How to remove a folder from the Xiaomi desktop: all ways

The organization of space on the screen of Xiaomi smartphone often leads to the creation of folders that eventually cease to be useful. The accumulation of unnecessary groups of applications can visually clutter the interface and make it difficult to quickly find the right icons. Users often wonder how to remove the folder from the desktop of Xiaomi phone to return the tidy look of the system. The process is simple, but has its own nuances depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS.

There are several ways to do this, from drag and drop to deeper settings through the edit menu, and removing the folder won't affect the applications themselves that are contained inside the folder -- the programs will stay in memory and be available through the All Apps menu. All you need to do is to do the right sequence of actions so you don't get confused with the interface elements.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions for different scenarios, you will learn how to disband a group, save icons, or how to clear the space on the screen, and will also discuss issues related to system limitations and features of the launcher.

Basic method of removal through drag and drop

The most common and intuitive way to get rid of the extra group is to use drag-and-drop, which works on the vast majority of Redmi, Poco and Mi models with any firmware version, and you need to enter desktop editing mode first.

Press the blank area of the screen or pinch it with two fingers (finger mixing on the screen). The interface will change, the icons will become smaller, and the toolbar will appear at the bottom. Find an unnecessary folder and press it, holding the finger until it "rises" above the surface. Now drag it to the top of the screen, where usually the "Delete" or basket icon is located.

But MIUI shells often take a different logical approach: instead of deleting the folder itself, the system suggests "dissolving it." If you drag the folder to the delete area, the system may ask for confirmation or simply disappear, leaving applications scattered. A safer option is to drag the folder to the center of the screen, open it, and then consistently pull the applications outside the group.

• 📱 Press the folder before the vibration appears and drag to the icon "Delete".
• 🗑️ Use the “Dissolve” function in the editing menu if it is available.
• 📂 Open the folder and drag all applications to the free screen space.

⚠️ Note: When dragging a folder into the basket on some versions MIUI Only shortcuts are removed, but the apps remain on the system. However, on older versions of Android, the behavior may have been different, so it is better to double-check the availability of programs in the menu.

If the folder is not deleted in the standard way, it may be system-based or change-proof, and then simple finger manipulation won't help. You need to check if this group is part of the theme. Third-party themes often create their own folder structures that block standard editing. Try temporarily switching to the standard theme "Classic" in the "Themes" app and try again.

Dissolving folder with saving applications

Often, the user needs to not just destroy the container, but return the applications to a prominent place. How do you remove the folder from the Xiaomi desktop while maintaining quick access to the programs? There is a manual extraction method for this. Open the folder with a double tap. You will see a grid with application icons.

Press one of the icons inside the folder, drag it outside the open group window to the free desktop area, repeat this operation for each application, and when the folder is empty or only one application remains, the group automatically disappears or becomes a single icon.

This method takes longer than just deleting, but it ensures you don’t lose important shortcuts, especially for folders with banking apps or instant messengers that you need to have on hand. In new versions of HyperOS, extract animation has become smoother, and the system itself offers to “declare” applications if you keep the folder in editing mode for a long time.

It's worth noting that if you're using No Name mode or special grid settings, the process may look different. In some cases, the system requires you to move all the items before the container disappears. If the folder is stuck and doesn't want to disappear even after you've retrieved all the applications, try rebooting the device.

Using the desktop editing menu

The MIUI shell and HyperOS provide an extended menu to manage interface elements. To get there, tap a long tap across the blank space on the screen. At the bottom, tabs will appear: "Vidgets," "Effects," "Settings," and sometimes "More." That's where deep cleaning tools hide.

Some launcher versions (especially Chinese firmware or global beta versions) have a Desktop Management feature, where you can see a list of all pages and objects. If the folder is a widget (which is rare, but possible with third-party utilities), you can delete it through the widget menu by finding the corresponding item in the active list.

If you don't find the options you need, check the launcher's settings. Go to Settings → Desktop. This may include features that block deletion of system folders or allow more aggressive cleaning. The grid settings also affect folder behavior: when you change the number of speakers, old folders can automatically rebuilt or disappear.

Problems with system and protected folders

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the folder cannot be deleted by any of the above methods: it does not drag, open for editing or disappear, but immediately reappears after rebooting, this is typical of system folders created by the manufacturer or operator.

For example, Google, Microsoft, or Tools folders are often part of a system image, which cannot be deleted by standard means because they are protected by system rights. Trying to delete such a folder can lead to the error "Failure to delete object" in which case the only way out is to ignore it or move it to a less visible desktop page.

There is also a risk that the folder is created by a malicious ad module. If you notice that the folder appears on its own, contains strange shortcuts or cannot be removed, check the phone for viruses. Use the built-in antivirus Security or install a reliable scanner from Google Play.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete system folders through ADB Removing critical system components can lead to Xiaomi instability or endless restarts (bootloop).

For advanced users, it is possible to freeze such folders through ADB. The command requires connecting to the computer and entering specific code, for example:

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

The Impact of Themes and Third-Party Launchers

Often the problem with undeleteable folders is the installed themes. MIUI themes can completely change the way the desktop works, and in such cases, standard gestures may not work. To check this, change the theme temporarily to the standard one.

Go to the Topics → Profile → Standard. After applying the theme, try to remove the folder again. If the problem is solved, then it was a third-party design that was not working correctly, in which case you should abandon this theme or look for an updated version of it.

A similar situation occurs when using third-party launchers, such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher, in which the mechanisms for creating and deleting folders are different from the system ones, usually you need to clamp the folder and select the "Delete" menu that appears or drag to the basket icon that appears in the corner of the screen.

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If the folder is not deleted, try to zoom in the font or size items in the screen settings, sometimes visual bugs prevent you from getting to the delete area correctly.

Also worth mentioning is the "Second Space" function, if the folder is there, deleting it will not affect the main profile, make sure you are in the right space before you start cleaning, switching between spaces is done through settings or a special widget.

Cleaning the launcher cache as a solution to problems

In rare cases, the desktop interface can "glue" without responding to deletion commands, this is treated by cleaning the cache of the system application responsible for the desktop, this is a secure procedure that will not delete your personal data or installed applications.

To do the cleaning, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Desktop (or System Launcher) list. Go to it and select Clear → Clear Cache. If the problem is serious, you can choose Clear Everything, but then you will get confused with the settings for the location of the icons and widgets.

After this operation, the phone may slow down a little, as the system re-indexes shortcuts. Complete cleaning of the launcher data will return the desktop to a "post-fabrication" state, removing all the folders and widgets you created, so use this method only as a last resort.

• 🔄 Restart the device after cleaning the cache to fix the effect.
• 📉 Reduce the number of widgets on the screen if memory is scarce.
• 🛡️ Update the Security and Topics app to the latest versions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Deleting a folder on Xiaomi is a secure operation that doesn’t affect the data inside apps, but requires care not to remove system shortcuts if you’re not sure about them.