How to Create a Folder on Xiaomi’s Desktop: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS offer users extensive customization capabilities. One of the basic but critical functions to maintain order in the system is creating folders on the desktop, which allows you to structure installed programs, hide rarely used utilities and create thematic groups, which greatly speeds up navigation.

Many device owners have difficulty organizing screen space, as the logic of working with objects in the Mi interface has its own unique features, different from pure Android. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways of grouping applications, customizing the appearance of icons and using advanced features of widgets.

A competent organization of the workspace is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to increase the productivity of your device. Understanding the principles of working the desktop will allow you to turn a chaotic set of shortcuts into a convenient tool for managing your smartphone, where all the necessary applications are at hand.

Basic method of grouping applications

The easiest and most common way to create a new folder on the lock screen or the main menu is to use the drag-and-drop method. You need to find two apps that you want to combine into one group. Click on the icon of the first program and drag it directly over the icon of the second program without letting go.

Once the top icon touches the bottom, the system automatically creates a container. The interface instantly responds: both programs will be inside a new folder, which the system will assign a default name based on the application category (for example, "Tools" or "Social networks").

This method is universal and works on all current firmware versions, including MIUI 13, 14 and the latest HyperOS. It does not require you to switch to any additional settings menu, which makes the process of creating folders as fast and intuitive as possible, even for inexperienced users.

• 📱 Press and hold your finger on the app icon.
• 📂 Drag the shortcut on top of another program.
• ✅ Release your finger when you see the folder contour appear.

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If you accidentally drop the icon in the wrong place, just click the Back button or swipe down to cancel the action before releasing your finger.

Customization of appearance and folder names

Once you create an application group, you can completely personalize it, and renaming the folder is the first thing you should do for easy navigation, and you just open the folder you created and click on the text box at the top of the folder that says the current name, and the virtual keyboard will let you type in any name you like.

The MIUI shell and HyperOS allow you to not only change the text, but also visually design the content. You can choose which applications will appear on the folder cover when it is folded. Usually, the system automatically substitutes the four most commonly used programs, but this parameter can be adjusted.

It is important to note that the font size and style of display of the title depend on the theme you choose. If standard fonts seem too small or merge with the background, try changing the theme in the Themes store, as some design solutions offer more contrasting and larger folder inscriptions.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party themes can change standard folder behavior. Some themes hide folder names or change opening animations, which can temporarily disorient.

Extended folder functions in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi's ecosystem offers features that go beyond just storing icons. One of the most useful features is the folder widget mode. In this mode, the folder does not require opening to run applications: you can click directly on the program icon inside the folder, and the application will start.

Another interesting feature is the ability to add widgets inside folders, which allows you to display useful information on the desktop without taking up too much space, for example, in the News folder you can add a tape widget, and in the Weather folder you can add a temperature widget, while maintaining the clean interface.

To activate advanced functions, you need to go to the system settings. From the Settings menu → Desktop, you can find the switches responsible for the behavior of folders. This adjusts the speed of animation, the ability to use enlarged icons and the style of displaying content.

• 🚀 Quickly launch applications from a closed folder.
• 🌡️ Ability to embed live widgets inside the group.
• 🎨 Resize the folder (2x2, 2x3, 2x4) depending on the amount of content.

Managing folder size and structure

The folder size on the Xiaomi desktop dynamically changes depending on the number of items in it. The standard size is 2x2 (four icons). When you add a fifth application, the folder can automatically expand to 2x3 format, taking up more space on the desktop grid.

But you can manually control this process. If you want the folder to remain compact and not take up too much space, even with a lot of nested applications, you can customize this. In some versions of the firmware, you can have a "Fixed Size" feature that makes the folder stay in the dimensions of a single cell or a standard 2x2 block.

The nesting structure also has its limits. While it is technically possible to create a folder inside another folder (using widgets or special launchers), standard MIUI means, the nesting depth is limited to one level, this is done to keep the interface fast and easy to access.

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The only way to automatically expand the folder is to add new items, so to shrink the folder, you have to delete the extra apps or move them to the desktop.

Solution with folders on Xiaomi

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where created folders behave unpredictable: they can spontaneously rename, change size or disappear after a reboot, often due to a conflict of the launcher cache or errors in the work of a specific theme of the design.

If the folder is not created or the icon bounces back, check if the free space on the desktop is filled. To create a new group, you need to have at least 2x2-cell space next to the target icons, and the problem can also be in the grid settings.

In the case when the folder opens with a delay or the animation is running in jerks, it is recommended to clear the cache of the system application "Themes" and "Desktop". This can be done through the Settings menu → Applications → All applications by finding the corresponding system processes.

• 🔄 Rebooting a device often resolves temporary glitches interfaces.
• 🗑️ Removing the launcher cache restores standard behavior.
• 🎨 Changing the theme to the standard helps to identify design conflict.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party memory accelerators and cleaners to clean the launcher's system processes, which can cause desktop settings to reset and icons to lose location.

Optimization of the working space

Creating folders is just the first step to the perfect desktop, and for maximum efficiency, it is recommended to use logical grouping. Separate applications by frequency of use: what you need every hour is better left on the first screen without folders, and the supporting tools are removed in thematic groups.

Use color sorting inside folders to make it visually easier to search, and although MIUI doesn't have an automatic color sorting feature built in, you can manually arrange icons so that similar colors are next to each other, which makes it easier to visually experience and find the right app.

Remember to regularly "revise" folders, remove applications you haven't used in more than a month, or transfer them to the archive folder on the last screen, and not only is a clean desktop pleasing to the eye, but it also saves the CPU resources when rendering the interface.

A critical point is to back up your desktop layout. When you reset or upgrade to a new phone, you can quickly restore folder structure if you have previously backuped through the Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive cloud.