MIUI and Xiaomi’s new HyperOS offer users a huge opportunity to personalize the interface, but the standard layout of applications often seems chaotic. Many smartphone owners find that after installing dozens of programs, the desktop becomes an unreadable dump where you can’t quickly find the right label. Competent icon sorting is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a way to increase productivity and reduce the time you need to find the tools you need.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can organize, from simple drag and drop to the use of hidden launcher features.You’ll learn to create smart folders, change screen grids, and apply automatic sorting algorithms that the system takes on. Properly organizing your workspace is the first step to making your Xiaomi Redmi or Poco comfortable.
Before we start, it's worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. However, the basic principles of navigation and the logic of working with objects remain unchanged over the years of the development of the shell.
Basic principles of manual movement of icons
The most obvious, but fundamental way to get things in order is to manually move shortcuts. You start by going into editing mode, which is activated by a long press of your finger on any free area of the screen or on the app icon itself, at which point the system vibrates and the icons begin to tremble slightly, signaling readiness for change. Tactile recoil helps you know that you are in editing mode.
When you drag and drop objects, you can change their position relative to each other or move them to other desktop pages. It's important to understand that MIUI has a limit on the number of items in the row, which depends on the grid you choose, and if you try to put an icon in a cell that's already occupied, the system will automatically move adjacent items or suggest you create a folder.
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Use the “shaking” function of the smartphone after entering the edit mode to automatically align all icons on the grid and remove empty cells between them.
Special attention should be paid to the bottom panel, known as Dock, which recommends you to take out the applications that you use daily: phone, messages, browser and messengers. These shortcuts remain fixed when swiping between pages, providing constant access to key functions. Moving the icon to this area requires accuracy, because when the Dock bar is overflowing, the system can automatically create a new page or fold an extra one in the menu.
Creating and Configuring Folders for Grouping Applications
When there are dozens of applications, manual movement becomes inefficient. Folders come to the rescue. To group icons, you just drag and drop one program over another. The system automatically creates a container that can be renamed by touching the name. Grouping by function is the best way to structure the space.
- 📂 Category approach: combine applications by type (Social networks, Games, Work, Finance) to instantly find the right one.
- 🎨 Color coding: Some users sort icons by color, making it visually easier to search, though less logical.
- 📉 Frequency of Use: Create a “Rarely Used” folder for programs you need once a month and remove it from the last screen.
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell have improved folder opening animations and added name recommendations, and the system itself analyzes the content and suggests renaming the Apps folder to Office or Media if the programs are inside, saving time and eliminating the need to manually type names for each new group.
You don't want to create too deep nesting levels, because in MIUI, it's not directly supported inside folders, but you can create folders inside folders on some versions of third-party launchers. For a standard interface, it's best to have no more than 6-8 apps in one folder so you don't have to scroll through it. Crowded folders make navigation difficult and make sorting senseless.
Changes in the desktop grid and icon size
One of the key settings that affect the perception of order is the configuration of the screen grid. You can change the number of rows and columns through the theme settings menu or in the parameters of the launcher itself. Multiple options are standard, such as 4x6, 5x5 or 5x6, which allows you to place 24 to 30 icons on a single screen without taking into account the Dock bar.
To access these settings, you need to pinch with two fingers on your desktop or pinch an empty area, then select Settings (cogs). Here you will find the Grid section where you can choose your preferred option. Increasing the density of icons allows you to keep more apps in sight, but makes the shortcuts themselves smaller, which can be inconvenient for users with large smartphones.
| Type of grid | Number of icons | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 | 24 pcs. | For large screens and users who prefer large shortcuts |
| 5 x 5 | 25 pcs. | The Golden Mean for Most Modern Smartphones |
| 5 x 6 | 30 pcs. | For the maximalists who need to see everything at once. |
| Unnetted (Free) | Depends on the widgets. | To create a unique design with widgets of different sizes |
Now, if you change the grid, you can knock down the current widget and icon arrangement, so you often have to reconfigure the system. When you change the grid, all the shortcuts automatically move to new places according to the left-to-right, top-to-bottom filling algorithm, which can break your usual layout logic, so you better plan the structure in advance.
☑️ Desktop design
Automatic sorting and launcher functions
Xiaomi’s built-in launcher has features that partially automate the process of putting order. Unlike pure Android, it has the ability to sort apps inside folders or on the desktop by name, installation time or usage frequency. However, this feature is often hidden or only available when sorted into the menu of all apps (App Drawer).
To take advantage of automatic sorting in the application menu, you need to open a list of all programs, click on three dots in the corner (or the sort button) and select the Sort by. Options are available: Default, Name, Installation Time. Selecting the Name option is the most reliable way to quickly find the program if you remember its name.
⚠️ Warning: Automatic sorting on desktop (not in the app menu) can force your widgets to move and destroy the planned structure.Use auto sorting with caution if you have many weather widgets or hours.
Also worth mentioning is the "No carousel" mode or the classic app menu. MIUI You can switch from a mode where all apps are scattered across pages to a mode with a separate menu button (like an iPhone or a pure Android), which dramatically changes the way you sort, with only widgets and folders remaining on the desktop, and all icons being removed to the alphabetical list.
Use of widgets and negative screen
Sorting icons is just part of the equation: Xiaomi's modern interface involves using widgets that take the place of icons but provide more information. Widgets can come in different sizes, and properly placed allows you to free up space for shortcuts or, conversely, fill the voids.
The negative screen (swipe to the left of the main screen) is a separate space that many people ignore, and you can put out the widgets "Stepomer", "News", "Weather" or "Notes" that remove visual noise from the main desktops, and minimalism on the main screen is achieved by taking the information load to the peripheral areas.
Secrets of MIUI widgets
When you install a large widget (e.g., 2x2 or 4x2), the system automatically shifts the icons, freeing up space. If there is no space on the current page, the shortcuts will move to the next free page. This is an important point when planning: first put large widgets, and then fill the remaining space with application icons.
Third-party launchers for advanced sorting
If standard HyperOS features aren’t enough, there’s always the option of installing a third-party launcher from Google Play. Apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer much more flexible sorting tools, allowing you to create nested folders, customize gestures for icons, and change the look beyond recognition.
Smart Launcher, for example, automatically sorts all installed applications into categories (Internet, Communication, Games, Media) without user input. This is ideal for those who want to "put and forget." However, third-party launchers can consume more battery life and do not always perfectly integrate with Xiaomi system functions such as control gestures or work with Always On Display.
When installing a third-party launcher, the system may periodically suggest returning the standard. To avoid this, you need to use Apps → Application Management → Three Points → Default Access to select your new launcher. Also, in Additional Settings → Advanced Settings → Advanced Settings (the path may vary), you should disable the “Close background applications” option so that the system does not “kill” the launcher too aggressively.
⚠️ Note: After the firmware update MIUI or HyperOS, the settings of third-party launchers may be lost, and the system may force the return of the standard interface.
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Xiaomi’s standard launcher is optimized to work with better hardware than third-party counterparts, providing smoother animation and less energy consumption.