Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are equipped with powerful hardware that allows you to install tens or even hundreds of applications for a variety of tasks. From banking services and navigators to games and editors, the number of software is growing rapidly. However, a standard screen with scattered icons quickly turns into chaos, where it is difficult to find the right program in a few seconds, which is why competent organization of the desktop space becomes not just a matter of aesthetics, but a necessity for comfortable use of the gadget.
MIUI shells and the new HyperOS offer flexible tools for sorting applications, but beginners often don’t know how to activate the grouping function. The process of creating an icon container is intuitive, but has its own nuances, depending on the firmware version and the type of launcher. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to combine applications so that you can bring perfect order to your device.
We're going to look at not only the basic drag and drop method, but also advanced techniques like creating folders through editing menus or using third-party launchers. You'll learn how to name groups correctly so they're sorted automatically, and what to do if standard methods don't work. Let's turn your desktop into a user-friendly and functional interface.
Basic method of dragging icons
The easiest and most common way to group apps is with drag-and-drop. It works equally well on older versions of MIUI 12 and fresh HyperOS. First, you need to unlock your smartphone and go to the home screen where all your shortcuts are located. Make sure there are at least two apps on the screen that you want to merge.
Press the icon of any app and hold the touch for one to two seconds. The screen goes into editing mode, and all icons start to tremble slightly, signaling readiness to move. Without letting go, drag the selected icon over the second icon you want to add to the same group. Once the top icon zooms in slightly or a translucent frame appears, release your finger.
The system will automatically create a new folder by placing both apps there. By default, Xiaomi shell often assigns the folder the name of the category that applications belong to (for example, “Social Networks” or “Tools”), but you can change this name at any time. This method is the fastest and does not require logging into additional settings menus.
- 📱 Press and hold your finger on the app icon before the vibration appears.
- 📂 Drag the icon over another app to add to the group.
- ✍️ Release your finger so that the system automatically creates a container.
- 🔄 Repeat the procedure to add more labels inside.
It's important to note that the size of the group you create is limited by the amount of space on the screen. If you add too many apps, they will appear as a grid inside the folder, and you'll need to open the container to access them. The optimal number for fast navigation is 4-9 apps in a single folder.
Creating folders through desktop editing mode
Sometimes drag and drop can be inconvenient, especially if the screen of the smartphone is large or you use the device with one hand. In such cases, it is more advisable to use the mode of full editing of the desktop. To activate it, you need to pinch two fingers on the screen (to bring your fingers together) or just press the empty screen space for a long time if such setting is enabled in the system settings.
When you go into edit mode, the toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen, and you'll see thumbnails of all desktops, widgets, and wallpaper settings. In some versions of MIUI, there's a separate button or menu to create new elements, but most of the time, the logic is the same: you take one icon from the app list or from another screen and drag it to an existing folder or to another application.
The advantage of this method is that you can see the big picture of the screen filling, so you can make room in advance by removing the extra widgets, or move entire pages to create a logical structure, for example, leave only the most important things on the first screen, and sort all the other applications into thematic blocks on the second and third pages.
☑️ Desktop design
If you want to create an empty folder (which is not possible with standard Android tools on Xiaomi, since the folder is a container), you still have to first combine two applications and then delete one of them if you need to, leaving a folder with one item. However, the system often suggests removing the folder if there is only one application left in it, so this trick does not always work.
⚠️ Warning: When dragging and drop icons in edit mode, be careful not to accidentally remove the shortcut.If you drag the app to the top of the screen where the Remove cart or icon is located, it will disappear from the desktop (although it will remain on the menu of all apps).
Set up and rename the created groups
Once you've successfully created an application group, the system assigns a name to it automatically, and most often, MIUI analyzes the types of programs inside and suggests a name like Social Networks, Finance, or Office. However, the automatic classification isn't always accurate, and you may want to give the folder a clearer or shorter name that's easy to read from the lock screen or from the list.
To rename, you just have to click on the folder that appears below it on your desktop, and the keyboard will open, and you can type any text. The length of the title is limited by the width of the icon, so it's recommended to use short words or acronyms. Too long text will be cropped with an ellipsis, which will worsen visual perception.
