How to return the disappeared icon to the screen Xiaomi Redmi 9A: all working ways

Have you noticed that the Xiaomi Redmi 9A desktop has suddenly disappeared the app icon — be it WhatsApp, Gallery or even a standard Phone? Don’t panic: 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes without complex manipulations. Shortcuts on Redmi 9A are most often associated with launcher errors, accidental removal or failure of the MIUI shell. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to return icons to the screen, including hidden system functions that are rarely mentioned in standard instructions.

It is important to understand the difference between the two scenarios: when the shortcut is removed from the desktop (but the application remains on the menu), and when the application is uninstalled (then the icons are nowhere). On Redmi 9A with MIUI 12/13/14, the recovery algorithms will differ — we have taken this into account in the instructions. Also note the hidden folders and the second desktop, where MIUI sometimes automatically moves rarely used applications.

1. Check the All Apps folder and hidden shortcuts

The first thing to do is make sure that the icon hasn't been accidentally moved to one of the system folders. On Redmi 9A, MIUI automatically sorts apps by category, and sometimes shortcuts are "hidden" in non-obvious places.

Open the menu of all apps (swipe up from the bottom of the screen) and:

• 🔍 Type the name of the missing app into the search bar at the top of the screen, and if it appears in the results, it means that the shortcut has simply been removed from the desktop.
• 📁 Scroll through the Recommended, Recently Installed and All tabs – sometimes MIUI squirts icons in there.
• 👁️ Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show Hidden Apps – there may be shortcuts you previously hid.

If the app is found on the menu but is not on the desktop, just press its icon and drag it to the free space. Redmi 9A also has an alternative way: click on the icon in the menu → Add to the main screen.

⚠️ Note: If the icon appears in the app menu in gray with the words "Disabled", then the application has been deactivated in the settings. To return it, go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications, find the right one and click Enable.

2. Restore the shortcut through launcher settings

The launcher on Redmi 9A has its own settings where you can reset the location of icons or return hidden items.This method works if the shortcut is lost after a MIUI update or a system failure.

Follow the instructions:

1. Click on the empty space on the desktop → select Desktop Settings (or Launcher Settings).
2. Go to the Home Screen or Layout section.
3. Click Reset layout or Restore by default – this will return all standard icons to their places.
4. If there is no reset option, try Hidden Apps and uncheck the boxes.

Some versions of MIUI may have different paths.

Settings → Home screen → Style of layout → Standard

If the icon doesn't show up after you reset, check the second desktop. You can create multiple screens on Redmi 9A - swipe left/right to make sure the shortcut doesn't move there.

3. Reinstall the launcher or reset its settings

If standard methods didn’t work, the problem could be the launcher itself. The Redmi 9A default uses MIUI Launcher, but sometimes users install third-party shells (like Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher), in which case the algorithm will be different.

For the standard MIUI launcher:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find it. MIUI Launcher (or System Launcher).
• 🔄 Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache and Clear the data.
• 🔁 Restart the phone – after that, the icons should return to their places.

For third-party launchers:

• 🛠️ Open the launcher settings (usually a long press on the desktop) → Settings).
• 🔄 Find the option Reset Settings or Restore Backup.
• 📲 If the reset doesn’t work, remove the launcher and install it again from Google Play.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher data will reset all desktop settings, including the location of widgets and folders. Before the procedure, take screenshots of the current layout to quickly restore it.

Take screenshots of desktop |Write down hidden folder names |Verify backups in MIUI Cloud|Make sure important shortcuts aren't in the archive-->

4. Checking the MIUI archive and basket

MIUI on Redmi 9A has a built-in archiving feature for rarely used applications that can automatically remove icons from the desktop, and there is a shopping cart that includes deleted shortcuts for 30 days.

How to check:

1. Open the menu of all applications (swipe up).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select the Application Archive.
3. If the missing icon is there, click on it and select Restore to the home screen.

To check the basket:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Recycle Bin.
2. Find the right application and click Restore.
3. If the option is inactive, it means that more than 30 days have passed since the removal.

Some Redmi 9A firmware may call it Unused Apps or Recommendations, and if you don’t find these, try updating MIUI to the latest version, which is more intuitive in new builds.

5. Recovery through MIUI backup

If you have previously backed up your system through MIUI Backup, you can return your icons from it, which is suitable if the shortcuts are lost after you reset or update your firmware.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backups.
2. Select the most recent copy (note the date of creation).
3. Click Restore and tick only the Desktop (or Launcher Settings).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for the process to be completed.

If you don’t have local copies, check out MIUI Cloud.

• 🌐 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → MIUI Cloud.
• 📱 Make sure that the Desktop Synchronization function is enabled.
• 🔄 Click Sync – This Can Recover Missing Icons.

⚠️ Attention: Restore from the backup will overwrite the current desktop settings. If other shortcuts disappear after the procedure, they will have to be reconfigured.

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If there is no backup, but you have a second Xiaomi smartphone, you can transfer the desktop layout through the Cloning of the device function to Settings →

Extreme measures: resetting and flashing

If none of the above methods worked, the problem could be a deep system failure, leaving two radical solutions: resetting settings or flashing through Fastboot. These methods should only be used as a last resort, as they will delete all data from the device.

Soft reset (without loss of data):

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 🔄 Select Reset Launcher Settings (if any) or Reset All Settings.
• ⚠️ Confirm the action. Once the icons are rebooted, they should come back.

Hard reset (with loss of data):

1. Make a backup copy of important data.
2. Turn off the phone, then press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery.
3. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. After resetting, the phone will reboot to its original state.

If the reset doesn't work, it's just a flashing on Fastboot.

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi 9A from Xiaomi website.
2. Install the Mi Flash Tool on your PC and connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clamp Power + Volume Down).
3. Follow the instructions of the firmware program.

FAQ: Frequent questions about missing icons on Redmi 9A

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In 95% of cases, icons on Redmi 9A are lost due to a launcher failure or automatic MIUI archiving. Start by checking the menu of all applications and resetting the desktop settings - this solves the problem without the risk of data loss.