How to swap screens on Xiaomi with MIUI 12: all the ways and nuances

Why Users Want to Change Screens and What It Means

Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 shell offers flexible desktop customization options, but not all features are intuitive. One of the frequent requests is to change the order of the screens (desktops) or their contents. This may be necessary if you want to rearrange the main screen with frequently used apps and the secondary screen with widgets, or when the screens are automatically mixed after the system update.

Unlike the newer versions of MIUI 13/14, where screen sorting algorithms have become “smarter,” MIUI 12 has its own peculiarities: for example, there is no drag and drop function for entire screens — just for individual icons or widgets. This is often confusing, especially for users who are used to EMUI shells (Huawei) or One UI (Samsung), where screen rearrangement is implemented differently.

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to swap screens on Xiaomi with MIUI 12, including workarounds for cases where standard methods do not work, and consider how to avoid typical errors that can cause settings to reset.

Method 1: Repositioning screens through launcher settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI launcher tools, but in MIUI 12, this feature is hidden deeper than in the newer versions.

1. Touch and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that opens, select Desktop Settings (or Screen Settings, depending on localization).
3. Go to Shift Screens (may be called Screen Management).
4. So here you'll see thumbnails of all the desktops, and you'll pinch and drag the screen to the new location.

⚠️ Note: If the option is not in the menu, then your device is using a simplified version of the launcher (for example, on budget models Redmi.

Make a backup copy of the location of the icons (screen photo)

Close all background applications

Connect the charger (in case of freeze)

Check the available space on the device (minimum 500 MB)

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After reshuffling, the screens will retain their contents, but the widgets of system applications (weather, calendar) may require reconfiguration, due to the feature of MIUI 12, where widgets are tied to a specific desktop by ID.

Method 2: Manual drag and drop icons and widgets

If the screen-reposition function is not available, you can go around manually transferring all the elements from one screen to another, which is universal and works on all versions of MIUI, but takes longer.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Create a new desktop: touch the empty space on the screen → Desktop settings → Add a screen.
• 🔄 Move the icons: pinch the application, drag it to a new screen. For a group of icons, use the Select a few (will appear after a long click on the icon).
• 🖼️ Widgets: Remove the widget from the old screen (click on it) → Remove it, then add it to the new screen.
• 🗑️ Remove the old screen: After transferring all elements, remove the unnecessary desktop through the same settings.

⚠️ Note: When you manually transfer the folders with applications can be unpacked. To avoid this, first move the folder as a whole, and then edit its contents on the new screen.

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If when dragging the icons “stick” to the grid, turn on the free placement mode: Desktop settings → Application grid → Free placement.

Method 3: Using a third-party launcher

If the built-in MIUI 12 tools don't suit you, you can install an alternative launcher from Google Play.

• 🚀 Nova Launcher: Supports gesture rearrangement, backup layouts.
• 🎨 Apex Launcher: allows you to configure transitions between screens, including 3D-effects.
• ⚡ Lawnchair: Lightweight open source launcher optimized for Xiaomi.

Instructions for setting:

1. Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. Go to the launcher settings (usually swipe up on the desktop → Settings).
4. Find the Screen Management or Desktop section and drag the screens in the right order.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers widgets MIUI (For example, Weather or Steps may not display correctly or require additional permissions. Before installing, check the launcher’s compatibility with your Xiaomi model on forums (for example, check the launcher’s compatibility with your Xiaomi model, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

Method 4: Reset the launcher settings (if the screens “broken”)

Sometimes, after an update or crash, the screens on MIUI 12 begin to duplicate, disappear or appear in a chaotic order, in which case resetting the launcher settings will help:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Launcher) list.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action. After that, all the screens will reset to the factory settings.

⚠️ Note: This method will completely remove all your desktop settings, including:

• Location of icons and folders;
• Widget settings;
• Desktop wallpaper;
• Gestures and hotkeys.

Before reset, be sure to take screenshots of all screens or record a video - this will help restore the location of the elements after cleaning.

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Resetting the launcher is a last resort. Try restarting the device first or upgrading MIUI to the latest version in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Problem Solving: Why screens don't change places

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be as follows:

Another common mistake is conflicting with the design topic, and some custom themes from the Mi Theme Store block desktop editing to check this out:

1. Go to Settings → Theme.
2. Choose a standard theme (Default or MIUI).
3. Try changing the screens again.

Additional advice on the organization of the desktop

To avoid future screen chaos, use these tips:

• 📁 Group applications by folder: for example, "Social networks", "Games", "Work" and this will reduce the number of screens you need.
• 🔍 Use search: in MIUI 12 you can quickly find the app swipe down on the desktop – this will reduce the need for multiple screens.
• 🔄 Set up gestures: in Settings → Additional functions → Gestures can be assigned to swipes to switch between screens.
• 🔒 Fix frequently used screens: in some versions MIUI You can disable the accidental removal of desktops in the launcher settings.

If you change screen layouts frequently, consider creating desktop profiles through third-party apps like Tasker or MacroDroid, which allow you to save different screen layouts and switch between them on a schedule or depending on location.

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To speed up access to the right screens, assign hot corners to them: pinch the empty space on the desktop → Desktop settings → Hot corners. For example, a swipe from the upper right corner can immediately open the screen with a weather widget.

FAQ: Frequent questions about rearranging screens on MIUI 12