Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, have a huge number of pre-installed apps and features. With each system update, the number of icons on the desktop grows, turning a chaotic set of characters into a complex puzzle for the user. Without proper space organization, finding the right program can take minutes, which critically reduces the effectiveness of using the gadget in everyday life.
Foldering is a basic but fundamental skill for putting things in order in the digital space. App grouping not only cleans the screen visually, but also logically structures access to tools by use categories. Owners of Redmi and Poco devices often face nuances different from standard Android, so it’s important to understand the specifics of this ecosystem.
In this article, we'll go into all the ways that files and programs are organized, and you'll learn not only about standard methods, but also about the hidden features that will help personalize the interface, and we'll look at creating folders on the desktop, in the app menu, and even in the file manager where your personal data is stored. Here we go.
Basic method of grouping applications on the desktop
The easiest and most obvious way to get things in order is to create a folder directly on the home screen, which doesn't require any additional utilities or superuser rights. The whole process takes a few seconds and is intuitive even for newcomers to a Xiaomi smartphone for the first time. All you need is two or more app shortcuts.
The algorithm is simple: Find two programs on the screen that you want to combine (such as messengers or games) and click on one of the icons and hold it until the vibration or the grid scale changes. Without letting go, drag the selected shortcut right on top of the second icon. The system automatically creates a container that will fit both applications.
Once you form a group, you'll see that the folder has a standard name, like "Folder" or "Tools." To change the name, just click on the text box inside the open folder and type in your own name, which allows you to quickly navigate the content, especially if you have a lot of utilities installed.
- 📱 Press and drag: Press the icon and move it to another to create a group instantly.
- 📝 Rename: Tap the name of the edit folder to give it a clear name.
- 🗑️ Delete: To remove the folder, just drag all applications from it back to the desktop.
And it's important to note that when you move applications within a group, you can also change the order of the applications, which is convenient if you use one program more often than another, just bring it to the forefront. The MIUI interface allows you to adapt the grid to your needs, making interaction with the device more comfortable.
Work with folders in the menu of all applications (App Drawer)
Many users prefer to hide all installed programs in a separate menu, leaving the desktop clean. In Xiaomi devices, this menu is often called "App Drawer" or just an application menu. Here, the logic of creating folders is slightly different from the desktop, but remains equally simple. The organization of space in this section is especially relevant for those who install hundreds of applications.
To create a folder in the app menu, swipe it up (if the corresponding mode is enabled in the settings). Find two apps to group. As with the desktop, pinch one icon and drag it to another. The system will create a folder that will appear in the menu, and, optionally, can be displayed on the desktop.
However, there is a nuance associated with display mode: If you have Classic mode on (where all applications are on desktops), there is no separate menu, and all folders are created only on lock screens or screens. → Desktop → Desktop mode → Apps menu.
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Use different icon colors in the same folder for visual separation if the shell allows you to change themes, or group the applications by color gamut for aesthetics.
Within the app menu, folders work like quick links, they help to reduce search time, especially if the index index can't handle a lot of software, and optimizing search on the menu is a key factor in productivity.
⚠️ Note: When you remove a folder from the app menu, the programs themselves are not deleted from the phone. You just unpack them, and they become separate items again.
Creating folders for files in the File Manager
The special attention deserves to be given to organizing not program shortcuts, but personal data: photos, documents and downloads. To do this, Xiaomi-based Android uses the built-in Explorer or Files app, where folder creation allows you to structure information so that it can be easily found or transmitted.
The process of creating a file folder is as follows: Open the Explorer application. Go to the Files section or select a specific memory (internal or external). SD-In the upper right corner of the screen, find the icon with three dots or plus, click on it and select "Create a folder".
In the window that comes up, enter the name of the new directory, and it will appear in the current location, where you can move documents, sort photos by year or event, create archives with working projects, which is especially useful for freeing up space and quickly clearing the cache.
| Type of folder | Location. | Appointment | Access. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic | Root of memory | Storage of OS data | Only reading. |
| Customized | Anywhere. | Personal files | Full access |
| Cash app. | Android/data | Temporary files | Limited to Android 11+ |
| Downloads. | Download | Files from the browser | Full access |
When moving files to new folders, it’s important not to disrupt the system directory structure.The Android file system is sensitive to changes in root directories, so create your structures in custom partitions like Internal Storage.
Hiding applications in Second Space and Hidden folders
Shells. MIUI And HyperOS is famous for its privacy features, and if you can see standard folders, you can see them.-sensitive There are special hidden containers, not just folders, but isolated spaces that are password-protected or protected by a fingerprint.
Hidden Apps removes the program icon from the desktop and menu. To get into the settings of this feature, go to Settings → Apps → Hidden Apps. Here you can select programs that will disappear from public access, which you will need to enter a special code in the search field or use a gesture to run them.
An even more advanced tool is Second Space, which is actually the second profile on the phone, with its own set of folders, apps and accounts, and you can create your folders there, and they're completely invisible to the main profile, and you can switch between spaces through settings or a special gesture.
How do you activate the Second Space?
Using these methods of data protection becomes a security standard, and hidden folders in MIUI are not displayed even when you connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode, unless you enter a password, which provides a high level of privacy.
⚠️ Warning: Don't forget the password or unlock pattern for hidden apps. Resetting the lock screen password doesn't always restore access to the contents of hidden folders, and data can be lost forever.
Personalization of the appearance of folders through Topics
The standard look of folders in Xiaomi can seem boring. Fortunately, the MIUI Themes store offers thousands of design options that change not only wallpaper, but also the style of folders, icons and fonts, making the interface unique and unlike other devices.
To change folder style, open the Topic app. Search for "Folder" or "Folder." You'll see a lot of packages that change shape, transparency, opening animations and background images of folders. Some themes make folders round, others make them neon bezels or transparent glass.
Once you download and apply the theme, the changes will affect the entire interface. If you only liked the folder style and the rest of the theme doesn't fit, some advanced users use modified versions of the theme store to apply the elements selectively, although standard means will have to apply the theme as a whole.
- 🎨 Customization: Themes allow you to change the shape and color of folders beyond recognition.
- 🔄 Animation: Some folders have unique animations when opening and closing.
- 📉 Performance: Too heavy themes with complex folder graphics may have little impact on autonomy.
By experimenting with themes, you can create a visual navigation system, like making folders with games bright and aggressive, and folders with work sharp and minimalist, visual style affects the perception of information and usability.
☑️ Checking before setting up a new topic
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Despite the system's fine-tuning, users sometimes have problems with folders, such as not creating a folder, "flying out" applications, or losing the ability to rename, most often due to a crowded launcher cache or version conflict.
If you can’t create a folder by drag and drop, try creating an empty folder first (if the MIUI version allows) or combining any two programs, and then throwing them away. Also helps clean the Desktop cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Desktop → Clear → Clear cache.
In rare cases, the problem lies in a third-party launcher installed on top of the system. If you are using a Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, the logic of creating folders may be different from the system one, in which case, refer to the settings of the particular launcher.
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If standard methods don’t work, rebooting your phone solves 90% of the problems with interface glitches and folder creation.
Regular folder revisions are also necessary, remove applications you don't use to keep the structure from inflating, and optimized storage directly affects the speed of the device.