How to make a shortcut on Xiaomi devices: from smartphone to TV box

Shortcuts on Xiaomi devices save time by giving you quick access to apps, contacts or system features right from the home screen. MIUI (Android TV The ways of creating things are different in televisions, and in this article, we'll look at all the current methods, from classic drag and drop icons to hidden features for power users.

Xiaomi’s firmware features are that some options are hidden in the depths of the menu or require activation through the Developer Settings. For example, shortcuts for fast commands (such as flashlight or mobile Internet) are not available on all versions. MIUI We're going to show you how to get around these restrictions without root rights.

Important: The instructions below are checked on MIUI 14/15 (for smartphones and Android TV 11/12 (for Mi TV Stick, Mi Box and Xiaomi TVs.If you have an older version, some items may be missing - update your firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

1. Classic method: dragging icons to the main screen

The simplest method that works on all Xiaomi devices – from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14 – is suitable for creating app shortcuts, folders and widgets.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 👆 Find the right application and pinch its icon on 1-2 seconds.
• 🏠 Drag the icon to the free seat of the main screen or to the dock bar (bottom panel).
• ✅ Let go of your finger - the label is created.

If the label is not dragged:

• 🔧 Make sure there is free space on the home screen (remove unnecessary shortcuts or widgets).
• 📵 Check if the Easy Mode is activated (Settings) → Special opportunities → Easy regime).
• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes helps with interface glitches.

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On smartphones Xiaomi with AMOLED-With screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), shortcuts in a dark theme consume less power. → Screen. → Dark subject.

2. Creation of contact shortcuts (calls and messages)

To make a quick call or text to a specific person, you can put their contact on the home screen, which works on both smartphones and tablets Xiaomi Pad.

Instructions:

1. Open the Contacts (or Phone) application.
2. Find the right contact and hold it on 1-2 seconds.
3. In the menu that appears, select Create a shortcut (or Add to the home screen).
4. Select the type of label: 📞 Calling - for quick dialing. 💬 Message - for sending SMS. 📧 Email (if the mail address is attached).

If the option to create a shortcut is not available:

On Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi) TV Q2) You can’t create a contact shortcut – instead, use a voice assistant (button on the remote with a microphone) for quick dialing.

3. Widgets as an alternative to labels

If standard shortcuts don't fit, widgets offer more features, such as:

• 📅 Calendar with upcoming events.
• 🎵 Music management for Mi Music or Spotify).
• 🔋 Battery with detailed consumption statistics.
• 📱 Selected contacts (alternative to labels).

How to add a widget:

1. Click the empty space on the main screen.
2. In the bottom menu, select Widgets.
3. Scroll through the list and select the one you want (like Weather or Notes).
4. Press the widget and drag it to the screen.

Android. TV (For example, Mi Box S widgets are added differently:

1. Press and hold the Home button on the remote.
2. Select Screen Settings → Add a widget.
3. Choose from the list (such as the weather or calendar).

4. Labels for system functions (flashlight, mobile Internet, etc.)

On Xiaomi smartphones, you can create shortcuts for quick access to system functions, which are usually hidden in the notification bar or settings.

• 🔦 Lantern.
• 📶 Mobile Internet.
• 🔇 Silent mode.
• 🔄 File Transfer (Mi Share).

How to do this:

1. Install QuickShortcutMaker from Google Play (it is free and does not require root).
2. Open the app and search for the name of the function (for example, flashlight).
3. Select the item from the list (for example, com.android.systemui/.toggle.TorchToggle).
4. Click Create - the shortcut will appear on the main screen.

Install QuickShortcutMaker from Google Play

Enable installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Installation of Unknown Applications)

Check the version. MIUI (Some functions only work on MIUI 14+)

Make a backup copy of the data (in case of failure)

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On Xiaomi TVs, create shortcuts for system features (e.g., switching) HDMI-Ports) via QuickShortcutMaker is not possible - instead use voice commands or set up quick buttons on the remote via Settings → Remote and buttons.

Warning: Some system shortcuts (e.g. for Developer Mode) may not work on newer versions MIUI Because of the security constraints, in which case it'll only help. ADB-team:

adb shell pm grant com.sika524.android.quickshortcut android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

5. Android shortcuts TV (Mi Box, Mi TV Stick, Xiaomi TV)

On Android devices TV (For example, Mi Box S 2nd Gen or Xiaomi TV A2) Shortcut creation has its nuances. There's no classic "home screen" on smartphones, but you can pin apps to the top row or to the launch bar.

Ways:

• 📺 Attachment at the top line: Find the app in the list (All apps). Press the button OK on the remote on the app icon. Select Secure.

Addition to the launch panel

1. Open the Settings. → Annexes → Launch panel.
2. Select the app and click Add.

If the application does not appear in the list:

⚠️ Attention: On Android TV Some applications (such as Kodi or Stremio) may not have icons to anchor:

1. Set up the launcher ATV Launcher or Wolf Launcher from Google Play.
2. In the launcher settings, activate the option to Show all applications.
3. Secure the desired application through the launcher menu.

On Xiaomi TVs with Google TV (for example, Xiaomi TV Q2 2023 - algorithm other:

• 🔍 Find the application through search (button with microphone on the remote).
• 📌 In search results, click and hold. OK icon.
• 🏠 Select Add to the main screen.

6. Hidden opportunities: labels through ADB Tasker

For advanced users who want to automate tasks or create shortcuts for functions that are not available through the standard interface, this is the right option. ADB-Teams and Tasker App.

Method 1: ADB-labelling

Through ADB You can create a shortcut for any activity in the system, for example, to quickly open the developer mode:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings

To make this team a label:

1. Install QuickShortcutMaker (see section 4).
2. Manually add new activity with a name com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings.
3. Create a shortcut on the main screen.

Method 2: Tasker for Automation

With Tasker, you can create a shortcut that:

• 🔄 Switching power modes.
• 📡 Turns it on/off 5G (supported-model).
• 🔊 Changes the sound profiles on schedule.

Example of the problem to enable the "In the plane" mode:

1. Open Tasker and create a new task (+ → New challenge).
2. Add the Net action → Airplane Mode → On.
3. Save the task and create a shortcut on the home screen through Long Press → Widgets → Tasker.

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ADB Tasker and Require Developer Mode Enabled (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times. Incorrect use of commands can cause system failures!

7. Resolving label problems

Sometimes shortcuts on Xiaomi disappear, don't open, or get duplicated, and let's look at typical problems and their solutions.

If the labels disappear after the reboot:

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices (e.g, POCO X5) It turns on memory optimization, which removes "unnecessary" shortcuts to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Special access → Optimizing the battery.
3. Find the Launcher (commonly called com.miui.home) and select No Limits.

Android. TV Labels can be reset after a firmware update:

• 📁 Make a backup of the list of applications through Settings → System system → Backup.
• 🔄 After the update, restore the settings from the backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi