How to make a shortcut on a Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways for MIUI 14 and 15

Shortcuts on Xiaomi’s home screen save time — instead of finding an app on the menu, you get instant access to the feature you want. But not everyone knows that MIUI-enabled smartphones can create not only standard program icons, but also shortcuts for websites, contacts, quick actions (like direct calling), and even hidden system features. In this article, we’ll look at all the relevant ways, from basic to advanced, including bypassing the limitations of MIUI for some types of shortcuts.

Important: the instructions below are checked on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 with MIUI 14.0.5 and 15.1.2 firmware. If you have a different version of the shell, some menu items may be slightly different - we will specify alternative paths. Also note that on devices with global and Chinese versions of MIUI, the set of available features may vary.

1. Standard method: app shortcut on home screen

The easiest method is to add an installed app icon, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require any additional settings.

Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen). Find the app and pinch the icon for 1-2 seconds. A context menu with options will appear. Select Add to the home screen (or drag the icon to the free area of the screen if the menu does not appear).

• 📱 For MIUI 15: In the app menu, first click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Edit mode, then highlight the desired applications and click Add to the home screen.
• 🔄 If no shortcut is added: check if Easy Mode is enabled (Settings) → Special facilities → Light mode. In this mode, some functions are limited.
• 🚫 Limitation: You cannot create a shortcut for system applications hidden in the MIUI (For example, Equipment Tests or Developer Mode, these require a workaround (see Section 5).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T s MIUI 14) if you press the app icon long enough, you immediately open the menu with the options Delete and Application Information. In this case, drag and drop the icon without pressing - just touch and hold, then move to the main screen.

2. Website shortcut (PWA or regular bookmark)

Do you want to quickly open your favorite site without running a browser? MIUI There are two options: create a regular bookmark (opens in the browser) or PWA-Progressive Web App works as a separate application.

Method 1: Bookmarking through the Mi Browser or Chrome browser

1. Open the site in your browser.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Add to the home screen (in Chrome) or More → Add to the screen (in Mi Browser).
3. Create a name for the shortcut (the default will be the site name) and confirm.

Method 2: PWA-tag (only for supported sites)

Not all websites support all PWA, But if you see an icon in the browser address bar ➕ or the notification "Add to the main screen", you can create a full label:

1. Open a website (e.g. Twitter or Telegram Web).


2. In Chrome, click three dots → Add to the home screen.




3. In the window that appears, select Open as an application (this is PWA).




4. Ready! Now the site will open in a separate window without an address bar.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 15 in the making PWA-Shortcuts may appear via Chrome error "Can't add a shortcut" Solution: upgrade your browser to the latest version or use Mi Browser.

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If PWA-The shortcut stopped working, clear the browser cache: Settings → Annexes → Chrome → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

3. Quick-acting shortcut (direct call, SMS, navigation)

MIUI allows you to create shortcuts for instant actions, such as calling a specific contact, sending an SMS, or opening cards with a pre-entered address, which is convenient for frequently used functions.

How to create a direct call label:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Find the right contact and click on it.
3. In the upper right corner, click on three dots → Add a shortcut.
4. Select the action: Call, Video Call or Message.
5. The label will appear on the home screen, and when you click it, the call will start immediately (without confirmation!).

Navigation shortcut (Google Maps or Yandex.Maps):

It is impossible to create such a label through standard MIUI tools, but there is a workaround:

• 📍 Open Google Maps and find the right place.
• 📌 Press the tag. → Share. → Copy the link.
• 🔗 Open the browser, insert the link and create a shortcut (as in section 2). Now, clicking will open navigation to this place.

Contact saved in the phone book|Annex (calls)/SMS/maps) updated|There is a free space on the main screen.|Do not disturb mode is disabled (otherwise the call will not pass)-->

4.Tags through MIUI widgets

Widgets in MIUI are not just weather or calendar, but also a tool for creating dynamic shortcuts, such as the Quick Settings widget with buttons for Wi-Fi, flashlight or mobile data, or the Notes widget for quick access to records.

How to add a widget:

1. Click the empty space on the main screen → Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list and select the one you want (like Weather, Calendar, or Quick Settings).
3. Press the widget and drag it to the main screen. Some widgets can be stretched (for example, the weather comes in three sizes).

Hidden MIUI widgets:

In the list of widgets there are little-known options:

• 🔦 Flashlight – a separate button to turn on the flashlight.
• 📡 Flight mode - switch for fast on / off.
• 🔋 Charging – shows the battery level and temperature.
• 🎵 Music – playback widget (works with Mi Music and Spotify).

⚠️ Attention: POCO-device MIUI They may not be available due to customized firmware, in which case install Nova Launcher (see Section 6) for advanced features.

5. Advanced Method: Shortcuts for Hidden Functions via QuickShortcutMaker

Some Xiaomi features are hidden deep in the settings or have no interface at all, such as the Sensor Test, Engineering Menu Mode, or Developer Settings, and you can use QuickShortcutMaker (available on Google Play) to access them.

Instructions:

1. Install QuickShortcutMaker.
2. Open the app and give access to Special Options Settings (to find hidden features).
3. In the search bar, enter the name of the function, for example: engineering - engineering menu; developer - developer settings; test - equipment tests.

Labeling

The finished shortcut will appear in the application menu – it can be dragged to the main screen.

Examples of useful hidden labels:

• 🔧 com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings — Direct link to the developer settings (no need to click) 7 once-assembly number!).
• 📡 com.android.settings/.TestingSettings — Test menu to check network, sensors and display.
• 🔋 com.miui.powercenter/.BatteryInfoActivity — detailed information about the battery (real capacity, number of charging cycles).

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QuickShortcutMaker allows you to create shortcuts even for features that Xiaomi has hidden in recent versions of MIUI (for example, High Performance Mode in MIUI 15).

6.Alternative launchers for extended shortcuts

If standard MIUI capabilities are not enough, you can install a launcher side (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).

• 🎨 Customize the size of icons and fonts;
• 🔄 Create gestures for shortcuts (for example, swipe up the icon opens another application);
• 📂 Group shortcuts into folders with customized icons;
• 🔍 Use search by apps and contacts directly on the home screen.

How to set up Nova Launcher for shortcuts:

1. Install Nova Launcher.
2. Click and hold the blank space on the screen → Widgets → Nova Actions.
3. Select an action such as: Open the app; Call the contact; Open the web page.

Edit

Nova Launcher allows you to create shortcuts for actions that cannot be implemented in a standard MIUI, such as launching an application in split mode or opening a specific chat in Telegram.

7. Resolving label problems

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

If the label doesn't work:

1. Check if the application it leads to has been removed.
2. Clear the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. If the shortcut leads to the site, check your internet connection.
4. For PWA-Update Chrome or WebView (Settings) → Annexes → Android System WebView → Update).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with ad blocking (built-in) MIUI) some PWA-Solution: Add the site domain to the blocker exceptions: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Settings (⚙️) → Special access → Displaying on top of other applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi