How to put the phone number icon on the screen Xiaomi: 3 working ways

Have you just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone and want your phone number to always be on hand – on the home screen as a handy icon? Or maybe after the MIUI update, the icon disappeared and you don’t know how to return it? In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to add a number shortcut to the Redmi, POCO or Mi desktop – from standard settings to workarounds for older versions of the firmware.

It takes less than a minute to find the options you want, but many users have a hard time: some versions of MIUI 14/15 have a deep menu item, and new models (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+) have changed the algorithm, and we tested all the methods on current devices in 2026 and collected instructions that work even if you don’t have the Contacts app in the shortcut menu.

Why does Xiaomi not have a default phone number icon?

Unlike Samsung or iPhone, where the Phone icon appears on the home screen immediately after the first turn on, MIUI follows a philosophy of "minimalism." The manufacturer believes that the user should customize the desktop to suit their needs.

📱 On new smartphones (Xiaomi) 13T, Redmi Note 12) The number icon is hidden in the folder "Google" or "Utilities".
🔄 After resetting the settings, the shortcut disappears and is not automatically restored.
📲 In some regional firmware (for example, for Europe), the icon is replaced with "Contacts" without the dialing function.

In addition, in MIUI 14+, developers removed the direct ability to add a shortcut through the app menu — now it is done through Settings → Desktop. If you upgraded from an older version, the old way may not work.

📊 What kind of smartphone you Xiaomi?

Redmi (Note, K-series)

POCO (F, X-series)

Mi (11/12/13/14)

Black Shark

Other

This is the simplest method that works on most devices released after 2020, suitable for Redmi 10/11/12, POCO F4/F5, Xiaomi 12/13/14 and other models with a MIUI 12-15 shell.

Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
Find the Phone app (pipe icon) or Contacts (human silhouette).
Press the icon for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
Select Add to the main screen (or drag the icon to the free space).

If there is no phone app in the menu, try it:

🔍 Enter in search (swipe down on the home screen) the request dial number.
📁 Check the Google folder or Utility – sometimes the icon is hidden there.
🔄 Reboot your phone (sometimes helps with display glitches).

Check that there is a free space on the screen.

Make sure the phone app is not hidden in the settings

Update MIUI to the latest version (if available)

Reboot the device if you suspect a glitch-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi 9A) After adding the Contacts icon, the dialing function may not be available. In this case, use Method 2 or Method 3 of this article.

Method 2: Creating a shortcut through desktop settings (MIUI 14+)

In the latest firmware versions (MIUI 14 and later), the algorithm has changed, and now the icons are added through a special menu.

Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel – select Widgets.
Scroll down to the Utilities or Tools section.
Find the Phone widget (may be called a Number Set) and drag it to the screen.

If the widget is missing:

🔧 Go to Settings. → Desktop → Widgets and enable the display of system widgets.
📲 Try adding an icon through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Open, then press the icon in the multitasking menu.

Xiaomi model	MIUI version	Does Method 2 work?	Notes
Xiaomi 14 Pro	MIUI 15	✅ Yes.	The widget is called "Dial Number."
Redmi Note 12 Pro+	MIUI 14	✅ Yes.	System widgets need to be included
POCO F5	MIUI 14 (POCO Launcher)	⚠️ Partially.	We need to switch to standard launcher.
Redmi 10C	MIUI 13	❌ No.	Use Method 1 or 3

💡

If you have a POCO with a branded launcher, temporarily install the standard MIUI launcher through Settings → Themes → Launcher. After adding the icon, you can return the POCO Launcher back.

Method 3: Alternative methods (if standard methods do not work)

If the first two methods didn't work, try these workarounds, which are suitable for older models (Redmi 8, Mi A3) or custom firmware.

Method A: Creating a shortcut through "Quick Commands"

This method works on all versions of MIUI, but requires the installation of an additional application:

Download the QuickShortcutMaker app (or analogue) from Google Play.
Open it and enter the number in the search.
Select activity with the name com.android.dialer.DialtactsActivity.
Click Create a shortcut and drag it to the main screen.

