A modern smartphone like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 has become a powerful computing center that we carry around with us. With each update of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell, the number of pre-installed programs increases, and user installations increase this list exponentially. The randomly scattered icons on the home screen not only create visual noise, but also significantly complicate quick access to the necessary functions. Which is why the question of how to create a folder on the desktop becomes relevant for every owner of the device who wants to ergonomics.
Putting things in order in the digital space requires a system approach, and creating logical groups for applications is the first step. Redmi Note 7 owners often face the need to optimize the workspace to use a large 6.3-inch screen as efficiently as possible. Unlike standard launchers, MIUI offers its own features of interaction with objects that must be considered when organizing files and programs. Understanding these nuances will allow you not just to move icons, but to build a convenient navigation structure.
The process of grouping apps is intuitive, but there are hidden possibilities that not all users know about. We'll look at not only the basic algorithm of actions, but also advanced methods of managing folders, including renaming, resizing and deleting. Proper use of these tools will turn your smartphone into a personalized gadget, where each icon is in its place. Let's look at all the details of creating and configuring folders using the popular model from Xiaomi.
Basic principle of grouping applications in MIUI
The basic mechanism for creating folders in the MIUI shell is based on drag and drop technology, known as Drag-and-Drop. This method is standard for mobile operating systems, but has its own specific implementation features on Xiaomi devices. To get started, you need to unlock the smartphone screen and go to the main screen where all your shortcuts are located. It is important that you are on the desktop, not in the menu of all applications, although the principle is similar there.
Find two icons that you want to group together, and it can be any application, social media, utility, or game. Hold your finger on one of the icons and hold it until it sticks off the grid and moves freely behind your finger, and at that point, the system goes into editing mode, allowing you to manipulate objects on the screen. Don't let go too early, otherwise the icon will just return to its original location.
Without letting go of the first icon, drag it directly over the second icon you chose to combine. Once the top icon overlaps the bottom icon by about 70-80%, you'll see a visual effect -- a translucent circle or a slight magnification of the bottom icon -- that's a signal from the MIUI system that you're ready to form a new file container. Release your finger, and the system will automatically create a folder by placing both of the selected applications there.
Once you create a folder, it will have a standard system name, which usually corresponds to the app category or the name of the first app added. You can immediately rename it by clicking on the text box above the icons inside the open folder. This will allow you to specify an easy-to-understand name, such as "Social Networks", "Banks" or "Games", which will make navigation much easier in the future.
Step-by-step: creating a folder from scratch
If you want to create a new folder to clean up your mess, follow this algorithm. It's guaranteed to work on the Redmi Note 7 regardless of the MIUI firmware version, whether it's global or Chinese.
☑️ Algorithm of folder creation
The first step is to choose the "basic" app. Let's say you want to get all the messengers in one place. Find it on your WhatsApp or Telegram desktop. Make a long-term click on the WhatsApp icon. Make sure you don't just click, but you hold it, because a short click will open the app. When the icon is mobile, start moving it smoothly towards the Viber icon or another messenger.
The key is accuracy. You need to align the icon centers. If you miss, Xiaomi will suggest moving the other shortcuts, freeing up space, but the folder won't be created. When you see the icons folded up, let go of your finger. The system will instantly form a container. Inside it you will see thumbnails of all the apps added. Now this group behaves like a single object on the desktop.
To add third, fourth and subsequent applications, the process is simplified. You don't have to clamp and drag again. You just open the folder you created, find the next application you want to add on your desktop, and drag it right into the open folder. The MIUI interface allows you to drag and drop objects even between desktop pages if you pull the icon to the edge of the screen, which will cause automatic flips.
⚠️ Warning: If you accidentally let the icon go over the empty space of the screen, the app will move to a new position, but the folder will not be created. In this case, just repeat the operation, trying to keep your finger on the screen a little longer for a confident capture of the object.
Editing, renaming and deleting folders
The folder you create is not a static object, it can and should be modified to suit your needs. The basic renaming is automatic when you first create it, but you can change the name at any time. To do this, click on the folder to open it, and tap the text box with the name at the top of the window that opens. The MIUI keyboard will allow you to type any name using Cyrillic, Latin, or even emoji for greater visibility.
