Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to optimize their workspace for faster navigation. The standard MIUI shell or the new HyperOS provide ample opportunities for personalization, but some features are hidden from the eyes of the average user. Creating shortcuts is not just adding icons, it is a way to organize access to features you may not have known about or regain access to lost applications.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from the classic addition of programs to creating shortcuts for specific system settings or websites. You will learn how to fix the situation if the icon disappeared after an update, and how to use the engineering menu for advanced management. UI personalization is a key aspect of comfortable use of a smartphone, and we will help you master it completely.
Basic ways to add applications to the desktop
The most obvious, but often ignored, method is to work with a built-in menu of all applications. Unlike iOS, where all programs are on desktops, Android has the default mode of "App Boxes", where you need to create shortcuts manually, you need to swipe up the full app menu, find the desired program, pinch your finger on the icon and drag it to the free area of the screen.
If the standard method didn't work, you may have the option of automatically adding. Check the settings in Settings → Desktop. Here you can activate the "Add shortcuts to new apps to desktop" feature, which will save you from having to create them manually every time you install a new game or utility from Google Play.
In some cases, especially on older versions of firmware, it may be necessary to reset the launcher settings. This is an extreme measure, but it helps if the system interface is not working properly and does not save changes. Remember, resetting the launcher will return the location of the icons to the factory state, so first take screenshots of the important folder structure for you.
- 📱 Press the icon in the menu “All apps” and drag to the free space.
- ⚙️ Enable autoadd in desktop settings for new programs.
- 🔄 Restart the device if the shortcut is not displayed immediately after installation.
- 🗑️ Remove old unused shortcuts to vacate space.
Creating shortcuts for folders and grouping applications
The organization of space on the screen of Xiaomi smartphone is critical to productivity. To create a folder shortcut, you don't need complex actions. Just drag and drop one app icon on top of another. The system automatically creates a folder that puts both programs in, and this is the fastest way to bring order to the chaos of installed games and utilities.
Once you create a folder, you can rename it by clicking on the name above the icons, and you can put folders into each other, creating a layered structure, although this doesn't always work in a stable way in MIUI, and you'd better use a flat structure: one folder, one category (e.g., Banks, Social Networks, Jobs), which makes it easier to find the right program visually.
Removing the folder shortcut is done in the standard way: press the folder and drag it to the cart or click Delete. It's important to understand that deleting the folder shortcut doesn't remove the apps themselves from the phone's memory. It's just an organizational tool that helps you navigate the HyperOS or MIUI interface faster.
☑️ Organization of the desktop
⚠️ Note: When moving icons to folders on some versions MIUI If the icons have “swimmed” after creating the folder, try temporarily disabling animations in the developer settings or simply restarting your smartphone.
Advanced shortcuts: direct system settings and functions
Many users are unaware that Xiaomi’s shell can create shortcuts not only for apps but also for specific menu items, which is especially useful for commonly used features like Flight Mode, Flashlight or Access Point. This uses the standard Settings app, but the path to it is through search or special codes.
One of the most effective ways is to use the Shortcuts app, which is often built into MIUI system utilities, or third-party analogues from the Play Market, which can be used to bring a button to the desktop that immediately switches Wi-Fi, changes brightness or opens a specific settings page, bypassing long transitions through the menu.
There's also a way to create shortcuts through the browser, so you can open any settings page (like a phone information page) and select "Add to the home screen" from the browser menu, which will create a widget that leads right to the right partition, which is a great life hack for those who often check the firmware version or memory status.
| Type of label | Creation | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Annex | Menu of all applications | Quick start of programs |
| folder | Drag the icon to the icon | Thematic clustering |
| Setting up | Annex “Tags” or widgets | Instant access to functions |
| Website | browser → Menus. → Main screen. | Launching Sites as Applications |
Secret codes for labels
Widgets and their difference from conventional shortcuts
It's important to distinguish between shortcuts and widgets. A shortcut is a static icon that runs an app. A widget is a dynamic element that displays real-time information. On Xiaomi smartphones, widgets take up more space but provide more functionality without having to open an app.
To add a widget, you need to pinch the empty space on the desktop and select "Widgets." In the list you can find hours, weather, currency rates or gallery previews. Modern widgets in HyperOS support interactivity, allowing, for example, to mark completed tasks directly from the lock screen or desktop.
Some widgets require permission to work in the background. If the widget has stopped updating or shows old data, check the energy saving settings for the corresponding application.The system may limit background activity to save battery, which leads to the "frozen" widget on the screen.
- 🌤️ Weather widgets require constant access to geolocation.
- 📅 Calendars may not be updated without auto-run permission.
- 🔋 Heavy widgets increase battery consumption.
- 🖼️ Photo widgets update images from selected album.
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Use Xiaomi’s Tools widget to combine in one block shortcuts for calculator, voice recorder, scanner and flashlight. This saves up to four desktop spaces.
Problems with displaying icons and their solution
A common problem with Xiaomi users is that shortcuts disappear after a system update or reset. This may be due to a launcher cache error. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find the Desktop (or Launcher) and clear the cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as this will reset all icons.
Another reason is hidden apps. MIUI has a Hidden Apps feature that is accessed by spreading your fingers around the desktop (if the feature is enabled) or through security settings. Check this section, maybe the missing shortcut was accidentally hidden or moved there by the antivirus.
If the app shortcut is white or displayed as a standard Android robot, it's a theme display error. Try changing the theme to the standard theme in the Themes app, and then return yours. This will re-write the paths to the icons and restore their graphical display.
⚠️ Warning: If the label disappears immediately after creation, check if pocket or child mode is enabled.In these modes, access to creating new interface elements is often limited by parental controls or security settings.
Use of third-party launchers for advanced functionality
The MIUI’s regular capabilities sometimes seem limited to advanced users, with third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher coming to the rescue, allowing you to create Action Shortcuts that give you access to hidden system features that are not available through the standard menu.
With third-party software, you can label a double-touch, long-press, or swipe. For example, double-taping a phone icon can reveal not a dial, but a list of the last missed calls or a specific contact, a level of automation that takes smartphone use to a new level of efficiency.
However, installing a third-party launcher on Xiaomi has its nuances: the system can aggressively unload the launcher process from memory, which can cause navigation buttons to disappear or work with a delay.
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Third-party launchers offer maximum flexibility, but can conflict with MIUI system gestures. For stable operation, it is recommended to use classic navigation (three buttons) instead of gestures.