And you can also change the order of the icons inside the open folder, just click and hold the right shortcut inside the open group and drag it to a new place, so you can bring the most commonly used apps to the forefront so you don't swipe, and you can add new apps to an existing folder by just dragging other icons from the desktop to it.
- 🏷️ Click on the text box under the folder to enter a new name.
- 🔤 Use short titles for better readability on a small screen.
- 📲 Open the folder to change the internal sorting of icons.
- ➕ Drag new apps to folder for quick addition.
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell offer the ability to not only rename, but also change the color accent of the folder or its transparency if the appropriate theme is used, making the desktop truly unique and personalized to your style.
Hidden Folder Functions in MIUI
Delete folders and retrieve applications
Sooner or later, your desktop structure may require changes, you may have stopped using a certain set of applications or decided to return them to separate places on the screen. The process of deleting a folder on Xiaomi is logical: the folder is not deleted as a separate object, it disappears when it becomes empty or contains only one application.
To delete the folder, open it and start dragging apps outside the container, you can move them to a free desktop space or to another place on the menu. Once the last application is left inside the folder, the system automatically disbands the group, and if you drag all the apps into the bin or delete them, the folder disappears instantly.
If your goal is not to delete the folder completely, but to simply remove one particular application from it, do a long tap on the icon inside the open folder. Then drag it outside the folder to the home screen. This action will not affect the rest of the files within the group, and this flexibility allows you to easily reorganize the space without having to create new groups from scratch.
| Action. | The result | Number of applications after |
|---|---|---|
| Extracting one application | App moved to screen | The folder saves the rest. |
| Extracting all but one | Automatic folder deletion | 1 app on screen |
| Delete all applications | Complete disappearance of the group | 0 (empty) |
| Appendix of the annex | Expansion of the group | Increases by 1. |
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when dragging apps from the folder to edit mode. If you accidentally drag the icon to the delete area (usually the top corner of the screen), the application will disappear from the desktop.
Problems with folder creation and their solution
Despite the simplicity of Xiaomi’s interface, users may encounter situations where the folder is not created or behaves incorrectly, most often due to overflow of the desktop. If there is no free space for even one icon on the screen, the system will not be able to form a new object, in which case you must first remove the extra widgets or move some applications to the next page.
Another common problem is the launcher (system application responsible for the desktop) crash. If the icons just return to their place when dragging or the phone reacts with a delay, it is possible that the com.miui.home process is unstable, in which case cleaning the launcher cache through settings or simply restarting the device helps.
Also consider the limitations of third-party themes. Some themes downloaded from Themes store may have bugs or not support standard grouping features in the way that MIUI developers intended. If you encounter glitches after changing the theme, try going back to standard design.
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If a folder is created but disappears or doesn’t open immediately, try zooming in on the screen settings. Too large a font can disrupt the layout of desktop elements, especially on low-resolution models.
In rare cases, the problem may lie in a device’s overcrowded memory. If internal storage is crammed, the Android operating system can limit background processes, including updating the interface. Freeing up a few gigabytes of space often works wonders and brings back smoothness.
Alternative ways of organizing space
If standard MIUI or HyperOS capabilities don't seem to be enough, you can always turn to third-party launchers, and apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher offer much deeper folder settings, which can change the grid size, transparency of the folder background, opening animations, and even the number of lines with icons within the group.
Installing a third-party launcher requires no root rights and takes only a few minutes. Once installed, simply launch the app and follow the on-screen instructions to make it the default launcher, giving you complete creative freedom, from minimalist folders to complex multi-level structures.
However, it’s worth remembering that third-party launchers can consume more battery life than Xiaomi’s standard system launcher, and some specific shell features, such as second-space gestures or built-in Mi widgets, may not work properly or be available.
- 🚀 Third-party launchers give more freedom in folder design.
- 🔋 Xiaomi’s Standard Launcher is More Battery Optimized.
- ⚙️ For advanced settings, you can use plugins for launchers.
- 🎨 Design themes can change the appearance of standard folders.
⚠️ Warning: When installing a third-party launcher, be sure to give it all the permissions you request, including access to storage and phone. Without this, app icons may not appear and search features may not work.
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Standard MIUI/HyperOS tools are enough for 95% of users, but third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher are better for full visual customization.