or shift, which will require repeated manual adjustment of the position of the screens.
To get started, make sure your device is activated in the right mode. Go to Settings → Desktop and check the current configuration. This is the foundation for further customization, as the drag and drop mechanics may differ visually in different modes, although the basic principles remain unchanged.
How to Move the Whole Screen to Xiaomi
Many users are looking for a “move screen” feature, meaning that the whole page is in order to change relative to others. The standard Xiaomi launcher does not have a “change screen 1 and screen 3” button. Instead, it uses a drag-and-drop method or a change in the home screen’s reference point. To move the entire page, the easiest way to go is to edit.
To enter editing mode, you need to pinch your two fingers on the desktop (to put your fingers together) or hold your finger for a long time in a free space. A preview of all available pages will open. This is where you can evaluate the overall structure and understand which screens to move. Some versions of MIUI have Panorama mode, where you can move the pages left and right, changing their sequence.
If your version of the software doesn't directly drag and drop entire pages in preview mode, you'll have to regroup, which means you need to move all the icons from one page to another or create a new page in the right place on the feed, and the algorithm for doing this is as follows:
- 📱 Press the icon of any application on the source.
- 📱 Without letting go of your finger, drag it to the next page.
- 📱 Repeat the procedure for all elements until the page is cleaned.
- 📱 The vacant place will be taken by the neighboring screens, moving in the right direction.
This approach may seem time-consuming, but it ensures that the screen order is exactly what you intended it to be. Once the unnecessary page is cleaned, it disappears and the desktop structure changes. It's the only way to "move" the screen if direct drag-and-drop into previews is not available in your firmware version.
⚠️ Note: When moving a large number of weather services or news widgets, they may temporarily stop updating until the launcher is fully restarted.
Drag and drop icons and widgets between pages
The most common operation is to move individual elements, and to move an application or widget from one screen to another, you don't have to use editing mode, you just need to pinch the desired object with your finger and drag it to the edge of the screen, and the system automatically switches the page towards the movement of your finger.
This method requires a certain skill, especially if you want to move the element a few pages forward. The speed of flipping depends on how long you hold the icon at the edge of the display. If you release your finger too early, the object will remain on the current screen. If you hold it at the edge, you will transition. For accurate navigation, you better use the preview mode (picks), where you can immediately drag the object to the thumbnail of the desired page.
When you're working with widgets, it's more complicated. Widgets take up more space and have a fixed grid. If there's not enough space on the target screen, the system won't allow you to place the widget. In this case, you'll have to pre-clean up the space by moving other icons or removing extra widgets. HyperOS tries to automatically shift the icons to give way to the widget, but it doesn't always work correctly.
💡
Use the “Turn” function to change the orientation of the widget and save screen space when moving.
You can create folders for group movement, you can put a single application in a folder, move it to the right screen, and then, if you want, disband it, which speeds up the process of organizing space, where you have to move a dozen apps at once.
Set up the grid and size of the desktop font
A common reason to move screens is because you don't have enough space, or because you have too much space between icons, and if you set up a grid, you can change the number of rows and columns, which changes the way you see the desktop, and the more cells you have on the grid, the more apps you can fit on one screen, and the fewer pages you need.
To change the grid settings, go to Settings → Desktop → Grid. There are different configurations available, such as 4x6, 5x6 or more on high-resolution devices. Changing the grid will automatically redistribute all icons. Importantly, once the grid changes, the widgets can “go” and have to be re-installed or adjusted to their position.
You can also customize the font size of icons in this menu, and reducing the font visually frees up space to make the interface more compact, and this is especially true for users with larger displays who want to see more content without scrolling, but too small a font can make app titles less readable.
| Parameter | Screen impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 4x6 grid | Large icons, less space | For devices with a diagonal of up to 6.1" |
| 5x6 grid | Optimal balance | Standard for most models |
| Grid 6x6 and higher | Maximum capacity | For phablets and tablets |
| Type size | Readability of signatures | Set up individually for vision |
Experiment with the grid to find the perfect balance between roominess and convenience, and remember that changing these parameters resets the widgets, so it's best to set the grid up before the final arrangement of the elements.
Use of editing and preview mode
Editing mode is the main tool for global change, and as mentioned earlier, it is entered by a pinch or a long tap. In this mode, you see thumbnails of all screens. In some versions of MIUI, there is a Add Screen button (usually at the end of the tape) available here, which creates a new blank page.
In preview mode, you can delete entire pages. If you have a Google Discover widget on the screen, you can turn it off, and the corresponding page to the left of the main screen disappears. This is a frequent request from users who want to remove unnecessary swipes. You need to click on the settings icon (cog) in the corner of the preview screen or switch the Widget Tape switch.
You can also lock the home screen in this mode, usually the home page is marked with a dot or highlighted, and clicking on the appropriate icon (often looks like a house) makes the current page the home page, and when you press the home button, the device will return you to that screen, which allows you to move the center of your navigation to any place on the tape.
☑️ Check before changing the grid
Remember, you can change the wallpaper for all screens or lock screens in editing mode, and you can switch between those modes through the tab at the bottom of the preview screen, and it's a single control center for the visual part of your smartphone interface.
Solving problems with the movement of icons
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the icons “don’t move” or return to place. This can be caused by the enabled auto-sort function. In the desktop settings, check if the check box is “Sort” or “Auto-fill”. If this feature is active, the system will try to organize the icons yourself, ignoring your attempts to move them manually.
Another reason is a launcher or cache overflow. If the interface is slow and the "slip" icons are running, try clearing the cache of the Security app or the launcher itself through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Desktop → Memory. → Clear the cache. It won't delete your data, but it can eliminate software glitches.
There may also be problems with third-party themes, some themes have a rigid grid or block certain system widgets from moving, and if the movement doesn't work on just one theme, try switching to a standard theme, Classic, to help diagnose whether the problem is systemic or caused by a theme conflict.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting the launcher settings to factory will return all icons to their original state, so make screenshots before radical actions.
If nothing helps, check for system updates. Newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI often fix bugs related to the operation of the interface. The update can solve the problem of sticky icons.