How to hide shortcuts on Xiaomi desktop: from standard settings to hidden MIUI features

The desktop of a Xiaomi smartphone often turns into a chaos of app shortcuts, widgets and folders — especially if you are actively installing software from Google Play or MI App Store. Even after uninstallation, some icons remain “dead weight”, and system applications like Mi Video or Mi Music can not be removed without root rights. Fortunately, MIUI offers several ways to hide unnecessary shortcuts — from basic launcher settings to advanced tricks with ADB.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 working methods (including little-known ones) that will work for most models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or superuser rights, but we’ll start with the simplest solutions available out of the box. If you’re looking for a way to completely clean your desktop, leaving only wallpaper and weather widgets, here you’ll find step-by-step instructions with illustrations and warnings of possible consequences.

1. Standard shortcut hiding through MIUI settings

The most obvious (but not the most effective) way is to use the built-in options of the MIUI launcher. It does not remove applications, but only removes their icons from the desktop, leaving access through the All Apps menu.

How it works:

• 📱 Put your finger on any label on your desktop. → At the top of the screen will appear the toolbar.
• 🔍 Slip on the Settings icon (cogs) → Choose Hide Apps to Hide Apps.
• 🗑️ Check the boxes for unnecessary programs (for example, Mi Pay, Mi Community) → press "Done".
• ⚠️ Restriction: System applications (such as Security or Topics) cannot be hidden in this way.

This method is suitable for MIUI 12-15, but has disadvantages:

• ❌ Hidden applications still take up space in memory.
• ❌ They can be accidentally opened through a search system (Application Search).
• ❌ After updating MIUI Some labels may come back.

⚠️ Note: If you have hidden an app but it keeps sending notifications (e.g. Mi Browser), its processes are still active. To completely disable the background work, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → [programme] → Battery → Limit background activity.

2. Use of folders and "Appdrover" to organize space

If you don’t need to hide labels completely, just remove them from view, use the built-in tools of the organization:

Method 1: Folders on the desktop

• 📁 Drag one label to another → folder will be created automatically.
• 🎨 Name it (e.g., "Reserve") and move it to the corner of the screen.
• 🔒 To prevent the folder from opening accidentally, press it. → Edit → uncheck the box with "Show the name".

Method 2: Appdrover (all app menus)

• 📱 Swipe up the desktop to open the appdraver.
• 🔍 Here you can create folders by dragging icons onto each other (similar to a desktop).
• 🔒 To remove the shortcut from your desktop, press it and drag it up into the “Delete” inscription (this is not a de-installation, but just a cover-up).

The advantage of this method is reversibility: you can return the shortcut to the desktop at any time, but it does not solve the problem of system applications that can neither be removed nor hidden by standard means.

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If you need to quickly find a hidden application, use the swipe gesture down the desktop and type the name into the MIUI search bar. This will work even for programs hidden through the launcher settings.

3. disable system applications via ADB (without root)

For advanced users who are willing to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge, there's a way to disable system applications that can't be removed or hidden through the interface. It doesn't require root rights, but it requires a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

Connect your phone to your PC

Open the command line.

adb devices

Make sure your device is listed.

Disable the unnecessary application

Mi Music

adb shell pm hide com.miui.player

List of popular packs to disable:

Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications may lead to unstable operation MIUI For example, disabling com.miui.securitycenter can break access to certain settings. Always back up before experimenting with ADB!

4. Removal of labels by third-party launchers

If you don't like the built-in MIUI, you can completely replace the standard launcher with an alternative.

• 🌐 Nova Launcher – supports app hiding, gestures, adaptive icons.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – lightweight open source launcher.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for Performance.
• 📱 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows and Office.

How to hide the shortcuts in Nova Launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Click the empty space on the desktop → Settings.
3. Go to App Settings → Hide Apps.
4. Check the unneeded programs and save the changes.

Advantages of third-party launchers:

• ✅ Ability to hide any applications, including system (although they will remain on the menu of all applications).
• ✅ Flexible configuration of appearance (themes, icons, animations).
• ✅ Lack of advertising and unnecessary widgets MIUI.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Certain functions MIUI (Super Wallpapers or Control Center may not work properly.
• ❌ Increased battery consumption (due to background operation of the launcher).

5 Advanced methods: root rights and modification of system files

If you're willing to take drastic measures, unlocking the bootloader and getting root rights will give you full control of the system.

• 🗑️ Uninstall system applications without a trace (e.g., via Titanium Backup or Root Explorer).
• 🔧 Edit the launcher files (/system/priv-app/Launcher) remove unnecessary labels.
• 🛠️ Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where there is no preinstalled Xiaomi software.

Step-by-step instructions for removing system applications from root:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (the official Xiaomi tool).
2. Install Custom Recavers (TWRP) and get root rights through Magisk.
3. Download Root Explorer or FX File Explorer from Google Play.
4. Go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/ and delete folders with unnecessary applications (e.g. MiBrowser, MiMusic).
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting system files can cause a device to fail, and always check what dependencies the application has before deleting it. For example, removing com.miui.home will make the phone unusable without first installing an alternative launcher.

An alternative way for experienced users is to edit a file default_workspace.xml, It's a desktop configuration:

/data/data/com.miui.home/shared_prefs/default_workspace.xml

Open it in the root editor and delete the lines with unnecessary shortcuts. It is recommended to back up the file before editing!

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Root rights give you maximum freedom, but they give you no guarantees and increase the risk of failure, and only use this method if you are confident in your actions and ready for the consequences.

6.Resetting launcher settings to factory

If after experiments with hiding shortcuts, the desktop began to glittle (for example, icons disappeared at all or changes are not saved), you can reset the launcher settings without completely resetting the phone.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Launcher (or MIUI Launcher) and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
4. The phone will reboot and the launcher will return to factory settings (all shortcuts and folders will reset).

This method will help if:

• 🔄 Labels don’t move or disappear after reboot.
• 🖼️ The desktop wallpaper is reset or displayed incorrectly.
• ⚙️ Launcher settings (such as grid size or icon style) are not saved.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the launcher data won't remove the installed applications, but it will return all system shortcuts to the desktop.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding shortcuts on Xiaomi