How to organize icons on Xiaomi: Perfect order in MIUI and HyperOS

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or the new HyperOS, provide users with a huge opportunity to customize the desktop. However, the standard layout of applications often looks chaotic, especially after installing a dozen new programs from Google Play. The clutter on the home screen is not only annoying visually, but also reduces productivity, causing you to spend precious seconds finding the right label, which is why the question of how to organize icons on Xiaomi becomes relevant for every owner of the device who values aesthetics and speed.

In this article, we will explore all the available methods of organizing the space of your smartphone: you will learn how to create logical groups, use built-in sorting tools and apply advanced techniques to hide rarely used applications. Proper organization of the desktop turns your gadget into a powerful and convenient tool where everything is at hand at the right time.

To start with basic principles of navigation and interface management, understanding how Xiaomi launcher works is the foundation for creating the perfect menu structure, and we will look at both the standard features available out of the box and the hidden features that not everyone knows about.

Basic principles of desktop management

The first step to order is to master basic gestures and actions in the MIUI shell. Standard behavior involves the ability to move objects using drag-and-drop. To do this, you need to press and hold your finger on any icon until you have a slight vibration or change the screen scale, and then the label can be moved to any free cell or to another screen by swipe sideways.

Importantly, the system automatically aligns icons across the grid, but the user can change the density of the elements. In some versions of the firmware, a grid size setting is available, allowing more applications to be placed on one screen or, conversely, making elements larger for ease of use with one hand. Space management requires discipline: do not fill every square, leave "air" for visual comfort.

So, you should pay special attention to the bottom panel, or "doc," which is the area that stays the same when swiping between screens, so that's where your most important apps should be, usually your phone, your messages, your browser and your camera, and you should put no more than 4-5 shortcuts here so you don't overload the quick access area.

• 📱 Move: Press the icon and drag to the right place to change position.
• 🗑️ Remove: Drag the shortcut to the top of the screen to the basket icon or cross to remove from the desktop (the app itself will remain in the menu).
• 📂 Create a folder: Put one icon on top of another to automatically create a grouping.
• 🔄 Reset: Shake your phone in edit mode to automatically align all icons and fill the empty seats.

⚠️ Note: Deleting the shortcut from the desktop does not remove the app itself from the phone's memory. To completely remove the program, you need to go to the settings or use the "Delete" feature in the long-press menu if it is active in your firmware version.

Users often forget about the automatic alignment feature. If you've manually moved a lot of elements and got confused, just go to edit mode (tweaking two fingers or pressing long on empty space) and find the "Order" button or just shake the device if this feature is enabled. The system will collect all the disparate icons into a dense grid, removing the extra voids.

Creating and Configuring Folders for Grouping Applications

Foldering is the main way to structure a large number of applications. Unlike many other launchers, Xiaomi's shell allows you not only to group programs, but also to deeply customize the appearance and behavior of these groups. To create a folder, just drag and drop one icon to another. The system will suggest renaming the group, which is a critical step for navigation.

You can put up to a few dozen apps inside the folder, and when you open the folder, you'll see a 4x4 or 4x5 grid, and the rest of the apps will be accessed through a horizontal scrolling inside the folder itself, which allows you to compactly store entire categories of programs, like Banks, Social Networks, or Games, taking up just one place on the desktop.

One of the unique features MIUI You can add a currency widget to the Finance folder, and you can add a prediction widget to the Weather folder, and it makes folders not just a store of shortcuts, but information hubs. To add a widget, open the folder, click on the icon «+» or “Add widget” at the top and select the desired item.

The folder name setting also has its nuances, so you can use emoji in the folder name, which makes visual navigation faster «✈️ Travel reads faster than just text, and new versions of HyperOS also allow you to change the background of a folder or the style of the icons inside it if you choose the appropriate set of themes.

• 📁 Categorization: Group applications according to logical criteria (work, entertainment, tools).
• 🎨 Visual: Use emojis in folder names for quick identification.
• 📊 Widgets: Add mini widgets inside folders to save space on the home screen.
• 📉 Folders in folders: In some versions of the launcher, it is possible to create nested folders, although the functionality may be limited.

⚠️ Note: When you delete all applications from the folder, it will automatically disappear. If you want to keep the folder empty for future use (which is technically impossible), you will have to leave at least one shortcut or widget in it.

Don't create too many folders. The optimal number is 3 to 6 main categories on the home screen. If there are more folders, the meaning of creating them is lost, and the user starts to get lost in the menu again. Try to combine related concepts: for example, Office and Learning can be combined into one group "Productivity" if there are few applications.

Using widgets to save space

Widgets in the Xiaomi ecosystem play a dual role: they provide quick access to information and help structure the space, occupying a place that would otherwise be filled with many small icons. Modern widgets MIUI+ and HyperOS are characterized by deep design and interactivity. Proper use of widgets allows you to reduce the number of icons you need by 30-40%.

For example, instead of having Calendar, Notes and Tasks icons on your desktop, you can install one large Planner widget that combines the functions of all three apps. Similarly, the Music widget replaces the need to output a player shortcut, and the Smart Home widget allows you to manage devices without logging into the Mi Home app.

