How to put a file on the main screen of Xiaomi smartphone: a complete guide with pictures

Want to quickly access an important document, photo or app shortcut directly from Xiaomi's home screen? Unlike iOS, where the file system is strictly isolated, the shell is a very small device. MIUI It allows you to configure your desktop flexibly, but not all users know that you can place not only program icons, but also any files from the desktop. PDF-pre-video contracts.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods, including hidden MIUI functions, which work on all current models: from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. We will pay special attention to the nuances of different firmware versions (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), and also bypass typical errors that cause files to “do not want” to appear on the desktop.

If you've tried dragging a file to the home screen before, but it didn't work, don't be surprised. Xiaomi's default is to block direct drag and drop for most file types. But there are workarounds that only experienced users know about, like through an embedded file manager or third-party utilities like Solid Explorer, and we've tested all of these on real devices and weed out those that stopped working after the 2023-2026 updates.

Important: some methods require permission to access the storage or enable the developer mode. Don't worry, we'll detail each step so you don't get confused. And if you need to put a website shortcut or contact on your desktop, look at the last section of the article where we've collected bonus life hacks.

1. Method: through the standard file manager MIUI

The simplest method, which works out of the box on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, is suitable for files of any format:.pdf,.jpg,.mp4,.docx and even.zip archives. The main condition is that the file must be in internal memory or on a microSD card connected as a portable storage.

Instructions:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Go to the folder where the desired file is located (for example, Downloads or DCIM/Camera).
3. Press and hold the file for 2-3 seconds until the context menu appears.
4. In the menu, select "Add to the main screen" (on some firmware it may be called "Create a shortcut").
5. Confirm the action - the file will appear on the desktop in the form of an icon with a thumbnail.

⚠️ Note: If the "Add to the main screen" item is not on the menu, then your version MIUI It doesn't support it. In this case, use the method. №2 or №3.

What can be placed in this method:

• 📄 Documents:.pdf,.docx,.xlsx,.txt
• 📷 Photo and video:.jpg,.png,.mp4,.mov
• 🎵 Audio files:.mp3,.wav,.m4a
• 🗄️ Archives:.zip,.rar,.7z

2. Method: via the Widgets menu (for MIUI 13-14)

In recent versions of MIUI, developers have added the ability to create file widgets, which is more flexible than simple shortcuts, such as a quick access panel to the latest documents or a folder with photos on your desktop.

How to do this:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the home screen, then select "Widgets".
2. Scroll down to the Tools or Files section (name depends on the MIUI version).
3. Select the "Fast File Access" or "Last Files" widget.
4. Drag the widget to the desktop and set it up: 📁 Specify the folder whose contents are to be displayed (for example, Downloads). 🔄 Select sorting: by date, name or type. 🎨 Set up the size and display style (miniatures or list).

The advantage of this method is that the widget automatically updates when you add new files to your selected folder, for example, if you configure it to the Screenshots folder, all new screenshots will immediately appear on the home screen.

1. Update the Files app to the latest version on Google Play

2. Make sure that the files you want are not hidden (check in the file manager settings)

3. Free up space on the home screen (widget takes 2×2 or 4×1 cells)

4. disable the power saving mode for the Files app (otherwise the widget will not be updated)-->

3. Method: using a third-party file manager (Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer)

If standard methods don’t work (like custom firmware or older versions of MIUI), use third-party file managers.We recommend Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer – they support creating file shortcuts on the desktop even where it’s locked by default.

Step-by-step instructions for Solid Explorer:

1. Install Solid Explorer from Google Play and open it.
2. Go to the folder with the desired file.
3. Press and hold the file, then select "Create a shortcut" (or "Add shortcut" in English).
4. In the window that appears, select "Home screen".
5. Confirm the action – the file shortcut will appear on the desktop.

⚠️ Note: Some antiviruses (such as Avast or Dr.Web) can block shortcut creation through third-party managers. If the file does not appear on the desktop, temporarily disable protection or add Solid Explorer to exceptions.

4. Method: via Google Drive or Cloud Services

If the file is stored in the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive), it can also be placed on the home screen as a shortcut, which is convenient for documents that need access from multiple devices.

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. Open the Google Drive app and find the file you want.
2. Click on the three dots next to the file and select "Add to the home screen".
3. Confirm the creation of a shortcut – an icon with the file name will appear on the desktop.

For other cloud services (Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive), the algorithm is similar, but you may need to pre-configure:

• 🔗 In Mi Cloud, shortcuts are created via the web version: open the file in the browser, click "Share" → "Add to the main screen".
• 📱 In Yandex Drive, you first need to download the file to the device, and then use the method. №1.

📌 Important: Cloud file shortcuts only work when you're connected to the Internet. If you want to place a file for offline access, download it to your device first.

5. Method: via ADB (for power users)

If you need to place a system file on the home screen (such as build.prop or log files) or automate the process for multiple files, use the system file. ADB-This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and enabling the developer mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click on MIUI Version 7 times until the notification "You've become a Developer" appears. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on "Debugging on USB".

"File transfer"

adb devices

Make sure your device is listed.

/path/to/file

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT -n com.android.launcher3/.ShortcutInstallActivity -d file:/// path/to/file -t "text/plain"

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause malfunctions in the smartphone. Do not change system files if you are not sure of your actions. For ordinary user files (photos, documents), it is better to use the method №1 or №3.

The only method that allows you to place files from restricted folders (for example, /data/data/) on the home screen is useful for developers or those who work with custom firmware.

Bonus: How to place a shortcut to a site, contact or note on the home screen

In addition to files, you can add to the Xiaomi desktop:

• 🌐 Website shortcut: Open the site in Chrome, click ⋮ → "Add to the main screen".
• 👤 Contact: Open "Contacts", find the right one, click ⋮ → "Add to the main screen".
• 📝 Note: In the "Notes" app, open the entry, click ⋮ → "Fix it on the main screen".
• 🎮 Game tag: In Game Turbo, select the game → "Add to the main screen".

📊 Comparison of methods of placing files on the main screen:

💡

For most users, a standard file manager (method) is sufficient. №1) or widget (method) №Methods c ADB Third-party applications are useful only in specific cases.

FAQ: Frequent questions about placing files on Xiaomi's home screen