How to transfer the icon to the main screen of the Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Transferring app icons to Xiaomi’s home screen is a seemingly basic task, but even that can be a challenge for a beginner, especially if you’re talking about non-standard scenarios like adding widgets, hidden shortcuts to system functions, or working with MIUI after an update. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways, from basic to advanced, including little-known shell chips.

It is important to understand that the algorithm of actions may differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14) and phone models (Redmi Note) 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T We have taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will work on the basis of the 90% And if you're unique, at the end of the article, there's a FAQ answerable.

1. Standard method: Drag from the application menu

This is the most obvious method that works on all versions of MIUI, and it's suitable for adding shortcuts to applications, folders and some widgets.

1. Unlock your phone and open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the desired application in the list (you can use the search at the top of the screen).
3. Press the application icon with your finger for 1-2 seconds until it “sticks” from the background.
4. Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to any free section of the main screen.
5. Let your finger go, the label will be created.

If there is no free space on the screen, the system will automatically prompt you to create a new page. On some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) when dragging, a context menu may appear - select Add to the home screen.

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On MIUI 14, hold the icon a little longer (about 3 seconds) to avoid accidentally opening the context menu instead of dragging and drop.

This method does not work for system functions (e.g. Flight Mode or Flashlight) and will require alternative methods, which will be discussed later.

2. Add widgets to the main screen

Widgets are mini-programs that display current information directly on the desktop: weather, calendar, control buttons, etc. In MIUI, their addition is not obvious, so many users do not know about this possibility.

To add a widget:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the home screen (not the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (on some firmwares, this item may be called Tools).
3. Scroll through the list of available widgets and select the one you want (like Weather or Music Management).
4. Press the widget and drag it onto the screen. Some widgets (like the Calendar) allow you to resize — pull around corners after you place it.

On MIUI 13/14, the Quick Settings category has been added to the widget list, where you can add switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other features, which is convenient if you use these options often.

If the widget is not on the list, check if the app is installed. For example, the Mi Fit widget will appear only after installing the fitness bracelet app of the same name.

3. Creation of shortcuts for system functions (flashlight, flight mode, etc.)

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the problem of how to add a flashlight, Flight Mode or Hot Spot shortcut to the home screen? There are no icons on the app menu, and widgets are not always convenient. The solution is to create shortcuts through the quick command settings.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to Special Opportunities → Quick Commands (on some firmwares, the path may be System and Device → Quick Commands).
3. Press Add Quick Command.
4. Select the desired function from the list (for example, Flashlight or Flight Mode).
5. Assign a name to the team (e.g., “Switch on a flashlight”) and save it.
6. Now return to the home screen, press and hold the empty space, select Widgets → Quick commands and add the created shortcut.

On models with MIUI 14 and the latest security patches (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G) in the list of fast commands there are additional options: Emergency call, Screen recording and Reading mode.

Make sure the feature is supported by your phone model

Check the version of MIUI in the Settings section → About the phone

Update the firmware if a new version is available

Create a backup of settings (optional)

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If the desired function is not in the list of fast commands, try an alternative method through the Activity application (we will talk about it in the next section).

4.Use of the "Activity" application for hidden functions

The Activity Launcher (or Activity Launcher in English) is a hidden MIUI tool that allows you to create shortcuts for any system features, even those that are not displayed in the menu.

• 🔦 Camera settings (direct access to manual modes)
• 📡 Network test (checking the Internet speed and signal)
• 🔋 Battery monitor (detailed consumption statistics)
• 🔊 Sound equalizer (thin audio tuning)

How to use the Activity:

1. Open the app menu and find Activity Launcher (if not, install Activity Launcher through Google Play).
2. In the list, select a category (e.g. Settings or System Applications).
3. Find the desired function (e.g. com.android.settings.Settings$BatterySaverSettingsActivity to adjust battery savings).
4. Click the element and drag it to the main screen.

Network Test (Internet Speed Check)

Camera settings (manual modes)

Battery monitor (detailed statistics)

Sound equalizer

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Be careful: some activities may lead to system settings that will affect the stability of the phone, for example, it is not recommended to edit settings in the Developer Options or Testing sections without understanding the consequences.

5. Transfer icons between screens and organization of the desktop

Once you add shortcuts to the home screen, you can move them, group them into folders, or spread them across multiple pages, and in MIUI, this is flexible, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Moving between screens: pinch the icon and drag it to the edge of the screen – the system will automatically scroll through the desktop.
• 📁 Create folders: Drag one icon to another to merge them into a folder. Name a folder for convenience (e.g., "Social Network" or "Games").
• 🗑️ Removing shortcuts: Press the icon and drag it to the basket at the top of the screen, which will only remove the shortcut, not the app itself!
• 🔄 Sorting: you can enable automatic sorting alphabetically in the application menu (Settings) → Main screen screen → Sorting applications).

MIUI 14 introduced the Smart Grouping feature, which automatically combines similar applications into folders (for example, all messengers or games) to enable it:

1. Click the empty space on the main screen.
2. Select the main screen settings → Smart group.
3. Activate the switch and set up categories.

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On models with POCO Launcher (e.g. POCO X4 Pro), the grouping algorithm is different: it uses a tag system instead of automatic folders.

If the main screen looks chaotic after moving the icons, use the Reset layout function in the home screen settings, which will return the standard shortcut location.

6. Problem Solving: Why You Can't Move the Badge

Sometimes users find that icons do not drag and drop or disappear after a reboot. Consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

If the problem persists, try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Launcher app (or POCO Launcher for POCO devices).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

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Before resetting the launcher, take screenshots of the current location of the icons - after cleaning the data, they will return to the standard view.

On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and other flagships with MIUI 14, disabling the transition animation function in the developer settings can help.

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Go to the additional settings → Developer settings.
3. Find the option Animation transitions and set the value off.

FAQ: Frequent questions about porting icons to Xiaomi