How to create a folder on the Xiaomi Redmi 4 desktop

The organization of the workspace on a smartphone is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a necessity for comfortable use of the device. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 4 often face the question of how to put order in the sea of icons that accumulate after installing dozens of applications. The MIUI shell installed on these models offers flexible tools for grouping, but they are not always obvious at first glance.

Creating folders allows you to instantly find the right programs, frees up space on the home screen and visually structure the interface. In this article, we will analyze the algorithm of actions, consider the hidden capabilities of the launcher and answer frequent questions that arise from users of budget smartphones Xiaomi.

Basic method of creating a folder by drag and drop

The easiest and most intuitive way to group apps together is drag-and-drop, which is standard for most versions of the Android operating system and doesn’t require access to any additional settings. You need to find two app icons on your desktop that you want to combine.

Press one of the icons with your finger and hold the touch until a slight vibration or screen scale changes. Without letting go, drag the selected shortcut right over the second app, which is supposed to be part of the new group. Once you see the outline of the future folder appear or the background darken, release your finger.

The system will automatically create a new folder and put both apps in it. By default, MIUI assigns a name to the folder based on the app category (e.g., Social Media or Tools), but you can change it at any time. This method works consistently on all Redmi 4 modifications, including the Prime and Pro versions.

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If the icon “runs away” or doesn’t get fixed when dragging, try to reduce the animation speed in the developer settings or just restart the device to clear the launcher’s cache.

It's worth noting that you can put an unlimited number of shortcuts in one folder. Just keep dragging new icons inside the already created group, which is especially convenient for categorizing games, banking applications or instant messengers.

Alternative ways to group through the menu

Not all users know that you can create a folder not only by drag and drop, but also through the context menu, although newer versions of firmware sometimes hide this functionality. On some versions of MIUI 8 and MIUI 9, which are relevant for Redmi 4, the editing mode of the desktop is available. To activate it, you need to pinch two fingers in the free space of the screen or hold your finger on an empty area for a long time.

The widget and settings management menu that opens sometimes includes a “Create a folder” option or the ability to select multiple elements for group action. However, given the specifics of optimizing the system for the budget “iron” Snapdragon 425/430, the classic drag and drop method works faster and less resource-intensive.

If standard methods don’t work or the interface isn’t working properly, you can use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which provide advanced customization options but require installation from Google Play and setting access rights.

Editing and renaming folders

Once you create an application group, you often need to give it a more clear name or change the look and feel. Xiaomi's standard system makes it easy to edit these settings. Tap the created folder to open its contents, and then click on the text box at the top of the window that opens, where the current name is indicated.

A virtual keyboard will open, allowing you to enter any name length up to 20-30 You can use emojis to help you navigate the folder list visually faster. After you type in, press the "Done" button or just tap the blank area of the screen outside the keyboard.

• 📁 To rename, click on the name inside the open folder.
• 🗑️ To delete the folder, just pull out all the applications from it – the empty folder will disappear automatically.
• 🎨 The color of the folder usually depends on the theme of the design set in the Topics.
• 📱 The size of the name font is adjusted in the general screen settings.

It's important to understand that deleting the folder doesn't remove the apps themselves, that shortcuts will just come back to the desktop as separate icons, and that protects users from accidental data loss when they reorganize the space.

Configure the display and grid of the desktop

The effectiveness of folders depends on how the desktop grid is configured. On Redmi 4, with its 5-inch screen, it is important to find the optimal balance between the size of the icons and the number of items on the screen. Go to Settings → Desktop to access these options.

Here you can resize your grid, for example, from 4x6 to 5x7, allowing you to place more folders on one screen without scrolling, and you can also set up the signatures under the icons, which visually frees up space and makes folders more compact.

Don’t forget that changing the pixel density (DPI) through the engineering menu can make the interface uncomfortable.Standard grid settings are usually enough to make folders on Redmi 4 comfortable.

Solving the problems with folder creation

Redmi 4 users sometimes experience a system that doesn't respond to folder attempts, and icons simply swap places or return to their original position, most often due to overflowing RAM or a temporary failure of the SystemUI process.

The first step should always be to clean the background apps. Press the "Menu" button (three bars or square depending on navigation) and select "Clean." If that doesn't work, try restarting your smartphone. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by simply restarting the system.

⚠️ Attention: If the problem persists after the reboot, check if the "Simple Mode" mode (for older people) is enabled. In this mode, folder creation can be blocked by the interface. Switch to Standard Mode in the settings.

It’s also worth checking for system updates. Xiaomi periodically releases patches that fix launcher bugs. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and check for the current version of MIUI.

Optimization of the MIUI launcher

For Redmi 4 owners who are actively using folders and widgets, smooth interface work is important. Over time, the launcher cache grows, which can cause slowdowns when opening heavy folders with many applications.

Do this through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps → MIUI Desktop → Memory → Clear. Note: Clearing the data will reset the location of the icons to default, so remember the folder structure first or take a screenshot.

Using live wallpaper can have a negative impact on folder performance, as the processor has to simultaneously render background animation and open the interface of the application group.

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Regular cleaning of the launcher cache and avoiding heavy live wallpaper ensures fast folders opening even on the Snapdragon 425 processor.

Use of third-party solutions for advanced users

If the standard MIUI launcher seems too limited, the market offers many alternatives. Apps like Nova Launcher allow you to create nested folders (a folder inside a folder), which the standard Xiaomi shell does not support.

Installing a third-party launcher requires permission to display on top of other applications and assign it to the default, and once installed, you will have access to fine-tuning transitions, folder transparency, and even reshaping icons within groups.

However, consider the limited resources of Redmi 4. Heavy launchers can consume more RAM than standard MIUI, which will lead to more frequent closure of background applications.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, some Xiaomi system features, such as swipes to call menus or double taps to turn on the screen, may stop working or require additional setup.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)