How to add a file to the Xiaomi desktop: all ways + problem solving

Why can’t you just drag and drop a file to your desktop on Xiaomi?

Xiaomi smartphone owners (including Redmi and POCO models) often face the surprise: unlike Windows or macOS, there is no traditional desktop in the classic sense. The application icon screen is a MIUI launcher that does not support the placement of arbitrary files by default. But that does not mean that the task is impossible!

The fact is that Android (and MIUI is its shell) did not originally store files on the desktop.

• 📁 File Manager widgets – display the contents of folders;
• 🔗 Application shortcuts – Quick access to documents through supported programs (e.g, WPS Office or Google Drive);
• 🖼️ Wallpaper with built-in features - some themes MIUI Allows you to add interactive elements.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the current ways to host files on Xiaomi’s home screen in 2026, including workarounds for MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14.

Method 1: Files Widget – Official Method from Xiaomi

The most reliable and versatile way is to use the File Manager widget built in, which works on all MIUI devices, including the Redmi 10C, POCO X6 Pro and Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Ultra.

Instructions:

1. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen → select Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the Tools block and find the Files widget (folder icon).
3. Select the size of the widget (recommended 4×2 or 4×1 for compactness).
4. After adding, tap the widget → select a folder (such as Downloads or Documents).
5. Now the files from this folder will be displayed directly on the screen, and the tap on the file will open it in the corresponding application.

Make sure the file is stored in the phone’s memory (not on the phone). SD-map)

Check that the folder is not hidden in the file manager settings

Update the Files app on Google Play (if available)

Restart your phone if the widget doesn’t show up-->

⚠️ Note: The widget only shows files from a single folder. If you need to display documents from different places (such as Downloads and Google Drive), use multiple widgets or a method. №3 of this article.

Method 2: Shortcuts through Quick Action (for documents and photos)

If you need to add a specific file to your desktop, not a folder (for example, a file, PDF-Use the Quick Actions function (or Quick Actions) which works for files that can be opened in standard applications (Gallery, WPS Office, Google Drive, etc.).

Step-by-step:

1. Open an application that supports the desired file type (for example, WPS Office for PDF/DOCX or Image Gallery).
2. Find the file in the list and click on three dots (⋮) near → Choose Add to the main screen (or Create a shortcut).
3. If this option is not available, hold your finger on the file → in the menu select Open with → Add to the screen.
4. A shortcut will appear on the desktop. When you click, the file will open in the selected application.

🔹 What files are supported:

• 📄 PDF, DOCX, XLSX (through WPS Office or Microsoft Office);
• 🖼️ JPG, PNG, WEBP (via Gallery or Google Photos);
• 🎵 MP3, M4A (through music or VLC);
• 🎥 MP4, MKV (via video player or MX Player).

💡

If you don’t have the option to “Add to Home Screen,” update the app that opens the file via Google Play, for example, in WPS Office, this feature appeared in version 12.5+.

⚠️ Note: Shortcuts created through Google Drive or Yandex Drive may disappear after clearing the cache of these applications. To avoid this, download the file to the phone's local memory before creating a shortcut.

Method 3: Third-party launchers – complete freedom of configuration

If you don't like standard methods, install an alternative launcher, which is an application that completely replaces the MIUI interface by adding features that are not available in the standard shell.

• 🏠 Nova Launcher – Supports file additions through Simple File Widgets;
• 🌌 Lawnchair – a lightweight launcher with open source and support for customization;
• 🎨 Microsoft Launcher – Integration with OneDrive and the ability to add documents directly to the screen.

How to configure Nova Launcher to work with files:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Set it as the default launcher (a suggestion will appear at the first start).
3. Download the Simple File Widget widget.
4. Add the widget to the screen (hold your finger → Widgets → Simple File Widget).
5. Set the path to the folder and the appearance of the displayed files.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO M6 Pro or Redmi 12R) After installing a third-party launcher, navigation gestures (swipes to return or open multitasking) may disappear. To return them, go to Settings → Additionally. → Full screen mode and select Gestures again.

Method 4: Creating shortcuts through Google Drive or Yandex Drive

If your file is stored in the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Drive, OneDrive), you can add it to your desktop without downloading it, which is convenient for documents that need access from different devices.

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. Open the Google Drive app and find the file you want.
2. Press three points (⋮) near-file → Choose Open in....
3. In the app list, find Add to the home screen (if there is no option, select any compatible app, such as WPS Office, and create a shortcut through it).
4. Confirm the creation of a shortcut - it will appear on the desktop.

🔹 Features of the method:

• ✅ The file does not take up space in the phone’s memory;
• ✅ Automatically synced with the cloud;
• ❌ Requires a permanent internet connection to open;
• ❌ The shortcut may disappear after cleaning the Google Drive cache.

💡

For reliability, create a double label: one through the cloud (for synchronization), the second through a local file (for offline access).

Method 5: Manually create shortcuts through ADB (for advanced users)

If you need to add a file to your desktop that does not have a supported application (for example,.APK,.ZIP Or a rare format, you can use it. ADB-This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) And type in: adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT \ -n com.android.launcher3/.ShortcutInstallActivity \ -d "file:///storage/emulated/0/Download/your file.pdf" \ --es Name "Tag Name" Replace the Path /storage/emulated/0/Download/your file.pdf on current.
4. The phone will have a shortcut creation window – confirm.

⚠️ Note: This method does not work on all versions. MIUI. Xiaomi 14s. MIUI 15 may require replacement com.android.launcher3 on com.miui.home, and after the system update, the shortcut may disappear.

Problem Solving: Why is the file not added to the desktop?

If none of these methods worked, check the following points:

🔹 Additional advice:

• 🔄 If the widget stops working after the update MIUI, Reset its settings: hold the widget → Delete → add again.
• 📱 On some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) After installing themes from the Mi Theme Store, widgets can be reset. Before changing the theme, take a screenshot of the widget location.
• 🔌 If you use SD-map, transfer files to internal memory – widgets MIUI They do not always work properly with external storage devices.

FAQ: Frequent questions about files on Xiaomi desktop