How to make a menu on Xiaomi phone: full instructions for setting up MIUI

Introduction: Why setting up a menu on Xiaomi is important

Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI They offer one of the most flexible interfaces among Android devices, but many users have been using default menu settings for years, without even knowing that they are not using them. 80% You can reconfigure the elements to your needs. A properly organized menu saves you a lot of time. 3-5 hours a month searching for apps and settings – this is confirmed by research on the UX-Optimization of mobile interfaces.

In this article, we will analyze not only the basic ways to change the main screen and notification bar, but also hidden functions. MIUI 14/15, You'll learn how to remove unnecessary icons, add gestures for quick access, customize context menus, and even create your own button combinations, POCO and flagships Xiaomi 13/14 — Their interfaces are similar in appearance, but have key differences in settings.

Basic setting of the main menu (Launcher)

Starting with the basics: the home screen and the app list, MIUI uses a proprietary launcher that can be configured without installing third-party software, and here are the key settings that you should change right away:

• 📱 Remove unnecessary icons: pinch your finger on any app → A cross will appear to remove (some models require dragging the icon to the basket at the top of the screen) and this works for system applications too, which simply hide but don’t completely delete them.
• 🔄 Change the order of the pages: swipe left/right on the main screen → Click on the page indicator point → Drag it to the right place or remove the extra pages.
• 📂 Creating folders: Drag one icon to another → The folder will be automatically created. To rename it, open the folder and tap on the name.
• 🎨 Change of wallpaper with paralax effect: press your finger in the free space of the screen → "Wallpaper" → Choose dynamic wallpaper (available on Xiaomi 13 Pro flagships and newer).

On models POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 There is an additional option - Settings → Main screen screen → Style layout, where you can choose between the classic look (icons) + widgets) and "No Names" style (no captions only) with the latter visually increasing the free space on the screen. 15-20%.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12T And then, if you hold the icon for a long time, you get a context menu with the "Application Information" option, and if you accidentally click on it, you open Android settings, not shortcut editing. To go back to changing the layout, close the settings window and repeat the retention.

Setting up the notification panel and quick settings

The top panel (aka notification curtain) in MIUI is not only an alert center, but also a tool for quick access to key functions. By default, 6-8 switches (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.) are displayed here, but they can be completely reconfigured:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the panel.
2. Put it on the icon "⚙️" or "Edit" (depending on version) MIUI).
3. In the "Order of buttons" section, drag and drop the icons to change their location.
4. In the "Add buttons" section, activate hidden switches: Do not disturb mode, Charge saving, Game turbo mode and others.

On the POCO F4 GT and Black Shark, there's a unique "Game Acceleration" feature in the notification curtain, which allows you to activate performance mode, disable notifications and block gestures in one tap.

Settings → Special features → Game acceleration → Add to the notification panel

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If your favorite curtain switches are missing after the MIUI update, reset the settings: Settings → Notification Panel → Reset to standard. This will return all buttons to their original state.

Hidden menu functions: gestures and hot keys

MIUI hides a number of useful features that are not visible in the main settings menu, one of which is gestures for quick access, for example, on most Xiaomi models you can:

• 👆 Double swipe on the lock screen: opens the camera (configured in Settings) → Screen locking → Gestures).
• 🔄 Triple press of the power button: causes SOS or voice assistant (depending on the region of the firmware).
• 📱 Long-term retention of the Home button: Google Assistant opens (disables in Settings) → Annexes → Default assistant).
• 🎵 “V” gesture on locked screen: triggers flashlight (works on Redmi Note 10 Pro and later).

On flagship models (Xiaomi 13T, 14 Pro), there is a unique feature called Dynamic Spot, which allows you to run applications or actions through special zones on the screen, for example, you can configure a swipe from the lower left corner to open Google Pay, and from the right one to launch WhatsApp.

Settings → Additional → Dynamic Spot → Gesture adjustment

Context menus and 3D Touch (on supported models)

Few people know that Xiaomi is a AMOLED-screens (starting with Mi 10) support analogue 3D Touch is a long-term vibratory press that allows you to open contextual menus for icons without full retention:

• 📸 Camera: long press → Quick launch of selfies or videos.
• 📞 Phone: long press → Choosing between last contact or dialing.
• 🎵 Music: Long pressing → pause/play without opening the application.

To activate this function:

1. Go to Settings → System → Gestures → Long press.
2. Turn on the vibratory response switch.
3. Adjust the vibration force (the recommended value is 70% for tactile comfort).

On the POCO F4 and Redmi K50, this function works differently, using a two-recoil tactile motor to adjust it:

Settings → Sound and vibration → Vibration when touched → Vibration intensity

Make sure your model supports the function | Check the version of MIUI (should be 13.0.4+) | Activate the vibration response in settings | Test on 3-5 applications-->

Menu problems and solutions

Even after setting up the menu correctly, Xiaomi can experience bugs, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If after the MIUI update, the menu settings disappeared, try resetting the launcher settings to the standard:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots (⋮) → Reset the Default Settings

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and 13 Pro may lose the Dynamic Spot function after resetting the launcher settings, and to return it, you will have to manually reconfigure gestures to Settings. → Additionally.

Additional tools for customizing the menu

If standard MIUI capabilities are not enough, you can use third-party tools.

• 🛠️ Nova Launcher: allows you to customize animations, icon size (up to 150%), and even hide the search bar. Xiaomi is more stable than other brands, thanks to optimization for the search engine. MIUI.
• 🎨 Icon Pack Studio: creates custom icons for system applications (for example, you can replace the standard Settings icon with your own custom icon).
• 🔧 Tasker: Automates opening menus by time/location (e.g., starting Google Maps when connected to a Bluetooth radio).
• 🖼️ KWGT Pro: Creates interactive widgets with a quick access menu (for example, a panel with 10 favorite contacts in one widget).

For models with unlocked bootloader (POCO F3, Redmi K40) are available deeper modifications through Magisk and modules:

• MIUI Modding Framework – Adds hidden menu settings.
• QuickSwitch – replaces animations to switch between applications.
• Lawnchair is a launcher with support for Android 13 on older versions of MIUI.

Important: Before installing custom launchers, turn off MIUI optimization for them:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Select Launcher → Battery → Without Limitations

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Using third-party launchers on Xiaomi can result in a 5-10% increase in battery consumption due to duplication of system processes. To minimize losses, disable animations in the launcher settings and add it to optimization exceptions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a menu on Xiaomi