You can change the size of the widgets. Most of them support stretching across the grid. You can create a vertical column of narrow widgets on the left or right on the screen, leaving the centerpiece for the icons. This approach, often called "sidebar," is very popular with users who prefer minimalism.

• 🗓️ Aggregation: Use composite widgets that combine calendar and weather.
• 📏 Scaling: Stretching widgets onto 2x2 or 4x2 cells to better review information.
• 🎨 Styles: Change the design of widgets to the color range of your wallpaper.
• 📍 Location: Place frequently updated widgets (mail, news) in the visibility zone without scrolling.

It's important to remember resource consumption. Live widgets that keep updating data (like a news feed or animated weather) can consume battery power. If you're critical to autonomy, choose static widgets or those that are updated on a schedule rather than in real time.

⚠️ Warning: Some third-party widgets may not display correctly on high refresh rate screens or camera cutouts. Always check if the widget does not override important information in the status bar.

To create the perfect balance, try putting widgets first, and then filling the remaining space with app icons. Widgets set the rhythm and structure of the screen, while icons simply fill the voids, which avoids visual noise.

Sort in the menu of all applications and library

In Xiaomi, there is a distinction between the desktop (where the shortcuts are) and the menu of all applications (the analogue of App Drawer in Android). In the menu of all applications, the order of the icons can be sorted automatically. This is especially useful if you prefer to keep the desktop clean and open all programs through a search or a common menu.

The system offers several sorting algorithms: by installation time, by usage frequency, by alphabet or by color. Sorting by color is a unique feature that allows you to create a rainbow gradient on the menu screen. It's not only beautiful, but also helps you find applications by visual memory ("the green icon was somewhere at the top of the list"). To activate, go to Settings → Desktop → Sorting applications.

The folder library is another powerful tool, and the menu of all apps on the top often contains a search bar and a number of categories (Social, Tools, Entertainment), and it analyzes the programs it has installed and spreads them across the shelves, and you can manually adjust those categories by adding or removing apps to make the algorithm better fit your habits.

Keep in mind the Hidden Apps feature. In MIUI, you can hide apps from the general menu so that they don't horn your eyes or are protected from outsiders. In order to do this, you need to swipe two fingers from the edges of the screen to the center (the unlock gesture may vary depending on the version), and you can create a password-protected album with icons.

⚠️ Warning: Hiding system applications can lead to unstable operating systems. Hiding only user programs that you understand affecting the operating system.

Regularly reviewing the menus of all apps should become a habit, opening the list once a month and removing something you haven't used in the last 30 days, not only will it organize the icons, but it will also free up space in the device's memory.

Customization through Topics and Third-Party Lounchers

If Xiaomi's standard tools aren't enough, the Themes store comes to your rescue, and it's an embedded app that lets you change not just wallpaper, but also icon style, fonts, and even transition animations. Installing a theme is the fastest way to completely change the look of your desktop, making icons monotonous, neon, or minimalist.

When choosing a theme, pay attention to the rating and number of downloads. High-quality themes often contain icons for hundreds of popular applications. If there is no icon for any application, the system uses a standard one, which can violate visual harmony. In this case, you can use the "Replace icon" function: click and hold the shortcut, select "Replace" and select the image from the gallery.

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Use third-party icon sets from the Play Store in conjunction with launchers like Nova Launcher if the built-in MIUI feels limited, however, this can increase battery consumption.

Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher offer even more control, allowing you to create nested folders, customize swipe gestures on icons (like a double tap to open a particular application), and change the grid indefinitely. However, installing a third-party launcher on Xiaomi can have problems with navigation gestures or working “curtain” notifications.

• 🎭 Thousands of ready-made solutions for changing the style of icons.
• 🖌️ Manual Replacement: The ability to put any picture on the app label.
• 🚀 Third-party launchers: Full freedom of action, but the risk of conflicts with the system.
• ⚙️ Grid setting: Changing the number of rows and columns for density.

Critically, it is important to know: When using a third-party launcher on newer versions of Android and HyperOS, the system can aggressively unload it from memory, resetting the default settings. To avoid this, you need to fix the launcher in memory and allow auto-start in the battery settings.

Combine techniques: Use Xiaomi’s standard launcher for stability, but apply third-party themes to it to change the visual style of icons.

Frequent questions and troubleshooting

Even with careful study of the instructions, users may have specific problems, such as icons can “leave” after a reboot if the system activates the power saving mode that the launcher unloads. It is also common to have a problem when all desktop settings are lost after a firmware update, in which case resetting the launcher settings through the application menu helps.

If icons become too big or small after changing the theme, check the screen settings and interface zoom. Sometimes the theme changes the DPI system, which affects the size of all elements. You can go back to Settings → Advanced Settings → Interface Element Size.

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Regular cleaning of the launcher cache helps to avoid glitches with displaying icons and desktop hangs.

In conclusion, desktop order is not just about aesthetics, but also about how to use your smartphone. By spending 15-20 minutes setting up your device, you'll save hours of time in the future by instantly finding the right features. Experiment with folders, widgets, and themes to find your perfect balance.