Method B: Use of third-party application widgets

If the system widget is not available, install an alternative set:

📞 Google Phone (has its own set widget).
📱 Truecaller (allows you to create a shortcut for quick dialing).
🔧 Nova Launcher (allows you to add any activity as shortcuts).

⚠️ Note: When using QuickShortcutMaker, do not create shortcuts for system applications with rights android.permission.MANAGE_DEVICE_ADMINS — This can lead to a device lock. Only check applications with the com.android.dialer package.

What to do if the icon disappears after adding?

This may be due to memory optimization in MIUI. To fix: 1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone. 2. Turn off the option to Close when locking the screen. 3. Add the application to the list of Secured applications (in battery settings).

How to Change the Phone Number Icon on Xiaomi

The standard dial icon in MIUI looks like a green tube, but it can be replaced with a custom one.

Step 1: Installation of the icon package

Download any icon pack from Google Play (e.g., "Pix Material You" or "CandyCons"). Most of the packs support replacing system icons.

Step 2: Application through launcher

If you have a standard MIUI launcher:

Click the empty space on the screen → Style of icons.
Select the installed pack of icons.
Confirm the application (the phone icon will change automatically).

For Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher:

Go to the launcher settings.
Choose the Appearance → Icon style.
Apply the selected pack.

Step 3: Manual Replacement (Advanced Method)

If you want to set your own picture:

📱 Use the "Icon Changer" app (requires root or ADB).
🖼️ Choose. PNG-size 192×192 pixel.
🔧 Apply the changes through ADB-Command: adb shell pm grant com.ariceti.iconchanger android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

💡

Replacing icons via ADB requires USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock Developer Mode).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the icon has been successfully added, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The icon disappears after the reboot	MIUI Optimization Removes Unused Labels	Add the Phone app to Secure Applications (Battery settings)
When pressed, contacts are opened, not a dialing number.	Incorrect label (contacts are selected instead of phone)	Remove the shortcut and add again through Settings → Desktop → Widgets
No way to add an icon to POCO Launcher	Restrictions of the branded launcher	Install a standard MIUI launcher or Nova Launcher
The icon is gray and does not press.	Phone app is disabled	Include it in Settings → Applications → Application Management

If none of these methods helped, check:

🔄 Updates MIUI — In newer versions, bugs are often corrected.
🧹 Launcher Cache – Clear Launcher app data in settings.
🛠️ Reset launcher settings - in the launcher settings, select Reset to factory.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I add a number icon to a locked Xiaomi screen?

Yes, but only as a widget. To do this: Go to Settings → Screen Lock → Lock Widgets. Activate the option and select the Phone widget (if available). Configure the display (may need to disable Show Notifications for Privacy). On MIUI 15, this feature may be limited due to security policy.

Why did the MIUI icon disappear from the screen?

This is because the new versions MIUI To return the icon, check the Utility folder or Google in the app menu. If the icon is there, drag it back to the home screen. If not, use Method 2 from this article (via widgets). In extreme cases, reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

How to make when swiping on the phone icon opens the set, not contacts?

This functionality depends on the version of the "Phone" application. MIUI 14+: Open the phone app. Press three dots (⋮) → Settings. Select Default Action. → Dial.If you don't have an option, install Google Phone from the Play Market and set it up as the default app for calling.

Can I transfer the icon to the dock panel (bottom panel) on Xiaomi?

Yes, but the number of icons in the dock is limited (usually 4-5). To add: Press the Phone icon on the home screen and drag it down. If there is no room, first remove the unnecessary icon from the dock panel (drag it to the screen). On some launchers (for example, POCO Launcher), you first need to unlock the dock panel in the settings. In MIUI 15, the dock panel can be expanded to 7 icons through Settings → Desktop → Dock panel.

Why doesn’t my Xiaomi phone app have a phone at all?

This can happen for three reasons: Removed manually — restore through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Remote → Phone. Disabled — turn on in the same menu (Application Management → Phone → Enable). Firmware without Google services — install Google Phone from APK (for example, with APKMirror). If the application is not in the list of remote, try resetting the phone to factory settings (Settings → Phone → Reset).