How to Set a Shortcut on Xiaomi Phone Desktop: A Detailed Guide

Why do Xiaomi shortcuts work differently than other Androids?

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones have a unique desktop management logic that differs from “pure” Android.There’s no classic app menu here – instead, the App Menu (swipe up from the dockboard) is used, and shortcuts are created through context menus or special widgets, a feature that often confuses users who have switched from other brands.

Moreover, depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or 15) and the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.), the interface may differ slightly. For example, in older versions of MIUI, contact shortcuts were added through a separate menu, and in new ones they were integrated into the standard process. We took all these nuances into account and prepared a universal instruction that will be suitable for 95% of Xiaomi devices.

Important: On phones with MIUI 14+, website shortcuts are created only through the Mi Browser browser – in Chrome or Firefox, this feature may not work.

Method 1: Adding an application shortcut to the desktop

It is the simplest and most versatile method that works on all versions of MIUI. Suitable for adding shortcuts to standard and third-party applications, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Maps and others.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Apps menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 🔍 Find the right app (you can use a search at the top of the screen).
• 🖱️ Press the app icon on 1-2 A few seconds before the context menu appears.
• 📌 In the window that appears, select Add to desktop (or Create a shortcut in older versions). MIUI).
• 📲 Drag the shortcut to the right place on the screen and let your finger go.

If the shortcut doesn't appear, check to see if Easy Mode (Settings → Special Options → Easy Mode) is enabled. In this mode, some desktop functions are disabled.

Check if the application is blocked in Settings → Applications → Application Management

Make sure there is free space on the desktop (maximum 5×5 cells on a single screen)

Reboot your phone if MIUI is not working properly

Update. MIUI Up to the latest version in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system-->

Method 2: A shortcut for quick access to contact

If you need to call or text a specific person quickly, you can create a contact shortcut right on your desktop, which is convenient for frequently used numbers, such as close relatives or colleagues.

How to do this:

1. Open the Contacts app (or Phone → Contacts tab).
2. Find the right contact in the list or through search.
3. Click on the contact to open his card.
4. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
5. Select Add to the desktop.
6. Select the shortcut type: Call, Message or Video Call.
7. Confirm creation by pressing OK.

On some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) after creating the contact shortcut, it can be further configured: change the icon or background color.

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If the contact shortcut doesn’t work, check if the permissions for the Contacts in Settings → Apps → Permissions application are disabled. Phone and SMS permissions are especially important.

Method 3: Website shortcut (only for MI Browser)

Creating a site shortcut on Xiaomi’s desktop has an important limitation: this feature only works in the standard Mi Browser browser. If you use Chrome, Firefox or Opera, you’ll either have to temporarily switch to Mi Browser or use a workaround (see Method 5).

The following is a step-by-step guide for Mi Browser:

• 🌐 Open Mi Browser and go to the desired site (e.g. vk.com or google.com).
• 🔧 Click on the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
• 📌 Choose Add to the desktop.
• 📝 If necessary, edit the name of the label.
• ✅ Press Add Add Add.

If you don’t want to use Mi Browser, you can create a site shortcut through the Chrome Widget (see next method) or use the Shortcut Maker app from Google Play.

Mi Browser

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Opera

Other-->

Method 4: Using a widget for quick access

Widgets in MIUI not only allow you to display information (weather, calendar), but also create quick shortcuts for frequently used functions, such as adding a widget Chrome Shortcuts to quickly open sites or a widget Quick Settings to enable mobile data.

How to add a widget:

1. Click the empty space on your desktop until the menu appears.
2. Pick the Widgets.
3. Scroll through the list and find the widget you want (like Chrome Shortcuts or Contacts).
4. Press the widget and drag it to the desktop.
5. Set up a widget (for example, select a site for Chrome Shortcuts).

List of useful widgets for shortcuts:

• 🔗 Chrome shortcuts – Quick access to websites (works even if Chrome isn’t a standard browser).
• 📞 Quick Contacts – Calls and Messages to Frequently Used Contacts.
• ⚙️ Quick settings – turn on/off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight.
• 📁 Application folder – a group of shortcuts in one icon (saves space).

Method 5: Creating a shortcut through third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work (for example, you want to shortcut a specific feature within an app), you can use third-party utilities.

• 🛠️ Shortcut Maker – allows you to create shortcuts for any Activity (hidden functions) applications.
• 🔗 QuickShortcutMaker is an analogue of the previous one, but with a simpler interface.
• 📱 Nova Launcher – an alternative launcher with advanced shortcut settings.

Example of shortcut maker shortcut:

1. Install Shortcut Maker from Google Play.
2. Open the application and select Activities.
3. Find the app you want in the list (like WhatsApp).
4. Select the feature you want to create a shortcut for (e.g. New Chat).
5. Click Create and confirm the addition to the desktop.

⚠️ Note: Some shortcuts created through Shortcut Maker may not work after the app updates.

Compatibility table with MIUI versions

Not all shortcuts work on all versions of MIUI. The table below shows the compatibility of the methods with different versions of the shell:

If your version of MIUI doesn’t support the desired method, try updating the system (Settings → About Phone → System Update) or using an alternative method.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When working with shortcuts on Xiaomi, users often encounter common mistakes, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The label disappears after the reboot.

• 🔄 Check if the charge saving mode is enabled (Settings) → Battery and productivity → In this mode, the system can remove "unnecessary" labels.
• 📱 Make sure there is enough free space on the desktop. MIUI Automatically removes labels if the cells are missing.

Problem 2: You can’t create a shortcut for a system application (e.g. Settings).

• 🛠️ Use Shortcut Maker or Nova Launcher – they let you create shortcuts for any application, including system.
• 🔧 In some cases, resetting launcher settings will help: pinch the empty space on the desktop → Desktop settings → Resetting settings.

Problem 3: The site shortcut opens in the wrong browser.

• 🌐 By default, the shortcuts of sites from Mi Browser open in the same. To change the browser by default, go to Settings → Annexes → Default applications → browser.
• 🔗 If the shortcut is created through the Chrome widget, it will always open in Chrome, regardless of the default settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) After resetting the settings to the factory contact shortcuts, you may disappear. To avoid this, export the contacts to the file. VCF (Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports).

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If none of these methods work, check if the MIUI Assistant is disabled in the security settings (Settings → Privacy → Special Permits → MIUI Assistant).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions