How to return a deleted or missing icon to the Xiaomi screen: the complete guide

Missing the icon of your favorite app from the Xiaomi desktop? Don't rush to reinstall the program or reset the phone to factory settings. 90% of the time, the shortcut can be returned in a few clicks - the problem lies in the features of the MIUI shell, not in the system failure. Even if you accidentally deleted the icon or it disappeared after the update, there are solutions.

In this article, we will discuss all possible causes of the disappearance of icons on Redmi, POCO and Mi – from banal (hiding in a folder) to technical (launcher failure). You will learn how to restore the shortcut through standard settings, third-party utilities and even ADB system commands. And for owners of older models (before MIUI 12), we have prepared separate instructions – the shell interface has changed a lot in recent years.

Important: If the icon is missing after updating the firmware, first check if it has moved to the second desktop (there can be up to 5 in MIUI).

1. Check hidden folders and second desktop

The first thing to do is make sure that the icon hasn't been accidentally moved. MIUI has two newbie traps:

• 📁 Hidden applications folder – shortcuts that the user does not use for a long time automatically fall there (Smart cleaning function in the launcher settings).
• 🔄 Additional desktops -- you can add them with a pinch gesture on the home screen. 3-4 The page you don’t see.
• 🗑️ Basket MIUI — If you “remove” the label swipe up, it could get there (stored for up to 30 days).

How to check:

1. So, you pinch it on the home screen, and you'll see all the desktops. You'll flip through them.
2. Click the blank space on the screen → Desktop settings → Hidden applications.
3. If there is no icon, try to find it through search: swipe down on the home screen → enter the name of the application.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO F3, Redmi Note 10 Pro) Hidden Apps feature is disabled by default. If the launcher settings do not include Hidden Apps, then your icon is definitely not there.

2.Recovery through the settings of the MIUI launcher

If the icon is not found on the additional screens, try to return it through the system settings. In MIUI 12/13/14, it is done as follows:

1. Click the empty space on the home screen → select Desktop Settings.
2. Go to Application Management (or Application Shortcuts on older versions).
3. Find the desired app in the list and turn on the switch next to it.
4. If there is no switch, tap the name of the application → Add to the desktop.

On models with MIUI 11 and below, the path is different:

Settings → Desktop → Application Management → [Find App] → Add to Desktop

If the app is not listed, it's either deleted or disabled in the system settings.

• 🔍 Settings → Annexes → Application management → Find the program and make sure it is not disabled.
• 📥 If the app is removed, install it again from Google Play or App Gallery.

Make sure the application is not removed

Check all desktops (up to 5 pages)

Look at the folder "Hidden applications"

Try to find it through a search on the system

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3.Using MIUI Hidden Settings (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, try enabling the icon display through the hidden MIUI settings.

1. Download the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play).
2. Open it and grant ADB permissions (instructions will appear on the screen).
3. Go to the Launcher section (Luncher).
4. Find the Show All Apps on Desktop item and turn it on.
5. Return to the home screen – all icons (including hidden ones) should appear.

⚠️ Note: After enabling this option, system applications that are usually hidden can appear on the desktop (for example, MIUI Daemon or Provider. You should avoid touching them so you don't disrupt the system. To remove unnecessary icons, turn off the Show All Apps on Desktop option and manually add only the right shortcuts.

On models with MIUI 14 and later, the Show All Apps on Desktop feature may not work due to changes in security policy, in which case use an alternative method with ADB (described in the next section).

4. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If the icon is gone after an update or reset and previous methods have not helped, try to restore it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, but requires a connection to a computer.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (You can download from the Android Developers website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm debugging on the smartphone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm list packages | find "appendix name"

(Replace the application name with a package name, such as WhatsApp or telegram.)

1. Copy the full name of the package (e.g. com.whatsapp).
2. Enter the command to add an icon to your desktop:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.miui.home/.launcher.UninstallShortcutPreview -d "package:com.whatsapp" --es shortcut_name "WhatsApp"

(Replace com.whatsapp with your package name and WhatsApp with the app name.)

If the team fails, try an alternative method:

adb shell cmd shortcut create-home --package "com.whatsapp" --activity "com.whatsapp.Main"

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Before working with ADB, back up your data via Settings → About Phone → Backup. Errors in commands can cause launcher failures.

5.Resetting launcher settings (without data loss)

If the problem is not one icon, but several, or the desktop has become glitzy (for example, applications do not open from shortcuts), resetting the launcher settings will help. This will not delete your data, but will return the standard location of the icons.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI (or Launcher) launcher and open it.
3. Slip Storage → Clear the data (do not Clear the cache!).
4. Confirm action. The phone will reboot and the launcher will return to factory settings.

After discharge:

• 🔄 All icons will return to standard places (they can be moved again).
• 📁 The folders you created will disappear – you’ll have to manually restore them.
• 🎨 Wallpaper and widgets will remain unchanged.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K40) After the launcher is reset, you may not be able to use navigation gestures. → Display. → Navigation panel and select the desired type of control.

6. Alternative launchers: if nothing helps

If the problem of icon disappearance is repeated regularly, consider installing a third-party launcher.This is a radical solution, but it will eliminate MIUI bugs and give more options for customization.

Popular launchers for Xiaomi:

How to install an alternative launcher:

1. Download the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. After installation, click the Home button - the system will prompt you to choose the default launcher.
3. Select a new launcher and confirm the choice.
4. Customize your desktop to suit your needs (add widgets, change icons, etc.).

If you decide to return to the standard MIUI launcher, simply select it in the default settings:

Settings → Applications → By default → Launcher

7. Frequent Causes of Icon Disappearance and How to Avoid Them

To avoid the problem, let’s understand why the icons disappear from the Xiaomi screen:

• 🤖 Autocleaning MIUI: Smart Cleaning in Launcher Settings can automatically hide rarely used applications. → Smart cleaning.
• 🔄 Firmware Update: After Major Updates (MIUI 13 → MIUI 14) Launcher may reset settings. Before updating, take screenshots of the location of the icons.
• 👶 Child Mode: If Children Mode is enabled (Settings) → Special features, some applications may be hidden.
• 🛠️ Memory Optimizers: Applications like Security or Clean Master sometimes remove "unnecessary" shortcuts.
• 📱 Settings reset: Even a partial reset (like Network Settings Reset) can affect the location of icons.

To minimize the risks:

• 🔧 Make backups regularly through Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 📌 Use the fixation of important icons: press the label → Fixed (not available on all models).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic optimization in MIUI Security.

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If the icon disappears after each MIUI update, the problem may be in conflict with the theme of the design. Try changing the theme to the standard one (Settings → Themes) and see if the error will happen again.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions