How to Drag the Shortcut to a Different Field on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T smartphone often face the need to reorganize the desktop immediately after buying or long-term use of the device. The standard application grid offered by the manufacturer is not always convenient for a particular user, and there is a need to change the location of the icons. The process of moving shortcuts in the shell of MIUI is intuitively implemented, but has its own features that distinguish it from pure Android.

Understanding desktop navigation can dramatically improve your device’s efficiency. Moving shortcuts is a basic skill that opens up more advanced interface customization features. In this article, we’ll go into detail on all the ways you can manage screen space so you can customize your smartphone.

Before you start taking action, it's worth noting that all changes are saved automatically. You don't have to look for the Save button or confirm every move, but there are certain areas of the screen where the placement of objects is limited by system rules, which we'll also talk about.

Basic principles of working with the MIUI desktop

The MIUI interface on the Redmi Note 8T is based on the principle of virtual screens. Imagine that your display is a long tape that extends left and right. The desktop consists of many such pages, and you can freely move objects between them. The main rule is that the label can not be dragged to nowhere, it must always land on a free grid cell.

The system automatically creates new pages if you drag the icon to the very edge of the screen and hold it there, and this action causes the interface to shift, opening up a new space, and if you drag the application to an existing page, it will stand in the first free cell, moving the rest.

• 📱 Swipe left or right allows you to switch between desktop pages without moving objects.
• 🖐️ Long tap on the empty area activates the editing mode of the whole screen.
• 🔍 Swipe up from the bottom edge opens the menu of all installed applications (App Drawer).
• ⚙️ The bottom line (dock bar) takes precedence and is always visible on all pages of the home screen.

It's important to distinguish between normal use and editing. In normal mode, a short tap triggers an application, and a long one opens a contextual quick action menu. It's a long tap followed by retention that is the key to starting to move. Animation of icon reduction signals that the object is captured and ready to be transported.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to drag system service shortcuts (e.g., "Security" or "Subjects") if they are fixed by the manufacturer. Some of them have deletion restrictions, but their movement is usually available.

Step-by-step instructions for moving icons

To get started, unlock your Redmi Note 8T and go to the home screen. Find the app you want to move. tap the icon with your finger and hold your finger on the screen for 1-2 seconds. You will feel a slight vibration (if it's on) and the icon will shrink slightly in size - meaning that drag and drop mode is activated.

Without taking your finger off the screen, slowly start to steer the icon in the right direction. If you want to move it to the next page, bring your finger to the left or right edge of the display and pause a little bit. The screen will flip over automatically. When you reach the landing page, release your finger above the free cell.

If the target cell is occupied by another application, the system will try to move adjacent icons to make room. In case there is not enough space, the shortcut will return to the original position or stand on top of another, creating a folder. The accuracy of movements plays an important role here: a sharp reset can lead to unwanted grouping of applications.

To move to the top or bottom of the screen, just bring the icon to the appropriate row. Note that at the bottom of the screen there may be a dock bar. If you put the application there, it will be available from all pages of the desktop, which is convenient for frequently used programs.

Creating and editing folders with applications

As the number of installed programs on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T grows, it becomes more difficult to maintain order. The optimal solution is to group shortcuts into folders. To create a folder, drag one icon directly to another. Once you release your finger, the system automatically creates a container with a name corresponding to the category of applications (for example, "Tools" or "Social networks").

Once you open a folder, you can continue to manipulate the contents of the folder, drag and drop applications inside the folder works the same way you do on the desktop, you can change the order, you can put them outside the folder, or you can add new shortcuts, and structure helps you find the right functions faster and visually clears the space.

Deleting applications from the folder is done by simply dragging the icon outside the container to the free desktop space. If the folder becomes empty, it disappears automatically. Remember, removing the shortcut from the folder does not remove the application from the phone's memory.

⚠️ Note: When dragging game applications into one folder, the system may suggest creating a Game Center folder. Be careful, as this may change the way you run games through a special launcher.

Work with widgets and their placement

The MIUI shell allows you to place not only app shortcuts on your desktop, but also widgets, mini-programs that display information in real time. To add a widget, you need to go to edit mode. To do this, pinch with two fingers on your desktop (finger mixing) or long-press on an empty area, then select "Widgets" in the bottom menu.

In the list that opens, select the item you want, like "Weather," "Clock," or "Calendar." Click on it and the system will offer the sizes available. Once you select the size, the widget will appear on the screen, and you can drag it to any convenient location. Widgets take up more space than normal icons, and require contiguous free cells.

• 🌤️ Weather widgets can display temperature, humidity and forecast for several days.
• 📅 Calendar shows the current date and list of events for today.
• 🔋 The battery monitor displays the charge level in percentage and flow schedule.
• 📰 Mi Feed (Google Discover) News and Feed is Updated in Real Time.

If you try to place a widget in an area occupied by other objects, the system will redlight the conflict zone. You have to make room by moving the interfering icons. Some widgets are interactive, you can tap on them to quickly access functions without opening the main application.

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Use clear color or Classic widgets to better match your live wallpaper and not overlap important image details.

Set up the grid and scale of the display

The standard grid on the Redmi Note 8T may not be suitable for all users. Some prefer large icons for convenience, while others need to fit as many elements as possible on one screen. You can change the number of cells through the theme settings or system settings. Go to Settings → Screen → Text size and display (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI).

Scaling changes affect all interface elements, and as the icons zoom in, they get smaller and more objects are placed on the screen (e.g., a 5x7 grid instead of a 4x6), ideal for those who want to minimize the number of swipes and keep all the shortcuts visible, and the screen resolution is not changed, only the logical density of the elements is adjusted.

You can also change the grid directly in the theme editor. Press and hold your finger to nothing, select Settings (cogs) and find Grid. There are ready-made presets available. After applying the changes, all the shortcuts can go and you have to put them back up again, so you better do this before you set the phone up actively.

Removing shortcuts and resetting screen settings

Sometimes you have to move the shortcut to the desktop, and you also have to remove the shortcut from the desktop. It's important to understand the difference between removing the shortcut and removing the app itself. To remove the icon, you press it and drag it to the top of the screen where you have a basket icon or "Delete." If it's a system application, you can only remove the shortcut; if it's a third-party, the system will suggest that you delete the program completely.

In case the desktop has become a mess and you're confused in pages, you can reset (layouts). Go to Settings → Desktop and find the reset option. This will bring all the icons back to their factory places, as when you first turned on the phone. Resetting can also help if the interface started to work incorrectly or freeze when dragging.

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Removing the shortcut from your desktop doesn’t always mean removing the app. read the pop-up message carefully before confirming the action.

To remove applications that are not removed in the standard way, use the All Apps menu. Find the program in the list, click on it and select Delete. This is guaranteed to clear the device's memory of unused software.

⚠️ Note: When removing system components through third-party launchers or ADB-You can disrupt your phone, use only regular deleting devices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)