How to create a folder on the Xiaomi Redmi Note desktop

The digital space on a smartphone is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a necessity for efficient work with the device. Owners of popular Xiaomi Redmi Note models often find that the screen quickly fills with icons of installed programs. The chaotic arrangement of elements makes it difficult to find the right application and reduces the speed of interaction with the gadget, which is why creating folders is the first step to restore order.

With Android, which is the core of the MIUI shell, file and program grouping is intuitive but nuanced. The standard launcher provides flexible desktop management tools. Understanding how these tools work will allow you to personalize the interface to your own needs.

In this article, we will take a look at the algorithms needed to group applications, not only to create folders, but also to manage their content, and to change the appearance for maximum convenience.

Basic principles of working with the MIUI desktop

MIUI is a very different interface from pure Android, offering users enhanced customization capabilities, and the desktop functions as a dynamic grid where each element occupies a specific cell, and when moving objects, the system automatically analyzes the type of objects and offers optimal interaction options, making navigation easier even for beginners.

The main control tool is the prolonged pressing of the finger on the screen, which opens access to hidden menu functions, allowing you to edit the grid, add widgets or create new elements. It is important to note that the sensitivity of the touchscreen can vary depending on the protective film installed, so the press must be confident, but not excessively strong.

The system automatically sorts applications by alphabet or frequency of use if the function is enabled. However, manual folder grouping gives the user full control over the menu structure. You can create themed clusters, for example, by combining banking applications or games, which greatly speeds up access to the desired functions in everyday use.

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Use different wallpapers for each desktop page to visually separate groups of folders from each other.

It's worth mentioning that the number of folders you create is virtually unlimited, except for free space on the screen. Launcher allows you to create many pages, scrolling through which you access the entire data array. Proper distribution of elements across pages and folders is the key to comfortable operation of the smartphone.

Step-by-step: creating a folder by drag and drop method

The most common and quick way to combine applications is drag-and-drop, or drag-and-drop, which doesn't require going into deep system settings and runs directly on the desktop. The algorithm is simple, but requires a certain amount of precision in your finger movements across the screen.

To start, find two app icons that you want to combine: tap one of them and hold your finger until the icon sticks to your finger and slightly increases in size. Without letting go of your finger, move the selected object over the second icon, and the system recognizes this action as an attempt to group.

When the top icon is above the bottom, you'll see the bottom icon change color slightly, or the future folder will be contoured around it, release your finger, and the system will automatically create a new group, both of the selected applications will be inside, and an object with a transparent background will appear in the place of the combination.

Once you create a group, the system will prompt you to enter a default name, which is often formed based on the category of applications (for example, "Tools" or "Social networks"). You can leave the proposed name or enter your own, more understandable to you. Click on the text field and use the on-screen keyboard to type.

⚠️ Warning: If you drag and drop an icon too long in an empty area, it may start to shake, going into grid editing mode, in which case just drag it to another icon without letting go.

It's important to understand that drag and drop works not only with application shortcuts, but also with existing folders. You can put folders into each other, creating a layered structure, although MIUI doesn't always support deep attachments. One layer of nesting is considered optimal for maintaining the speed of the interface.

Alternative methods of grouping through the application menu

It's not always convenient to search for the right icons on a crowded desktop, and in these cases, the menu of all applications comes to the rescue, which is called up by swipe or through a special button, and here is a complete list of installed software, sorted alphabetically, which makes it easier to find rarely used programs.

And in all apps, you can drag and drop, and you can just grab an icon in the shared list and drag it right to the label of another app that's already on the desktop, and that creates a new folder right away in the right place, bypassing the search for the second icon on the screen.

• 📱 Open the menu of all applications swipe up.
• 📂 Find the first application for the future folder.
• 🖐 Press the icon and drag it to the desktop area.
• 🔗 Point to the second application or empty folder.

Another option is to use the Edit function. In some versions of MIUI, you can go into desktop editing mode by selecting multiple elements at once. However, the standard functionality most often relies on pair drag and drop. The third method involves the use of third-party launchers that allow you to highlight groups of files with a mouse or more complex gestures.

Using the menu of all applications is especially important when you need to create a folder of applications that are not yet displayed on the home screen, which allows you to create a structure on the fly without cluttering the main space with unnecessary elements, and once you create a folder, you can add new applications to it with a simple drag and drop.

