How to return the camera icon to the Xiaomi Redmi desktop: all ways

Have you accidentally removed the camera shortcut from the Xiaomi Redmi home screen or is it gone after the MIUI update? Don't panic - you can restore it in a few minutes, even without technical skills. In this article, we will analyze 3 proven methods that work on all models of the Redmi series (from Redmi Note 7 to Redmi 13 Pro), and also explain why the icon can disappear and how to prevent this in the future.

The problem with shortcuts disappearing is one of the most common among Xiaomi users, most often after automatically updating the MIUI shell, resetting settings or inadvertent actions in the app menu. Unlike iPhone or Samsung, where shortcuts are only removed manually, on Xiaomi they can disappear due to launcher failures, but the good news is that you can return the camera to the desktop without flashing it or even without a computer.

Before you get to the instructions, check two things: 1 Make sure the Camera app itself hasn’t been removed (this is only possible on rooted devices or through ADB). 2 Try to find the camera in the menu of all apps – sometimes the shortcut just moves to the Tools or Xiaomi folder.

Method 1: Restore the shortcut through the application menu

The simplest method, which works 90 percent of the time, doesn't require superuser rights or a PC connection, but takes less than a minute.

Steps:

1. Unlock your phone and swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to open the menu of all apps.
2. Find the Camera app (camera icon) and if you can't see it, search at the top of the screen.
3. Press and hold the Camera icon for 1-2 seconds until the context menu appears.
4. Select Add to the main screen (or drag the icon to the free space).

If this method doesn’t work, you may have your device disabled the standard MIUI launcher or installed an alternative (e.g., Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher), in which case move on to the next method.

Check the Tools or Xiaomi folder | Use the app search (swipe down the menu) | Make sure the camera is not hidden in the launcher settings | Try restarting the phone-->

Method 2: Resetting the settings of the MIUI launcher

If you shortcut the drop chamber after updating or changing themes, resetting the standard launcher will help, and this method will bring all the standard shortcuts back to their place, but it will not delete your personal data.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type in the Launcher and select the MIUI Launcher app (or POCO Launcher if you have POCO).
3. Click Warehouse → Clear Data → Clear Everything.
4. The phone will automatically restart the launcher and all standard shortcuts (including the camera) will return to their place.

Important! Once you reset the launcher, you'll have to reconfigure:

• 📁 Location of folders and widgets
• 🎨 Wallpaper and desktop theme
• 🔍 Sign settings (if you use non-standard ones)

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If the camera shortcut never appears after the launcher is reset, try temporarily installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher), adding the camera to the screen through it, and then returning to the standard launcher.

Method 3: Manually create a shortcut through widget settings

On some Redmi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Redmi K50), the camera can be hidden in the widget menu, which can help you create a shortcut manually, even if the standard methods don’t work.

Step-by-step:

1. Press and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets.
3. Scroll down and find the Xiaomi Tools or Services section.
4. Find the Camera widget (usually a square 4×1 or 2×2) icon.
5. Drag the widget onto the desktop. If you need it, resize it.

If the camera widget is not listed, it could mean:

• 🔧 System widgets are disabled on your device (check launcher settings).
• 📱 Installed custom firmware where camera widgets removed.
• 🔄 Update required MIUI last-minute.

Why is the camera label on Xiaomi Redmi missing?

The disappearance of the camera icon is not an accident, but a consequence of specific actions or failures.

On Redmi models with a MediaTek processor (such as the Redmi 9A or Redmi 10C), the camera label may be lost due to a conflict with power optimization. To fix this, add the Camera app to the "No Limits" list in the battery settings.

First time |After each update | Regularly, once a month |Never-->

How to fix the camera on the desktop so that it does not disappear?

To keep the camera shortcut in place even after updates, follow these tips:

• 🔒 Fix the icon in the dock panel (bottom panel with) 4-5 To do this, drag the camera to the dock and hold it. 2 seconds.
• 🛡️ Turn off automatic launcher optimization in settings: Settings → Special facilities → Optimization of the system → Shut down.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI, not throughTA, a manually (downloading the full firmware package from the official website).
• 📱 Do not use Light Mode – it removes all unnecessary shortcuts, including the camera.

On Redmi models with MIUI 14 and later, shortcuts can be attached not only to the home screen, but also to folders. Create a Photo folder and place a camera there so it is protected from accidental removal.

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If you use the camera frequently, add it to the Quick Access Panel (swipe down from the top of the screen → edit → add “Camera”), which will allow you to open it even from a locked screen.

What if the camera is not only missing, but is not working?

If the camera doesn't open after the label is restored or if it comes up with an error, the problem is deeper.

1. Access Rights: Go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Camera and make sure all permissions are enabled.
2. Conflict with other apps: Disable the shooting apps (like Google Camera or Open Camera) and restart the phone.
3. Hardware malfunction: If the camera doesn’t work even after resetting, check it through the engineering menu (#4636# → Equipment Testing).

Symptoms of hardware breakdown:

• 📸 When the camera is opened, the screen remains black.
• 🔴 A message appears: "I failed to connect to the camera".
• 🔍 In the engineering menu, the camera is displayed as "Not connected".

⚠️ If the camera stops working after the phone falls or moisture hits, don't try to disassemble the device yourself. On Redmi models with multiple modules (wide-angle, macro, telephoto), damage to one of them can block the entire system.

Alternative ways to quickly start the camera

If you can’t restore the label, use these methods:

• 🔘 Double press power button: on most Redmis, this action opens the camera by default. If it doesn't work, turn it on to Settings → Lock screen → Quick camera launch.
• 🗣️ Voice assistant: say “OK, Google, open the camera” or set up a similar command in Alice from Yandex.
• 🖥️ Gesture on the lock screen: on Redmi with MIUI 12+ You can configure the swipe up the camera icon on the locked screen.

In the models with IR-A blaster (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) The camera can be launched through the control panel, if you first add it to the list of quick actions.

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If you take pictures often, install the camera widget on the lock screen. To do this, go to Settings → Lock screen → Widgets → Camera and turn on the option.

⚠️ Attention! On some firmware (e.g, MIUI Global for the European market), the camera's quick start function with a double press of the power button may conflict with Google Assistant. If the camera does not open, turn off the assistant in the button settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about camera shortcut on Xiaomi Redmi