How to make a folder on your Xiaomi phone: all the ways for applications, files and photos

Why Xiaomi can’t create a folder and what to do about it

You're trying to get your hands on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but the folders are not being created? The problem most often is one of three things: wrong gestures, MIUI shell limitations, or a bug after the update. For example, MIUI 14 changed the logic of long-pressing icons — now you need to hold your finger longer than 1 second, not 0.5 as before. And on Xiaomi 13 Ultra with HyperOS firmware, the application grouping algorithm is completely different from the standard one.

Another common mistake is trying to create a folder in Explorer instead of the main screen. In the file manager, folders are created by different rules, and there is no usual drag and drop interface. We will analyze all scenarios from basic creation of a folder with applications to hidden functions for advanced users that allow you to automate sorting through Settings → Home screen.

Importantly, if you have Xiaomi on Android 13+ with HyperOS, some menu items may be called differently, for example, instead of “Theme” now “Personalization”, and “Security” moved to “Protection and Privacy”, we took these nuances into account and gave relevant ways for all versions of the software.

Method 1: Creating a folder with applications on the home screen

This is the simplest method that works on all models from Redmi 10A to Xiaomi 14 Pro. You do not need root rights or additional applications. The main rule is that folders can only be created on the home screen or in the application menu, but not inside other folders (enclosure is not supported).

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Find two app icons on the home screen that you want to combine, like WhatsApp and Telegram.
• 👆 Click on one icon and hold it for 1-2 seconds until it rises above the screen.
• 📂 Drag it to the second icon and release your finger. The system automatically creates a folder with the name of the category (for example, "Social Networks»).
• ✏️ To rename the folder, tap its name at the top and enter a new one (maximum 12 characters).

Hold the icon long enough (1+ sec) |

Drag to another icon, not to an empty place|

There is a free space on the screen (at least 1×1 cell) |

The light screen mode is turned off in the settings-->

If you just swap the icons after dragging them, you have screen editing mode on, exit by clicking the checkmark or the "Done" button at the bottom of the screen, and try again. On POCO F5, this mode is activated by swipe up late — not to be confused with opening the app menu.

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On Xiaomi AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) And folders automatically get a dark substrate to reduce the battery load, and it's not a bug, it's a power saving feature.

Method 2: Grouping applications in the All Apps menu

Few people know, but folders can be created not only on the home screen, but also in a full list of applications. This is convenient if you use pure Android without widgets (No Home Screen mode).

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open All Apps.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Change.
3. Hold the app icon and drag it to another one. The folder will be created automatically.
4. To add apps to an existing folder, just drag them inside.

Note that in this mode, folders are displayed as separate list items, not thumbnails. On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, they are also sorted alphabetically, which can be confusing. To change the order, re-enter edit mode and drag the folder to the right place.

Method 3: Create folders in Explorer (for files and photos)

If you don't want to group applications, but instead organize files, photos, or documents, you'll need a built-in Explorer (or Files in newer versions of MIUI), where folders are created on a classic file manager principle, but with nuances:

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Explorer app (icon with folder).
2. Go to the section where you want to create a folder (e.g., Internal Memory → Download).
3. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select Create → Folder.
4. Enter the name (up to 255 characters, but without special characters /: *? < > |).
5. Press OK. The folder will appear in the current directory.

On Xiaomi with HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14), Explorer’s interface has changed: the folder creation button is now hidden behind the + icon at the bottom of the screen. Also note that in the Gallery section folders are created separately – through the Albums menu → Create an album.

Built-in Conductor |

Google Files|

Solid Explorer|

Other|-->

Method 4: Automatic sorting through MIUI settings

You don't want to drag and drop icons manually? MIUI 14 and HyperOS have a hidden feature that automatically categorizes applications, and it creates folders on the home screen based on usage analytics. Here's how to turn it on:

Instructions:

• 🔧 Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
• 📊 Select the Automatic Sort of Applications (on the POCO This item may be called a smart grouping).
• ✅ Activate the switch and select categories to automatically create folders (e.g., “Social Networks”, “Games”, “Work»).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone to make the changes take effect.

Importantly, this function only works if there are at least 15 apps on the home screen, if there are fewer icons, the system will find it inappropriate to sort, and automatic grouping can conflict with manual folders, in which case user settings are given priority.

On Xiaomi 13 Lite and other HyperOS models, the sorting algorithm takes into account even the time you use the apps. For example, if you often open Instagram and TikTok in a row, the system will suggest combining them into an Entertainment folder.

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Automatic sorting saves up to 30% of the time for organizing the home screen, but can create illogical groups (for example, combining the Bank and Calculator into the Finance folder).

Method 5: Hidden folders and password protection

If you need to hide a folder with sensitive apps or files, MIUI offers two options: hiding and encryption. The first method simply removes the folder from view, and the second one blocks access by password or fingerprint.

How to hide the folder with applications:

1. Hold the folder on the main screen until the menu appears.
2. Select Hide (on Redmi, this item may be called Remove from the screen).
3. The folder will disappear, but it can be returned through Settings → Home Screen → Hidden Items.

How to encrypt a folder in the Explorer:

1. Open the Conductor. → Internal memory.
2. Hold the folder, select Protect (or Encrypt in HyperOS).
3. Set a password (at least 6 characters) or attach a fingerprint.
4. The folder will be gray with a lock icon, and you'll need authentication to access it.

⚠️ Attention: if you forget the password from the encrypted folder, it will be impossible to restore access - even through resetting. Xiaomi does not store encryption keys on servers. The only way out is to copy files to your PC before blocking.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users sometimes have problems creating folders.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. The folder is created, but immediately disappears The reason: the One-handed mode (Settings → Special features) is turned on. Disable it or create folders in full screen size.
2. You can't rename the folder Reason: the name contains forbidden characters (e.g., / or *). Use only letters, numbers and spaces.
3. Applications don't drag and drop into the folder Reason: folder is full (maximum 16 apps in MIUI 14). Create a new one or delete extra icons.
4. Folders are not synced with the cloud Reason: disabled option Sync Home screen in the account Mi. Include it in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync.
5. After updating the folder, the reason: reset the launcher cache. Restart the phone and restore the folders from the backup (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Restore).

Another feature of the POCO M6 Pro and other POCO Launcher models is that folders do not support open animation. If you care about visuals, install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) from Google Play.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions