Today’s smartphone users install dozens of apps, which inevitably turns the desktop into a chaotic pile of icons. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro devices often face the need to clean up this digital space to find the right programs in seconds. Creating folders is a basic but critical skill in navigation in the shell of MIUI.
The Chinese company’s shell offers flexible customization tools, but they are not always obvious to beginners. Unlike pure Android, MIUI has unique grouping algorithms that can work both automatically and manually, and understanding these mechanisms will allow you to not only remove the unnecessary, but also create an ergonomic menu structure.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to combine applications, from standard drag and drop methods to fine-tuning the appearance of folders. You will learn how to avoid common errors and why sometimes the system refuses to create a new group of programs. Proper organization of the desktop is the first step to comfortable use of your gadget.
Basic principle of grouping applications in MIUI
The basic desktop approach in Redmi Note 9 Pro is based on Drag-and-Drop technology, which is universal for most touch interfaces, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem, it has its own touch-response features. You don't need third-party launchers or root rights to create a folder, all tools are built into the system by default.
The process starts with unlocking the screen and going into editing mode. It's important to understand that folder creation is only possible between two or more applications. If you try to drag an icon to an empty space or to a widget, the folder will not form. The system requires a "partner" to merge.
It's worth noting that the touchscreen sensitivity on the Redmi Note 9 Pro is quite high. When you try to drag the icon, try to make the movement confident, but not too fast so that the system can recognize your action as a command to move, not just a random touch. If you feel a vibration (tactile response), then the object is captured.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to create a folder by clamping the icon too hard (function) 3D Touch analogue. MIUI Long-term pressing more often causes contextual menus with widgets or deletion, rather than drag and drop mode.Use easy retention followed by movement.
Why a folder can not be created the first time
Step-by-step: creating a folder on the desktop
Consider the classic scenario where you need to combine multiple commonly used programs, like social networks or navigation services, which is the fastest method and doesn't require a deep dive into the system's settings.
To start, look for two icons on the screen that you want to combine: tap the first icon and hold your finger for about a second until it sticks off the grid and starts to grow slightly in size, which is a signal that the object is ready to move.
Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon directly over the second icon, at which point you'll see the bottom icon change the transparency a little bit or light up, and the top icon will magnetize to it. Release your finger, and the system will automatically create a new folder with the combined content.
☑️ Algorithm of folder creation
Once you create a folder, you can continue to add other apps to it. Just drag and drop new icons into the already created area. The MIUI 12 or newer version installed on your Redmi Note 9 Pro automatically scales the content, allowing you to place many items in one group.
Alternative methods: application menu and sorting
In addition to the desktop, Xiaomi has a separate menu of all applications (App Drawer), which opens upwards swipe. Here the logic of creating folders is identical, but there is a caveat: folders created in the application menu are not always duplicated on the desktop, and vice versa, depending on the launcher settings.
To turn on the app menu mode, go to the settings and select Desktop, where you can activate Classic Menu mode, where all programs are sorted alphabetically, in which folder creation helps break the long list into thematic blocks, which is especially convenient for large-screen devices such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Also worth mentioning is the Widget Folder feature, which in some versions of the firmware, you can stretch the folder and it turns into a widget that displays content without having to open it, which allows you to see new notifications from applications inside the folder right on the desktop.
Comparison of methods of organization of space is presented in the table below:
| Parameter | Desktop | Appendix menu | folder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Always visible | Only swipe. | Always visible |
| Capacity | Screen-limited. | Unlimited | Limited by the size of the widget |
| Speed of access | High (1 touch) | Medium (swipe + search) | Tall. |
| Impact on RAM | Minimum | Minimum | Average (spending resources) |
Editing, renaming and deleting folders
Creating a folder is just the beginning. To maintain order, you need to be able to manage content. The standard name of a new folder in Xiaomi is usually generated automatically based on the first application (for example, "Social Networks" or just the name of the first program), but it can and should be changed.
To rename a folder, just click on the name below the icon, and the keyboard will appear, and you can type in any name using emojis or special characters, which helps visually distinguish important groups of applications from the rest.
Deleting a folder automatically happens when there are fewer than two items left in it. If you drag all the apps out of the folder, it disappears itself. Forced to delete a folder with one application inside through the settings menu is not allowed, this is an architectural feature of Android.
To move the folder as a whole, just do what you would do with a normal icon: press the folder itself (not the name, but the icon area) and drag it to the right place. If you try to grab the folder by the name, you start editing text.
⚠️ Note: When you remove the folder by dragging all the applications inside the basket (if this function is active in the launcher), the applications themselves are not deleted from the phone's memory.
Problems and Solutions: Why You Can't Create a Folder
Redmi Note 9 Pro users sometimes face a situation where the system ignores attempts to create a folder, most often due not to a breakdown, but to software limitations or the fullness of the launcher buffer memory.
One common cause is the overcrowded cache of the System Security app or the launcher itself. When RAM is busy with heavy processes, drag and drop animations can run late, and the action timeout expires before the icons can connect.
It can also be a problem with third-party themes, and some unofficial themes downloaded from MIUI Themes may have bugs in desktop scripts that block new objects from being created, in which case a return to the standard theme "Classic" solves the problem.
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If the folder is not created, try restarting the launcher. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Find Desktop → Clear the cache (not data!). This is secure and won’t delete your icons.
In rare cases, resetting screen settings helps. Go to Settings → Desktop → Desktop settings and check if the "Blocking layout" mode is on. If this mode is active, you will not be able to move icons or create new objects.
Optimization of the interface for Redmi Note 9 Pro
The Redmi Note 9 Pro screen has a diagonal of 6.67 inches, which is quite a large space. Proper use of folders allows you to use the side areas of the screen, which are inconvenient to reach with the thumb of one hand.
It is recommended to place rarely used but important applications (settings, calculator, voice recorder) in folders located in the upper rows or on additional pages. At the bottom, in the "thumb" zone, it is better to leave folders with messengers and calls.
Using folders also reduces visual noise, and it's easier for the brain to pick up 5 icons with category names than 50 multi-colored logos, which is not just aesthetics, but also a way to reduce cognitive load when unlocking a phone.
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Proper organization of folders on the big screen Redmi Note 9 Pro increases the speed of work with the phone by 20-30% by reducing the time to search for the desired application.
Remember that folders can be used not only for applications, but also for widgets, if the MIUI version supports this feature (in newer versions this is implemented better).