How to return a deleted or missing shortcut to Xiaomi desktop: all working methods

Why Xiaomi shortcuts are disappearing and how to fix it

Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a problem: the desired application suddenly disappears from the desktop, although the application itself remains in the system. The reasons can vary from accidental deletion to failures in the MIUI shell after an update. 90% of the time the shortcut is restored in 1-2 minutes, but many do not know where to look for settings.

In this article, 5 proven ways to bring the shortcut back to the screen, including hidden MIUI features that are not described in the official documentation. The methods work on all current firmware versions (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15) and models: Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 and others. If the standard drag and drop from the app menu did not work, read on.

Before you start, make sure the app is not completely removed (check Settings → Apps → App Management). If it is not listed, you will have to reinstall it from Google Play or Mi App Store.

Method 1: Restore the shortcut through the application menu

The most obvious, but often ignored, method is that in MIUI, shortcuts are not permanently removed when swipe up -- they're just hidden in a general list.

1. Touch the empty space on your desktop and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the menu appears.
2. Select the Shortcuts (or Widgets if you need to restore the widget).
3. Scroll down to All Apps (or Hidden if the shortcut has been hidden).
4. Find the right application, hold its icon and drag it to the desktop.

If the app is not on the list, try:

• 🔍 Enter the name in the search bar at the top of the menu.
• 📁 Check the Unused folder (sometimes) MIUI Automatically sorts out rarely used labels).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes the list of applications is not updated without restarting the system.

💡

If the shortcut disappears after each reboot, check the launcher settings: go to Settings → Desktop → Launcher settings and turn off Desktop Optimization.

Method 2: Use of the "Hidden Applications" function

MIUI has a built-in app hide feature that can be activated accidentally, for example, when you click Remove in the context menu shortcut, the system sometimes suggests not removing the application, but hiding it.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hidden Apps.
3. Find the desired application in the list and uncheck it.
4. Return to the desktop and add a shortcut in the standard way (see Method 1).

If there is no hidden appendix:

• 🔧 Check the version. MIUI — in old firmware (up to) MIUI 12.5) This function was called Blocked.
• 📱 In some models (POCO F3, Redmi K50) Hidden applications are managed through Settings → Confidentiality → Hidden applications.

Method 3: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

If shortcuts are lost en masse or not restored by previous methods, the problem may be a launcher (the program responsible for displaying the desktop) failure, resetting its settings will return the standard configuration without deleting applications and files:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Launcher (or Launcher in English firmware).
3. Select Warehouse → Clear Data (not to be confused with Clear Cache!).
4. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

After discharge:

• 📱 All shortcuts and widgets will return to factory settings (you will have to configure again).
• 🔄 The desktop wallpaper will be dropped on the standard.
• ⚠️ Folders with labels will disappear – they will need to be recreated.

Take screenshots of the current labeling

Remember the location of important widgets

Check for backup in Mi Cloud

Make sure your smartphone is over 50% charged

-->

Method 4: Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If the shortcut is lost due to a system failure (for example, after a failed update), it can be returned using the help of the system. ADB-This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Instructions:

1. Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell cmd launcher reset-app-preferences
4. Reset the device.

If the desired label still does not appear, try to force the launcher cache to update:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB This can cause system instability if the instructions are entered incorrectly. Do not use this method on devices with an unlocked bootloader - this can cause conflicts with custom firmware.

Method 5: Manually create a shortcut through a file system

In rare cases, the shortcut can be manually restored if the name of the application package is known (for example, com.android.chrome for Google Chrome).

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/app and find the folder with the packet name (e.g. com.whatsapp-1).
3. Copy the base.apk file from this folder.
4. Insert it into /sdcard/Download folder and rename it to app.apk.
5. Install. APK-file as usual – this will create a new label.

This method only works for user applications (non-system) and requires super-user (root) rights on some firmware. If the /data/app folder is not available, use an alternative path:

• 📂 /system/priv-app — system-application.
• 📂 /vendor/app — Pre-installed applications from the manufacturer.

Preventing: How to Avoid Losing Labels in the Future

To prevent labels from disappearing spontaneously, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware: in new versions MIUI Bugs with launcher are fixed. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Avoid using “memory optimizers” and “cache cleaners” – they often delete launcher data.
• 🔒 Do not install themes from unverified sources: they may conflict with system files.
• 📁 Periodically back up your desktop through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

If you often experience missing shortcuts, consider installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) that is more stable and offers additional backup features.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid shortcut loss is to disable automatic desktop optimization in the launcher settings (Settings → Desktop → Launcher settings → Desktop optimization).

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi