How to completely remove shortcuts from the desktop on Xiaomi Redmi: from hiding to removing

Xiaomi Redmi’s desktop quickly fills up with unnecessary shortcuts — especially if you’re actively installing apps or syncing accounts. Unlike pure Android, the MIUI shell (and the new HyperOS) has its own icon management nuances: there’s no standard “remove from the screen” feature, and some system shortcuts (like Theme Store or Security) don’t want to disappear at all in the usual way.

In this article, we will discuss all possible methods, from basic (hiding in the app menu) to advanced (disabling through ADB or launching settings), the emphasis is on the current versions of firmware: MIUI 14 and HyperOS (for Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 models, etc.).

Why Xiaomi Redmi can’t just remove the shortcut from the desktop

On standard Android, you just drag the icon to the top of the screen with the words "Delete." On Xiaomi, this mechanism works differently:

• 🔄 Application shortcuts are not just “badges” but part of the launcher MIUI Launcher (or Hyper Launcher in newer versions) Removing them from the screen does not mean uninstallation of the program.
• 🔒 System applications (e.g. Camera, Contacts) are protected from removal without root rights.
• 📱 Shell MIUI Automatically restores some shortcuts after updating or resetting settings (such as App Vault or Mi Video).

In addition, HyperOS (which replaced MIUI in 2026) has changed the logic of shortcuts to user profiles, meaning that hiding an icon in the main profile does not guarantee it disappears in guest mode.

Method 1: Hiding shortcuts through the application menu (without deleting)

The easiest way to do this is to hide the icons, not remove them, and it won't free up space on your desktop physically, but it will make the screen look cleaner, and it's good for all Redmi models (including the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 12C, etc.).

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Choose Hide Apps to Hide Apps.
3. Check the unneeded labels (e.g. Mi Pay, Mi Community) and click Ready.

⚠️ Warning: hidden applications will continue to work in the background and take up RAM. To completely stop them, go to Settings. → Annexes → Manage applications and manually suspend unnecessary services.

Make sure the application is not being used by the system (e.g., Security cannot be turned off completely)

Check if there are any important notifications from the hidden app

Backup your data (if you plan to delete system applications)

Remember the name of the hidden app – it will not be visible in the search-->

Method 2: Remove shortcuts through launcher settings (for MIUI 14/HyperOS)

Newer versions of firmware now allow you to control the display of icons through launcher settings, which works even for system applications (but doesn’t remove them completely).

1. Click on the empty space on the desktop → select Screen Settings (or Home screen settings in the English version).
2. Go to the Icon Management section.
3. In the app list, uncheck the boxes that you want to remove from the screen: 📱 App Vault (left swipe on the home screen) 🎵 Mi Music or Mi Video 🛡️ Security (Security)

Save the changes and restart the device (some icons may return without a reboot).

🔹 The thing about HyperOS is that in this shell, shortcuts are tied to a user's profile, and if you hide an icon in your main profile, it can stay in Guest Mode or Children's Mode. To remove it completely, repeat the actions for each profile.

Method 3: Disable system applications via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (like the App Vault icon or Mi Video is persistently coming back), you can disable the system application via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system applications may cause your phone to function unstable (such as missing notifications or update errors).Before you start, backup your data via Mi Cloud or locally.

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times until “You’re a developer”) Settings → Additional → Developer Options → Debugging over USB (enable)
2. Connect Redmi to your PC, confirm debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.weather2 (replace with the desired application package)

📌 Popular packages of system applications Xiaomi:

To return the icon back, use the command:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.weather2

💡

Before disabling the application, check its dependency: some services (e.g. com.miui.guardprovider) are linked to notifications or updates. Use the adb shell dumpsys package com.miui.weather2 command to see the dependency list.

Method 4: Use of an alternative launcher (Nova Launcher, Apex)

If you are tired of the limitations of MIUI Launcher, install a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher).

• 🧹 Completely remove icons from the screen (including system icons).
• 🔄 Customize gestures and hot keys.
• 🎨 Change the style of icons and animation.

Instructions:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select it as the default launcher.
3. Press the unnecessary icon → drag it to the basket (appears at the top of the screen).
4. To hide system applications: Long press → Change → Hide.

⚠️ Note: when using a third-party launcher will stop working some chips MIUI:

• Swipe left for App Vault.
• Pop-up notifications on the locked screen.
• System gestures (e.g., double touching to lock).

To return a standard launcher, go to Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher.

Method 5: Reset the launcher settings (if the shortcuts returned after the update)

After updating MIUI or HyperOS, some hidden icons can automatically recover, which is due to resetting the launcher settings to return the desktop to its previous appearance:

1. Click the blank space on the screen → Screen settings → More.
2. Select Reset Launcher (or Reset Launcher) settings.
3. Confirm the action. After that, all the labels will disappear, and you will have to reconfigure the screen.

🔹 Important: this method doesn't remove apps, it just resets their location on the screen. ADB, They'll stay off.

💡

Resetting the launcher is a last resort, before exporting the current screen layout through Nova Launcher (if you use it) or taking screenshots of the icons’ location.

Frequent problems and solutions

Problem 1: The label disappears but returns after the reboot.

Solution: This is typical for system applications (e.g. App Vault). Use ADB (mode 3) or disable automatic launcher updates in Google Play.

Problem 2: I can’t hide the security or settings icon.

Solution: These applications are critical to the system. The most you can do is move them to the folder on the second screen or turn off notifications in Settings → Notifications.

Problem 3: After installing an alternative launcher, MIUI gestures do not work.

Solution: Return the standard launcher or customize gestures in the Nova Launcher itself (Settings → Gestures and Inputs).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions