How to place icons on Xiaomi Redmi 9: from A to Z

Why Redmi 9 icons are scattered chaotically and how to fix it

Xiaomi Redmi 9 desktops often become digital clutter, with new apps being installed in random places, old icons being lost among dozens of shortcuts, and folders being inflated into obscene sizes, and the MIUI shell features that default to placing icons in the first free slot. But the chaos on the screen isn’t just an aesthetic problem. According to a University of Utah study, the messy layout of icons increases the time you search for the right app by 43 percent, which means you’re wasting seconds every time you pick up your phone.

Fortunately, Redmi 9 (like other Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 12-14) provides a number of tools for ordering, from basic drag and drop to hiding system applications. The key is to know where these tools are hidden. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can organize icons, including little-known features like smart sorting and creating invisible folders. No root rights or third-party launchers are just the standard features of your phone.

Method 1: Manual drag and drop - the basic method for quick sorting

The most obvious (but not always effective) way is to manually move icons, which is suitable if you have fewer than 30 apps on the home screen and you just want to group them into categories (social media, games, utilities).

• 📱 Touch the icon and hold it for 1-2 seconds until it sticks off the screen.
• 🔄 Drag the icon to the right place. Redmi 9 will show up when you move around to highlight possible positions.
• 🗂️ To create a folder, drag and drop one icon onto another – the system will automatically suggest the name (it can be changed).
• 🚫 To remove the icon from the main screen, drag it up to the inscription Delete (this will not remove the application, but only hide its label!).

⚠️ If, when dragging, the icon suddenly “sticks” to the edge of the screen and does not move further, it is a bug. MIUI, To fix this, quickly tap the screen twice (without pressing the icon) and try again. Also check if left-handed mode is on in the special feature settings, which can knock down the gesture recognition algorithm.

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If you want to move a few icons at once, create a temporary folder, transfer all the icons to it, and then spread them out to new places, which will save time during a mass reshuffle.

The main disadvantage of the manual method is that it doesn't scale. If you have 50+ applications, it takes an hour or more to sort, and after you upgrade or reset the system, all the icons can go back to their places. For the long term, it's better to combine this with others (see below).

Method 2: Automatic sorting by alphabet, date or frequency of use

MIUI hides the useful automatic icon placement feature that works in the app menu (rather than the home screen) and it won't replace manual sorting, but it will help you quickly find the app you want among dozens of others.

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Sort. → You'll have 4 options: 🔤 Alphabetically (A)→Me or me→And) 📅 By installation date (new from above or below) ⭐ Frequency of use (often used - top) 🎨 Manual (returns the original order)

📌 Important: This sorting only applies to the list of all applications, not the icons on the home screen, but you can use it as an intermediate step: sort the applications alphabetically, and then manually transfer the ones to the desktop.

Method 3: Hiding unnecessary icons (including system icons)

One of the most effective ways to clean up your mess is to get rid of apps you don't use, and on Redmi 9, you can do this in two ways: through launcher settings or through Hidden Apps in MIUI.

Method 1: Hiding through the App Menu

• 📱 Open the application menu (swipe up).
• 🔍 Find the icon you want to hide and hold it for 1-2 seconds.
• 🚫 In the menu that appears, select Hide (or drag the icon up to Hide).
• 🔓 To return the hidden app, reopen the app menu → slip on ⋮ → Hidden applications → uncheck the box.

Method 2: Hiding system applications (without root)

Some preinstalled apps (Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) can’t be removed, but can be hidden through the security settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want to hide (such as Mi Pay).
3. Tap on the shutdown. → confirm.
4. The app will disappear from the menu and stop showing up in the search.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable system services with names like com.android... or miui... this can cause malfunctions in the phone. It is safe to hide only user applications and preinstalled utilities (Mi Calculator, Mi Notes, etc.).

Method 4: Using folders and smart folders in MIUI

Folders are a classic way of grouping icons, but in MIUI they work a little differently than in standard Android. Here are some life hacks for effective use:

• 📁 Folder Creation: Drag One Icon to Another → The system automatically creates a folder and suggests a name (e.g., "Games" or "Tools.
• 🔄 Change the order inside the folder: Open the folder → slip on ⋮ top-right → Select Sort (by alphabet, manually or by frequency of use).
• 🎨 Change of folder color: B MIUI 13+ You can change the color of the folder: open it. → tap on the name → select the color from the palette.
• 🔒 "Invisible folders: To hide the folder out of sight, move it to the second or third screen of the desktop (swipe left/right).

💡 The Secret Trick: In MIUI There's a hidden smart folder feature that automatically categorizes applications:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Activate the option of automatic folder sorting.
3. The system will create folders such as "Social Networks", "Multimedia", "Tools" and will update their content automatically.

Remove duplicate icons from the desktop

Identify 3-5 main categories (e.g. Work, Entertainment, Utilities)

Use emoji in folder names for quick navigation (🎮 Games, 📷 Photo Photo)

Check that the folder has no more than 12 icons (otherwise you will have to scroll)

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⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI And the folders suddenly empty -- don't panic. This is a well-known bug that can be treated by restarting your phone. If the problem persists, check if your settings in Settings are not at all correct. → Desktop → Resetting the mock-up.

Method 5: Reset the desktop layout to factory settings

If the chaos on the desktop has gone too far, sometimes it's easier to get everything back to factory settings and then re-arrange the icons, and it's not going to delete your data or your apps, it's just going to bring back the standard MIUI layout.

How to reset the layout:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Scroll down and select Reset layout.
3. Confirm the action – all icons will return to their default places.
4. You can now re-sort them using methods from the previous sections.

📌 What happens after the discharge:

• ✅ All app icons will return to the menu.
• ✅ Widgets (weather, clock) will disappear from the desktop.
• ✅ The folders will be deleted, but the apps inside them will remain.
• ❌ Wallpaper, theme and display settings will not reset.

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Resetting a layout is the quickest way to get rid of visual chaos, but it doesn't delete the apps themselves or their data.Use it if manual sorting takes too long.

Additional Tips for the Perfect Order

To keep your desktop clean, you don't need to put up icons once, you need a system. Here are some proven techniques:

• 📅 Weekly Review: Every Saturday, remove unused shortcuts and check folders for debris. This will take 2-3 minutes, but save hours in the long run.
• 🔍 Search by gesture: B MIUI You can swipe app search down the desktop, and that eliminates the need to scroll through the screens. → Desktop → Search for applications.
• 🎨 Color tags: Use wallpaper with grid or colored areas to visually separate work apps from entertainment apps. For example, leave the left side of the screen for work, the right side for games.
• 📱 Second Desktop: Redmi 9 allows you to create a second user profile (Settings) → System system → Multiplayer mode) and set up a minimalist desktop there with only the most necessary applications.

💡 Advanced Lifehack: If you're tired of standard icons, install a theme from the Mi Theme Store that supports custom icons. UI Or Pixel Icon Pack will make it visually easier to use:

1. Open the Topics (the default app).
2. Find a theme marked Icon Pack.
3. Download and apply it – the icons of all applications will change automatically.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)