Where is the folder “Favorites” in Xiaomi phones: the full guide MIUI

You try to find the Favorites folder in your Xiaomi smartphone, but you can’t figure out where it’s hiding? MIUI — The brand’s shell often moves standard Android elements to non-obvious places, depending on what you’re looking for — browser bookmarks, favorite contacts, or saved files — the paths to access will be different.

In this article, we will discuss all possible options, from the standard File Manager to hidden folders of the system, and also explain why some Redmi models or the other are not available. POCO «You can get your favorites out of the box, you can learn how to return your deleted bookmarks, transfer them to another phone, and even create your own folder for quick access, and let's start with the obvious: where to look for your browser bookmarks, because this is the most frequent request from users.

1. "Favorites" in the browser: where the bookmarks in the MIUI

If you mean bookmarking web pages, then their location depends on which browser you use. Xiaomi defaults on Mi Browser (formerly Mi Browser — MIUI Browser), but many users are replacing it with Google Chrome or Firefox.

In Mi Browser, bookmarks are called Bookmarks, and you can find them in two ways:

• 📱 Through the main browser menu: open the application, tap three dots in the lower right corner → Select Bookmarks, and it shows all saved pages, including the Favorites folder, if created.
• 🔍 Through Search: Enter in the Address Bar chrome://bookmarks (Mi Browser works similarly to Chrome, will open the bookmark manager.

Google Chrome is the same way: three dots → «Bookmarks: But here's a caveat: if you've synced your Google account, bookmarks can be stored in the cloud. To see them on your phone, make sure that the Chrome settings are synced (Settings) → Your profile. → Synchronization).

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If bookmarks suddenly disappear, check the Recycle Bin folder in Mi Browser – remote bookmarks are stored there for 30 days.

Firefox and other browsers have similar paths, but menu item names may differ. For example, Firefox has bookmarks called "Library." If you can't find the Favorites folder, maybe it's hidden, try creating it manually (instruction below).

2.Where to look for "Favorite Contacts" on Xiaomi phone

If by "Favorites" you mean selected contacts, then MIUI They're not stored in a separate folder, but in the Contacts section to find them:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. In the lower menu, select the Favorites tab (heart or star).
3. If there is no tab, tap on three dots in the upper right corner. → Settings → Display selected contacts.

In some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 12 for Redmi Note 9) Favorite contacts are displayed immediately on the home screen of the application as a separate block. If you do not see this block, update the Contacts app via Play Market.

Important: MIUI 14 favorite contacts can automatically sync to your Xiaomi account if you log in on your phone, which means that when you reset or replace your device, the contacts will automatically recover.

3. Favorites folder in the file manager: where the downloaded files are stored

Many users confuse Favorites with Downloads or Favorites in File Manager. In fact, Xiaomi's standard Files (or File Manager) app has a separate section for favorite files to find.

• 📁 Open the File Manager (Icon with folder).
• In the lower menu, select the Categories tab.
• Scroll down, there should be a Favorites folder.
• If it is not, tap on three dots in the upper right corner. → Settings → Enable the option to Show Favorite Files.

This folder stores files that you have manually added to your favorites (such as photos, documents or videos) to add a file to your favorites:

1. Find the file you want in the File Manager.
2. Hold your finger on it. → In the menu that appears, select Add to the favorites (heart icon).

If the Favorites folder is missing even after being enabled in the settings, it may have been disabled in previous versions. MIUI. In this case, you can create it manually:

1. In File Manager, go to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/).
2. Tap on three points. → Create a folder.
3. Call it Favorites (without quotes).
4. Move the files you need to get there.

4. Hidden folders "Favorites" in MIUI: where information may be stored

V MIUI There are a few hidden places where data like Favorites can be stored, often overlooked, but they can hold important information:

Special attention should be paid to the application "Security" ** (Security), here in the section "Favorites" you can add programs that will not close when automatically optimizing memory, this is useful for messengers or navigators that need to work in the background.

Browser (Mi) Browser/Chrome/Firefox)|Contacts (Selected tab»)|File Manager (Favorites folder)|Annex “Messages” (selected) SMS)|Annex “Notes” (selected notes)-->

If you are using Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14, Check the Favorites widget on the home screen, and in some firmware, it shows you quick access to contacts, apps, and files:

1. Click the empty space on the main screen.
2. Pick the Widgets.
3. Find the Favorites widget or Favorites and drag it to the screen.

