How to create a folder on the Xiaomi desktop: all the ways and secrets of the organization

Xiaomi’s desktop is quickly filled with app icons, and without an organization system, finding what you want is becoming increasingly difficult. Creating folders is a simple but effective way to structure the space: combine messengers, games, utilities or work tools into thematic groups. However, in MIUI (the Xiaomi brand shell), this process is not always obvious to beginners — especially if you are used to the iOS interface or “pure” Android.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to create folders on the Xiaomi desktop (including the Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models), as well as how to rename, delete and restore them when accidentally deleted. Separately, we will focus on the hidden feature MIUI 14/15, which allows you to automatically sort icons into folders by category, not all users know this. If you want to not just folders, but optimize your work with your smartphone, read on.

Why can’t Xiaomi create a folder in the usual way?

Many users find that when you try to drag and drop an icon to another folder, you don't create it, instead, the apps just swap places, and this is due to the settings of the MIUI launcher, which by default can block folder creation. Here are the main reasons:

• 🔄 Free Accommodation Mode Disabled: in MIUI There are two options for the layout of the icons: automatic (with grid alignment) and free.
• 📱 Alternative Launcher: If you have installed Nova Launcher, Apex or other, the folder rules may differ.
• 🔧 Version. MIUI older than 12: in older versions of the shell (MIUI 11 and below) the desktop interface worked differently - folders were created only after a long press.
• 🚫 Manufacturer restrictions: on some models (e.g, POCO F1 Redmi Note 8 Pro folders are created only in horizontal screen mode.

Before you get to the instructions, check the MIUI version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have version below 12, update the system through Settings → System Update – this will solve most of the interface problems.

Method 1: Standard folder creation (for MIUI 12-15)

This is the simplest method that works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones.

1. Press and hold any icon of the application on the desktop until it begins to “shake” (a cross will appear to delete).
2. Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to another icon you want to put in the same folder.
3. When the second icon is lit up in blue, release your finger. The folder will be automatically created.
4. To add more apps, repeat the action by dragging new icons to the created folder.

If the folder is not created, try:

• 🔄 Drag icons slowly - sometimes MIUI Fails to recognize the user’s intent.
• 📱 Rotating the screen to a horizontal position (on some models it helps).
• 🔧 Enable the "Free Placement" mode in the launcher settings (more on this below).

You can immediately rename the folder you created by clicking on its name (the default is "Folder" or "New Folder"), enter a new name and confirm. The folder names in MIUI can contain up to 20 characters, including emojis.

Method 2: Create a folder through launcher settings

If the standard method didn’t work, try to enable free icon hosting, which allows you to manage your desktop flexibly, including creating folders without restrictions.

Instructions:

1. Click and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Screen Settings (or Desktop Settings in older versions of MIUI).
3. Activate the Free Placement (or Free Mode) switch.
4. Return to the desktop and try to recreate the folder in the way of Method 1.

In this mode, you can also:

• 📏 Change the size of the icons (from 75% to 120% of the standard).
• 🎨 Change the style of icons (in) MIUI 14+ Icon packages from Xiaomi are available).
• 🔄 Turn off automatic grid alignment.

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If after the free mode is turned on, the icons began to run over each other, go back to the launcher settings and reduce the option "Retreats between icons" to 80-90%.

Note that in free-hosting mode, you can create folders even with one application, which is convenient if you plan to add other icons to it. Just drag the application to an empty screen and select the option to Create a folder in the context menu.

Method 3: Automatic sorting to folders (hidden MIUI 14/15)

Recent versions of MIUI have introduced an automatic app categorization feature that distributes icons to folders based on their type (social networks, games, tools, etc.) that is hidden in the depths of settings and does not work on all models, but if it is available, it will save you time.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select Application Categories (or AutoSort in MIUI 15).
3. Activate the automatic grouping slider.
4. Click Set up categories and select which types of applications should be combined into folders (e.g., “Games”, “Work”, “Multimedia”).

Automatic sorting works in the background: new installed applications will immediately fall into the corresponding folders.

• ⚠️ Not all applications are correctly recognized (for example, TikTok can get into the "Social Networks" and "Multimedia").
• ⚠️ Folders cannot be renamed – their names are fixed (for example, "Games", "Work").
• ⚠️ The feature is not available on all devices (checked on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).

How to rename, delete or restore a folder?

Managing folders in MIUI is intuitive, but there are nuances that few people know about, such as a remote folder that can be restored within 5 minutes of deleting — more on that.

Rename the folder

To change the name:

1. Tap the name of the folder (text under the icons).
2. In the field that appears, enter a new name (you can use emoji).
3. Press Ready or OK.

Deletion of the folder

The folder is deleted along with its contents (the applications are not uninstalled, but returned to the desktop).

• 🗑️ Drag the folder to the Remove (basket) icon at the top of the screen.
• 🔧 Click on the folder, hold, then select Delete the folder in the context menu.

⚠️ Warning: If the application folder is gone from the desktop after you delete it, check the All apps folder (swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Recovery of the deleted folder

MIUI saves the desktop history for 5 minutes to undo the deletion:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select Cancel at the bottom of the screen.
3. Repeat until the folder returns (the system remembers up to 3 last actions).

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If more than 5 minutes have passed, you can restore the folder only manually by dragging the applications back from the All Apps menu.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after completing all the instructions, Xiaomi users sometimes encounter difficulties, and here are the most common situations and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods helped, try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair if you use it).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher data will reset all desktop settings (icon layout, widgets, wallpaper). Pre-take screenshots of the current arrangement to quickly restore it.

Additional advice on the organization of the desktop

Creating folders is just the first step to a comfortable desktop, and here are some advanced techniques that Xiaomi experienced users use:

• 📁 nested folders: in MIUI 14+ You can create folders inside folders. You can drag and drop one folder to another folder (it doesn't work on all models).
• 🔒 Folders: Click on folder, hold and select Secure – it won’t move by accident when cleaning screen.
• 🎨 Color folders: Set a design theme with support for color folders (e.g. Mi Color or Dark Blue in Themes).
• 🔍 Search in folders: scroll down the folder to open a search inside it (works in the folder). MIUI 15).

For maximum productivity, we recommend:

• Divide applications by frequency of use: on the first screen - the most necessary (messengers, phone, camera), on the second - less popular.
• Use widgets instead of folders for quick access (e.g. Google Search or Weather widget).
• Set up gestures to open folders: Settings → Additional → Gestures.

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Create a folder with a name "🔴 Urgently (with emoji) and put the apps you use in emergency situations: flashlight, SOS, medical cards, banking applications.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions