How to make an application menu on Xiaomi MIUI 11: the full guide

The transition from Android One or pure Android to MIUI is often a surprise, and not always a pleasant one. The usual screen with a list of all installed programs, which opens with a swipe up, by default, does not. Instead, all shortcuts immediately appear on desktops, which creates a sense of chaos and cluttered space.

But Xiaomi's MIUI 11 launcher has a hidden feature that brings back classic navigation, so you don't have to install third-party heavy software or get root rights, just change one setting in the system settings to make the desktop structure dramatically different.

In this article, we will take a closer look at how you activate the app menu, explore alternative ways to organize space, and answer frequently asked questions, and learn how to manage your programs in a way that is convenient for you, rather than the default interface designers intended.

What is the difference between desktop modes

MIUI 11 offers two fundamentally different shortcuts: the first default mode is called Classic. In this case, all the utilities you download automatically create a shortcut on the home screen. Deleting the shortcut often leads to the removal of the app itself, if you don't pay attention.

The second option is C App Menu, where you have a separation: shortcuts can be placed selectively on desktops, and a complete list of all installed programs is stored in a separate section, called by a swipe up the screen or a special button, which is similar to the logic of iOS or stock Android on Pixel smartphones.

⚠️ Warning: Mode Switching does not delete your data or installed programs, but can change the location of shortcuts on desktops by collecting them into folders.

Choosing the right mode affects the speed of access to frequently used features. For those who are used to order and categorization, having a separate list is a critical element of ergonomics. Without it, finding the right game or utility among dozens of shortcuts becomes a tedious process.

Step-by-step: Include the application menu

The process of activating the desired mode takes less than a minute and requires no special knowledge. All the necessary switches are in the standard settings menu of the system. Let's walk through the steps to make sure that you do not miss anything.

First, unlock your smartphone and find the Settings icon, which is usually a gear, and is located at the top of the screen or in the dock bar, and if you can't find it visually, search the settings by typing the word "worker."

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• 📱 In the menu that opens, find the Desktop section (sometimes it may be simply called the "Home Screen" depending on the translation version).
• 🔍 Click Desktop Mode, and you'll see two options: Classic and C App Menu".
• ✅ Select option C of the app menu. The system can alert you that shortcuts will be regrouped.
• 🔄 Confirm the action, and the interface will instantly restructure. Now the swipe from the bottom up will open the full list of programs.

Once you turn on this mode, you'll notice that a button (usually in dots or circles) appears on your desktop, which also opens this list, and you can use it if you find the swipe uncomfortable, especially for models with large screen diagonals, such as the Redmi Note 8 or Mi 9T.

💡

If the shortcuts disappeared from desktops after switching mode, don’t panic. They could automatically assemble into one or more folders called Tools or Apps.

Customization of appearance and sorting of programs

Turning on the menu is just the first step. MIUI 11 allows you to flexibly customize the list display to make it as user-friendly as possible, you can change the way you sort, the font size, and even the look of the icons inside the list.

To access additional settings, go to Settings → Desktop → Additional. This hides important parameters that affect visual perception, for example, you can enable sorting by installation time, which will help you quickly find fresh downloads.

There's also a hidden app feature, so if you want to take certain programs off the list, but you don't want to remove them, use a built-in privacy mechanism, which is useful for banking applications or personal galleries.

Note the grid size setting. In the app menu mode, icon density plays a big role. By increasing the number of cells, you can put more widgets and folders on the home screen, leaving a list of apps for rare programs.

Use of third-party launchers

If Xiaomi’s regular interface seems too limited, you can always install a third-party launcher from the Google Play store. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer much more customization options.

But installing a third-party launcher on MIUI 11 has its own peculiarities: the system can aggressively close the background processes, which can cause your new desktop to periodically fly off, returning the standard interface, and to avoid this, you need to properly configure the permissions.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, the system can issue security alerts. MIUI, But for the launcher to work, these warnings must be ignored and allowed to work.

For stable work, perform the following actions:

• 💾 Download and install the selected launcher from a reliable source.
• ⚙️ When you first start, ask how to open the main screen. Select a new launcher and press Always".
• 🔋 Go to the battery settings and find the launcher installed. Set the operating mode "No restrictions".
• 🔒 In the "Start" setting, also tick against your launcher.

Using alternative shells gives access to thousands of themes, gestures and animations not available in stock MIUI. This is a great way to completely change the look of a smartphone, making it unique.

Typical problems and ways to solve them

Despite the ease of customization, users sometimes encounter errors, such as resetting the settings after updating the firmware and the app menu disappears again, in which case the activation procedure must be repeated again.

Another common problem is floating icons, and once you switch mode, some shortcuts may disappear or move in an unknown direction, most often in folders called "Tools" or "Google." Carefully look at desktops.

If you notice that swipe up does not open the app menu, but Google or Yandex search, check the launcher settings. MIUI 11 often activates the "Swipe up Search" function by default.

To disable the search:

• 🚫 Go to Settings. → Desktop.
• 🔎 Find the Search Point or Google.
• ⬇️ Turn off the swipe option up.

💡

If the swipe up doesn’t work, make sure that gesture control is enabled in the navigation settings, not the on-screen buttons.

Optimizing the work with the application menu

To make the application menu as efficient as possible, it is recommended to learn several tricks: first, do not be afraid to create folders inside the application list itself (if the launcher allows it) or on the desktop for grouping.

Second, use search widgets, put the search bar at the top of the app menu or on the home screen, which will speed up the launch of programs if you remember their name, but don't want to look for the icon with your eyes.

Also worth mentioning is the Pocket Mode feature, or random press protection, which can block swipes. If the menu doesn't open, check if the proximity sensor is covered with a cover or film.

Regularly cleaning the launcher cache helps avoid lags when opening the list.The path to clean: Settings → Apps → All applications → Launcher System → Clear the cache.

To sum up, MIUI 11 provides enough tools to make things work better, even if the settings aren’t perfect, and the right organization of screen space is key to making a smartphone work better in everyday life.