How to remove unnecessary icons from the screen Xiaomi Redmi: from hiding to completely removing

The app icons on Xiaomi Redmi’s home screen tend to accumulate over time, with pre-installed MIUI services, games you haven’t run in a long time, and duplicate icons after updates. As a result, the desktop becomes a chaotic cluster of shortcuts where it’s hard to find the right ones. Fortunately, the system offers several ways to clean the screen, from simple concealment to complete removal of applications.

It’s important to understand the difference between methods: Hiding removes the icon from view but leaves the application in the system (it can be found through a search or menu), deleting completely erases the program from the device, and resetting the launcher settings returns the screen to a factory look without losing data. The choice of method depends on your goal: whether you want to just clean up or get rid of unnecessary software forever.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways Redmi uses MIUI 12-14, including hidden launcher features, folder management, and even radical measures for stubborn system applications, and focus on the nuances that are not covered in standard instructions, such as why some icons return after a reboot and how to deal with them.

Basic methods: manual concealment and removal

So let's start with the simplest of things that don't require a lot of knowledge about the system, and these are the methods that are best for you if you want to remove icons without risking losing data or disrupting your smartphone.

To hide the icon from the home screen, just hold it down for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears. In MIUI, it looks like a small bar with options. Select Remove from the screen (or Hide depending on the firmware version). The icon will disappear, but the application will remain in the menu of all programs (All applications at the bottom of the screen).

If you want to remove the app completely, select Remove (basket icon) in the same context menu. Note: system applications (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video) will not be removed - the button will be inactive.

• 📱 To hide: pinch the icon → Take it off the screen. → ready.
• 🗑️ To remove: press the icon → Delete → confirm.
• 🔍 Where to look for hidden: swipe up from the bottom of the screen → tab All applications.

⚠️ Note: some applications (e.g. Google Play Store or Mi Account) cannot be removed without superuser permissions. Trying to do this through standard settings will lead to an error.

2.Foldering: How to group icons

If you don't want to delete or hide icons, but there's chaos on the screen, folder grouping is the best solution, and you can reduce the number of icons, and you can have quick access to the right programs. In MIUI, you can create a folder in two ways:

1 Drag and drop: Press one icon and move it to another. The system automatically creates a folder with a name based on application categories (e.g. Social Media or Games), and the name can be changed by tapping the input field above the folder.

2. Manual creation: touch the empty space on the screen → Widgets → Folder → drag it to the screen and fill it with icons.

Folders in MIUI support up to 16 applications (up to 9 in older versions of firmware). If you exceed the limit, the system will suggest creating a new folder. Note that folders that are too large can slow down when opened - optimally keep no more than 10-12 icons in them.

• 📁 Change of name: Open the folder → touch the text field → enter a new name.
• 🔄 Sorting: icons inside the folder can be dragged by holding a finger.
• 🗑️ Remove the folder: drag all icons out → folder will disappear automatically.

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To quickly find the app in a large folder, start typing its name on the keyboard – MIUI will show you the hints.

3.Reset launcher settings: return factory view

If you've experimented with icons, widgets, and folders, but you don't like the result, you can bring the main screen back to its original appearance without resetting the entire smartphone, a feature called launcher reset, and it's available in MIUI settings.

To do this, go to: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher (or “Home Screen”) → Storage → Clear data.

Once confirmed, all icons, folders and widgets will return to factory location, and the important thing is that this method doesn't remove applications, it just resets them on the screen.

• 📱 Location of icons and folders.
• 🎨 Color schemes and launcher themes (if used).
• 🔄 Gesture settings (such as swiping down to search).
• ❌ Third-party widgets (will have to be added again).

⚠️ Warning: After the launcher is reset, sync with Mi Account for weather or calendar widgets may be lost. To recover data, log into Xiaomi account and update the sync manually.

4. Removal of system applications without root rights

MIUI system applications (e.g. Mi Music, Mi Pay, Cleaner) cannot be removed by standard methods, but they can be disabled or hidden without getting root access, which will free up space on the screen and stop background processes.

To disable, go to: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Select Unnecessary → Disable.

Application disabled:

• ✅ Disappears from the menu All applications.
• ✅ It will stop updating through the Play Market.
• ❌ It will not be deleted completely (its files will remain in memory).
• ⚠️ May disrupt the operation of associated services (for example, disabling Mi Account will block synchronization).

For deeper cleaning, you can use ADB-Connect your smartphone to your PC, turn on Debugging USB In the developer settings and execute the command:

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

Where com.miui.name is the batch name of the application (you can find it through applications like App Inspector), this method removes the application only for the current user without affecting system files.

5. Use of alternative launchers

If you don’t like the standard MIUI launcher, you can install a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher).

• 🎨 Completely customize the appearance of icons and folders.
• 🔍 Use advanced search by application.
• 📱 Hide icons without disabling applications.
• 🔄 Customize gestures and hot keys.

After installing the alternative launcher, he'll suggest making it the primary one.

1. When you first start, click Set as default launcher.
2. If the request does not appear, go to Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher and select a new one.

In Nova Launcher, for example, to hide the icon, you need to:

1. Hold the icon. → Change.
2. Choose Hide (Eye Icon)

⚠️ Note: when using third-party launchers may stop working some chips MIUI, For example, gestures to quickly start the camera or flashlight.

Download APK-file

Backup of current screen settings

Check compatibility with the Android version

Disable battery optimization for new launcher-->

6. Radical measures: reset to factory settings

If all previous methods failed and the screen is still overrun by unnecessary icons, the last option is a complete reset, which will delete all user data, apps and return the smartphone to the "out of the box" state.

To reset, go to: Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.

Before discharge, it is mandatory:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 🔐 Remember your Mi Account details (required to unlock after resetting).
• 📎 Remove the memory card and SIM, if there are.

It takes 5-10 minutes, and after you reboot, you'll be asked to set your smartphone up as new, and all the system apps will come back, but you can choose which ones to show on the home screen.

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Resetting is a nuclear option, only use it if other methods have failed and you are ready to lose all data on the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Redmi's screen