How to Create a Shortcut on Xiaomi’s Desktop: From Apps to Websites

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based desktop is not just an icon-based background, but a full-fledged tool for quickly accessing the right features. Many Redmi, POCO or Black Shark users are faced with the challenge of adding a shortcut to a frequently used app, web page or even system feature if it’s not in the main menu? It turns out there are more options than you might think — from standard methods to hidden MIUI 14/15 features.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to create shortcuts, including little-known tricks for power users, how to put not only an app icon on the home screen, but also a shortcut for a specific contact, note, or even command through the Quick Action widget, and why shortcuts sometimes disappear after an update and how to fix it.

Spoiler: One method works even for applications that don't appear in the All Apps menu (like hidden system utilities) but everything in order.

1. Standard method: Adding an app shortcut

It’s a basic method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of model — whether it’s the Redmi Note 12 or the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Suitable for 90% of users who want to just bring a frequently used app to the home screen.

The algorithm is simple:

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen.
2. Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu (or click on the All Apps icon in the dockboard).
3. Find the right app in the list.
4. Press the icon for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
5. Select Add to the main screen (or drag the icon to the top of the screen).

If the app is not on the menu, check:

• 📱 Hidden Applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Hidden applications.
• 🔍 Search: Swipe down the main screen and type the name in the search bar.
• 🗑️ Remote apps: it may have been uninstalled. Check Google Play → Library.

💡

If you add shortcuts often, turn on the option “Double tap to add” in Settings → Home screen → Additional settings. Now just tap twice on the free space on the screen to open the menu of widgets and shortcuts.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for the European market), the menu item may be called Add to Home screen, which is normal.

Website shortcuts: How to save a website to the home screen

Want to quickly open your favorite forum, web version of Telegram or corporate portal without searching in the browser? MIUI has a built-in feature for creating shortcuts for sites – it works through the standard browser Mi Browser or Google Chrome.

Instructions for Mi Browser:

1. Open your browser and go to the desired site (e.g. vk.com).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → select Add to the main screen.
3. If necessary, edit the name of the label and confirm the addition.

For Google Chrome:

1. Open the site in Chrome.
2. Slip on three points → Add to the main screen.
3. Confirm shortcut creation. Some versions of Chrome may have a notification stating that it is a “fast app” (PWA).

Important: these shortcuts open the site in a mini version of the browser without an address bar, which is convenient for saving traffic and quick access. However, they do not support notifications (unlike full-fledged PWAs in Chrome on Android 12+).

3. Hidden capabilities: shortcuts for contacts, notes and system functions

Few people know, but in MIUI you can create shortcuts not only for applications, but also for:

• 👤 Contact: A quick call or message to a specific person.
• 📝 Notes: Opening a Specific Note from Xiaomi Notes.
• ⚙️ System settings: for example, a shortcut to enable mobile internet or Do Not Disturb mode".

How to do this:

1. Open the widget menu: press your finger in the free seat of the main screen → select Widgets.
2. Scroll down to the Shortcuts section.
3. Select the type you want: Contacts → Quick Call or Quick Message. Notes → Open a note (you need to select a specific note). Settings → [Purpose] (e.g. Battery or Sound).

Drag the label to the main screen.

These shortcuts work as hotkeys for frequently used functions, such as Flight Mode, which allows you to turn it on/off in one tap without going into settings.

Advanced Method: Shortcuts through Quick Action (MIUI 14+)

Recent versions of MIUI have introduced the Quick Action widget, which allows you to create custom shortcuts to execute multiple commands at once, for example, one tapm can:

• 🔊 Turn on Bluetooth and start Spotify.
• 🌙 Activate a dark theme and reduce the brightness to 30%.
• 📱 Switch to mobile data and open Google Maps.

How to set up:

1. Add the Quick Action widget to the home screen (widget menu → Tools → Quick Actions).
2. Tap the videt. → Add action.
3. Select commands from the list (~50 options are available, from enabling NFC to running a specific application).
4. Save the combination and assign it a name (e.g., "Evening Mode").

This is particularly useful for automating routine activities, such as creating a shortcut before bed that simultaneously:

1. It's on the Do Not Disturb mode.
2. It reduces the brightness to 10%.
3. Launches the Sleeping Noise App.

Make sure you have a MIUI 14 or later | Check for a widget in the menu (if not, update the firmware) | Remember the sequence of commands (they can not be canceled after saving) | Test the shortcut in safe mode (no important tasks)

-->

5. Problem Solving: Why Labels Are Disappearing or Not Working

Sometimes Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the shortcuts:

• 🗑️ Disappear after rebooting or updating.
• ⚙️ They do not open (the tap on the icon does not give results).
• 🔄 Reset to standard settings.

Causes and solutions:

If the problem persists, try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select Reset (or Reset layout)
3. Confirm the action – this will return the standard arrangement of the icons, but will save the installed applications.

💡

Before resetting the launcher settings, take a screenshot of the current location of the icons – this will help you quickly restore them manually.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI China) website shortcuts may be blocked due to security policies, in which case use Google Chrome instead of Mi Browser.

6.Alternative methods: third-party launchers and ADB

If the standard methods are not satisfied, consider alternatives:

1. Third-party launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher):

• 🎨 More opportunities for customization of icons and labels.
• 📌 Support for gestures (for example, swipe up the icon to trigger another action).
• 🔧 Ability to hide applications without removal.

How to set up:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Assign it as the default launcher in the settings.
3. Use built-in tools to create shortcuts (in Nova Launcher: long press → Widgets → Nova Actions).

2. ADB-Teams for experienced users:

If you want to create a shortcut for a hidden system function (such as a hardware test or an Engineering menu), use the command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings

Replace com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettings with the path you want (you can find it through Activity Launcher).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It requires developer mode to be on and can cause system failures when incorrect commands are in place.

7 Desktop Optimization: How to Organize Shortcuts Effectively

Too many shortcuts on the home screen slows down your phone and makes navigation difficult.

The 5 icon rule:

Studies show that a person effectively remembers the location of no more than 5 commonly used icons, the rest are better grouped into folders or placed on additional screens.

Examples of an organization:

• 📱 Main screen: 5 most important apps (messengers, phone, camera).
• 📁 Folders: Social media: VK, Telegram, Instagram.Works: Mail, Calendar, Zoom.Games: all gaming apps.
• ⚡ Dock panel (bottom panel): 4-5 Apps that are used daily (e.g. Chrome, Gallery, Settings).

How to create a folder:

1. Drag one icon to another.
2. The folder will open, and name it (for example, “Games”).
3. Add other apps to it by dragging and dropping.

For visual separation, use empty widgets (for example, the Divider in Nova Launcher) or themed wallpapers with zoning (for example, dark background for work applications, light – for entertainment).

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi