How to return the desktop on Xiaomi to its original state: all ways

Did you accidentally move all the icons on Xiaomi’s desktop, or did they disperse in a chaotic fashion after the MIUI update? Maybe you installed a new theme that mixed the widgets, or your smartphone spontaneously reset the screen settings. In any case, you can return the former location of elements on Redmi, Poco or Black Shark in several ways, from manual restoration to system tools.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods, including hidden MIUI launcher features, backups, and even resets without losing data. We’ll focus on the nuances for different shell versions (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15) and smartphone models. If you don’t want to spend hours dragging and dropping every icon manually, read on.

Why is the location of icons on Xiaomi confused?

Before you restore the desktop, it is important to understand what caused the failure, and in 80% of cases, the problem is due to one of the following causes:

• 🔄 Update MIUI. After installing a new version of the shell, the system can reset the launcher settings, especially if the update was “dirty” (without cleaning the cache).
• 🎨 Change of subject. Some topics from the topic → My themes contain custom desktop layouts that rewrite your current desktop layout.
• 📱 The launcher crashes. com.miui.home sometimes fails, especially if it is forced to close or clear the data.
• ⚡ System optimization. Settings function → Battery → Optimization can “forget” the location of icons when cleaning the background.
• 🔧 Manual changes: Dragging icon folders off screen or accidentally clicking Home → Settings → Reset the layout.

On Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek processors (for example, Redmi Note 12 4G or Poco M5), launcher failures occur more often than on models with Snapdragon, due to the features of MIUI optimization for different chipsets.

If the problem occurs after a firmware update, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. For example, switching from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 often resets widgets, even if you haven't changed the theme.

Method 1: Restore from MIUI backup

The most reliable method is to restore the desktop from an automatic backup that MIUI creates once a week, which works if:

• ✅ You did not turn off the Settings function. → Additionally. → Backup.
• ✅ No more than 30 days have passed since the last backup (old copies are deleted).
• ✅ You didn't reset your settings to factory.

Instructions for remediation:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Slip on the last backup (it is marked by date and time).
3. Select Restore and tick the item "Work table".
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for the reboot (may take 1-2 minutes).

⚠️ Note: If other data is stored in the backup (for example, SMS Or notes, they'll also be restored by overwriting the current ones. To avoid this, uncheck the unnecessary boxes.

If you don't have a backup or a desktop, move on to the next way. On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13T or Poco F5), the backup may not save the screen layout due to firmware features.

Method 2: Reset the launcher settings without data loss

If backup is not available, you can reset only the MIUI launcher (the desktop application) settings without affecting the rest of the phone’s data, a method that works on all versions of MIUI, but requires caution.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type com.miui.home (this is the system name of the launcher).
3. Slip on the app you found and select Warehouse.
4. Click Clear Data and confirm the action.

Once the data is cleared, the launcher will restart and you will see the standard MIUI layout (default icons, without your widgets and folders).

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A launcher reset does not delete apps, photos or other user data — only desktop settings.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ s MIUI 14) after the launcher is reset, the possibility of adding widgets may be lost. To return it, restart the phone.

If this method didn’t help or you want to return exactly to your previous layout, rather than the standard one, try the following method.

Method 3: Manual recovery with screenshot

If you have a screenshot of your desktop before it crashes (like in a Gallery or cloud storage), you can manually re-locate the icons using it as a template, which takes time, but gives you 100% results.

Algorithm of action:

1. Open the screenshot on the full screen and place it so that it is visible on top of the desktop (for example, in Floating Window mode or on a second device).
2. On the desktop, remove all unnecessary icons (hold your finger on the icon → Delete).
3. Start adding apps one at a time, checking with the screenshot: 📱 To add an icon: Open the App Menu → Hold your finger on the desired application → drag it to the desk. 📁 To create a folder: Drag one icon to another. 📊 To add a widget: Keep your finger on the blank screen → Widgets → pick out.

To speed up the process, use the MIUI hotkeys:

• 🔍 Double touch on the desktop → Application Search (Fast Access to Any Application).
• 📲 Swipe down the desktop → Notification panel (to quickly open settings).

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI 15 (for example, Xiaomi 14) If you manually restore it, you can get a grid of icons knocked off. To fix this, hold your finger on your desktop. → Home screen settings → Size the grid and select the previous settings (for example, 5×6).

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If you have a lot of widgets on your desktop (such as weather or calendar), restore them first, and then place the icons – it is easier to keep alignment.

Method 4: Using third-party launchers to recover

If standard methods don’t work, you can temporarily install a side launcher (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) that supports import/export of desktop settings, which is especially useful if you’ve previously done a backup layout in such a launcher.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the app and resolve all access requests.
3. Go to Settings Nova → Backup and Import.
4. If you have a backup, choose Restore. If not, create a new layout manually (as in Method 3).
5. After setting up, export the configuration to a file and save it to the cloud (e.g. Google Drive).

Advantages of third-party launchers:

⚠️ Note: When using a third-party launcher, some functions MIUI (For example, Super Wallpaper or Weather Widgets may not work properly. To return a standard launcher, go to Settings. → Home screen → Select the default launcher.

Method 5: Resetting phone settings (extreme case)

If none of these methods work, you have to reset your settings completely, and this will bring your desktop back to factory status, but delete all the data from your phone, and use it only as a last resort!

Step-by-step:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Additional → Backup or manually copy files to your PC.
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select to erase all data and enter a password (if required).
4. After the reboot, set up the phone as new by skipping the recovery from the backup (if it was made after a desktop crash).

⚠️ Note: On devices with Mi Account, after reset, you may need to enter your login and password to unlock (Device Protection feature!

If you decide to reset, consider:

• 🔄 After the reset, the standard layout will return. MIUI, Not your old one.
• 📱 Applications will remain installed, but their data (e.g. saves in games) may disappear.
• 🔑 If the phone was tied to Mi Account, after the reset will require proof of ownership.

Additional tips for preventing failures

To avoid problems with the desktop in the future, follow these recommendations:

• 🔒 Turn off Automatic Optimization for Launcher: Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.Look for com.miui.home in the list and select Unlimited.

Create backups regularly

• Use Nova Launcher to export the layout.
• Or manually take screenshots of your desktop and save them to the cloud.

Don't clear the launcher cache.

Settings → Storage

Update MIUI correctly

• Before updating, check out reviews about the new version on forums (e.g., 4PDA or Xiaomi Community).
• If the update is “raw”, wait 1-2 weeks for the patches to come out.

On devices with MIUI 14+ (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro), the desktop has become more stable, but it is still recommended to make backups before any system changes.

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Regular backup of the desktop layout saves hours of recovery time, using screenshots or specialized launchers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi desktop restoration