How to change the order of the screens on Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi smartphone users are faced with a situation where standard desktop layout is no longer convenient. The huge number of icons, widgets and folders scattered across different pages makes navigation difficult and reduces productivity. MIUI interface and its new version of HyperOS offer flexible tools for managing space, but they are not always obvious to beginners.

Changing the sequence of pages is not just a visual enhancement, it's a way to optimize your experience with your device. You can move frequently used apps to the home screen, and rarely used apps to the bottom of the list or hide them altogether. In this article, we'll take a look at all the ways you can get the system in perfect order.

Before we get into action, it’s worth noting that the process may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system. However, the basic principles remain the same for most models, whether it’s the budget Redmi Note or the flagship Xiaomi 13.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers to change the order of screens, standard widgets MIUI They may stop working properly or require additional permits.

Standard drag and drop method in editing mode

The easiest and most reliable way to change the order of pages is to use the built-in desktop editing mode, which requires no additional software installation and is available immediately after unpacking the device, and to activate it, you need to swipe two fingers across the screen or pinch, as in zooming down a photo.

Once you activate the mode, you'll see smaller copies of all your desktops. In this view, the system allows you not only to change their order, but also to delete empty pages. By clicking on the basket icon or cross, you can get rid of the extra space that often forms after you delete applications.

To move a particular page, just hold it with your finger and drag it to the right place in the row. The home screen, designated by the house, is usually fixed and is the first, but the rest can be shuffled as you like, which is especially useful if you want to group the pages by theme: left of the game, right of the work, center of the media.

Some interface elements allow you to change your area, taking up more space on the screen, which may require relocating neighboring icons.

Use of the desktop settings menu

A deeper setup is available through the system menu, where you can not only change the order, but also influence the behavior of the entire screen system. To access these settings, go to Settings → Desktop or use a long tap on an empty place and select a gear in the corner.

This section often hides the "Infinite Scroll" option, which changes the logic of moving between pages. If it's enabled, the transition from the last screen to the first one is instantaneous, which visually changes the perception of order, although the physical numbering remains the same.

And there's a switch that allows you to display all the apps you've installed on your desktop or just your favorites, and in the second case, the screen order is manually generated by the user, and the new programs won't automatically create new pages, disrupting your structure.

Remember that changing the grid density (number of icons) can automatically shift elements and change page occupancy. If you reduce the number of icons on the screen, the system can create new pages to accommodate the freed items.

Sorting applications and creating folders

Chaos on screens often arises from the large number of single icons. The effective way to change order and structure is to use folders. By creating thematic groups, you free up space and reduce the number of pages you need.

To create a folder, just drag and drop one icon onto another. The system automatically creates a container that you can name, and inside the application folder you can also sort, bringing the most important ones to the foreground or into a separate quick access area.

Using folders allows you to implement logical groupings that are more important than the physical order of the screens, for example, you can take all the folders on one screen, making it a central hub for navigation, and use the rest of the pages for widgets.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t create too deep nesting levels or huge folders with dozens of apps – this can cause the interface to slow down when you open.

There's a quick sorting life hack, where you can drag and drop groups of icons in editing mode if they're lined up, which speeds up the process of ordering for a few minutes, allowing you to quickly move the dataset from one screen to another.

Setting up the main screen and dock panel

The home screen takes precedence over the rest, and setting it up is critical. In MIUI, you can choose whether the home screen is fixed or floating. If you choose a fixed screen, when you reset, the system will always return you to the first page.

The dock panel (bottom line with 4-5 icons) remains unchanged when switching between screens. It is the perfect place for the applications you use all the time: phone, messages, browser. The order of the icons in the dock can also be changed by drag and drop.

Settings → Desktop → Main screen

In some versions of the firmware, the Extended Dock feature is available, which turns the bottom bar into a search bar or widget area, and changing this setting may require reordering the rest of the screens as the usable area changes.

Users who often use multitasking are encouraged to leave a task switch button in the dock or adjust gestures to avoid taking up precious space with icons that are always at hand in the menu of recent apps.

Working with widgets and their impact on the grid

Widgets take up more space than regular icons, and their placement directly dictates the order and fullness of the screens. A large watch or calendar widget can take up half a page, crowding out other elements.

When you add a widget, the system automatically creates space for it, sometimes moving existing icons to the next screen. To control the order, add widgets in edit mode, planning in advance where they will stand.

Some widgets are variable size, so if you hold the widget, you can pull the markers and stretch it or squeeze it, and you can put them in a grid more flexibly, without creating empty pages.

• 📱 Weather widgets often require horizontal space to display a forecast for a few days.
• 🎵 Music players are best placed on the top screens for quick access without unlocking (if enabled).
• 📅 Calendars and schedulers are most effective in the form of large squares 4x4.

Keep in mind that live widgets that keep updating data can consume more power. When you put them on the main screens, you see the information immediately, but you sacrifice autonomy. Moving them to secondary pages can be a compromise.

Third-party launchers for advanced management

If Xiaomi’s standard tools seem limited, you can always install a third-party launcher, and apps like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher give you complete control over the order, animation and screen grid.

Once you install this launcher, you can create endless desktops, customize gestures to move between them, and even change the order of pages with your voice, making your smartphone a unique tool that fits your habits.

⚠️ Warning: Installing a third-party launcher may lead to conflict with system gestures MIUI. It is recommended to further configure navigation in system parameters.

However, it is worth remembering that third-party shells may work less optimized on Snapdragon or MediaTek processors than the native system, animations may become less smooth, and response time may increase.

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The native MIUI/HyperOS launcher provides better energy efficiency and stability, while third-party solutions give maximum flexibility to setup.

To return to the standard view, you just need to delete the launcher application or select the default launcher in the system settings. All your icons and screen order will be saved, since they are stored in the system cache, not in the shell application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Before you radically reorder your screens, take a screenshot of your current layout, which will help you remember where important apps were, if you get confused in the sorting process.