Editing, renaming and deleting folders

Creating a folder is just the beginning of the process of organizing space. Over time, the composition of applications changes, old programs are deleted, and new ones require grouping. Xiaomi interface allows you to easily manage the content of already created groups.

To add a new application to an existing folder, find its icon on your desktop or menu. Press it and drag it inside the open folder. When you hover, the folder boundary will light up, signaling that you are ready to accept the new item. Release your finger, and the application will take its place in the grid within the group.

You can rename a folder by editing the title of the folder, click on the folder name (usually on top or bottom of the group), or open the folder and tap the name text box, enter the new name on the keyboard that opens, and the character restrictions are minimal, you can use emoji and special characters.

Deleting a folder automatically occurs when there are fewer than two items left in it. If you want to remove the folder completely, you need to remove all applications from it except one. To do this, press the icon inside the folder and drag it outside the group to the free space of the screen. Once there is one icon in the folder, the folder container disappears.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting the folder doesn't delete the apps themselves. It stays in the phone's memory and in the general program list. You just remove the grouping shortcut from the desktop.

You can also remove the folder completely by dragging it to the basket icon or the Remove button that appears at the top of the screen in edit mode, which will remove the application shortcuts in the folder from the current screen, but the programs themselves will remain in the system.

Customization of appearance and sorting of content

The visual interface plays a major role in how you perceive information. In MIUI, folders look different depending on the theme you choose. Standard themes offer different styles of icons, folder backgrounds and fonts. Changing the theme can dramatically change the way you view your application groups.

To change style, go to the Themes app via settings or desktop, and there are thousands of design options available in the directory, and some themes change the shape of folders from round to square, add opening animations, or change background transparency, which makes the interface unique.

Sorting apps inside a folder is also manageable, so you can manually drag and drop icons, line them up in the right order, like placing messengers in the top row and games in the bottom row, and the system remembers the order of sorting even after the device has been rebooted.

The font size of the folder name is adjusted in the general display settings. Go to Settings → Screen → Text Size. Changing this setting will affect all text elements of the system, including icon signatures and folder names. This is useful for users with reduced vision.

• 🎨 Use contrasting themes for better readability.
• 📐 Adjust the screen grid to change the size of the icons.
• 🔄 Remove unused folders periodically.

Remember that too many items in one folder can make navigation difficult, and it's best to put 4-9 apps in one group, and if there's more, you'd better create multiple themed folders, which will keep the launcher running and usable.

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The appearance of folders completely depends on the active theme of design, so to change the style, it is enough to download a new theme in the official store.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the system's fine-tuning, users sometimes have difficulty creating folders, most often due to a crowded launcher memory or a temporary software failure, and understanding the causes allows them to quickly troubleshoot problems without going to the service.

If the folder is not created or the icon does not stick to another, try restarting the device, which will clear RAM and restart system processes, and check for updates to the system and the Security application, which is often integrated into the launcher.

In some cases, it interferes with the "Simple Mode" or "Self-friendly Mode" mode, which is simplified and the folder creation functions may be limited or look different. Switch to standard mode through settings to gain full access to the features.

⚠️ Note: If after creating a folder it disappears after restarting, the launcher cache may be damaged.

Another reason could be a third-party launcher installed by the user.Third-party shells may conflict with standard MIUI features.If problems are only seen in a particular launcher, try going back to standard or updating a third-party application.

For advanced users, the launcher reset option is available.This will return the desktop to its original state by removing all created folders and widgets, but often solves software errors. Path to reset: Settings → Applications → All applications → System Launcher → Clean.

Using widgets inside folders

Xiaomi's folder functionality goes beyond app shortcuts, and some versions of the shell integrate the ability to add widgets inside folders, turning a group of apps into a data center that displays weather, currency rates, or notes.

To add a widget, open a folder and find the add button (usually a plus or a separate tab), select the widget you want from the list of available ones, and it will take the place of one or more cells within the group, depending on its size.

Having widgets in folders saves desktop space while keeping access to important information, such as creating a Morning folder with alarm clocks, weather and news, which improves productivity and eliminates the need to open separate applications.

Consider that active widgets consume more battery life, and placing large numbers of live widgets in folders can speed up the discharge of the device, and use them rationally, preferring static or rarely updated data.