How to quickly remove the shortcut from the desktop on the Xiaomi phone

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a crowded desktop, where every square inch of the screen is occupied by apps, which not only makes navigation difficult, but also visually overloads the MIUI or HyperOS interface. Many users wonder how to effectively clean the space without removing the programs themselves that may be needed in the future.

There are several ways to do this, from simply moving icons to folders to deeply adjusting system constraints. Removing a shortcut doesn't always mean uninstalling an application, which is key for those who want to keep the functionality but restore order. In this article, we'll look at all the available ways, including the hidden capabilities of the shell.

The MIUI-based Android operating system offers flexible desktop management tools. You can easily tailor the look of your smartphone to suit your needs by hiding or grouping rarely used services. Understanding the difference between deleting a shortcut and deleting an application will help you avoid accidentally losing important data.

Basic removal of application icons

The easiest way to free up space is to remove the shortcut, and when you pinch your finger on the app icon, the system goes into editing mode, and at that point, the basket icon or the "Delete" icon appears at the top of the screen, and dragging the icon into that zone removes the shortcut from the desktop, leaving the app itself in the menu of all programs.

It is important to distinguish between system and user applications. If you try to remove the shortcut of a pre-installed Xiaomi service, the system can offer two options: simply remove the icon or remove the entire application (if possible). For standard programs downloaded from Google Play, deleting the shortcut often automatically prompts you to delete the program file itself, so you need to be careful when confirming actions.

Some users prefer to completely clean the desktop, leaving it empty for widgets or minimalist design, in which case all the shortcuts are transferred to the application menu, which speeds up the launcher, since the system does not need to draw many elements on the home screen, but it is worth remembering that too deep immersion in the menu can reduce usability.

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Use the Shake for Clean feature if it is available in your launcher version to quickly collect scattered icons into neat rows.

The removal process may vary depending on the operating system version. In newer versions of HyperOS, animations are smoother and shortcut logic more intuitive. If a standard long-press does not trigger an action menu, check the launcher settings, as the editing mode may have been changed by third-party themes.

Using folders for grouping

Grouping apps into folders is an aesthetic way to reduce space, so instead of ten separate shortcuts, you get one neat folder, and to create one, you just drag and drop one icon onto another, and the system automatically creates a container that you can name, like Social Media, Games, or Banks.

Inside folders, you can use the same management techniques you use on your desktop, you can remove shortcuts from the folder without touching the rest of the applications in it, which is especially useful for categorizing rarely used programs, for example, all travel apps can be put into one folder and removed to a second screen or dock.

• 📁 Folder Creation: Drag the app icon to another icon.
• 📝 Rename: Click on the folder name and enter new text.
• 🗑️ Delete from the folder: Open the folder, press the icon and drag it outside the container or into the basket.
• 🎨 Styling: Some themes allow you to change the color and shape of folders for a better visual combination.

Folders also help structure the space, making it more logical to find the right program. Instead of flipping through endless pages, you open a thematic group, which is especially true for users who install hundreds of applications for work and entertainment, and the structured desktop looks professional and orderly.

It's worth noting that folder nesting in MIUI is limited. You can't create a folder inside another folder, which is a limitation of the system. But you can create a lot of first-level folders and put them on different pages of the desktop or in the bottom dock area for quick access.

Hiding applications in the "Second Space" mode

The “Second Space” feature in Xiaomi smartphones allows you to create a completely isolated environment with your applications and files. This is the ideal way to remove shortcuts from the main desktop, making them available only through a separate login (password, fingerprint or graphical key).

To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings, and you'll find "Second Space" where you can move any application to the profile, and the shortcuts will disappear from the main screen, but the programs will remain installed and ready to use in the second profile, and it's also a great way to increase privacy.

⚠️ Warning: Remember to use a password or login method to the second space, without it, hidden applications and data will be impossible to access, and recovery may require a complete reset of the device.

Switching between spaces is quick and convenient, and you can use a sidebar or a special widget to change profiles, so you can keep your work and personal apps separate without removing them completely, and basically the desktop is clean, and the second one is where you need everything for specific tasks.

Using a second space also helps save battery power, as apps in a hidden profile can be limited in background activity when you are in the main profile.This reduces the load on the processor and RAM, which positively affects the autonomy of the smartphone during the day.

Disabling Xiaomi system applications

Many users want to remove shortcuts to Xiaomi pre-installed services such as Mi Video, Mi Music or Themes. Standard removal is often not available for them, but the system can be bypassed through the application management menu, which allows you to hide the icon and stop the background processes, effectively turning the application into an inactive system component.

To access the advanced options, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find an unnecessary system service in the list. If the Remove button is inactive, click on it, the system will prompt the "Disable" application. Once confirmed, the shortcut will disappear from the desktop and menu, and the application will cease to update and consume resources.

Disabling system applications is a safe procedure if you are sure you don't need them, but be careful with components that run interfaces, telephony or security. Disabling critical system processes can cause a smartphone to run insecurely or cause errors.

If you accidentally disable an important application, you can always reactivate it in the same settings menu. The list of disabled programs is usually at the end of the list of all applications or in a separate filter tab, which returns the shortcut to place and resumes the service.

Removal via ADB for advanced users

For those who want to completely clear their smartphone of embedded software (bloatware), there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to the computer and allows you to remove even those system applications that can not be disabled by standard means, the labels of such programs disappear forever.

Before starting the procedure, activate the developer mode. To do this, click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section. Then, in the Developer menu, turn on "Debugging by USB." Connect the phone to your PC, install the ADB drivers and tools. The removal command looks like an adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer


adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

Using ADB gives you complete control over the system, but requires accuracy. A mistake in the name of the package can lead to the removal of an important component. Therefore, before starting work, it is highly recommended to study the lists of safe packets for your specific Xiaomi or Redmi model.

⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB This can disrupt warranty service and cause system instability, and only do so if you fully understand the consequences.

The advantage of ADB is that the application is only removed for the current user (user 0) without affecting the system partition, which means that when you reset the settings to factory (Factory Reset), all remote programs will return to their places, which makes the method relatively safe for testing.

Set up launcher and widgets

The MIUI shell allows you to flexibly customize the appearance of your desktop. You can change the grid, the size of the icons and the font to visually free up space. Smaller icon size allows you to place more elements on a single screen, reducing the need for scrolling.

Also worth paying attention to widgets. They take up significantly more space than regular shortcuts. Removing heavy weather widgets, news or currency rates can not only clean the desktop, but also speed up the smartphone. Instead, you can use compact widgets or iOS-style widgets that take up fewer resources.

In the launcher settings (Settings → Desktop), you can turn off the left-hand widget tape (Google Discover or Yandex) if you don't need it. This removes the entire screen with the news feed, making navigation more rigorous and linear, and you can also prevent the addition of widgets to the desktop to avoid accidental clutter.

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Optimizing the size of the grid and disabling unnecessary widgets is the fastest way to visually unload the desktop without removing applications.

Cleaning your desktop regularly is a good habit to keep your device running. Remove shortcuts for games you no longer play, and archive travel apps after vacation. A clean interface promotes productivity and enjoyable interaction with your smartphone every day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)