How to create a folder on the desktop Xiaomi Redmi 7: 3 ways + problem solving

Why do you need folders on your smartphone desktop and how they save time?

Xiaomi Redmi 7 desktop quickly fills with app icons, especially if you are actively installing games, instant messengers or utilities. Without organization, the chaos on the screen not only spoils the appearance, but also slows down the search for the desired application. Folders solve this problem: they allow you to group programs by topic (social networks, banks, tools) and free up to 70% of the space on the home screen.

On Xiaomi’s MIUI, folders take literally 10 seconds to create, but many Redmi 7 users are faced with nuances. For example, not everyone knows that folders can not only be created, but also renamed, change their color, and automatically sort apps inside. In this article, we will analyze all the ways, including hidden shell chips, and explain how to fix typical errors (for example, when the folder suddenly disappears after an update).

Important: the instruction is relevant for Redmi 7 based on MIUI 10-14 (including global and Chinese versions of firmware).If you have a different Xiaomi model (for example, Redmi Note 7 or POCO X3), the algorithm will be identical - the differences are only in the design of the menu.

Method 1: Classic folder creation by drag and drop

This is the simplest and most intuitive method that works on all versions of MIUI. You don't need to go into settings or install additional applications. You just need to do 3 things:

1. Press and hold your finger on any application on your desktop until it is “unlocked” from the screen (vibration and zoom animations appear).
2. Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to another app you want to merge with, like putting WhatsApp on Telegram to create a Messenger folder.
3. Release your finger – the system will automatically create a folder with the default name (usually “Folder” or “New Folder”).

To add more apps to your folder, repeat the action: hold the icon and drag it to the folder. It will automatically open, and you can "throw" the application inside. The maximum number of icons in one folder on Redmi 7 is 16 pieces (in newer versions of MIUI, the limit is increased to 24).

Select the first application (hold 1-2 seconds)| Switch to the second application (do not release your finger)| Release your finger after the folder frame appears | If necessary, rename the folder (see the next section)

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If the folder is not created, check:

• 📱 Is screen editing mode activated (double tap on free space) → "Edit. In this mode, drag and drop works differently.
• 🔄 Did the firmware update recently? MIUI Sometimes reset desktop settings (solution – phone reboot).
• 🚫 If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher), the algorithm may differ.

Method 2: Create a folder through the Edit menu

This method is useful if you need to create a folder in advance (for example, for future applications) or if drag and drop for some reason does not work.

1. Touch the empty space on your desktop and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
2. Select Edit (or Screen Settings in some versions of MIUI).
3. In the upper right corner, click on the Folder icon (two squares are shown on each other).
4. The system will create an empty folder called the New folder, and you can drag and drop apps into it or rename them.

The advantage of this method is the ability to create a folder without apps inside, which is convenient if you plan to organize the desktop in advance (for example, make folders "Work", "Games", "Study" and later fill them out).

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If there is no folder creation button in the Edit menu, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI. Older versions (below 11) may not have this feature.

Note the nuance: folders created through the editing menu have a transparent background by default. To change it, follow the following steps:

1. Open the folder.
2. Touch her name at the top.
3. Select folder style → background color.

Method 3: Automatic grouping with "Category"

MIUI offers a clever feature that automatically sorts applications into categories, which is useful if you have dozens of programs, and manually group them for a long time.

1. Press your finger on the free desktop space and select Screen Settings → Categories.
2. Activate the Automatic Grouping Switch.
3. The system will offer ready-made categories: "Social Networks", "Multimedia", "Tools", etc. Choose the right ones or create your own.
4. Click Apply – MIUI will automatically create folders and distribute applications.

The downside of this method is that it's not always sorted correctly, like Google Chrome getting into Tools instead of the Internet, but you can always manually move apps between folders.

I'm creating folders manually.|I'm using automatic sorting.|I keep all the icons on my desktop.|I'm using app search.|Another option-->

How to rename a folder and change its appearance

By default, MIUI gives folders standard names like "Folder 1" or "New Folder" to change the name:

1. Open the folder.
2. Tap the current name at the top (the cursor will appear).
3. Enter a new name (up to 12 characters) and click Ready.

To redesign the folder:

• 🎨 Background color: open the folder → click on her name. → File style → choose the color.
• 📏 Icon size: in the screen settings menu → Icon size (affects all folders).
• 🔄 Sorting applications: inside the folder click on three dots in the upper right corner → Sort (by alphabet, by frequency of use, etc.).

Redmi 7 with MIUI 12+ has Smart Folders, which automatically change color depending on the desktop wallpaper. To activate: Screen settings → Folder style → Adaptive color.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after creating a folder correctly, Redmi 7 users sometimes encounter bugs, and here are the most common ones and fixes:

⚠️ Note: If the folder disappeared after the update MIUI, Don't panic. Most often, it's due to a temporary failure of the launcher cache. → Annexes → Application management → find Louncher → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Problem 1: The folder does not open when you click.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Check if the mode is activated with one hand (Settings) → Additional settings → It can lock part of the screen.
• 🛠️ Update the launcher via Google Play (if you use a third-party launcher).

Problem 2: Apps disappear from the folder after the reboot.

This is a bug from older versions of MIUI 10-11.

• 📲 Remove the folder and create it again.
• 🔧 Disable optimization for launcher: Settings → Battery and productivity → Optimizing the battery → find Louncher → Shut down.

Problem 3: You can’t add more than 16 apps to your folder.

This is the MIUI limitation for Redmi 7.

• 📁 Create a folder: Drag one folder to another (works only in the MIUI 12+).
• 🔄 Use the Second App Page: Swipe up on your desktop → press edit → create a folder there.

Hidden folder chips on MIUI: what can your Redmi 7

Few people know, but folders on Xiaomi Redmi 7 can do more than just store apps. Here are 5 useful features:

• 🔒 Hidden folders: You can hide the folder from prying eyes. → Hide the apps and select the folder you want, and it will disappear from the desktop, but it will remain accessible through search.
• 🔄 Gestures for folders: in MIUI 12+ You can assign a swipe up/down to the folder to quickly open a frequently used application. → Gesture settings.
• 📊 Usage statistics: Open the folder → press three points → Statistics: It'll show you which apps you run most often inside.
• 🎨 Animated icons: If you have an animation-enabled theme installed (like Super Wallpapers), folders will adapt to it. → My subjects.
• 🔗 Quick links: not only apps, but also shortcuts (for example, direct contact call or note) can be added to the folder. → Labels.

Another little-known possibility is folder backup. If you reset your phone to factory settings or change your device, you can restore the desktop structure through Settings → Additional → Backup → Desktop Backup.

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Folders on Redmi 7 only support nesting in MIUI 12 and later. On older versions of the shell, you can't create folders inside folders, which is a system limitation.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions