How to make an application menu for Xiaomi Redmi 4A: the full guide

Xiaomi budget smartphone owners often face the need to fine-tune the interface to improve usability. Redmi 4A model, released in 2016, remains popular due to its reliability, but the standard shell MIUI may not always meet the needs of users accustomed to the classic structure of Android. In particular, many are interested in the question of how to make a full menu of applications, where all programs are sorted alphabetically, rather than scattered across desktops.

By default, the system offers what's called a "classic" mode, where shortcuts appear immediately after installation, which quickly clutters the screen. However, by changing several parameters in the system settings, you can organize the space more rationally, not only visually ordering the icons, but also potentially speeding up the search for the right utilities in everyday use of the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to activate and customize the application menu. We will consider the regular tools of the system, the capabilities of third-party launchers and methods for hiding unnecessary shortcuts, which are often pre-installed by the manufacturer.

Differences in the Desktop Modes in MIUI

The MIUI shell installed on the Redmi 4A offers two basic home screen options: The first option, often referred to as "iPhone Mode" or "No Menu," assumes that all downloaded apps automatically create shortcuts on desktops, which is convenient for those who use a small number of programs and prefer to see them all at once.

The second option is the classic app menu, which is familiar to most Android users: in this mode, only selected widgets and frequently used programs are on desktops, and the full list of all installed utilities is opened by swiping up or through a special button, switching between these modes through the built-in system settings, without requiring superuser rights.

It’s worth noting that different versions of the firmware (Global, China, Stable, Developer) may have slightly different menu locations, but the logic remains the same across the Xiaomi ecosystem. If you can’t find the right switch, your version of MIUI may need an update or, conversely, is too old for some new interface features.

Activate the application menu through system settings

The easiest and safest way to change the structure of the display of programs is to use the regular shell tools, which do not require you to download additional software or make changes to system files, just go through a few steps in the settings menu to activate the desired mode.

First, open the Settings app and find the interface look section. Depending on the version of MIUI on your Redmi 4A, this item may be called Desktop or inside the More category. The key here is a switch that changes the logic of shortcut placement.

Once activated, the system will suggest you choose how to open the app menu, usually a swipe up from the bottom of the screen or a separate button in the dock bar, depending on your personal preferences and habits of managing your smartphone with one hand.

It is important to understand that after switching mode, all your widgets and folders may temporarily shift or disappear from the main screens, as the system rebuilds the workspace grid. Don't be afraid of this, just return the necessary widgets to the place from the widget menu, which is now available separately from the list of programs.

Set up and sort items in the menu

Once you’ve managed to make an app menu on Xiaomi Redmi 4A, it’s worth organizing it, allowing you to sort programs by installation time, usage frequency, or alphabetical order, and Alphabetical sorting is the most efficient way to quickly search, especially if you have more than 50 apps installed.

It also has folder creation directly inside the app menu, allowing you to group programs into categories like Social Networks, Games, Finance, which helps you visually unload the list and find the right utility in a second. To create a folder, just drag and drop one icon to another in menu editing mode.

• 📱 Use the search in the app menu by entering the first letters of the program name if their list is very large.
• 🗑️ Regularly remove unused applications to avoid clogging the general list and save memory.
• 🔒 Hide confidential apps through the Hidden Apps feature in security settings.

Remember that some Xiaomi system applications cannot be removed by standard methods, but they can be hidden or placed in a folder so that they do not cornen your eyes, which is especially true for services that are rarely used but are necessary for the system to work.

Using third-party launchers to expand functionality

If MIUI is not a good fit, alternatives are always available. Installing a third-party launcher is a radical but effective way to completely change the Redmi 4A interface. Popular options like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer flexible customization of the app menu.

When you install a new launcher, Android will ask for confirmation to use it by default. Once you agree, you will have access to advanced animation settings, desktop grids and menu behavior. Third-party shells often run faster than standard ones on older devices, since they are less demanding on processor resources.

However, it is worth considering that some MIUI features, such as themes, control gestures and built-in optimizers, may not work correctly or be unavailable when using a third-party launcher.

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When installing a new launcher on Redmi 4A, be sure to turn off battery savings for that application in the settings, otherwise the system may force it to close, returning the standard interface.

Hiding and removing system labels

One of the reasons you want to change menus is because of the abundance of pre-installed software. Redmi 4A has a lot of apps that you can't remove without root rights, but you can hide them from the public, so you can make the menu cleaner and focus on the really important programs.

To hide applications, go to the Security app (green lightning icon), select Hidden Apps and add unnecessary shortcuts to the app, and then they disappear from the general list and are only accessible through a special gesture or password, which is a great way to remove the extra without violating the integrity of the system.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t hide critical system components like Settings, Phone, or Messages unless you’re sure how to get them back.

If you want to completely uninstall the app, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the unnecessary and click “Delete.” System applications that are not subject to removal will have an inactive delete button, in which case only hiding or disabling them will help.

Solution: the menu is missing or the interface is frozen

Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after updating or crashing settings, the application menu stops opening or does not work correctly. In such cases, the first step is to check whether the default launcher settings have gone wrong. Often the system can spontaneously switch to another desktop handler.

If the persists problem is, try clearing the cache of the system application "Luncher." To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Launcher → Memory → Clear the cache. This action will not delete your data, but will return the interface settings to factory, which often solves the problem of freezes. Rebooting the device after this procedure is mandatory.

• 🔄 Perform a full smartphone reboot by pressing the power button for 10 seconds.
• 🛠 Check for system updates in the About Phone section».
• 🧹 Clear the memory if the fullness is greater than 90%.

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In 80% of cases, the problems with displaying menus on Redmi 4A are solved by simply cleaning the launcher cache or restarting the device.

⚠️ Warning: If all widgets and folders are missing after resetting the launcher, don’t panic. You’ll have to re-place them on desktops, as the reset returns the interface structure to its original state.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)