How to Create a Folder on Xiaomi Screen: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, whether Redmi or POCO, have powerful filling, which allows you to install dozens or even hundreds of applications. Over time, the standard screen fills with bright icons, turning into a chaotic mosaic where it is difficult to find the right program in a few seconds. It is at this point that the user faces the question of the need to organize the digital space. Grouping programs into thematic folders is not just a way to bring visual order, but also a real opportunity to speed up navigation through the system.

The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer an intuitive but not always obvious mechanism for creating groupings. Many users make unnecessary moves trying to find hidden menus, although all the magic lies in simply dragging an icon onto an icon. A properly organized desktop structure allows you to turn your gadget into an effective tool where everything you need is at hand.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the folder creation process, its settings and hidden features that not all owners of Android devices from the Chinese manufacturer know about. You will learn not only to create groups of applications, but also to do it in a way that is really convenient in everyday use.

Basic principle of grouping applications in MIUI

The basic method of creating a software container on Xiaomi smartphones is versatile and doesn't require a deep knowledge of the interface. You need to find two programs on your desktop or in the application menu that you want to combine. The essence of the method is simply to superimpose one icon on top of another. This action initiates an automatic process of creating a new group.

Once you drag and drop one icon to another, the system will instantly react by creating a folder, and it will have both of the selected applications inside it. The system interface will prompt you to immediately name this new category so that you can easily identify its contents in the future. It's a basic algorithm that works on all current versions of firmware.

It is worth noting that if you do not enter the name right away, the system will assign the folder a standard name based on the application category (for example, "Tools" or "Social Networks"). However, manually entering the name allows you to make the structure more understandable for you personally, especially if you use specific work programs.

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Use short names for single-word folders so they don’t get cropped on the lock screen or in desktop editing mode.

It's important to understand that the size of the group you create is not limited to two applications, so you can continue to add new icons to the folder you've created by the same drag and drop method, and this allows you to create vast repositories for rarely used utilities, or, conversely, to hone the most important tools in one place.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a folder

For those who prefer to follow the algorithm, we have prepared a detailed guide that will help you avoid errors and create a folder the first time, even if you use a Xiaomi smartphone for the first time.

• 📱 Unlock your smartphone and go to the main screen where all your widgets and shortcuts are located.
• 👆 Press the icon of any application you want to put in the folder and hold the tap for about a second.
• 🔄 Without letting go of your finger, drag and drop the selected icon over another program you want to add to the same group.
• 📂 Release your finger when you see that the icons have joined together and the field will start to blink, waiting for the name to be entered.

Once you do that, you create a folder, and you can click on it to open it and see the content, and if you want to add more programs, just drag them inside the open folder, or you can repeat the process of overlaying the icon to the already created group.

In some cases, if you accidentally release an icon over another program, it will just go back to its place or shift other shortcuts. In this case, you don't panic, just repeat the action. The drag-and-drop mechanics are very well-developed in the MIUI shell, and it's quite difficult to get wrong here.

Customization of appearance and size of folders

Creating a folder is just the beginning. Xiaomi's shell allows you to flexibly customize the look of the folder to adapt the desktop to your needs, and you can change not only the name, but also the number of icons you see, as well as the overall display style.

To change the name, click on the folder to open it, then tap the text box at the top, type in a new name and confirm the action, which is especially useful if you sort applications by specific criteria, such as "Study," "Finance," or "Games for the evening."

The size of the folder on the desktop is also adjustable. Depending on the launcher version, you can stretch the folder area to take up more space on the screen, which allows you to see more applications without having to open the folder completely. Just press and hold the folder, then pull over the edge to resize it.

⚠️ Note: Changing the folder size can cause neighboring widgets and icons to shift. Evaluate the free space on the desktop in advance so as not to disturb the overall composition.

Also worth mentioning is the Recommendations feature inside folders, which can automatically prompt you to add apps that you often use in conjunction with those you already have, which is a smart feature, but you can turn it off in settings if it seems intrusive.

Removal and renaming of established groups

Sooner or later, you may need to remove the folder you created or change its contents. The process of deleting in MIUI and HyperOS is logical, but requires understanding the difference between deleting the folder itself and deleting applications from it.

If you want to delete the folder completely, you have to remove all the applications from it. As long as there is at least one icon in the group, the folder will exist. Once you drag the last application outside the folder, it will automatically disappear from the screen. This is protection against accidental deletion of the structure.

To rename, you just open the folder and click on the current name. In the new keyboard, enter new text. The system will immediately apply the changes. This is convenient to do periodically when the set of applications inside changes and the old name no longer reflects the essence.

Remember, deleting the folder doesn't delete the applications themselves; they just go back to the desktop in a free order, and your data and program settings are kept intact.

Sorting applications inside the folder

When a lot of apps are stored in a folder, the order can become cluttered. There are several ways Xiaomi can organize content so that it takes seconds to find the right program, and this is especially true for folders with games or utilities.

You can manually change the position of the icons inside the open folder, just press the application and drag it to the desired place, and often used programs are better placed in the top row or at the top of the list, so that they catch the eye first.

There's also the possibility of sorting by installation time or alphabet, although the manual method is often more effective for personalized use. You can create a logical structure where, for example, messengers are on the left and social networks are on the right.

Cleaning folders from unused software regularly helps keep the interface running faster. While modern Snapdragon and MediaTek processors can easily handle any number of icons, visual order reduces the cognitive load on the user.

Problems with folder creation and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the folder is not created or behaves incorrectly, this can be due to errors in the launcher or crowded memory of the cache of the system, in most cases, the problem is solved by simple actions.

If the icon bounces off from another and doesn't want to merge, try slowing down the drag and drop speed, and make sure you're not in widget mode, but you're working with app shortcuts. You can't create folders in widget mode.

If the problem is systemic, cleaning the launcher cache can help. Go to settings, find the Apps section, select All Apps, and find the System Launcher list.

Settings → Applications → All applications → Launcher System → Clean → Clear cache

⚠️ Warning: Do not select the "Clear all data" option for the launcher, if you do not want to reset the location of all icons and widgets on desktops to the factory state.

Once the cache is cleared, restart the device, which usually returns the standard interface logic, and folders start to be created without problems, and if the failure repeats, you may need to update the system to the current version.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Creating folders on Xiaomi is a basic skill that greatly improves the ergonomics of smartphone usage and allows you to keep hundreds of apps in perfect order.