Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the desire to redesign the interface for themselves, but the standard MIUI shell or the new HyperOS does not always allow you to do this in an intuitive way. Users are looking for the opportunity to simply take and swap desktop pages in places, dragging them like widgets, but the system limits such actions to maintain the stability of the launcher. Understanding this feature helps to quickly find alternative ways to organize the screen space.
In fact, there is no direct drag-and-drop function in Xiaomi’s stock settings, instead offering a logical structure where screen order is formed as cells fill or through specific grid settings. It is important to distinguish between the movement of individual widgets and the global renumbering of pages, since the algorithms for working with them are radically different.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how to effectively manage desktops using built-in shell tools, learn how to force change order through deletion and re-creation, how to use Wallpaper Carousel mode for dynamic screen change, and which third-party launchers give full control over the geometry of the workspace without losing functionality.
Features of navigation on desktops in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells are Android-based, but they have a major modification to the launcher part. When you swipe across the screen, the system accesses the configuration file, where the index of each page is written, and you can't change this index by simply dragging the page title in editing mode, because the developers have blocked this feature to avoid widget conflicts.
The order of the screens is usually automatically generated: the first screen is the main screen, then the ones you installed the apps on, and if you delete all the apps from the second page, it disappears, and the third one moves into its place, and that's the only regular way to change them, which is by manipulating the content.
⚠️ Warning: Attempts to use third-party plugins to force the order of system pages can lead to a cyclical launcher reboot or the disappearance of icons.
There is also a difference between the classic mode and the “No App Menu” mode, in the second case, all installed programs automatically take up space on desktops, and manually controlling the order of pages becomes almost impossible without removing the software.
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The order of pages in MIUI is rigidly tied to their fullness: empty screens disappear, shifting the numbering forward.
Methods of changing the order of pages through deletion and creation
Since there is no direct drag and drop function, the most effective method is to reassemble the pages, which takes time, but guarantees results without installing additional software, and the essence of the method is to release the landing page and transfer the desired content to it.
You need to start by going into editing mode, pinching your two fingers on the screen, or holding your finger for a long time, and here you'll see thumbnails of all your desktops. Note that you can delete entire pages if they don't have system widgets.
☑️ Algorithm of reassembling desktops
To change, for example, the second and third pages in places, you have to temporarily delete one of them, move its contents to the vacant place, and then create a new page in the right order, which seems complicated, but is the only standard solution.
In this case, you can move all the shortcuts to other screens, leaving the first blank, or accept his position.
Set up the grid and density of the elements
A common reason for wanting to change desktops is a lack of space or, conversely, too much space. Grid setting allows you to change the number of icons on a single page, which indirectly affects the number of pages themselves.
To access these settings, you need to go to the system settings menu. The path may vary depending on the version of the shell, but it is usually in the section responsible for the appearance. Changing the density of the DPI or launcher grid allows you to fit more applications on one screen.
| Grid parameter | Standard value | Screen impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of columns | 4 or 5 | Icon width | Increase for compactness |
| Number of rows | 5 or 6 | Height of icons | As much as possible |
| Type size | Medium. | Readability of signatures | Reduce to save space |
| Retreats (Padding) | Standard | Distance between icons | Minimum values |
By changing these settings, you can reduce the number of desktops from five to three, making navigation faster, but on high-resolution screens, too small icons can worsen the ergonomics of use.
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Use One Hand mode in the settings if the grid reduction has made the items too small for comfortable pressing.
Using the “carousel wallpaper” regime as an alternative
Many users confuse desktops with a lock screen. Xiaomi has a "Glance" feature that shows different images with widgets every time the screen is turned on, creating the illusion of many desktops.
While this doesn't change the order of the pages on the unlocked device, it's a great way to diversify the visual experience, and you can set up the carousel through the Security app or in the lock screen settings, and you can choose whether only the wallpaper will change or the widgets will change.
If your goal is to change design often, the carousel is better than manually rearranging shortcuts, which automatically loads content and doesn't require you to tamper with the launcher's file system structure.
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper carousel consumes additional traffic and battery power as it constantly downloads new images from the network.
To disable or configure this feature, go to Settings → Lock Screen, where you can select the source of the images or completely disable the function by returning the static picture.
Third-party launchers for full control of tables
If you don't like the standard methods, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher, and apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher let you do what Xiaomi doesn't want you to do: change the order of pages, hide them, and configure transitions.
Once you install this launcher, it will replace the standard interface. In the Nova Launcher settings, for example, there is a Desktop option where you can turn on the Infinite Scrolling function or manually set the order of pages in the Desktop Manager.
Installing a third-party launcher requires permission in the system. After the first launch, Xiaomi will ask if you want to change the default launcher, you must confirm the action and select "Always".
The advantage of these solutions is the presence of Gesture Controls, which allows you to control the phone with swipes without using navigation buttons at all, which makes the concept of desktops secondary, since the launch of applications is instantaneous by gesture.
Hiding applications and organizing folders for optimization
Instead of creating new pages, it’s more effective to use folders and hide apps. MIUI has a built-in Hide Apps feature that removes icons from the desktop but leaves them accessible through a special gesture or password.
Creating thematic folders (e.g., Social Networking, Games, Work) allows you to fit dozens of applications on a single screen, reducing the need for a large number of desktops and making it easier to navigate with your thumb.
To hide applications, go to Settings → Apps → Hide apps, and you can select programs that don’t have to horn your eyes on the home screen, especially for banking apps or personal photos.
How to create a hidden folder in some versions of MIUI?
Using folder widgets also helps to structure the space, so instead of shortcutting different pages, put them in logical groups, which makes the interface cleaner and more intuitive.