How to place an icon on the Xiaomi desktop: all ways for MIUI

The desktop of a Xiaomi smartphone is your personal space, where every element should be at hand. But what if the desired application is hidden in the depths of the menu, and your favorite site has to be searched in the browser? Adding icons (shortcuts) to the home screen solves this problem in a few seconds. However, in MIUI this process is different from standard Android — there are nuances and even hidden functions.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to place an icon on the Xiaomi desktop, including adding shortcuts for applications, files, contacts and websites. Particular attention will be paid to the problems that users face after upgrading to MIUI 14 or HyperOS, where the interface has undergone changes.

Whether you’re using Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 12, the instructions are universal and work across all the brand’s devices, and if you need to not just add an icon, but also customize its appearance, we’ll show you how to change the icon with MIUI themes or third-party launchers.

1. Standard method: Adding an app shortcut

The most obvious method is to place the icon right from the app menu, and MIUI does it a little differently than pure Android, but the algorithm remains simple:

1. Open the application menu (swipe up the desktop or click on the All Apps icon in the dock panel).
2. Find the app you want in the list. If it's not on the first page, search at the top of the screen.
3. Press the icon with your finger for 1-2 seconds until it “separates” from the background and the context menu appears.
4. Drag it to the desktop or select Add to the home screen (in some versions of MIUI).

If you have MIUI 14 or newer, the interface may look different: instead of pressing the icon for a long time, you need to click on the icon and select Create a shortcut in the drop-down menu.

Make sure there is a free space on the desktop.|Check if screen editing mode is enabled (double tap on empty space)|Restart the device if the system is slowing down.|Update. MIUI last-minute-->

Important: Some system applications (such as Settings or Phone) may not have the option of shortcut creation, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.

2. Creating a shortcut for a file or folder

Want to quickly open a document, a photo, or an entire folder directly from your desktop? In MIUI, this is implemented through the File Manager app. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Find the file or folder in the internal memory or SD-map.
3. Press the file/folder until the context menu appears.
4. Choose Add to the home screen (or Create a shortcut in new versions).

Note that file shortcuts will be opened through the Files app, not directly. If you want a PDF to open in Adobe Acrobat and an image to open in Gallery, you will need to use workarounds (see the section on third-party launchers).

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If the file shortcut doesn't work, check if you moved it after you created.MIUI saves the path to the file, and if it changed, the icon will become "broken."

You can also create a shortcut for recent files:

• 📁 Open the files. → Recent.
• 🔍 Find the right file in the list.
• 📌 Click it and select Secure it on the main screen.

3. Website shortcut (PWA creation)

If you frequently visit a particular website (e.g., VKontakte, YouTube or corporate portal), you can install it on your desktop as an app.

1. Open the site in Chrome or MIUI Browser.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner (browser menu).
3. Choose Add to the home screen (in Chrome) or Create a shortcut (in MIUI Browser).

This shortcut will open a site in PWA (Progressive Web App) mode — without an address bar or browser interface, like a native application — and it's convenient for the social networks or web services you use daily.

Restriction: Not all sites support PWA. If the Add to Home screen option is inactive, use an alternative method:

1. Copy the URL of the site.
2. Create a shortcut for the browser (see section 1).
3. Open your browser through this shortcut – the site will open on the home page.

4.Tag for contact or quick action

In MIUI, you can create a shortcut not only for applications, but also for specific actions, like calling a contact quickly or sending a message. Here's how to do this:

For contact:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Find the right contact and open your card.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
4. Choose Create a shortcut.
5. Specify action: Call, message or video call.

For quick action (e.g., a new note):

• 📱 Install the Quick Action widget on your desktop (clip the empty space) → Widgets → find a widget from MIUI).
• 🔧 Set up actions in the widget (for example, Create a note, Turn on the flashlight).
• ✅ Now one touch triggers the desired function.

These shortcuts save time if you call a person frequently or use specific smartphone features, such as creating an icon for:

• 📞 A quick call to your mom or coworker.
• 💬 Sending WhatsApp messages to a specific contact.
• 📝 Creating a new note in Xiaomi Notes.

5. Alternative methods: third-party launchers and ADB

If standard methods don't work (for example, the shortcut option disappeared after the MIUI update), you can use workarounds.

Method 1: Using a third-party launcher

Launchers like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Microsoft Launcher offer more flexibility in desktop configuration.

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Make it the default launcher (at the first start the system will prompt you to do this).
3. Click the empty space on the desktop → Widgets or Shortcuts.
4. Select Activities in Nova Launcher and find the desired application or feature.

Method 2: Creating a shortcut through ADB (for advanced)

If you need to add a system application shortcut that is hidden in MIUI (e.g. Hardware Tests or Developer Mode), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

adb shell am start -n com.miui.home/.launcher.UninstallShortcutPreview


adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT

These commands will open a shortcut creation menu where you can select any application, even hidden ones, which only works when USB debugging is enabled and may require root rights on some devices.

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Third-party launchers not only solve the problem with shortcuts, but also allow you to completely customize the interface: change icons, add gestures and hide unnecessary elements.

Table: Comparison of methods of adding icons on Xiaomi

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even in the simple procedure of adding icons to Xiaomi, it can be difficult.

Problem 1: You can’t create a shortcut for a system application

In MIUI, some applications (e.g., Security or System Update) do not have the option to create a shortcut.

• 🔧 Use the Tools widget (clutch the empty space) → Widgets → find a widget from MIUI quick-action).
• 📱 Install a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher) where there are no such restrictions.

Problem 2: The shortcut disappeared after the MIUI update

After major updates (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), the system may reset the desktop settings to restore the shortcuts:

1. Check the Remote folder on your desktop (sometimes shortcuts move there).
2. Re-create shortcuts – often faster than looking for the cause of a crash.
3. If the problem recurs, back up your desktop through Settings → Apps → Backup.

Problem 3: You can’t drag the icon to your desktop

If you do not have a long time to click on the icon:

• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes helps with interface glitches.
• 🛠️ Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📵 Check if the Child Mode or Second Space is on, and there may be restrictions.

Standard application shortcut | File/Folder shortcut | Website shortcut (PWA) | Third-party launcher | Another way-->

Problem 4: The label opens the wrong app

If you click on the shortcut and the wrong app opens (for example, instead of Chrome, MIUI Browser launches), then the default settings have gone wrong.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find an app that should open by default (like Chrome).
3. Click Open by default and reset the settings.
4. When you next open a file or link, select the desired application and mark Always.

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If the website shortcut opens in the wrong browser, delete it and recreate it by selecting the browser you want from the Open with Help menu.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions