How to return the SMS icon to the main screen of the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone: all working ways

Users of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often face the problem when the Messages app icon suddenly disappears from the home screen.This can happen after a MIUI update, resetting settings, or accidentally removing the shortcut. Unlike iOS, where all apps are displayed on the home screen by default, the MIUI shell allows you to flexibly configure the desktop - but this sometimes leads to confusion.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to return the SMS icon to the home screen, including restoring the application menu, resetting the launcher settings, and even manually creating a shortcut. We will focus on the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and Redmi models (Note 10/11/12, 9A/9C, etc.). If standard methods do not work, at the end of the article you will find instructions for restoring the system application through ADB.

Before you start settings, make sure that the Message app has not been disabled or removed. To do this, check the list of all installed programs in Settings → Applications → Application Management. If there is no Messages item there, the problem is deeper, and you will need to restore the system APK.

1. Search for SMS icon in the menu of all applications

The easiest way to get a shortcut back is to find it in the general list of apps and pin it to the home screen. There are two ways to do this in MIUI:

Method 1: Through the application panel

1. Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen to open the menu of all apps.
2. Find the "Messages" app (an envelope icon) in the list.
3. Press and hold the icon, then drag it to the main screen.

Method 2: Through Search

• 🔍 Swipe down the main screen to open the search bar.
• 📝 Enter the request for "Messages" or "Messages" (for English firmware).
• 📱 Click on the found application, hold the icon and drag it to the desktop.

If the Message app is not listed, it may mean that it has been disabled or hidden by the system, in which case move on to the next section.

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On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi 9A), the app menu is swiped to the left of the home screen rather than up.

2. Enable the disabled application "Messages"

MIUI has a system application disablement feature that can accidentally hit an SMS to check this out:

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Show all apps."
3. Scroll down and find “Messages” (or “Messages”).
4. If there is a button “On” next to the name, click it.
5. Once turned on, return to the home screen and try adding the shortcut again (see Section 1).

If the application is not listed even after showing all the programs, this may indicate:

• 📉 Removal of the system APK (For example, after a hand-held garbage cleaner).
• 🔄 Firmware failure after update MIUI.
• 🛠️ Incorrect installation of custom firmware.

3.Resetting the MIUI launcher settings

Sometimes the problem isn't with the application itself, but with the launcher (the icon-displaying shell) crashing, and resetting it will bring back the standard icon layout, including SMS.

How to drop the launcher:

1. Open the Settings. → Home screen.
2. Scroll down and select "Settings Reset".
3. Confirm the action by pressing "Reset".

After the screen is rebooted, all standard applications (including Messages, Phone, Camera) will return to their places.Warning: This method will also remove all folders and widgets you created on the home screen.

Take screenshots of the current location of the icons |

Remember the names of folders on the main screen |

Make sure that important widgets (weather, calendar) are not lost |

Check that you have a backup copy of the wallpaper.-->

If the reset didn’t help, try switching to another launcher (like Nova Launcher or a new launcher). POCO Launcher, to see if the SMS icon is visible in it, if so, the problem is the system launcher. MIUI.

4. Manual shortcut creation through settings

On some versions of MIUI (especially 13-14), you can shortcut the Messages app directly through the widget menu, which works even if the icon is hidden in the main list.

Step-by-step:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the main screen.
2. In the menu that appears, select "Widgets".
3. Scroll down and find the App Shortcuts section.
4. Slip on “Messages” and select an action (e.g., “New Post”).
5. The shortcut will appear on the home screen, and when you click it will open the SMS application.

This method does not restore the original icon, but allows you to quickly access messages. If the Message widget is not listed, this confirms that the application has been removed or disabled at the system level.

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Manual shortcut creation is a temporary solution, and full recovery of SMS functionality will require the return of the system APK.

5.Restore the system application "Messages" through ADB

If all previous methods failed, the Messages app was removed or damaged, in which case recovery via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help, which requires connecting a smartphone to a PC and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Recovery teams:

adb shell


pm install -r --user 0 /system/priv-app/Mms/Mms.apk

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.mms

Important: On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 14), the path to APK may be different. If the command returns an error, check the exact path through the root file manager.

Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If none of these methods work, the last option is a complete reset, which will bring the smartphone back out of the box, including all system applications, and warn that all data (photos, contacts, messages) will be deleted if no backup is made.

How to perform the reset:

1. Back up important data through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data” and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, perform the initial setup and check for the Message icon.

If even after resetting the SMS icon did not appear, this may indicate:

• 🛠️ Hardware failure (memory damage).
• 📥 Incorrectly installed firmware (for example, custom build without GApps).
• 🔧 Lockdown IMEI (On some Redmi models, this affects the operation of system services).

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After reset, do not restore data from the backup immediately - first check if the SMS icon has appeared. Sometimes the copy contains errors that cause the problem to return.

Table: Comparison of methods of recovery of SMS icon

If you are unsure of the cause of the icon's disappearance, start with the simplest methods (sections 1-2) and gradually move on to the more complex ones. 90% of the time, the problem is solved without reset or ADB.

FAQ: Frequent questions about missing SMS icon on Xiaomi Redmi

⚠️ Note: If you use Redmi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the standard Messages app may not be available initially. In this case, install an alternative messenger from Google Play (like Google Messages or Google Messages). QKSMS).

⚠️ Note: Redmi models for the Chinese market (with China firmware) ROM) The Messages app can be replaced with Mi Messages. Global will need firmware to return standard SMS. ROM Or installing Google Messages.