Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer users a wide range of personalization options. One of the most popular requests among device owners is to change the appearance of the desktop. Users often wonder how to swap icons for android xiaomi redmi to create a convenient and aesthetic menu structure, which allows you to quickly find the right applications and group them into logical categories.
Moving interface elements around can seem difficult at first, especially for those who have moved from other operating systems or older versions of Android. In fact, MIUI and HyperOS are designed to be intuitively finger-controlled. However, there are hidden settings and nuances that affect how app icons behave when they drag and drop, and understanding these mechanisms will help you avoid chaos on the screen.
In this article, we will take a look at all the tools available to manipulate icons, how to reposition them, create folders, resize your desktop grid, and even hide applications from prying eyes. We will look at both the standard system tools and the additional features that come with the right launcher setup. Get ready to turn your Redmi or Poco into a unique tool.
Basic movement of icons on the desktop
The easiest and most obvious way to change the order of applications is to drag and drop, and to swap two icons, you don't need any special skills or root rights, just hold your finger on the app icon on the home screen, and the system will respond with a slight vibration, and the icon will go into editing mode, slightly increased in size, this is a signal that the object is ready to move.
Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to a vacant spot or over another icon. If you place one icon on top of another, a folder will automatically be created, which is a great way to save space. If your goal is simply to swap them, when you hover over another icon, the system often suggests automatically moving adjacent elements, freeing up space. Some firmware versions require you first drag the icon into an empty cell, and then put a second object in its place.
⚠️ Note: With an active widget on the desktop, the movement of icons can be blocked in the area of its location. Widgets occupy the grid cells, and you will not be able to superimpose the application icon on top of them using standard methods.
Importantly, the screen response rate depends on the refresh rate of the display and the current load on the processor. If the Xiaomi phone is slow, drag and drop can occur with a delay. In such cases, it is recommended to close the background applications or clear the RAM before starting a large-scale reorganization of the desktop, this will ensure smooth animations and accuracy of hit.
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If the icon is stuck when dragging, just shake the phone sharply or press the Home button to reset the editing mode, and then try again.
Setting up the desktop grid and the size of the icons
Often the problem with icons being inconveniently placed is not in their order, but in the structure of the grid itself. The MIUI shell allows you to flexibly adjust the number of rows and columns. To change these parameters, you need to go to desktop editing mode. To do this, pinch two fingers on the screen (finger mixing), or press the empty area of the screen for a long time until the menu appears at the bottom.
In the menu that appears, select Settings (cog icon). Here you will find the Grid option. Standardly, the system offers options from 4x5 to 6x6 and even more depending on the screen diagonal of your Redmi Note or Mi. Increasing the number of cells allows you to place more applications on one screen without creating folders, making the icons themselves visually smaller.
- 📐 4x5 — Classic option for comfortable use with one hand, icons large.
- 📐 5x6 — Optimal balance between the size of the elements and the screen capacity.
- 📐 6x6 — mode for advanced users, allowing to fit the maximum information, but requires good vision.
Once the grid configuration is reconfigured, all icons can move, because the system will recalculate the coordinates of each cell, which can disrupt your usual order, so it's better to change the grid before the final app placement begins, and you can also turn on or off the "Enlarged Icons" feature in this menu, which is important for people with low vision.
Use of editing mode and folders
Xiaomi's smartphone editing mode provides more than just drag and drop. By holding an icon, you can not only move it, but also quickly remove it or create shortcuts. If you keep your finger on the icon a little longer, you'll have a context menu with "Delete", "Info about the app" and "Create a shortcut," which is useful if you want to leave the original app at the bottom of the menu and bring to the desktop, for example, a specific contact or feature inside the app.
Foldering is a key part of space organization. When you drag and drop an icon to another, you create a folder with an automatically matched name (like Social or Tools). By clicking on the folder name, you can rename it, and you can also change the background color. New versions of HyperOS have the ability to change the style of folders to make them transparent or translucent.
You can also change the order of the icons inside the folder, and the principle is the same: long-press and drag and drop, but remember that the folder has its own grid, and if you take the application out of the folder, it will come back to the home screen to the cell that corresponds to its position in the overall structure, or it will stand at the end of the list if the space is occupied.
☑️ Organization of the desktop
Hiding applications and the second space
Sometimes users don't just want to swap icons, but they want to get certain apps out of sight. Redmi and Poco have a built-in Hidden Apps feature. To activate it, go to Settings → Apps → Hidden Apps. Here you can select programs that will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all apps.
To access hidden icons, you use a special gesture: on the desktop (all page viewing mode), you need to spread two fingers to the sides, as if you were trying to zoom in on the picture, open a password-protected or fingerprint-protected section with hidden applications, which is an effective way to preserve privacy without installing third-party launchers.
An even more radical method is the Second Space feature, which creates a virtual second profile on the phone with its own set of icons, passwords and data, switching between spaces through a special shortcut in the notification curtain or fingerprint, in which you can set up a completely different desktop, where the icons will be in a different order or not at all.
| Function | Access. | Security | Impact on icons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiding applications | Finger-dilution gesture | Password/Printprint | Icons disappear from the desktop |
| Second space | Label or print | Separate password | Completely separate desktop |
| Do Not Disturb mode | Notification curtain | No. | Hiding notifications, but not icons |
| Guest mode | User settings | Pin code. | Limited set of icons |
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to factory settings, all hidden apps and Second Space data will be permanently deleted.
Drag and Drag Problems and Their Solutions
Users sometimes encounter situations where icons don't want to swap places or jump back. Often this is due to the AutoAdvance widgets feature enabled or the layout lock. Check the launcher settings: in the desktop editing menu (two finger pinches) find "Block the layout." If it's active, you won't be able to move the icons. Disable it to get full control.
Another common problem is desynchronization after the system update. If you upgraded MIUI to a new version, the theme or launcher settings could get lost, in which case cleaning the cache of the system application "Themes" or "Security" helps. It is also worth checking whether there is a third-party launcher that conflicts with the system one. If you installed Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, try temporarily disabling them.
If the icons swap places on their own, it may indicate a software failure. Try restarting the device. In rare cases, re-installing updates for system components through the GetApps app or Google Play store helps. Make sure that the screen settings turn off any smart location features, if any are offered by your firmware version.
The Secret Function of Developers
Customization through third-party launchers
If you don't have the standard Xiaomi features, you can always install a third-party launcher, which radically changes the way you swap icons for android xiaomi redmi. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to create unlimited desktops, change icon shapes and customize gestures.
Third-party launchers often ignore the system limitations of MIUI. They allow you to place icons anywhere on the screen, even on top of widgets (in some cases), and create complex scenarios for opening applications. However, it is worth remembering that using third-party software can increase battery consumption, since the system will have to support two launchers (system and user).
To install an alternative launcher, download it from Google Play, launch it and follow the on-screen instructions. Android will prompt you to choose the default app for the home screen. Select Always and a new launcher. To return to the standard view, simply delete the launcher app or change the settings in the App menu → By default → Home screen.
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Third-party launchers give maximum freedom, but can conflict with MIUI system gestures (e.g. swipes to call the control menu).