Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to quickly access certain functions or applications. Standard installation of programs from Google Play usually automatically creates an icon on the home screen, but in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS, this process sometimes requires manual intervention or adjustment.
Creating a shortcut isn’t just a matter of convenience, it’s also a way to optimize your workflow. You can bring to your desktop not only entire apps, but specific features inside them, weather widgets, or even direct links to websites. Understanding how to bring a shortcut to your desktop on Xiaomi’s Android allows you to turn your smartphone into a truly personalized tool.
In this article, we will go into all the available methods, from standard drag and drop icons to creating shortcuts for websites and using third-party launchers. We will also touch on the problems when the icon does not appear, and explain why this happens in new versions of the firmware.
Basic methods of adding application icons
The most obvious way that many users know is to simply drag and drop. But there's a nuance in Xiaomi's ecosystem: often apps are not on the desktop, but on the menu of all programs (App Drawer) to move the icon from there, you need to pinch your finger on the app icon and drag it into the free area of the screen. If you have a classic mode without an app menu, the icons appear automatically.
Sometimes you have a situation where the shortcut was accidentally deleted, but the app is still in the system, so you have to open the menu of all the apps, find the right software, click on it and hold your finger. The system will offer the option "Add to desktop." If you don't have that option, then the shortcut is already there, just on another screen or in a folder. In the HyperOS shell, the icon algorithm has become more flexible, allowing you to group them smarter.
It's important to note that some system applications can be hidden by default, and they often require you to go to the launcher settings to activate them, and you can control the visibility of the interface components, and if you can't find a standard application, check if it's disabled in the application settings section.
In "No menu" mode, all installed programs immediately appear on the screens, creating chaos with a lot of software. In "C menu" mode, the desktop remains clean, and shortcuts are added selectively to the user.
Set up launcher and display modes
The fundamental element of the interface is the launcher. Xiaomi smartphones use its own System Launcher, which has two main configurations. Switching between them dramatically changes the logic of working with shortcuts. To change the settings, go to Settings → Desktop.
The first mode is Classic (or No App Menu) and in this case, each new shortcut automatically appears on the desktop, which is convenient for those who use few apps, the second mode is C App Menu. Here, the desktop is a blank canvas that you fill out yourself, and all the programs are stored in a separate list called up by swipe.
- 📱 Menu mode: Perfect for minimalists, allows you to keep your desktop clean and add only the right shortcuts manually.
- 🗂️ Classic Mode: Suitable for users who are used to older versions of Android and want to see all icons at once.
- ⚙️ Hybrid approach: You can use folders to sort automatically appearing icons in classic mode.
If you want to display a shortcut but it's not available anywhere, check the launcher settings, maybe there's an app hide feature enabled, or there's a limit on the number of icons on the page, and newer versions of MIUI also have the ability to change the desktop grid, allowing you to accommodate more elements.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
Remember that changing mode can be temporarily disorienting, all your folders and widgets can move or change their appearance, and it is recommended to take screenshots of an important layout before major changes in the structure of the desktop.
Creating shortcuts for websites and pages
Often, users don't need to access an app, but rather a specific page on the Internet, such as an online bank, news portal or personal account, and in Google Chrome or the built-in Mi Browser, this is very easy to do. Open the desired site, click on the menu (three dots), and select the "Add to the home screen" option.
After confirmation, the system will create an icon that looks like an application, but leads directly to the app. URL-Address.This is a great way to get around the restriction if the site doesn't have a native app on Google Play.The shortcut will use your browser's engine to display content, ensuring fast loading.
⚠️ Note: If you delete the browser you created the shortcut through or it stops working, the link may stop opening (PWA), unless provided by the developer.
HyperOS improves the work with progressive web applications (PWA). If the site supports this technology, the created shortcut will behave almost like a full-fledged application: without the browser address bar and with its own interface. APK-file.
