How to create a folder on the Xiaomi home screen: all ways + secrets MIUI

A cluttered smartphone desktop is a headache for many Xiaomi users: dozens of app shortcuts, widgets, photo folders... How do you get it all in order? Folders are the easiest way to organize space, but in MIUI, this process has its nuances. Unlike pure Android, the shell from Xiaomi offers several methods of grouping icons at once, from classic drag and drop to hidden gestures.

In this article, you will find not only basic instructions, but also exclusive life hacks: how to create a folder with a password, why sometimes icons “don’t want” to merge, and how to return a randomly deleted group of applications. We tested all methods on the latest versions of MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 (including Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T), so the instructions are relevant for 90% of modern devices of the brand.

If you’ve just moved from an iPhone or other Android smartphone, be prepared for the fact that the logic of working with folders in Xiaomi is different. For example, there is no usual “long tap” to rename – instead, using a double tap by the name of the folder.

Before you start, check your shell version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have MIUI 12 or older, all of the methods described below will work. For owners of devices with MIUI 11 and below, we recommend you update - in older versions, the folder interface was less convenient.

1. Classic method: dragging icons

This is the most intuitive method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model, and its main advantage is visual feedback: you can immediately see what the future folder will look like.

Algorithm of action:

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen.
2. Find two app icons you want to combine: YouTube and Netflix.
3. Hold your finger on one of the icons and, without letting go, drag it to the second.
4. When the second icon lights up slightly, release your finger – the folder will be created automatically.

By default, the folder will receive a name generated by the system (e.g., "Entertainment" for YouTube + Netflix) to rename it:

1. Slap the folder once to open its contents.
2. Slip the folder name (at the top of the screen).
3. Enter a new name and press Ready.

Icons are not fixed (not "naked" to the screen)

There is plenty of free space on the screen.

Apps Not Hidden in "The Secret Album"

Version. MIUI less than 12-->

An important nuance: if you drag the icon to the folder and it doesn't stick, check if you have left-handed mode (in some firmware it interferes with gestures). → Special facilities → Management.

2. Create a folder through the application menu

A less well-known, but equally useful way is to group icons from the menu of all applications (App Drawer), which is convenient when there is no free space on the home screen or you want to first sort the applications and then bring the folders to the desktop.

Step-by-step:

1. Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu.
2. Slap the icon. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Edit.
3. Press the icon of the first application and drag it to the second icon (similar to the method with the main screen).
4. The folder will be created in the app menu, and to bring it to the main screen, press the folder and drag it down.

The advantage of this method is that you can create folders in the background without filling the main screen, which is especially convenient for users who prefer a minimalist desktop with 1-2 widgets.

Note that in some firmware for POCO, the application menu may look different (e.g., horizontally scrolling), in which case, look for the Change or Control button instead of three dots.

3. Secret method: folders with password (hidden folders)

Few people know, but in MIUI there is a built-in function to create password folders that will not be visible on the home screen without input PIN-This is useful for storing sensitive applications (banking services, messengers with important correspondence, etc.).

How it works:

1. Create a regular folder in one of the ways described above.
2. Open it and tap it on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Block folder (in some versions of MIUI this option is called Hide folder).
4. Set a password (you can use the same one as you used to unlock the screen, or come up with a new one).

And then the folder disappears from the main screen, so you can access it.

1. Swipe your finger down the main screen (call gesture of the search bar).
2. Enter the name of the folder or one of the applications inside it in the search bar.
3. The system will prompt you to enter a password - after that, the folder will temporarily become visible.

💡

If you forget the password from the hidden folder, you can only reset it through a full reset of your phone's settings. PIN-code in a safe place!

MIUI 15 has a new feature: Hidden folders can be attached to your fingerprint. After blocking the folder, go to Settings → Privacy → Hidden folders and add biometric authorization.

4. Limitations and typical errors

Even in a simple process like folder creation, Xiaomi users are facing challenges, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🚫 Icons don't merge into a folder: Check if Safe Zone is enabled (in some firmwares, it blocks drag and drop). Disables in Settings → Lock screen → Additionally.
• 🔒 You can't rename the folder: Make sure you don't have Child Mode set (Settings) → Special facilities → Childhood regime).
• 📱 The folder disappeared after the update MIUI: This is a known bug in transitional versions (for example, when updating with the MIUI 13 by 14.The solution is to restart your phone and check the app basket.
• 🔄 Applications in the folder are constantly reset: The culprit is an optimizer MIUI. Turn it off for specific applications in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Optimizing the battery.

Another common problem is the limit on the number of apps in a folder, which is 16 icons in MIUI 14 and later, compared to 12 in older versions.

MIUI 12 or older

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

MIUI 15

I don't know/I haven't checked.-->

If your problem is not on this list, try resetting the launcher settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Louncher app (or Lawnchair for POCO).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.

⚠️ Warning: This operation will reset all icons on the home screen.

5. Alternative launchers for advanced users

If standard folders in MIUI do not suit you (for example, due to a limit on the number of icons or an uncomfortable interface), you can install a third-party launcher.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher: Allows you to create folders with gestures, change their size and transparency. There is a folder in folders function (up to 5 layers of nesting).
• 🎨 Lawnchair: Optimized specifically for Xiaomi/POCO. Supports responsive icons and hidden folders without password (just swipe down).
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher: Perfect for minimalist fans. Folders here open as a fan, not a classic list.
• 🔒 Apex Launcher: The only launcher with built-in fingerprint folder lock (without additional plugins).

To install an alternative launcher:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. Configure folders through the launcher menu (usually a long tap on the home screen).

The main advantage of third-party launchers is the flexibility of settings, for example, in Nova Launcher you can:

• Change the size of the icons in folders (from 50% to 150%).
• Customize the color and transparency of the background of the folder.
• Add gestures (for example, double tap on the folder to open a particular application).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with) MIUI 13) after installing a third-party launcher system widgets (weather, steps) may disappear. To return them, temporarily switch back to the standard launcher.

6. How to transfer folders to another screen or folder

If your home screen is overloaded, folders can be spread across multiple pages or even created nested folders (in MIUI 14+).

Transfer the folder to another screen:

1. Hold the folder and raise your finger slightly (it will “stick” off the screen).
2. Without letting go, swipe left or right to switch to the next screen.
3. Release your finger when you get to the right place.

Creating a folder inside the folder (nesting):

1. Open the folder to which you want to add the attached one.
2. Press one of the apps inside and drag it to another (like when you create a regular folder).
3. A new folder will appear inside the current one. In MIUI 15, you can create up to 3 layers of nesting.

To delete the folder, simply drag all the apps from it back to the home screen, and the folder itself will disappear automatically as soon as it becomes empty.

💡

MIUI doesn't have a "cancel" function for deleted folders, and if you accidentally delete a folder with important shortcuts, you can only restore it manually by re-creating the grouping.

7.Reset screen settings: when necessary

If folders start to glitches (don’t open, icons disappear inside, or the system constantly resets their contents), you may need to reset your launcher settings. This is a last resort, but it solves 90% of the software problems with folders.

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Launcher app (or MIUI Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.

After discharge:

• All folders and icons on the home screen will return to factory settings.
• The widgets will have to be reconfigured.
• The hidden folders will become visible (but their contents will be preserved).

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4) The launcher reset also drops wallpaper on the home screen. save your favorite image in advance in the gallery.

If the reset didn't work, the problem could be deeper, like corrupted system files, in which case only flashing through Fastboot or Recovery will help, but before you do, try updating MIUI to the latest version: folder bugs are often patched.

FAQ: Frequent questions about folders on Xiaomi