How to create a folder on the Android Xiaomi Redmi desktop

Modern smartphones line Xiaomi Redmi have powerful hardware and huge screens, which inevitably leads to overflow of the workspace with dozens of applications. the Standard grid Android allows you to place only a limited number of icons, and without the right organization of the space turns into a chaotic set of characters where it is difficult to find the right program in a second.

Desktop folder creation is a basic skill in MIUI or the new HyperOS that allows you to structure digital content by grouping games, social networks or utilities into thematic blocks. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways of grouping, hidden display settings and answer questions that arise when working with the launcher of the system.

Many device owners do not know that the process of creating a folder on Android from Xiaomi has its own nuances, different from the stock version of the operating system, and knowing these features will help you make the interface really convenient and ergonomic.

Basic method of grouping applications

The easiest and most intuitive way to create a new folder on the desktop of your Xiaomi smartphone is to use the drag-and-drop function.You don’t have to search for hidden menus or use complex commands; just tap the icon of any app you want to put in a group and drag it over another icon without letting go.

Once you hold one app over another for a split second, the system automatically generates a container for storing shortcut files. At that point, you'll see a translucent area appear beneath the icons to signal the creation of the folder. With your finger, you'll get a ready-made group, which the system often assigns by default, based on the category of apps inside.

It is important to understand that to successfully perform this operation, the area of the screen where you drag and drop the icon must be free or contain only the applications you want to create a group with. If you try to drag the shortcut to the area occupied by a large widget, the system can simply move the icon to the neighboring free cell, rather than create a folder.

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If the folder is not created on the first try, try to hold your finger slightly at the junction of the two icons until a vibration or visual effect of combining appears before letting go of the touch.

Once you create a group, you can easily rename it by tapping the text box above the icons and enter your own name, which will be displayed on the menu and on the home screen, which allows you to create logically related clusters, such as Finance, Games or Work, which significantly speeds up the search for the right software.

Alternative methods and settings of the launcher

While drag and drop is the main method, the MIUI shell offers additional space management capabilities that can be useful in certain use cases.In some firmware versions or when using third-party design themes, the folder creation algorithm may be slightly different or require certain functions to be activated in system settings.

If standard drag and drop for some reason does not work (for example, due to a launcher failure or a specific theme), you can use the desktop editing mode. To do this, you need to pinch two fingers in the free space of the screen or keep your finger on the empty area for a long time until the preview mode of all pages opens.

In this mode, you can also drag and drop apps onto each other by creating groups. In addition, grid and widget settings are available here that affect how your newly created folders will look. Some users prefer to use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, which offer more flexible folder look settings, but Xiaomi's standard launcher is quite functional for most tasks.

• 📱 Standard drag and drop icon to icon in normal operation.
• 🖐 Editing mode through a pinch with your fingers or long pressing on an empty space.
• ⚙️ Using theme settings to change folder display style.

It’s worth noting that recent updates to HyperOS have improved folder animations and added new visuals that make the process of organizing space more enjoyable. If you can’t create a folder, check if Easy Mode (for older people) is enabled, where the functionality of creating complex structures can be limited.

Customization of the appearance and contents of the folder

Once you have successfully created a folder on your lock screen or desktop, you have the ability to fine-tune it. Xiaomi allows you not only to stack apps in a pile, but also to control how this pile looks and behaves when interacting.

Tap the folder you created to open it, and at the top you'll see a name that you can change at any time, and the name is the app icons, and you can change the order inside the folder by drag and drop, and you can build priority programs at the top of the list for quick access.

The size of the folder on the desktop can vary depending on the number of applications inside. If you put more than four programs there, the folder will automatically expand, taking up more space on the grid, or offer to scroll through the content, depending on the launcher version and the theme chosen.

An important aspect is the ability to add widgets inside folders, which is available in some versions of MIUI. This allows you to turn a simple folder with games into a mini-entertainment center with a frame rate widget or news. However, it is worth remembering that the abundance of active widgets inside folders can be small, but affect the battery autonomy.

⚠️ Note: When you delete a folder from your desktop (drop into the cart or delete button), all the applications inside the application are not deleted from the phone’s memory, but simply return to the desktop as separate icons. Your data and the programs themselves remain intact.

Organization of widgets and labels in groups

Android desktops are not just apps, but widgets that display real-time information. Xiaomi Redmi smartphones can create mixed folders, although the system often separates the concepts of "app folder" and "grouping widgets".

However, you can organize widgets thematically by placing them next to the corresponding application folders. For example, a weather and calendar widget is logically kept next to the Organizer or Work folder. Newer versions of the firmware have the ability to fold widgets, which visually resembles the creation of compact groups.

To add a widget to the overall desktop composition, make a long tap on an empty area and select "Vidgets" in the bottom menu. From there, you can drag and drop elements onto the screen, forming a single dashboard around your thematic folders.

Using the table above will help you plan the layout of the elements on the screen in a way that is not only beautiful, but also energy efficient.

Solving the problems with folder creation

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the folder on the desktop simply is not created, or the system behaves incorrectly when trying to combine icons. This can be caused by several reasons, from crowded launcher memory to software failures.

One common reason is that the system application's Security cache overflows or the launcher itself. If you're trying to create a folder and the icons just swap places or fly, try clearing the launcher's cache through settings: Settings → Apps → All Apps → Launcher → Clear the cache.

The problem may also be in the set theme, some third-party themes downloaded from MIUI Themes may have bugs or may not support standard grouping features, and switch to the standard theme "Classic" or "No Limits" to see if the problem resolves.

If nothing works, you may need to reset your launcher settings, which will return all icons to factory status, so pre-screen your desktop, either in the launcher settings menu or through resetting a specific application in the application management section.

Features of work in HyperOS mode

With the release of the HyperOS operating system, which replaces MIUI, the visual style and logic of working with the desktop have changed, folders have become more rounded, opening animations have changed, and new personalization options have appeared.

HyperOS has improved the way it works with large folders, and now when you click on a folder, it can open as a pop-up window without blocking the entire screen, allowing you to quickly launch the application and return to the previous task immediately, which is especially convenient on the large screens of the Redmi Note series.

The new system also improves integration with Xiaomi’s smart home, allowing folders to automatically offer device management widgets if you group smart home apps, analyzing folder content and offering contextually relevant management tools.

• 🚀 Accelerated animation of opening and closing groups of applications.
• 🎨 More flexible configuration of folder background transparency.
• 🔍 Smart Search Inside Folders Through Global System Search.

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The transition to HyperOS makes folder work smoother and visually integrated into the overall interface design, adding quick access features without fully opening the application.

Users who upgrade to the new version are encouraged to rethink their workspace organization, as old folders may look different and new features require getting used to. Experiment with font size and grid to find the perfect balance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)