How to return a deleted or missing icon to the Xiaomi desktop: instruction 2026

Have you accidentally deleted the app icon from Xiaomi’s desktop, or does it disappear after a reboot?This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones — especially after a MIUI update or a launcher change. Unlike iOS, where all apps are displayed by default on the home screen, the MIUI shell allows you to hide shortcuts, which sometimes leads to their “disappearance.”

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to return an icon to your desktop, from basic actions in the app menu to hidden MIUI features to even manual recovery through ADB. You’ll learn why shortcuts disappear after updates, how to distinguish remote icons from hidden ones, and what to do if standard methods don’t work. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and new firmware 2026.

Why are badges missing on Xiaomi’s desktop?

Before you restore shortcuts, it's important to understand why they're gone, and 80 percent of the time, the problem isn't with the application being removed, but with the MIUI shell or launcher settings, and here are the main reasons:

• 📱 Hiding through the application menu: in MIUI You can remove the icon from the desktop without removing the application itself (Hide function in the context menu).
• 🔄 Update MIUI: after major updates (for example, with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) launcher settings are reset and some labels “fly off».
• 🧩 Launcher Reset: If you changed the theme or reset your com.miui.home settings, the icons may disappear.
• 🚫 System Limitations: Some system applications (e.g. Google Play Services) don’t have default shortcuts.
• 🔧 Cache errors: A damaged launcher cache (com.miui.home) leads to visual glitches, including missing icons.

Critical detail: if the app is removed completely (not hidden), its icon cannot be returned - you will have to reinstall from Google Play or Mi App Store. To check if the application is installed, open Settings → Applications → Application Management and find it in the list.

Method 1: Restore through the application menu (the easiest one)

If the icon is simply hidden rather than deleted, it can be returned in 10 seconds:

1. Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the app menu.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use the search at the top if it’s not in sight).
3. Press the application icon with your finger and, without letting go, drag it to the desktop.
4. If a red cross appears during drag and drop, the application is removed, not hidden.

On some models (POCO F5, Redmi Note 12), the app menu is swiped to the left of the home screen. If you have a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), the method may differ.

Method 2: Return hidden icons via MIUI settings

MIUI allows you to hide applications from displaying on the desktop and menus. If you (or someone else) have activated this feature, the icon will not be visible, but the application will remain installed.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hidden Apps.
3. In the list, find the desired application and uncheck it.
4. Return to the desktop and drag the icon from the app menu (see Method 1).

On some firmware (MIUI Global for Redmi 10 and older), the path may be different: Settings → Home Screen → Hidden Apps. If there is no Hidden Apps, then the feature is disabled in your version of MIUI.

Method 3: Reset the launcher settings (if the icons disappear after the update)

If the icons disappeared after updating MIUI or changing the theme, the problem may be the system launcher settings (com.miui.home) that have gone wrong.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search, type “Luncher” or com.miui.home.
3. Select the app and tap “Storage” → “Clear Data”.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: this method will reset all desktop settings - folders, widgets and icon location.

After the reboot, the icons should appear in the application menu. If not, check if the launcher is disabled in Settings → Battery and Performance → Autostart Management (should be autostart permission).

Method 4: Manual shortcut creation via widget (for system applications)

Some system applications (Settings, Camera, Phone) do not have standard icons in the menu, but they can be returned through the shortcut widget:

1. Clutch the empty space on the desktop and select “Widgets”.
2. Scroll down the list and find the shortcuts widget (or shortcuts on English firmware).
3. Drag him to the desk.
4. In the list that opens, select the desired application (for example, Settings or FM-radio).

This method works even for apps that don’t appear on the menu, such as:

• 📞 Calls (if the phone icon disappears after the update).
• 📷 Camera (on some models) POCO label hidden by default).
• ⚙️ Settings (may disappear when changing the launcher).
• 📻 FM-radio (hidden on firmware without pre-connected headphones).

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If the shortcut widget is missing, try installing it through the Mi App Store (called "MIUI Shortcuts"). On some firmware, it is hidden by default.

Method 5: Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods have not worked and the application is precisely installed (see Settings → Applications), you can try to return the icon via ADB. This method is suitable for advanced users and requires a computer.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers (download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and allow debugging (a request will appear on the phone screen).
2. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must display the serial number of your device.
4. Run the command to restore the icon (replace com.example.app with the batch name of the application, for example, com.android.settings for Settings): adb shell cmd shortcut create-home -p com.example.app -a.MainActivity
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB Do not change the settings if you are not sure of the actions. To find the batch name of the application, use the command: adb shell pm list packages | grep "name of annex"

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ADB-The method is the last chance to return the icon if other methods have not worked, use it only when you are confident in your actions or under the guidance of an experienced user.

What to do if nothing helps

If neither method returned the icon, check the following points:

• 🔍 Is the application removed? Make sure it's in Settings → If not, reinstall from Google Play or Mi App Store.
• 📱 Third-party launcher? if you're using Nova Launcher, Apex or another alternative launcher, try returning the standard launcher MIUI Launcher (Settings) → Annexes → By default. → Launcher).
• 🔄 Firmware update? Xiaomi forums often report badges that have disappeared after updates. Check if the fix has come out in Settings → Updating the system.
• 🧪 Beta version MIUI? If you are on beta firmware, roll back to the stable version via the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website).

If the problem persists, there are two options:

1. Reset to factory settings (save data! path: Settings → About phone → Reset settings).
2. Contacting the service center - if the loss of icons is accompanied by other glitches (hangs, overheating), this may indicate a hardware malfunction.

FAQ: Frequent questions about missing badges on Xiaomi