How to change the shortcuts on the Xiaomi phone: 5 ways to MIUI

Xiaomi’s app shortcuts aren’t just icons, they’re a key element of smartphone usability. Over time, even the most thought-out desktop needs adjustments: some programs become unnecessary, others appear in the arsenal, and others just want to be moved for quick access. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to change shortcuts on Xiaomi phones running MIUI 12, 13 and 14, including hidden system features and third-party launchers.

It’s important to understand that the process depends on the shell version and the device model. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 13, the algorithm may slightly differ from the Xiaomi 13 Pro to MIUI 14. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most of the modern smartphones of the brand. If you are faced with an unusual situation (for example, after resetting or updating the firmware), at the end of the article there is a section with answers to frequent questions.

1. Standard method: moving and removing labels

The easiest method is to use the built-in tools of the MIUI launcher, which requires no additional software installation and works on all Xiaomi devices by default.

  1. Remove the shortcut: press and hold your finger on the app icon until it sticks away from the screen. At the top of the display, the Remove (Basket) icon will appear — drag the shortcut there. Note: this only removes the shortcut, not the app itself.
  2. Move: Hold the icon and drag it to the right place on the screen or to another desktop (swipe left/right). If you want to move it to a folder, drag the shortcut to another, you automatically create a group.
  3. Add a new shortcut: Open the Apps menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen), find the desired app, hold its icon and drag it to the desktop.

This method is suitable for 90% of users, but has limitations, such as changing the appearance of icons (only through themes) or creating a shortcut for system functions (for example, direct call to Game Mode), which will require alternative solutions, which will be discussed later.

📊 What kind of launcher are you using on Xiaomi?
Standard MIUI
Nova Launcher
Hyperion
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2. Changing icons through MIUI themes

If you don't like the look of standard icons, you can replace them with themes, which do not require root rights and is available directly from the system settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Theme.
  2. Select the Icons section (in some versions of MIUI it is called the Icon Style).
  3. View the available icon packages. Free options are marked with a green checkmark, and paid for by MI-coins (the internal currency of the Xiaomi ecosystem).
  4. Click Apply to change the style of all icons at the same time.

This method has two significant disadvantages:

  • 🔹 Massive replacement: You can’t change an icon for just one app – style applies to all shortcuts.
  • 🔹 Limited choice: The official theme store doesn’t always have relevant designs for new apps.

💡

If the theme is not in the store MIUI, try downloading APK-pagefile XDA Developers and install it manually through File Manager.

3. Creation of shortcuts for system functions

By default, Xiaomi does not allow you to add shortcuts to the desktop for quick access to system settings (for example, Wireless Networks or Battery).

  1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop, then select Widgets.
  2. Scroll through the list to Tools or Settings (name depends on the version of MIUI).
  3. Select the Settings Shortcuts widget (or Quick Settings) and drag it to the screen.
  4. Click on the widget to customize the displayed elements. Here you can add direct links to the: 📶 Mobile data 🔋 Battery mode 🔊 Sound and vibration 🛡️ Security

Alternatively, use Google Assistant:

  1. Keep your finger on your desktop and select Widgets → Google.
  2. Add the Assistant widget (size 2×2 or 4×1).
  3. Click on the widget and say a command like “Create a shortcut to set up Wi-Fi.”