How to Remove an Empty Desktop on Xiaomi Redmi 9: Reasons and Solutions

Why Redmi 9 has an empty desktop and how to fix it

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face a situation when after updating the system, installing new applications or even for no apparent reason, an empty desktop appears on the screen — without icons, widgets and folders.

The causes of an empty screen can be different: from a failure in the work of a standard launcher MIUI Launcher before conflict with installed themes or widgets. In some cases, the fault of system updates that misuse the interface settings. ≠ Resetting – your data (photos, contacts, messages) stays in place, but access to them becomes inconvenient.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 working ways to get Redmi 9 back to normal, from simple reboots to deep system tweaks. All methods are tested on current versions of MIUI 12-14 and do not require root rights. If you’ve tried something from the list below, skip familiar steps and move on to more complex solutions.

Method 1: Reboot the launcher through application settings

Most often, an empty desktop on Redmi 9 is caused by a temporary system launcher failure, which can be “rebooted” without restarting the entire phone, which takes less than a minute and does not affect user data.

Here's how to do it:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter Launcher (or "Luncher" in Russian).
• 🔄 Press on. MIUI Launcher, then select Stop (Force Stop).
• 🔙 Return to the main screen – the launcher will restart automatically.

If the icons don't show up after that, try to further clear the launcher cache in the same menu (Storage → Clear cache). Importantly, don't click "Delete data" - this will reset all desktop settings to factory.

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If after stopping the launcher, the screen turned black or got stuck, just unlock the phone - the system will automatically restart the interface in 5-10 seconds.

Method 2: Reset the launcher settings without data loss

If a simple reboot doesn't work, the next step is to reset the launcher to the standard settings, which will bring back the factory layout of the icons, but won't delete your apps or files, and it works even if the desktop is completely empty and doesn't respond to touch.

Instructions:

1. Press any empty space on your desktop (even if it is empty) for 2-3 seconds.
2. In the menu that appears, select Desktop Settings (or Screen Settings in some versions of MIUI).
3. Scroll down and click Reset settings (or Restore by default).
4. Confirm the action – the launcher will restart, and the icons will appear in standard form.

After reset, check if your applications are hidden in the Hidden Apps folder (long-click on desktop → Hidden Apps). Sometimes MIUI automatically hides rarely used programs.

Take a screenshot of the current icon location |Remember which widgets have been installed |Check out hidden apps |Make sure important shortcuts aren't in the recent folder

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Method 3: Remove conflicting themes and widgets

One common reason for empty desktops on Redmi 9 is conflict with MIUI Themes or third-party widgets, some themes change not only the wallpaper, but also the structure of the interface, leading to disruptions, as well as weather widgets, calendars or notes from third-party developers.

How to check:

• 🎨 Go to Settings. → Select the standard Default theme or MIUI.
• 🧩 Remove all widgets from the desktop (long press) → Delete).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and check if the icons are back.

If the problem is gone, gradually return themes and widgets one by one to identify the "culprit." Especially widgets from Samsung, Huawei or little-known developers conflict - MIUI does not always interact with them correctly.

Method 4: Update or rollback of MIUI Launcher

In some cases, an empty desktop appears after the MIUI Launcher automatically updates through Google Play. New versions may contain bugs, especially on older models like Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot), the solution is to roll back to the previous version or force the launcher to update.

How to update the launcher:

1. Open Google Play and find MIUI Launcher.
2. If you have an update button, press it and wait until it is completed.
3. Reboot the phone.

How to roll back (if the update caused a problem):

1. Remove launcher updates to Settings → App → MIUI Launcher → ☰ → Remove updates


2. disable auto-update for this app on Google Play

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI If the launcher rolls back, you can have a cycle of errors. If the desktop doesn't recover after the rollback, upgrade the launcher to the latest version right away.

Method 5: Reset system settings (last chance)

If none of the previous methods worked, the most radical way is to reset the system, which will bring all MIUI parameters back to factory settings, but will not affect your files (photos, videos, documents), applications and accounts, but all screen, sound, network and other personalization settings will be lost.

Step-by-step:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 📱 Select Resetting (NOT "Delete all data"!).
• 🔐 Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.
• ⏳ Wait for the reboot (it will take 2-5 minutes).

After resetting, the desktop will return to its standard appearance, but you will have to reconfigure:

⚠️ Note: If the desktop is empty again after resetting, the problem may be in the corrupted system files, in which case only a complete flashing through Fastboot or Recovery will help.

Preventing: How to Avoid an Empty Desktop in the Future

To avoid recurring problems, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Avoid installing themes and widgets from unknown developers.
• 📱 Periodically clean the launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → MIUI Launcher → Clear the cache).
• 🔋 Watch for battery power – abrupt shutdown during an upgrade can damage system files.

It's also useful to back up your desktop settings.

1. Install the MIUI Backup app (available from the MIUI App Store).
2. Select the reservation System Settings and Application Data.
3. Save a copy to the cloud or memory card.

If an empty desktop appears after installing a specific application (such as another launcher like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher), try:

• Remove the conflicting app.
• Reset the default launcher settings in Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher.

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90% of empty desktop problems on Redmi 9 are solved by resetting the launcher or removing conflicting themes. a complete system reset is only required in 10% of cases, usually after unsuccessful updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about empty desktop on Redmi 9