How to Remove Unnecessary Icons From Xiaomi Desktop: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s smartphone desktop often turns into a mess of dozens of app icons, widgets, and folders. Even after removing programs, their shortcuts can stay on the home screen, occupying space and distracting attention. Unlike “pure” Android, the MIUI shell has its own icon management features — there is no standard “delete from the screen”, but there are hidden settings and alternative methods.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to remove icons from the desktop on any Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO device, from basic actions to advanced tricks for MIUI 12-14 versions. We will learn how to hide system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), disable automatic addition of new icons, and return accidentally deleted shortcuts. All methods work without root rights and do not require the installation of third-party launchers.

Important: Some of the ways may vary depending on the firmware version. If your smartphone is running HyperOS (the new flagship shell of 2026), pay attention to the individual notes in the instructions.

1. Basic method: removing icons swipe up

The simplest method that works on all versions of MIUI is to remove shortcuts directly from the desktop. Unlike other shells (such as the Samsung One UI), there is no separate "Delete" button, but the mechanics remain intuitive.

To remove the icon:

1. Press and hold your finger on the desired shortcut 1-2 seconds until it “sticks” off the screen.
2. Drag the icon to the top of the screen and a red basket will appear with the words Delete.
3. Release your finger when the label turns red.

What's important to know:

• 📱 This method removes only the shortcut, not the application itself. To uninstall the program, go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔄 If the icon of the system application (for example, Mi Community), it can not be removed completely, only removed from the screen.
• ⚙️ On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS), the basket may be at the bottom of the screen.

⚠️ Warning: If the icon is not deleted after swiping, check if the desktop is locked. → Screen settings → Turn off the option to Block the layout.

2. Hiding icons through launcher settings

If you need to temporarily remove icons but not permanently delete them, use the Hiding feature, which is useful for system applications that cannot be uninstalled (such as Mi Pay or Themes).

Instructions:

1. Hold your finger to an empty desktop space → select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings on older versions).
2. Go to Hide Apps (may be called Hidden Apps or Icon Management).
3. Tick the apps you want to hide and click Ready.

Features of the method:

• 🔍 Hidden icons are not displayed in the app menu, but remain in the system. They can be found through search (swipe down on the desktop).
• 🔄 To return icons, repeat the steps and uncheck the apps.
• 📌 On HyperOS, the path to settings may be different: Settings → Desktop → Icon management.

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)

Disable the layout lock (screen settings → Block the layout)

Backup important shortcuts (screenshot)

Make sure the application is not system-based (otherwise it may not hide)-->

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, hidden apps are automatically excluded from global search results, which can create the illusion of their complete removal.

3. disable automatic addition of icons

One of the most annoying things about MIUI is that it automatically shortcuts new apps on the desktop, and that behavior can be turned off, but the setup is hidden deep in the menu.

How to turn it off:

1. Open Settings → Desktop (or Screen Settings).
2. Find the option to Add icons of new applications to the desktop and disable it.
3. On some firmware, this item may be called Automatic Adding of Shortcuts.

Additional settings:

• 📦 If there is no option, try the path: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Default settings → Add shortcuts to the desktop.
• 🔄 On HyperOS, Automatic Add-on is disabled in Settings → Desktop → Placement of icons.
• 📱 After disabling new applications will appear only in the menu (swipe up from the dock panel).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) the path to setup may be different. Use the settings search (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner) to quickly find the desired item.

4. Removal of system application icons (without root)

Xiaomi system applications (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Music, GetApps) cannot be removed in standard ways, but they can be disabled or hidden without superuser rights, which will free up space on the desktop and reduce background activity.

Method 1: Disconnect via ADB (without root)

You will need a computer and enabled USB debugging:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command (example for Mi Browser):

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.browser

A list of Xiaomi system application packages can be found in the FAQ.

Method 2: Hiding through application settings

Some systems can be hidden without ADB:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (such as Mi Video).
3. Click Disable (if the button is active) or Remove Updates (will return the application to the factory version).

Risks and limitations:

• ⚠️ Disabling system applications can lead to malfunctions in the work MIUI (For example, access to the settings of the topics will be lost).
• 🔄 After resetting settings or updating the firmware, disabled applications can return.
• 📌 On HyperOS, some system applications are protected from shutdown.

💡

Before disabling system applications via ADB, back up your data to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will help restore functionality if something goes wrong.

5. Use of alternative launchers

If standard methods don’t work, you can completely replace the MIUI shell with a third-party launcher, which allows you to flexibly configure the desktop, including removing icons, resizing them and hiding folders.

The best launchers for Xiaomi:

How to install and configure:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click Home and select a new launcher as your primary.
3. To remove icons: hold the label → drag to the cart or in the Hide menu.

Important nuances:

• 📱 On HyperOS, some launchers may conflict with system gestures (e.g., swipe sideways).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI The launcher may reset to the standard. To avoid this, in its settings, enable the option to disable reset (if any).
• ⚙️ For full control of icons in Nova Launcher activate the Lab → Hide applications.

💡

Alternative launchers do not remove system applications, but only hide their shortcuts. Root rights will be required to completely remove system programs.

6. Restoration of accidentally deleted icons

If you delete an icon of an important app (like Phone or Messages), it can be returned without resetting. There are several ways to restore it in MIUI.

Method 1: Through the Application Menu

1. Make a swipe up from the dock panel to open the app menu.
2. Find the right app in the list.
3. Hold his icon and drag it to the desktop.

Method 2: Through launcher settings

1. Keep an empty space on the desktop → screen settings.
2. Select Doc Panel or Icon Management.
3. Find the remote app in the list and add it back to the screen.

Method 3: Through Backup

If you have previously created a backup screen layout:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Select the latest backup and restore the screen settings.

What to do if the icon is not restored:

• 🔄 Reboot the device – sometimes it helps to return missing shortcuts.
• 📌 If the system app icon (like the Camera) is up to date, try updating it via Google Play.
• ⚙️ On HyperOS, you may need to reset launcher settings for recovery: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

⚠️ Note: If the icon doesn’t work after recovery (e.g., Settings don’t open), this may indicate that the system file is damaged.

FAQ: Frequent questions