Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an incomprehensible “Main menu” in the system interface, which is usually a message that occurs when a launcher crashes, tries to launch a remote application or after updating the firmware of MIUI and HyperOS. Instead of the usual desktop or application menu, the system displays a white screen with a header, which causes confusion among gadget owners.
In fact, the Main menu is the system component of the Android shell that is responsible for displaying a list of all installed programs. If you see this message, then the operating system cannot properly process the request to open the application menu or there was a conflict with the current launcher. In most cases, the problem is solved by software methods without having to carry the device to the service.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the causes of the error, how to restore the standard view of the screen and customize personalization. You will learn how to safely remove system restrictions if they interfere, and what settings are hidden in the depth of the engineering menu. It is critical not to delete the system files of the launcher forcibly through ADB without creating a backup, as this can lead to a “brick” of the interface.
The main menu on the screen
The appearance of the Main menu label most often indicates that the current launcher default stopped responding or its configuration file was damaged.The MIUI shell is very sensitive to changes in system files, so any failed customization attempt can cause a display failure.
Another common cause is the conflict between the system launcher and a third-party application that tries to intercept desktop control, often after installing “heavy” themes from the GetThemes store or using modified versions of system applications.
Also consider the possibility of a trivial cache overflow: When temporary files accumulate and are not cleared, the system may not correctly read paths to executable menu files. In rare cases, the problem lies in the damage to the /data partition after a software update fails.
⚠️ Note: If the Main menu error occurs immediately after installing the third-party firmware, there is a high probability that the build will not be compatible with your device model.
How to return the standard launcher Xiaomi
The first thing you need to do when you have a white screen that says, is try to force the standard system launcher, and you can do this through the system settings, even if the interface is unstable, and you need access to the application management section.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, find an app called System Launcher or System Launcher. If you use a global firmware version, it may simply be called Launcher.
- 📱 Click on Start or Open to try to activate the menu manually.
- 🗑️ Select “Clear Cache” to delete temporary files that cause conflict.
- 🔄 Click on “Clear Everything” or “Reset Settings” if cleaning the cache didn’t help.
☑️ Restoration of the launcher
After you do this, click the Home button (center navigation button or swipe below). The system should prompt you to select an application to do this. Be sure to tick the "Use by default" box and select System Launcher.
If a standard launcher doesn't appear on the list or if it causes a recurrence of the bug, it's possible that the component has been removed or frozen, in which case a deeper intervention into the system via the computer would be required.
Removing Main Menu and System Restrictions
Some users are deliberately looking for a way to remove the Main menu to free up resources or change the appearance of the interface beyond recognition. However, it is important to understand that the Main menu is not a separate application, but a launcher function. You can not delete the menu separately, you can only replace or reconfigure the launcher itself.
For advanced users who want to get rid of the standard Xiaomi interface, there is the possibility of installing third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher. Once such an application is installed and assigned to its main, the visual display of the Main menu will change or disappear, giving way to the new interface.
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.homeThe above command for ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to remove the system launcher for the current user. Using this command without an alternative launcher installed will lead to the inability to use the smartphone (black screen), since there will be no one to display the icons.
If you don’t plan to install alternatives, it’s best to limit yourself to turning off unnecessary features inside a standard launcher, such as turning off Google Discover, which often loads the system and causes slowdowns perceived as errors.
⚠️ Note: Removal of system components through ADB It can disrupt the theme store and widgets MIUI. Recover remote packet can only be completely reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).
Configure hidden functions through the engineering menu
Xiaomi and Redmi devices have a hidden settings section that is accessible through special codes, and you can find settings that affect the interface, display tests, and touch input, and access these features through a standard phone call.
Dial ##6484## or ##4636##. The first code opens the full CIT (Customer Inspection Test) menu, where you can check the operability of all modules. The second code opens a test menu and information useful for network and battery diagnostics.
| Function on the menu | Description | Impact on Main Menu |
|---|---|---|
| Version Information | Information on the software version | Verification of relevance |
| Touch Panel | Screen sensor test | Diagnostics of responses |
| Display | Color and Broken Pixel Test | Checking artifacts |
| Keypad | Button checks | Navigation work |
Is the engineering menu dangerous?
Although the engineering menu does not allow direct editing of the Main menu files, it helps to identify hardware problems. If the touchscreen is intermittent, the system may not correctly recognize swipes, which leads to an erroneous call to the menu or its freeze.
Solving Advertising Problems in the System
Users often confuse the system menu with intrusive advertising, which can overlap the interface. MIUI firmware contains a system advertising application MSA (MIUI System Ads), its work can conflict with the display of the desktop, creating the illusion of a menu failure.
To reduce the system load and remove ad units, which are sometimes disguised as system notifications, you need to disable advertising personalization. This is done in the section Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data.
- 🚫 Find the msa app in the list and turn off the switch.
- 📉 Turn off GetApps if you don’t use the Xiaomi app store.
- 🔍 In the Security app, go to settings and turn off “Receive recommendations».
Once these services are turned off, the system will be more stable, and the likelihood of foreign windows appearing on top of the Main menu will decrease to zero, which is especially true for devices with a small amount of RAM.
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Once the MSA is disabled, the system may prompt you to return the settings several times, just ignore those requests or choose "No, thank you" to make the changes final.
Resetting and system restoration
If none of the software methods helped to eliminate the Main menu error, the radical but effective method remains: a complete factory reset, which will delete all user data, so back up important information beforehand.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The device will reboot and begin the cleanup process, which can take 5 to 15 minutes. Once turned on, the phone will be as new, without third-party themes and conflicting applications.
In cases where the error occurs immediately when downloading and it is impossible to get into the settings menu, you will have to use Recovery mode. To do this, turn off the phone and press the combination of the buttons Volume up + Power (for some models Volume down + Power).
⚠️ Warning: Recovery (Wipe Data) reset deletes all photos, contacts and apps. Make sure your Mi Account is synced to recover data after the reboot.
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Hard Reset is a last resort, and only resort to it if a problem with the Main menu makes it impossible for your smartphone and other methods have failed.