How to return the camera icon to the Xiaomi desktop: the complete guide

Have you accidentally removed the camera shortcut from Xiaomi’s desktop or is it missing after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones — especially after resetting or installing custom firmware. Unlike standard apps like Phone or Messages, the camera icon often behaves unpredictablely: it disappears after a reboot, then does not appear in the app menu.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to get your camera back on the desktop, from basic launcher steps to manual recovery through system settings. Note: newer versions of MIUI 14/13 have different algorithms than older builds (e.g. MIUI 12), so we’ll give you nuances for each version, and you’ll learn why the icon might disappear again and how to prevent it.

Why the camera icon on Xiaomi disappears

Before you re-establish the label, it is important to understand why it disappears, and 80% of the time, the problem is due to one of the following:

🔄 Update MIUI: After installing a new firmware version, the system resets the location of the icons on the desktop, and the camera can “fall” from the list of available applications.
🧹 Clearing the launcher cache: Forced data clearing of the com.miui.home app (standard launcher Xiaomi) leads to resetting all shortcuts.
📱 Settings reset: Even a “soft” reset (without deleting data) often removes custom icons from the screen.
🚫 System limitations: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) The camera is hidden in the "Tools" menu".
🛠️ Custom firmware: Informal builds (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) may not support standard Xiaomi launcher.

If the icon is missing after manual removal, don’t worry – the camera app itself is not removed from the system (except for root-rights cases).

⚠️ Note: On bootloader lock devices, an attempt to return the camera via ADB or modifying system files can cause the phone to break down!

📊 What is your Xiaomi model?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

POCO X3/X4/X5

Mi 11/12/13

Another model

The easiest way is to return the camera icon from the general list of applications, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require additional settings.

Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu.
Find the Camera app. If you don't have one, see Method 3.
Press the camera icon for 2-3 seconds until the context menu appears.
Select "Add to desktop" or drag the icon to a free space.

If the app menu does not have the item "Add to desktop", try an alternative option:

📌 Click on the camera icon and hold until the screen goes into editing mode.
🖱️ Drag the icon to your desktop (if the app menu is open as a list rather than a grid).

There are no other hidden folders with icons on the screen |

The app menu opens with swipe up |

Device not in Easy Mode (Easy Mode) |

The launcher is not replaced by a third party (Nova, Apex, etc.)-->

Method 2: Resetting the launcher settings

If the camera icon doesn’t even appear in the app menu, the problem may be the failure of the standard Xiaomi launcher, in which case resetting its settings will help:

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
In the search box, type "Luncher" or com.miui.home.
Select the app and click "Storage".
Click on “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” (Warning: This will remove all widgets and icon locations!).
Reset the device.

After restarting, the system will automatically restore the standard location of the icons, including the camera.

🔄 Try switching to another launcher (like Nova Launcher) and then back up.
📱 Check if the “Children Mode” or “Guest Mode” is activated in the security settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) Resetting the launcher can cause all folders to disappear from the desktop. Before reset, take screenshots of the current location of the icons.

What if after the launcher drops all the icons are missing?

If after cleaning the launcher data (com.miui.home) all shortcuts, including Phone and Messages, disappear, follow the following steps: 1. Restart the device in Safe Mode (hold the power button). → "Restart Safe Mode. 2. If the icons are back, the problem is in a third-party application (most often the fault is SEOs or antiviruses). 3. If they are not back, install an alternative launcher (such as Microsoft Launcher) from Google Play and set up your desktop again. 4. In extreme cases, reset settings through Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings (without deleting data).

Method 3: Search for hidden system applications

Some MIUI firmware doesn't show the camera in the main app menu, because it's a system utility.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
In the top corner, press three dots (⋮) and select "Show all applications".
In the search box, type "Camera" or com.android.camera (for older models) / com.miui.camera (for newer ones).
If the application is found, click on it and select "Open" or "Create a shortcut".

If the camera is not found on the list, check:

🔍 Tools folder: On some models (Redmi Note 11 Pro, POCO X4 Pro) the camera is hidden in a folder with system utilities.
📁 Hidden applications: The launcher settings may have the option “Hidden applications” (path: pinch the empty space on the desktop). → "Launcher settings" → "Hidden applications").

Xiaomi model	The way to the camera at MIUI	Features
Redmi Note 10/11/12	Settings → Applications → System → Camera	It can be called com.miui.camera or com.android.camera.
POCO F3/F4/F5	Tools folder in the application menu	Manual addition to the desktop is required
Mi 11/12/13	Settings → Additional → Special. capabilities → Camera	On some firmware, the camera is integrated into the "Fast Tools"
Redmi 9/9A/9C	Not on the menu, only through search.	Requires a launcher or an alternative installation

💡

If the camera is not found in the list of applications, try searching for the settings for the word "camera" in English - "camera". In some MIUI localizations, system applications are only displayed when searching in English.

If the standard icon is not restored, you can add a camera widget to the desktop, which works even on custom firmware:

Click the empty space on the desktop and select "Widgets".
Scroll down and find the Camera widget (usually 4×1 or 2×2).
Drag the widget to the desktop.
If necessary, change the size of the widget by pulling around the corners.

