How to make a shortcut to the desktop Xiaomi Poco X3: 5 working ways

Creating shortcuts on the Xiaomi Poco X3 desktop seems like a simple task — until the system starts to “catch up.” Owners of MIUI-based smartphones often find that standard methods do not work: menu options disappear, shortcuts do not save or disappear after a reboot, the reason lies in the features of the Xiaomi shell, where the manufacturer restricts user settings for the sake of “purity of the interface”.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to add a shortcut to the Poco X3 desktop, from basic (for menu apps) to advanced (for websites, files, and even hidden system features). We’ll focus on bypassing the limitations of MIUI 12/13/14, as the shortcut algorithms changed with each version. If you tried to create a shortcut through long-term icon clicking, but nothing worked, here you’ll find alternative solutions.

Important: The instructions are valid for all Poco X3 modifications (including Pro, NFC and global versions), but may differ for custom firmware such as Pixel Experience or LineageOS. Before you start, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone.

1. Standard method: shortcut for application from menu

The most obvious method is to add a shortcut from the main app menu, which works on all versions of MIUI, but with reservations:

• 📱 Suitable only for installed applications (not for files or websites).
• 🔄 Nana MIUI 14 may require pre-unlocking of Developer Mode.
• ⚙️ Some system applications (such as Security or Topics) may be blocked to create shortcuts.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the main app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the desired application and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. In the context menu that appears, select Add to the home screen (or Create a shortcut on older versions of MIUI).

⚠️ Note: If there is no option to Add to the main screen, then the application prohibits the creation of shortcuts (often found in banking programs or games with a computer). DRM-Try alternative methods in the following sections.

Check the free space on the desktop (minimum 1×1 cell)

Make sure the app is not hidden in Settings → Apps → Hidden Apps

Update MIUI to the latest version (tag bugs are often patched)

Turn off Power Saving Mode (can block background processes)

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2. Website shortcut: bypassing browser restrictions

Adding a site shortcut to the Poco X3 desktop is harder than it seems. Standard Xiaomi Browser and Google Chrome often “lose” the created shortcuts after rebooting. The problem is with optimizing MIUI, which removes “unused” shortcuts after 2-3 days. To avoid this, use one of two methods:

Method 1: Google Chrome (most stable)

1. Open the site in Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Add to the main screen.
3. Confirm the name of the label and click Add.
4. Important! Once created, open the shortcut at least once, and it will prevent it from being automatically deleted.

Method 2: Through Xiaomi Browser (requires additional action)

If you prefer a standard browser:

1. Open a website in Xiaomi Browser.
2. Press three points. → Add to the main screen.
3. If there is no option, go to Browser Settings → Additional → Create a shortcut.
4. Once you create a shortcut, reboot your phone and check it’s working – if it’s gone, use Chrome.

Google Chrome|Xiaomi Browser|Firefox|Opera|Other-->

3. File or folder shortcut: Hidden MIUI features

It is not possible to create a shortcut for a file (PDF, APK, image) or folder on the Poco X3 desktop using standard means - MIUI blocks this function.

Method 1: Using a file manager (for experienced users)

Some file managers (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) allow you to create shortcuts for files.

1. Install Solid Explorer from Google Play.
2. Open the manager and find the file you want.
3. Press the file → select Create a shortcut.
4. The shortcut will appear in the Shortcuts folder – transfer it to the desktop manually.

⚠️ Note: File shortcuts may not be updated automatically. If you change the original file, the shortcut will continue to open the old version. Use Google Drive, Mi Cloud for data relevance and create shortcuts for their web versions.

Method 2: Convert a file to an “application” (for APKs and images)

For APK-file:

• 📦 Use the app. APK Shortcut Maker (available on Google Play).
• 🔗 Choose. APK-file → Labeling → add to the desktop.

For images or documents:

• 🖼️ Convert the file to PDF And upload it to Google Drive.
• 🌐 Create a shortcut for the web version of the file (see Section 2).

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If you often need shortcuts for files, consider installing the Nova Launcher.It supports shortcuts creation for any files without the limitations of MIUI.

4. Label for system functions (settings, modes, tools)

MIUI hides the ability to create shortcuts for system functions (e.g. Game Mode, Flashlight or Mobile Internet), but these can be added via Widgets or QuickShortcutMaker.

Method 1: MIUI widgets

Some features are available as widgets:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the Tools or Systems section.
3. Select the desired widget (for example, Flashlight or Airplane Mode) and drag it to the screen.

Method 2: QuickShortcutMaker (for hidden functions)

QuickShortcutMaker allows you to create shortcuts for any Android activity (hidden feature):

1. Install QuickShortcutMaker from Google Play.
2. Open the app and search for the name of the feature (e.g. game for Game Mode).
3. Select the desired activity → Create.
4. The shortcut will appear in the application menu – transfer it to the desktop.

Examples of useful activities for Poco X3:

• 🎮 com.miui.gamebooster - Game mode
• 🔦 com.android.torch – Lantern (alternative)
• 📶 com.android.settings.DataUsageSummary - Traffic statistics

5. Problem Solving: Why Labels Are Disappearing or Not Working

If the created shortcuts disappear after the reboot or do not open, the reasons may be as follows:

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔄 Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🛠️ Install a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher).
• 📱 Update MIUI up to the latest version (in new builds corrected bugs with labels).

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If the shortcuts continue to disappear, the problem may be in the damaged cache of the system. perform a cache reset via Restore Mode (press Power + Volume up when turned on).

6.Alternative launchers: full control of labels

If the standard methods don't work, install a third-party launcher, which will allow:

• 📌 Create shortcuts for any files and folders.
• 🎨 Customize the appearance of icons (size, shape, animations).
• 🔒 Fix shortcuts on the desktop (they will not disappear after updates).

The best launchers for Poco X3:

Instructions for installing and configuring Nova Launcher:

1. Download Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select Import Settings (to save the current shortcuts).
3. Click the empty space on the desktop → Widgets → Nova Actions.
4. Select Shortcuts → App & Activity Shortcuts to create shortcuts for system functions.

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Third-party launchers not only solve the shortcut problem, but also speed up the interface by 15-20% due to optimization of animations.

FAQ: Frequent questions about labels on Poco X3