How to return the shortcut “Phone” to the Xiaomi desktop: instruction 2026

You picked up a Xiaomi smartphone to make a call, but -- the Phone app icon on your desktop was never the case. It's familiar to many Redmi, POCO or Mi users -- especially after a MIUI update or a reset. Fortunately, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes, and you don't need root rights or complex system manipulations.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to bring the call label back to the screen, from basic (via the app menu) to hidden MIUI features that few people know about, and why the icon disappears on its own and how to prevent it from disappearing in the future. All the instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-14 and work on models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Why the “Phone” label on Xiaomi is missing

Before you restore the badge, it's important to understand why it's gone, and 80 percent of the time, it's because of one of three things:

🔄 Update MIUI: After installing a new firmware version, the system can reset the desktop settings (especially if the update was “dirty” – without first cleaning the cache).
🧹 Launcher Cleanup: Forced stop or clearing of com.miui.home app data (standard Xiaomi launcher) results in all shortcuts being reset.
🤖 Optimizer Actions: Built-in tools like Security or Battery Saver sometimes freeze system applications, including Phone, if they are rarely used.

Less guilty:

📱 Reset to factory settings (even a partial reset can remove labels).
🛠️ Manual removal – the user could accidentally drag the icon to the basket (in the case of the user). MIUI It's done with a long tap).
🔧 Second Space Settings – If you use Dual Apps, the shortcut can “move” to another space.

⚠️ Note: If the phone app itself is missing along with the shortcut (it does not open through search), the problem is more serious - it may have been disabled in the settings or removed through the search. ADB. In this case, system files will need to be restored.

The easiest way is to return the shortcut from the general list of installed programs, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require additional knowledge.

Instructions:

Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu (or click on the dot/button in the dock bar).
Find the phone app** (a green or blue tube icon) in the list.
Press the icon with a long tap (1-2 seconds), then drag it to the desktop.
Release your finger when the inscription Add to the main screen appears.

If the Phone app is not in the menu, check the Service folder** (sometimes system utilities are grouped automatically) or use the search (swipe down the app menu and enter the phone).

Make sure there is a free space on the desktop.|Check if the launcher is locked in the security settings|Restart your phone and try again.|Update. MIUI last-minute-->

Method 2: Use of MIUI widgets

MIUI has a hidden feature of adding shortcuts through widgets — it helps if the standard method doesn't work — which is especially useful for custom-shelled users of POCO and Redmi.

Step-by-step:

If the widgets aren’t on the list, try:

🔍 Enable the display of hidden widgets: Settings → Desktop → Widgets → Show it all.
🔄 Update the launcher via Google Play (if used) POCO Launcher or Mi Home).

💡

If the App Shortcuts widget is missing, try adding a shortcut through the Tools folder on your desktop — sometimes it is created automatically after you update.

Method 3: Launcher settings (for power users)

If the shortcut disappears regularly, the problem may lie in the failures of the standard launcher Xiaomi, in which case it will help to reset its settings or switch to an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher).

Option 1: Launcher reset

Find com.miui.home (or “Luncher”**) and select it.

Option 2: Installation of a third-party launcher

If the reset didn’t help, install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) from Google Play.

Open the launcher settings.
Find the App Shortcuts or App Drawer section.
Add the phone manually to your desktop.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher data will reset all desktop settings, including folders and widgets. Pre-take screenshots of the current icon layout to quickly restore them.

Method	Difficulty	Time.	Suitable for
Appendix menu	⭐	1 minute	All Xiaomi models
MIUI widgets	⭐⭐	2 minutes.	MIUI 12–14
Launcher reset	⭐⭐⭐	5 minutes.	If labels are often missing
Third-party launcher	⭐⭐	3 minutes.	POCO, Redmi with custom firmware

Method 4: Recovery through MIUI settings (hidden method)

Deep MIUI settings have the option of resetting shortcuts to factory-based ones, which helps if the Phone icon disappears after an upgrade or reset.

Instructions:

Open the Settings. → The phone.
Find the MIUI version and click on it 5-7 times until the caption “You are a developer!” appears.
Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → Special features → Developer settings.
Scroll down and find the option Reset desktop icons.
Confirm the action - in 10-20 seconds the labels will return.

If there is no option to Reset shortcuts, try an alternative path: Settings → Desktop → Additional → Restore by default.

What to do if there is no “Developer Settings” item?

If nothing happens after repeatedly clicking on the MIUI version, check: 1. Your account has administrator rights (sometimes confirmation is required via Mi Account). 2. The phone does not have restrictions through Parental Control or Guest Mode. 3. The firmware is not modified (on custom ROMs like LineageOS this method does not work).

Method 5: Manual Addition via ADB (for Advanced)

If all previous methods have failed and the Phone app is disabled at the system level, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help, which requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

Download and install ADB Tools on your PC (e.g. Minimal ADB and Fastboot).
Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 5 taps → Developer settings → Debugging over USB).
Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with ADB.
Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices should appear serial number of the device.
Run the command to enable the Phone app: adb shell pm enable com.android.dialer
Reboot the phone.

If the shortcut does not appear after that, add it manually through the application menu (Method 1).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can cause system failures if you type in the wrong commands. Do not change other parameters through the adb shell unless you are sure of their purpose.

How to Prevent the Disappearance of a Label in the Future

To prevent the Phone icon from disappearing after updates or resets, follow these tips:

🔒 Block the launcher: Open the Settings → Annexes → com.miui.home → Permissions and disable Battery Optimization option for this app.
📥 Update. MIUI Right: Before installing a new firmware, clear the cache through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Clear the cache.
📁 Create a backup: Use the built-in Settings tool → Additionally. → Backup to keep the current labeling.
🛡️ Turn off Aggressive Optimization: In Settings → Battery → Selection of applications add "Phone" to the list without restrictions.

If you use a second space or guest mode frequently, check for shortcuts in both profiles – they don’t always sync.

💡

Check the phone label regularly after MIUI updates – 90% of the time it disappears due to a dirty firmware installation.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the phone label on Xiaomi

❓ Why the phone tag will not return after resetting?

When you completely reset, some system applications, including Phone, can shut down. To return it: Open Settings → Annexes → Application management → Disabled. Find the phone and turn it on. Add a shortcut to the desktop through the app menu. If the app is not listed, you'll need to flash it through Fastboot.

❓ Can I return the label without a computer?

Yes, 99% of the time, you don't need a computer. Use Method 1 (application menu) or Method 2 (widgets). ADB is only required if the Phone app is disabled at the system level.

❓ I removed the phone app through ADB. How to repair?

If you run adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.android.dialer, the only way to return the application is through: Full reset (Settings → Reset → Delete All Data). Flashing your phone through Fastboot or Recovery. Installing APK from the Internet will not work - Phone is a system component.

❓ My Xiaomi doesn't have a phone app at all?

If the app is not even in the menu and search, it is possible: 🔧 Firmware damage - Reinstallation is required MIUI via Mi Flash Tool. 📱 Modified firmware (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience) – install a compatible dialer (e.g. Google Phone). 🔒 Corporate policy restrictions (if the phone was issued by the employer) For a diagnosis, check the version MIUI In Settings → If it is different from the official (for example, the phone, MIUI by Xiaomi.eu, contact the developers of custom firmware.

❓ After updating MIUI The phone label has gone gray and won't open?

The grey icon means that the application is disabled or frozen by the optimizer. To fix: Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone. Click On (if the button is active). Reboot the phone. If the Enable button is missing, check Security settings (Settings → Security → Optimization → Frozen Applications).