Advantages of this method:

⚡ Quick access to the camera directly from the desktop (sometimes even faster than through the icon).
🔧 The widget can be configured to launch in a specific mode (photo, video, portrait).
🛡️ It works even if the main camera application is hidden.

If the camera widget is not on the list:

🔄 Try to update. MIUI up to the latest version (in new builds, the camera widget is added by default).
📥 Install Google Camera (GCam) from a trusted source – this camera always has a widget.

💡

The camera widget is a versatile solution for devices with custom firmware or stripped-down versions of MIUI (for example, for the European region).

Method 5: Manually create a shortcut through ADB (for advanced)

If all previous methods have failed, you can create a camera shortcut manually through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for users familiar with the command line.

Important: This method requires:

🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
🔌 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to press the version → return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
📋 Installed utility ADB on PC (you can download from the official Android website).

Instructions:

Connect your phone to your PC via USB and select File Transfer mode.
Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell pm list packages | grep camera

This command will show the name of the camera packet (usually com.miui.camera or com.android.camera).

Create a shortcut on your desktop:

adb shell am start -n com.miui.home/.launcher.CreateShortcutActivity -d "package:com.miui.camera" -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell cmd shortcut create-home --package com.miui.camera --activity com.miui.camera.Camera

After you execute the command, you'll see a shortcut request on your phone screen, and you'll see the action, and you'll add the camera icon to your desktop.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (Redmi for the European market) commands ADB In this case, use Method 4 with a widget.

What if the ADB does not recognize the device?

If your Xiaomi does not appear in the list when you enter the adb device command: 1. Check if the Mi drivers are installed. USB Driver (you can download it on the official Xiaomi website). 2. Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original). 3. Enable the option "Debugging by Debugging" in the developer settings USB (Security settings)" and confirm PC permission. 4. Restart your phone and PC. 5. If you use Windows, run the command prompt on behalf of the administrator.

How to Prevent the Icon from Disappearing in the Future

To ensure that the camera icon doesn’t disappear after updates or reboots, follow these tips:

🔒 Secure the icon: Press the camera icon on your desktop → Select "Secure" (if the option is available).
📁 Create a folder: Move the camera icon to a separate folder on your desktop (like Multimedia.
🔄 Turn off automatic optimization: In security settings (Settings) → Privacy → Special permits → Battery Optimization: Add the camera to exceptions.
📱 Use an alternative launcher: Install Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher – they don’t reset icons after updates MIUI.
🔄 Update regularly MIUI: In new versions of firmware, bugs with the disappearance of labels have been fixed.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, the camera icon may be lost due to Smart Cleanup. To turn it off, go to Settings → Privacy → Smart Clean and deactivate the Desktop Cleanup option.

Frequently asked questions

❓ The camera icon appears, but disappears immediately after the reboot?

This problem is related to the launcher cache failure. Follow the following steps: Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher. Clear the cache and data (as in Method 2). Reboot the device. If the problem recurs, install an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher). On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro) it helps to disable the interface animation function in the developer settings.

❓ Can I return the camera without a computer?

Yes, all the methods in this article, except Method 5, are done without a PC. If the icon is not restored through the app menu or a launcher reset, try: Install Google Camera (GCam) from a trusted source (e.g. Celso Azevedo). Say, "OK, Google, open the camera," and that will confirm that the app is installed but hidden. Create a shortcut through accessibility settings: Settings → Special opportunities → Availability labels → Create a shortcut for the camera.

❓ Why After Updating MIUI The camera is gone (even in the app menu)?

This is a well-known problem with some updates. MIUI, When system applications (including the camera) "unplug" from the launcher. Solutions: Reset the launcher settings (see Method 2). Check if the camera application is disabled in the settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → If the camera is disabled and cannot be turned on, reset (without deleting data) via Settings → The phone. → Reset settings. In extreme cases, roll back to the previous version. MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select the service pack if the problem has occurred after the update before MIUI 14, check for a patch in Theme Store (Themes) → My subjects. → Updates).

❓ How to return the camera to the desktop if the phone is in brick mode (does not turn on)?

If the device does not boot (for example, after a failed update), you can restore the camera icon only after it is restored. + Volume up to enter Recovery mode. Select "Wipe Data" or "Reboot to Fastboot" to run through the Mi Flash Tool. If the phone doesn't respond, connect it to your PC and use it. EDL-The mode (requires an authorized Xiaomi account) and when the phone is restored, the camera icon will come back automatically, as it is a system application. If the phone is not turned on due to firmware damage, do not try to manually edit system files - this can lead to complete data loss.

❓ Are these methods working on POCO and Black Shark?

Yes, all the methods in this article are applicable to devices. POCO Black Shark, because they work on the base. MIUI (or its modifications, like POCO Features: On POCO F1/F2/F3 The camera icon can be hidden in the Tools folder. On Black Shark, you may need to activate Gamespace to return the camera. → Playing space. POCO X3/X4 Resetting the launcher sometimes requires an additional reboot.If you have a Black Shark with custom firmware (JoyUI), use the Method 4 (widget 5 (ADB).