Removing applications from the folder is done by drag and drop back. Open the folder, press the icon you want, and pull it out of the folder window into the free desktop space. If you want to delete the folder itself, you need to remove all the apps from it. An empty folder in Android cannot exist, so once you move the penultimate application, the folder will disappear automatically, freeing up space on the screen.
There's also a folder resize feature available. Some versions of the MIUI for Redmi Note 7 allow you to resize the folder widget on your desktop. Press the folder itself (without opening it), and if the system allows you to resize, a frame with markers will appear around you, and if you pull it, you can make the folder bigger or smaller, although the standard size is optimal for quick access.
Secret to Quickly Deleting
The programs stay in the device's memory and in the general list of all applications, and you just remove the grouping label from the home screen, and it's a safe operation that doesn't affect the running of the installed programs or the data they store.
Working with Google and Xiaomi system folders
The Android operating system that runs on the Redmi Note 7 has Google's so-called "smart" folders by default, most commonly a folder called "Google" containing maps, mail, disk and other search engine services. Users often wonder if this folder can be deleted or changed? The answer is ambiguous and depends on the firmware version.
System folders created by the manufacturer or preinstalled by Google are often protected from being completely deleted by standard methods. You can remove them from the desktop by dragging them to the "Delete" or "Remove from the screen" area (appears at the top when drag and drop), but the apps themselves will remain inside. However, unlike custom folders, you can not always rename the "Google" folder or add third-party applications that are not part of the search engine ecosystem.
The same thing happens with Xiaomi tool folders, which can have a calculator, a voice recorder, a scanner, and other utilities, and they're designed to make the user see the functionality of the smartphone right away, and if you delete that folder from your desktop, the apps will stay on the menu of all the apps, and you can always create your own folder with the same name and fill it with the shortcuts you want, without having to go through the system constraints.
| Type of folder | Possibility of renaming | Removal | Addition of third-party applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customized | Complete. | Yes (in devastation) | Yes. |
| Systems (Google) | No. | Only from the desktop. | No (usually) |
| Xiaomi Tools | No. | Only from the desktop. | No. |
| Game Center folder | Partial | Only from the desktop. | Automatically. |
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If the Google system folder is bothering you, don’t try to delete it through third-party file managers, which can disrupt services, just remove it from the home screen in the widget menu or leave it on the second page of the desktop.
Hiding folders and managing visibility
The issue of privacy and cleanliness often leads users to want to hide certain folders. The standard MIUI launcher for Redmi Note 7 does not have a direct one-click Hide folder feature, as some third-party launchers do.
The first is Second Space or Hidden Applications, and you can move sensitive applications to a hidden partition that you can access with a special password or fingerprint, and then go to settings, find Second Space, and follow the setup instructions, and the apps that you move there will disappear from the main profile screen, and you will need to create folders for them inside that protected space.
The second method is simpler, but less reliable, moving the folder to the last, hidden desktop page. Swipe to the right to open the left screen (where widgets and news are usually located), and continue swiping to the right if you have an optional screen feature enabled. You can remove rarely used folders there so they don't horn your eyes. You can also simply move the folder in the menu of all applications if your launcher supports storing folders there, although on Redmi Note 7 folders are usually tied to the desktop.
⚠️ Attention: Hiding folders by moving to the back pages of the desktop does not provide data protection. Anyone who takes an unlocked phone will be able to find these applications. For real protection, use built-in app encryption features or third-party blockers.
Advanced settings and widgets inside folders
The MIUI shell allows you to embed not only app shortcuts but also widgets into folders, which turns a regular group of icons into an information hub. For example, by creating a Weather and Time folder, you can add a weather widget that displays the temperature right inside the open folder without requiring you to run a separate application.
To add a widget, open the folder, click on the menu button (three dots or a special add button if available in your version) and select "Add widget." The system will offer a list of available widgets of the appropriate size. This is especially convenient for folders in the category "Finance", where you can add a widget of currency rates, or "Sport", where a pedometer widget will be appropriate.
In addition, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 supports folder themeization. By logging into the Themes app and choosing a new style of design, you can change the appearance of all folders at once. They can become round, square, transparent background or iOS style. This allows you to fully personalize the visual aspect of using your smartphone, making navigation more enjoyable.
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Using widgets inside folders is a powerful tool to save space on the screen, allowing you to see relevant information without running heavy applications.