5. How to Create Your Favorites Folder in Xiaomi

If you don't like the standard way, you can create your own Favorites folder in a convenient location, like the home screen or the File Manager.

Method 1: Folder on the main screen

• 📱 Drag to the main screen icon of any application or file.
• Click on it and, without letting go, drag it to another icon.
• Let go, a folder will appear. Call it "Favorites."
• Add shortcuts to apps, contacts or files.

Method 2: Folder in the File Manager

• 📁 Open the File Manager → Go to the internal memory.
• Tap on three points. → Create a folder.
• Call it MyFavorites (or any other name).
• Move the necessary files to it or create shortcuts.

For convenience, you can fix this folder on the main screen:

1. Open the File Manager and find the folder you created.
2. Hold your finger on her. → Select Secure on the main screen.

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Creating your own Favorites folder is the best way to organize quick access to important files and applications, especially if standard methods are used. MIUI You're not happy.

If you want the folder to be available on other devices, use cloud services:

• 🌥️ Google Drive: Create a Favorites folder and add files to it, then share access.

6.Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a Favorites folder and how to fix it

Sometimes users find that the Favorites folder is completely absent from the menu, the reasons can be different:

⚠️ Note: In some regional versions MIUI (For example, in China, the Favorites feature in the File Manager is disabled by default, and to enable it, you need to change the firmware region or install a global version. MIUI.

Other possible causes:

• 🔄 An outdated version MIUI: into MIUI 10 and below, the Favorites folder may not be available. Update the system through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🧹 Reset: After resetting to factory settings, some system folders may disappear. Try creating them manually (instruction above).
• 🛠️ Custom firmware: if you use informal firmware (like LineageOS), standard features MIUI may be removed.

To return the Favorites folder in the File Manager:

1. Update the Files app through the Play Market.
2. Clear the app's cache: Settings → Annexes → File manager → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
3. If it doesn’t work, install an alternative file manager, such as Solid Explorer or a file manager. FX File Manager, and create a Favorite folder in it.

For browser bookmarks, the problem may lie in the sync settings. If you are logged in to a Xiaomi or Google account, but the bookmarks do not show:

• Check if synchronization is enabled in the browser settings.
• Make sure you are logged in to the same account you used earlier.
• Update your browser to the latest version.

7.Moving "Favorites" to another Xiaomi phone

If you have changed your smartphone and want to transfer all saved bookmarks, contacts and files from the Favorites, use these methods:

Method 1: Through the account. Xiaomi/Google

• 🔄 On your old phone, make sure sync is enabled: For Mi Browser: Browser settings → Xiaomi account → Bookmark sync. For Chrome: Settings → Synchronization → For contacts: Settings → Accounts. → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📱 On the new phone, log in to the same account and wait for the sync to complete.

Method 2: Manual export/import

• 📤 For browser bookmarks: In Mi Browser: Settings → Export bookmarks (file saved in.html format) In Chrome: open on PC chrome://bookmarks → three-point → Bookmarking exports.
• 📥 Transfer the file to a new phone and import it through the same path.
• 📇 For contacts: export them to.vcf file via Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports.

Method 3: Through Backup MIUI

• 🔄 On an old phone: Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup.
• 📱 Select data for reservation (enable "Favorite Contacts", "Blocks", "Files»).
• 📥 Transfer the backup file to the new phone and restore it through the same section.

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The most reliable way to transfer Favorites is to sync through a Google or Xiaomi account, which works automatically and does not require manual actions.

If you transfer files from the Favorites folder in the File Manager, it is easiest to copy them to the file manager. SD-Map or cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) and then upload to a new device.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When working with the Favorites folder in Xiaomi, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss, and here are the most common ones and ways to avoid them:

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete the Favorites folder through the root file manager! MIUI it may be associated with system processes, and its removal will lead to malfunctions in the browser or contacts.

Another common problem is the duplication of bookmarks after synchronization, which happens if you use multiple accounts (Xiaomi and Google) at the same time, to avoid duplicates:

1. Select one primary account to sync.
2. In the browser settings, turn off synchronization for the second account.
3. Remove duplicates manually through the bookmark manager.

After the update MIUI The “Favorites” folder is gone, try it:

• Reboot the phone.
• Clear the cache of the File Manager and Browser applications.
• Reverse to the previous version of the firmware (if the problem appeared after the update).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions