Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to clean up the digital space immediately after buying a device. A desktop full of app shortcuts makes navigation difficult and reduces the overall productivity of the gadget. The competent organization of icons allows you to find the right features in a split second without wasting time on endless swipes across the screen.
The MIUI process of grouping applications in the shell has its own features that may not be obvious to beginners. Unlike some other systems, there are several ways to perform the action, as well as hidden features for customizing the appearance. We will take a detailed look at each step so that you can optimize your Redmi Note 9 as efficiently as possible.
In this guide, we will not only show you how to create a folder, but also explain how to avoid the typical errors when moving files. You will learn about the intricacies of working with the desktop and gain access to functions that often go unnoticed, which will allow you to personalize the interface to your individual needs.
Preparation of the working space before grouping
Before you start actively creating folders, you need to audit the already installed applications. Often users try to group programs that have not been used for months, cluttering the menu structure, it is recommended to first remove unnecessary software or move rarely used utilities to a separate access area.
The MIUI shell offers flexible tools to manage screen space. You can change the size of the grid, which affects the number of icons that fit on a single page. For the Redmi Note 9 model, the standard mode is considered optimal, but it is sometimes useful to temporarily zoom in to create compact folders.
It is important to understand the logic of the launcher, which is the main navigation tool, which is responsible for rendering folders and their behavior when pressed. A failure in this component can lead to the fact that the folder will not be created or will be displayed incorrectly, so before you start manipulating, make sure that the system is running the tab.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to create folders by dragging and dropping system applications marked with a lock icon or located in a secure area.This can lead to a temporary disappearance of the shortcut or an interface error.
The classic method of creating a folder by drag and drop
The most common and intuitive way to organize space is drag-and-drop, which doesn't require access to any additional menus or settings, but it's done directly on the desktop, and it works equally well in both the application display mode and the classic mode.
To start, find two apps that you want to combine, like messengers or social media, and then you can tap the icon of the first app and hold your finger until it sticks off the grid and there's a vibration, and that's a signal that the object is ready to move.
Without letting go of your finger, move the selected icon directly over the second app. As the cursor is above the target icon, you will see a translucent outline of the new folder form underneath it, release your finger, and the system automatically generates a container for grouping.
- 📱 Press and hold the icon of the first app until the vibration appears.
- 📂 Drag it exactly over the icon of the second app you want to add to the group.
- 👌 Release your finger when you see the visual effect of creating a container.
- ✏️ Rename the folder immediately to match the content.
Once you have successfully created a group, you can continue to add other apps in the same way. Just drag and drop new icons inside the folder you've created. Xiaomi's system allows you to place dozens of apps inside a single container, although for ease of use, it's better to limit yourself to 6-9 items on the page.
☑️ Checking the successful creation of a folder
Alternative ways of grouping applications
Drag and drop is not always convenient, especially if your hands are busy or your smartphone screen is large, and in such cases you can use an alternative algorithm for editing mode, which is especially useful when you need to create an empty folder in advance or move an application from a list of all programs.
The first alternative involves using desktop editing mode, which involves pinching two fingers on the screen (mixing them together) or pressing the empty area for a long time. In the menu that opens, select sorting mode or simply start moving the icon to a free place, and then drag another one to it.
The second is for those who prefer a strict hierarchy, so you can create a folder in the All Apps menu and then shortcut it to the desktop, open a list of all the programs, create a group, and then after a long press, select the Add to Desktop option.
The third option is to use Add to Folder through the context menu, and although this is less common in standard MIUI, some versions of the launcher allow you to select multiple applications in edit mode and click the Create Folder button in the bottom toolbar, which is a quick way to group 3-4 items at once.
Setup and renaming of created folders
Once created, the system assigns a group a standard name that often doesn't reflect its content, such as a folder with games called Tools, and social networks called Communications, and to bring order, you need to change those names to ones that you can understand.
The renaming process is simple: click on the folder you created to open it, and tap the text box at the top of the window. Enter the new name using a virtual keyboard. You can use emoji in the folder name, which makes navigation even more visual and faster.
In addition to the name, it's important to customize the content, so you can rearrange the app folder in places, creating your own layout logic, for example, the most important messengers put on the first page, and the utility tools put on the second, which speeds up access to frequently used functions.
| Parameter | Standard value | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Name of name | Folder/Tools | Work/Finance |
| Type size | Medium. | Large (for convenience) |
| Location. | Accidental | Lower row (for frequent) |
| Back of the folder | Transparent | Dark (for contrast) |
You also need to look at the size of the font inside the folder, and you can change the overall size of the text in the settings, which will affect the signatures of the icons, and for visually impaired users, this is a critical accessibility parameter.
Removal and disbandment of application groups
Sometimes you have to disassemble the structure you created before, maybe you've changed your priorities or just decided to go back to the list view of the program. Delete the folder on Xiaomi is as easy as creating it, but there's an important nuance to be aware of.
To disband a folder, you need to extract all the applications from it. Open a group, click on the icon of any application inside, drag it outside the folder to the free desktop space, repeat this procedure until there is no element left in the folder.
Once you remove the penultimate application, the folder disappears automatically. The system does not store empty containers. If you want to delete the folder itself along with the applications inside (without deleting the applications themselves from the phone's memory), just drag the folder shortcut into the basket or click "Delete" in edit mode.
⚠️ Warning: Drag and drop folders in the cart will only remove the group label, and the apps themselves will remain on the phone, but their icons can crawl around the desktop if you don't pay attention.
You can also move the entire group quickly, and you can squeeze the folder and drag it to another desktop page or to the dock panel at the bottom, and it doesn't disband it, it just changes the location of the entire block at once.
Extended capabilities of MIUI interface
The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 9 offers a range of features that go beyond the basic grouping: users can change not only the content, but also the visual style of folders using the themes of the design, which makes the interface unique and unlike the standard Android.
In the Themes app, you can find packages that change folders, add animations when you open them, or change backgrounds. Some themes offer folder widgets that display group content directly on your desktop without having to open the container, which saves time and adds aesthetics.
Another useful feature is hiding apps inside folders, so you can create a folder, call it, say, "Calculator," put a calculator icon in there, and hide sensitive applications inside, and while it's not full password protection, it helps to hide the extra from random glances.
For advanced users, you can set up the grid through an engineering menu or third-party launchers, but standard Xiaomi tools are better not to experiment with system files.