Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to clean up the interface. The standard shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS allows you to store hundreds of applications, but without a competent structure, it becomes difficult to find the right one. Creating folders is a basic skill that significantly speeds up navigation and makes using the gadget more comfortable.
The process of grouping icons is intuitive, but recent firmware versions have added features that not all users know about, so you can not only combine programs, but also change the size of the grid, hide signatures, and even add widgets to groups. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of the organization of the workspace.
Before we get started, it’s worth noting that the methods may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware.However, the basic algorithm of actions remains the same across the brand ecosystem. Let’s look at the classic way of creating an application container.
The classic method of creating a folder by drag and drop
The most common and quick way to combine apps is drag-and-drop, which works on all devices, whether you have the old MIUI 12 or the latest HyperOS installed. First, unlock the screen and go to the main screen where the icons are located.
Find two apps you want to combine: tap one of the icons and hold the tap until it jumps or decreases in size. Without letting go of your finger, drag that icon slowly right over the second icon you want to add to the same group.
Once the top icon is above the bottom, the system automatically creates a container, and you will see both programs end up inside a new folder with an automatically generated name, usually corresponding to the category of applications (for example, Tools or Social).
☑️ Pre-grouping checks
If the folder is not created, you may have Layout Lock mode enabled or the screen is full of widgets that leave no room for maneuver, in which case try to move adjacent elements to the side or temporarily remove large weather widgets. Also make sure you do not use a third-party launcher, which may have its limitations.
Alternative ways of grouping applications
It’s not always convenient to pull icons across the screen, especially on large-screen models like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+. In such cases, you can use the edit menu. Click the empty area on your desktop until the settings menu appears, and select the option to add widgets or folders, if available in your shell version.
Another option is to use the All Apps menu, go to the list of all the installed programs, press the application you want, and drag it to an existing folder on your desktop, which allows you to quickly replenish existing groups without creating new entities from scratch every time.
⚠️ WARNING: When dragging system applications (such as "Themes" or "Security") into folders, make sure you don't hide them accidentally.Some system utilities are best kept in plain sight for quick access to settings.
Users who appreciate minimalism can appreciate folder name hiding, such as creating a folder, opening display settings (not available on all versions of MIUI), or using third-party themes that support signature hiding, which makes the desktop visually cleaner and more aesthetic.
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Use folders not only for apps, but also for grouping widgets of the same type, such as several hours of different cities or calendars, to free up space on the screen.
Configuring and editing the contents of the folder
Once you create a group, you may want to change the name or composition of the group, click on the folder you created to open it, then tap the name at the top of the window that opens, and you will see a keyboard that allows you to type in any name you like, like "Work," "Games," or "Finance."
To remove the application from the folder, open it, press the unnecessary icon, and drag it outside the folder window to the free desktop space. If you want to delete the folder itself, just drag all the applications out of it, and when there are fewer than two items left in the folder, it will automatically disappear.
An important feature is resizing the folder. In some versions of the shell, when you open the folder at the bottom of the screen, you get options for displaying: compact view or extended view. The extended view allows you to see more icons without scrolling, which is convenient for often used programs.
| Action. | Method of implementation | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Rename | Tap by name inside the folder | Change of group title |
| Addendum | Drag the icon inside | A new element in the group |
| Deletion of the folder | Extract all applications | Automatic disappearance |
| Change of position | Long press on a closed folder | Moving around the screen grid |
Note the color indication. The MIUI shell often automatically selects the background color of the folder depending on (theme) or icons inside. If you install a custom icon package, the color of the folder may change, which is worth considering when designing the interface.
Working with widgets inside folders
One of the unique features of Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the ability to place widgets inside folders on the desktop, which saves space by hiding information blocks (weather, currency rate, pedometer) inside thematic groups.
To add a widget, open the folder and find the + button or add icon, which is usually located at the end of the icon list or in the special editing menu of the contents of the folder. Select the desired widget from the list of available and confirm the action.
However, it is worth remembering performance: Placing too many active widgets, especially those that require constant updates over the Internet (online broadcasts, weather), can increase battery consumption and RAM.
⚠️ Note: Widgets inside folders may not display correctly if you use a third-party theme that is not optimized for widgets MIUI. In this case, return the standard theme to check.
To remove the widget from the folder, simply press it and drag it to the basket or outside the folder area. The interface behaves similarly to normal applications, making the content management process predictable and easy even for beginners.
Solution: folder is not created or disappears
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where dragging and drop an icon does not lead to the creation of a folder, most often due to the fact that there is simply no free space on the desktop screen to form a new group, even if it seems visually that there is a place.
Try removing one widget or moving apps to another desktop page, and the problem may be a launcher failure, in which case cleaning the cache of the system application "Luncher" through the phone settings menu will help.
If a folder is created but disappears immediately after a reboot, check if you have a Guest or Restricted profile installed. In some corporate or child modes, the creation of new structures on the desktop may be blocked by the device administrator.
Hidden launcher settings
Optimizing the workspace for different scenarios
Using folders wisely allows you to tailor your smartphone to specific tasks, such as creating a folder called "Auto" and putting a navigator, music and a taxi app in there, which will speed up access to the desired functions on the road.
For gamers, the Game folder is relevant, where you can fold not only the applications themselves, but also a widget for cleaning memory or recording the screen, which creates a kind of gaming hub that does not interfere with everyday use.
Remember ergonomics: The most important folders (Communication, Camera, Banks) are best placed in the bottom third of the screen so that they can be reached with the thumb of one hand, and the less-used groups can be sent to the top pages or to the Tools folder.
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The main principle of the organization is logical grouping by frequency of use and functional purpose, and not just a chaotic folding of icons.
In conclusion, regular desktop cleaning improves productivity: Remove empty folders, rename them if the titles are no longer relevant, and don’t be afraid to experiment with the layout of items for maximum comfort.