Use of widgets and short links
A shortcut isn't always just an app icon. Xiaomi shells allow you to display widgets, dynamic interface elements, that can show weather, currency rates, steps, or control music. To add a widget, you need to pinch an empty space on your desktop or pinch it with two fingers, then select "Widgets."
Special attention should be paid to "App Shortcuts": if you click on the icon of many applications (for example, Telegram, WhatsApp, Camera), a context menu with additional actions will pop up. Some of these actions can also be dragged to the desktop as a separate shortcut, such as the label "New chat" or "Portrait Mode" in the camera.
| Type of element | Functional | Impact on the battery | Example of use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex label | Launch of the programme | No. | Quick launch of the messenger |
| widget | Real-time data display | Medium/High | Weather, calendar, news |
| Web label | Going to the URL | Depends on the site. | Online bank, post office. |
| Short reference | Starting a specific function | No. | Making a note, flashlight. |
Using widgets requires more resources than static icons. If you have an old smartphone or are saving charge, don’t overuse live wallpaper and constantly updated news widgets. The optimal balance between beauty and performance is the key to comfortable use of Android.
Secret Android widgets
Work with shortcuts in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI
With HyperOS, Xiaomi has redesigned the visual style and logic of the interface, changed the grid, new animations and customization options, and now shortcuts can be different sizes and folders can be more informative, adding icons has remained the same, but new types of widgets have appeared.
New firmware versions have improved integration with Google services and Xiaomi’s own services. Shortcuts can now display more detailed information without opening an app (Badges). For example, a phone icon can display a missed call number and an email can display the number of emails you haven’t read. Make sure this feature is enabled in Settings → Notifications → App icons.
If you upgrade from an older version of MIUI, some older widgets may stop working properly or look stretched, in which case it is recommended to remove the old widget and add a new one from the updated list.
💡
Use the Second Space feature to separate shortcuts, and you can create a separate profile on your desktop for work and personal affairs by switching between them with a single touch or fingerprint.
Problem Fixing: A label is not created or disappears
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the refuses shortcut is created or spontaneously disappears, which can be caused by antivirus operation, memory cleanup or launcher errors. First of all, try to restart the device, often solving temporary failures in the operation of System Launcher.
If persists is a problem, check the launcher's permission settings. It may not be allowed to access storage or create windows on top of other applications. → Annexes → All applications → System launcher → Clear the cache. It won't delete your data, but it will reset the display settings.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the launcher's (non-cache) data will reset all icons and widgets to factory status. Do this only as a last resort and be ready to reconfigure the desktop. Another reason is the lack of space. If all the desktop pages are full, the new shortcut simply has nowhere to put it. Make room by removing unused widgets or moving apps to the menu. In rare cases, updating all system components through the GetApps store or Play Market helps. 💡Most shortcut problems are solved by rebooting the phone or cleaning the launcher's cache, not by complex technical manipulations.Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why did the app shortcut disappear after the system update? MIUI The desktop structure may change. The launcher may reset or find some shortcuts incompatible. Try to find the app in the shared menu and drag it over. If the website shortcut is gone, maybe the browser has updated and reset permissions. Can I resize the icon on the Xiaomi desktop? Yes, in the theme or launcher settings, you can often resize the grid (for example, with a reset of the Xiaomi desktop icon? 4x5 on 5x6), It can also offer icons of different sizes and styles that can be downloaded through the Themes app. How do you create a shortcut to a particular contact? To do this, open the Contacts app, find the right person, click on the three dots (menu) and select Desktop or Shortcut. An icon will appear on the screen that will immediately call that subscriber when you click on it. Why don't the label display notifications (digits)? Check the settings: Settings → Notifications → Application icons. Make sure the switch is active. Also, for each application, the Badge option should be allowed separately in the notification menu. If there is a No, the number will not appear. Is it safe to use third-party launchers to create shortcuts? Using launchers like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair is safe if downloaded from official stores. They give more freedom to configure shortcuts and animations. However, Xiaomi's system features (such as some gestures or deep integration of widgets) may not work properly.