How to Create a Folder in a Xiaomi 11 Phone: The Complete Guide

Modern smartphones like the flagship Xiaomi Mi 11 or its Pro version have huge screens and powerful hardware that allows you to install dozens and sometimes hundreds of applications. However, without proper organization, this digital chaos quickly turns the desktop into an unreadable mosaic of icons, where finding the right program takes precious seconds. A competent menu structure is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a way to increase your personal productivity and speed of interaction with the device.

MIUI, which is based on Android, offers flexible tools for sorting software, but the interface may not be obvious to beginners. In this article, we will detail how to create a folder on Xiaomi 11, change its appearance and use advanced grouping functions. You will learn to clean up the digital space so that everything you need is at hand.

The basic principle of creating folders on the desktop

The process of grouping applications in the MIUI shell is intuitive and built on the principle of Drag-and-Drop, which is familiar to computer users. You do not need special programming skills or access to hidden settings menus. All manipulations are done directly on the home screen or in the menu of all applications where shortcuts are stored.

To form a new group, you need to pinch your finger on the icon of any application you want to put inside. The screen will go into editing mode, and you can move the selected object. Drag this icon over another program that you plan to combine with the first one into one category. Once the top icon touches the bottom one, the system will automatically create a container.

When you release your finger, you'll see the animations of the unification, and both programs will be inside the newly created folder. By default, the system will suggest a category name based on the type of applications (for example, Tools or Social Networks), but you're free to change it at any time, and this method works equally well on both the standard launcher and third-party interfaces.

⚠️ Note: If the screen starts to vibrate when dragging the icon and the folder is not created, you may have the "Blocking the layout" mode in your desktop settings. Check the settings before you start sorting.

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Use the Shake to Sort feature in your desktop settings to automatically align all icons and empty spaces after creating a lot of folders.

Rename and adjust the appearance of the folder

Once you have grouped applications, the standard name may not reflect the essence of the content or be too long. MIUI allows you to customize the header of the folder, making navigation more understandable.

You can use emojis, special characters, or even leave the field blank for minimalist design. Click the input field, type in the desired name, and confirm the action with the "Done" button or similar tick icon. Changes are saved instantly.

In addition to text, you can control the size of the icons displayed inside the container. In some versions of the firmware, you can change the number of visible lines or display style (list or grid), This is especially true for owners of the Xiaomi 11 with its high-resolution screen, where small details are clearly visible.

Use the All Apps menu to sort

Unlike classic Android, MIUI offers two desktop display modes: with and without all apps. If you use a mode where all shortcuts are scattered across pages, folder creation takes place right on the desktop. However, in App Drawer mode, the logic is slightly different.

Here you can create folders directly from the list of all programs without taking them to the home screen. This helps keep the desktop clean, leaving only widgets and the most commonly used programs there. Open the menu swipe up, find the desired applications and repeat the procedure of dragging one icon to another.

The advantage of this approach is that the folder in the app menu does not take up space on the desktop, but is always available via swipe, which is ideal for those who like minimalism and order, you can create thematic groups, for example, Banks, Games or Travel, and store them in a shared list.

⚠️ Note: Deleting the folder from the All Apps menu doesn’t remove the apps themselves, but if you remove the folder from the desktop, shortcuts can dissipate across the free screen cells.

Comparison of methods of space organization

The way you organize depends on your smartphone habits, with some users preferring to put all folders on the desktop for quick access, others hiding them in a deep menu. Below is a table comparing the basic grouping approaches on Xiaomi 11.

As you can see from the table, folder layout on the desktop provides fast access, but visually clutters the space. Using the app menu saves space, but requires unnecessary finger movement. Folder widgets are a compromise, allowing you to see the contents of the group without opening it.

It’s worth noting that creating a large number of folder widgets can slightly increase RAM consumption, although on the Xiaomi 11 with its RAM reserve it is almost imperceptible.

Advanced functions: widgets and folders-widgets

The MIUI shell allows you to turn regular folders into interactive widgets, which means you can see the contents of the folder or even run applications inside it without opening the group itself completely, and you need to add a folder widget to your desktop through the edit menu.

Click on the blank space on the screen, select "Widgets" and find a category associated with folders or specific applications. Some types of widgets allow you to display only the four most used applications from the group, dynamically changing depending on your habits. This is a unique feature that adapts the interface to the user.

There is also the possibility of creating “smart” folders that sort apps by usage time or color gamut, although this may require third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher installed from Google Play. MIUI Functional is limited to the basic grouping.

Removal and disbandment of groups

Sooner or later, you may need to undo the structure you created. Dissolving a folder on Xiaomi 11 is as easy as creating. Open the folder to see all the icons inside. Then start dragging apps outside the container.

Just pull all the apps out, and the folder disappears automatically, freeing up space on the screen. If you pull out all the apps except one, the folder will also disappear, leaving a single icon. This is standard Android behavior.

Your data, logins and game progress will remain intact, and you're just changing the way you visualize it on the screen.

⚠️ Note: If you accidentally drag and drop a folder into the Remove area at the top of the screen, you can delete the folder shortcut, but apps will remain in the All Apps menu».

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The folder disappears automatically as soon as one or no applications remain in it – there is no separate command “Delete folder”.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)