How to put a shortcut on the screen of the Xiaomi phone: all ways + hidden chips

Shortcuts on the desktop of Xiaomi’s smartphone save time: instead of finding an app on the menu, you get instant access to chats, sites or contacts. But not everyone knows that phones with MIUI and HyperOS can create not only standard app icons, but also shortcuts for quick actions – for example, direct calling a specific contact or opening a specific page in the browser.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to add shortcuts to Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, including hidden shell features. We will pay special attention to the nuances for new firmware versions, where the interface may differ from the usual MIUI 12. If you want to optimize the desktop screen for your tasks, read on.

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1. Standard method: Adding an app shortcut

This is the basic method that works on all Xiaomi models – from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The algorithm is the same regardless of the firmware version, but in HyperOS (starting in 2026) there are additional options for customizing the appearance of the icons.

To add the app shortcut to the desktop:

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the desired application and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. In the context menu that appears, select Add to the home screen (or Create a shortcut in older versions of MIUI).
4. Drag the icon to a free space on the desktop.

In HyperOS, after adding the shortcut, the option “Setting up the icon” will appear – here you can change its shape, background color or add a widget indicator (for example, for unread messages in Telegram).

Make sure there is free space on the screen |Close all open apps |Disable Easy Mode (if enabled) |Check if adding widgets is blocked in the settings-->

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If the app doesn’t appear in the menu, check the Hidden Apps folder in the launcher settings (Settings → Home Screen → Hidden Apps).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) After upgrading to HyperOS, the option of shortcuts for system applications (such as Settings or Camera) may disappear, in which case use an alternative method through widgets (section 3).

Contact shortcuts: Quick call or SMS

If you call the same person often, create a direct call shortcut on your desktop. This will save time by not having to open the Phone app and search for contact manually.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Contacts (Phone) application.
2. Find the right contact and open your card.
3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Create a shortcut.
4. Select Action: Call, Message or Video Call.
5. Confirm the creation – the label will appear on the desktop.

HyperOS has added the option of creating a group shortcut — for example, to quickly call the whole family or colleagues.

1. In the Contacts app, go to the Group section.
2. Create a new group or select an existing one.
3. Click Create a group shortcut and select an action (call or message).

⚠️ Attention: Contact shortcuts are not synced to the Xiaomi Cloud. If you reset your phone or flash it, you'll have to recreate them. To save your settings, use backup via Settings. → The phone. → Backup.

Application shortcuts | Contact shortcuts | Website shortcuts |Vidgets | Do not use shortcuts-->

3. Website shortcuts: Quick access to pages

If you visit the same sites every day (such as VKontakte, YouTube or corporate portal), create shortcuts for them on the desktop, which will eliminate the need to open the browser and enter the address manually.

Method 1: Google Chrome or Mi Browser

1. Open the desired site in the browser.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Choose Add to the home screen (in Chrome) or Create a shortcut (in Mi Browser).
4. If necessary, edit the name of the label and confirm.

Method 2: Through the browser widget (for HyperOS)

1. Click the empty space on the desktop and select Widgets.
2. Find the browser widget (or Chrome if installed).
3. Select the size of the widget 1×1 (one icon).
4. Click on the widget, enter the site URL and save.

In HyperOS, website shortcuts support the Quick View function — if you pinch the icon, a page thumbnail will open without fully loading the browser. This only works for sites added through the standard Mi Browser.

4. Hidden Opportunities: Shortcuts for Quick Action

Few people know that MIUI and HyperOS can create shortcuts not only for applications, but also for specific actions within them.

• 📸 Quick selfie shot – a shortcut that immediately opens the front camera.
• 🎵 Playlist playback – launch music in Mi Music without opening the app.
• 📝 New Note – Instantly Create a Note in Xiaomi Notes.
• 🔦 Flashlight – turn on / off without unlocking the screen.

How to create such a label:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop and select Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the Action Shortcuts section (or Quick Actions in English firmware).
3. Select the desired action (for example, a new note).
4. Drag the shortcut to the desktop.

HyperOS has expanded the list of activities available, including shortcuts for:

• 🔄 Quick switching SIM-map.
• 📡 Turning on/off mobile data.
• 🔋 Transition to energy saving mode.

5 Problems and Solutions: Why Not Create a Label

Sometimes users find that shortcuts are not added or disappear after a reboot, and consider the typical reasons and ways to eliminate them.

Problem 1: When you click Add to the main screen, nothing happens.

• 🔹 Check if guest mode or private mode is enabled (there is no option to add shortcuts).
• 🔹 Update the launcher to the latest version via Play Market or App Store.
• 🔹 Clear the launcher's cache: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Problem 2: Shortcuts disappear after a reboot.

• 🔹 Turn off battery optimization for launcher: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Find the Launcher" → Shut down.
• 🔹 Check if Auto Clean Desktop is included in the theme settings.
• 🔹 Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) if the problem recurs.

⚠️ Note: Phones with corporate firmware (e.g., those released for carriers) may be blocked from adding shortcuts for some system applications, in which case only unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware will help.

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If shortcuts are missing after upgrading to HyperOS, try resetting the launcher to factory settings, which will return the standard set of widgets and shortcuts, but remove the user's desktop settings.

6.Alternative launchers: more opportunities for shortcuts

Xiaomi's standard launcher limits shortcut customization. If you need more flexibility (like resizing icons, hiding names or creating gesture folders), install a third-party launcher.

1. Nova Launcher

• 🔹 Support for shortcut gestures (e.g. swipe up to open an application, swipe down for a widget).
• 🔹 Size of the icons and indentations between them.
• 🔹 Ability to hide application icons without removing.

2. Apex Launcher

• 🔹 Backup of shortcuts to the cloud.
• 🔹 Support for design themes for icons.
• 🔹 Option to lock the desktop from random changes.

3. Microsoft Launcher

• 🔹 Integration with Windows 11 (Sync shortcuts between PC and phone).
• 🔹 Productivity widget with quick access to documents and calendar.
• 🔹 Support for voice commands to open shortcuts.

To install an alternative launcher:

1. Download an app from the Play Market (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. Set up shortcuts through the launcher menu (usually available on the long tap on the desktop).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) When using third-party launchers, the return gesture (swipe from the edge of the screen) may be disabled. To return the function, go to Settings → System system → Gestures → Set up the launcher gestures and enable the System Navigation option.

7 Desktop Optimization: How to Organize Shortcuts

A lot of shortcuts on your desktop can create chaos. Here are some organizational tips:

• 📁 Group by folder: for example, all messengers in one folder, social networks in another.
• 🎨 Use icon themes: Xiaomi Themes have icon sets for uniformity.
• 🔍 Hide rarely used: HyperOS can hide icons in Hidden Box (available via swipe down on desktop).
• 📱 Set up the second desktop: swipe left/right to switch between screens.

HyperOS has a Smart Desktop feature that automatically sorts shortcuts into categories (e.g. Work, Rest, Travel) to enable it:

1. Hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select the Desktop Settings.
3. Activate the Smart Sort option.
4. Choose the categories you want to see.

For advanced users, if you want to completely change the look of your icons, use apps like Icon Pack Studio or Whicons, which let you create custom icons and apply them to shortcuts.

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In HyperOS, shortcuts can be tied to focus modes, for example, only office apps will be displayed on the Work desktop, while the Home desktop will display entertainment apps.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi