The chaoticly scattered app icons on the smartphone’s home screen are not just visual noise that irritates the eye. In an Android operating system with MIUI or Xiaomi’s HyperOS shells, the order on the desktop directly affects the speed of interaction with the device. When the desired programs are hidden behind dozens of extra screens, you lose precious seconds while distracting from important tasks.
Organizing space in the launcher allows you to turn your smartphone from a set of colorful squares into a powerful productivity tool. Modern versions of firmware offer flexible tools for grouping, hiding and automatically sorting elements. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of ordering, from simple folders to advanced grid settings.
Many users underestimate the impact of the interface on cognitive load; visual clutter causes the brain to waste extra energy on finding the right app; a competent menu structure helps you navigate the system faster and makes using the gadget more enjoyable and efficient.
Basic principles of sorting and moving icons
You can start putting things in order by manually rearranging things, and in MIUI, it's intuitive, but it has its own nuances that make it different from stock Android, and you just have to click on the icon to move the app and hold your finger until you vibrate or zoom in.
Once you activate the edit mode, you can drag and drop icons to any free space, and if you move one icon over another, the system automatically creates a folder, which is the main grouping tool.
And you should pay special attention to the bottom panel, which is known as the dock, and it's usually placed in the bottom panel. 4-5 The most commonly used applications, because they're visible on all the pages of the desktop, it's a fast access zone, and it doesn't make sense to clutter it with rare programs.
In manual sorting, logical division is useful, for example, from left to right or top to bottom, you can arrange applications by frequency of use or topic, which allows muscle memory to remember the location of key functions more quickly.
Creating and Configuring Thematic Folders
Folders are the foundation of a clean desktop on Xiaomi smartphones, which allows you to compactly host dozens of apps that take up the space of just one icon. To create a folder, just drag and drop one app onto another, as mentioned earlier, but the functionality doesn't end there.
Once you create a folder, click on the name to rename it. The system often offers automatic names like Tools or Social Networks, but it's better to give names that you can understand, you can put up to 6-9 icons on one page inside the folder, and if you exceed this number, a second page will appear inside the folder itself.
Newer versions of HyperOS have the ability to resize folders and make them transparent or colored so they better fit into the wallpaper design, which helps visually relieve space, making the interface more airy.
⚠️ Note: Do not create folders inside folders (although the system may allow this in some modifications), as this greatly complicates navigation.
It is recommended to group applications by functionality: "Finance", "Travel", "Work", "Entertainment" This logical structure makes it easier to search, even if you have forgotten the exact name of the program.
Using widgets to save space
Widgets in MIUI and HyperOS have gone a long way from simple watches to full-fledged interactive controls, and when used correctly, you can bring the information you need to your desktop, freeing up space on the app menu, and instead of opening the Weather or Calendar, you can put their large widgets on the home screen.
To add a widget, press the empty space on your desktop or use a pinch gesture. In the menu that opens, select the "Widgets" section. Here you will find both standard Android elements and branded Xiaomi widgets with a unique design.
Modern widgets allow you to perform actions without opening an application, such as the Notes widget, which allows you to quickly write down a thought, and the Device Control widget, which allows you to turn on the light in a smart lamp, which reduces the need to keep dozens of application shortcuts in view.
Secrets of widgets in MIUI
Use folder widgets. HyperOS has a feature that allows you to turn an application folder into a widget that can be stretched out over the entire screen or made transparent, and it's one of the most effective ways to organize icons while maintaining quick access.
Set up the grid and scale of the display
One of the key settings for space management is to change grid density, and by default, the system offers the best option, but for users with more applications, it may not be enough, and changing the grid allows you to place more icons on one screen.
To access these settings, go to the desktop editing menu (finger mixing) and click on the settings gear in the upper right corner. Here you are interested in the option "More" or "Settings", where you can choose a grid schema, for example, 5x6 or even 6x7 depending on the screen diagonal.
| Grid parameter | Description of the impact | Who's right for? |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 | Big icons, little room. | Users with poor vision or few apps |
| 5 x 6 | Standard balance sheet | Most users, the best option |
| 6 x 7 | Maximum density | Power users who love minimalism and speed |
Beyond the grid, pay attention to font size and scale in the main system settings (Settings → Screen).Scaling down the system visualizes all interface elements, including icons, which will also help to place more content on the screen.
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If a standard grid is missing, try disabling the icon signatures in the launcher settings, which will free up additional vertical space for another row of applications.
Hiding applications and the second space
Sometimes the best way to organize your desktop is to remove the extra. Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in app hide feature that allows you to remove icons from public access without removing the programs themselves, which is ideal for banking applications, personal photo albums or rarely used utilities.
To hide the application, go to the launcher settings (Settings → Desktop) and find Hidden Apps. When you add it, you remove the app icon from the desktop and from the menu of all apps, and access it through a special gesture or search.
An even more radical method is to use the "Second Space" function, which is to create a separate profile in your smartphone, as if you had two different phones, and in the main space there could be work tools, and in the second space there could be personal or entertainment applications.
- 🔒 Privacy: Hidden apps are not visible in search and menu.
- 🧹 Cleanliness: Desktop remains free of rarely used software.
- ⚡ Performance: Fewer widgets and live wallpaper on the home screen saves battery life.
⚠️ Note: Remember how to access hidden apps (usually by diluting two fingers in the app menu or entering a special code in the call), or you may lose access to your data.
Automatic sorting and resetting of launcher settings
If manual sorting takes too long or you don't like the result, MIUI offers an automatic sorting feature, located in the desktop editing menu (finger mixing) and usually called "Sort." The system will arrange the icons alphabetically or by categories created by artificial intelligence.
But automation doesn't always understand the context of use, so manual adjustment is often required after automatic sorting, and if the launcher is unstable, glitchy or doesn't save the changes, it may need to be reset.
To reset, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find System Louncher (or System Launcher), click About App and select Clean Up → Clear All.
☑️ Checklist of the ideal desktop
Once reset, the desktop will return to a factory-like appearance and you will have to reconfigure it.This is a good reason to start with a clean slate and implement the right smartphone usage habits from the start.
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Regular “digital cleaning” – removing unnecessary apps once a month – is the best way to keep your desktop tidy without effort.