How to completely remove a folder from the desktop on Xiaomi: from simple to complex

Are you trying to make room on Xiaomi’s screen, but the folder with apps or files stubbornly doesn’t want to be deleted? Or have unnecessary system folders appeared on the desktop after the MIUI update that can’t be erased by standard methods? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, Poco or Mi smartphones – especially after migrating to MIUI 14/15, where the logic of shortcut management has changed.

Unlike iOS or pure Android, the MIUI shell has its own nuances: here, folders on the desktop can be not just shortcuts, but links to real directories in the device’s memory or even elements of the system interface. For example, the Downloads or Recent folder is often tied to service processes, and removing it through a long tap does not work. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from basic actions to working with ADB for persistent cases.

Why Xiaomi folder is not deleted in the standard way

Before you get into the instructions, it’s important to understand what exactly you’re dealing with. On Xiaomi smartphones, folders on the desktop are divided into three types:

• 📁 Custom folders are folders that you created manually to group applications.
• 🔗 System folder shortcuts – links to real directories (e.g, DCIM, Deleting them may affect the work of the gallery or file manager.
• 🛠️ System elements MIUI — folders like Tools or Google, which are part of the shell, and deleting them requires superuser rights.

If a long tap on the folder doesn't trigger the delete menu, you're probably running into a second or third type, like the Mi Video folder on Redmi Note 12, which is not just a shortcut, but part of the Mi Video system app, and deleting it will cause errors in the media player's work, and the recent folder on MIUI 15 is actually a widget that is managed through the launcher settings.

⚠️ Note: Deleting system folders without backup may result in file loss (e.g., photos from the Camera folder will become unavailable in the gallery) or failures. MIUI (For example, the weather widget will disappear. Always check the contents of the folder before deleting it!

The problem can also be in the launcher settings, and MIUI has System Application Protection enabled by default, which blocks deleting even folders that seem unnecessary, and to fix this, you will need to turn off security in your security settings — more on that in the next section.

Method 1: Standard Deletion of a User Folder

If the folder was created by you manually (for example, for grouping messengers or games), it is easiest to delete it:

1. Press and hold the folder on the desktop until the vibration appears.
2. At the top of the screen, you'll see a bar with icons, drag the folder to the Delete icon** (basket or cross).
3. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

If you have a cart that says, "Can't delete or Action is not available," then the folder is tied to the system process, and then move on to the following ways.

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Poco F5), the launcher interface may be different, if after a long tap the folder simply enlarges and the menu does not appear:

• 🔧 Try opening the folder first, then clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Delete.

Method 2: Remove via MIUI launcher settings

In MIUI 14/15, some folders (such as Tools or Google) are part of the launcher and are not deleted in the standard way.

1. After restarting the launcher, the folders should disappear, but all desktop settings will reset (including the location of the icons).

This method works for most system folders, but has a side effect: after cleaning the launcher data, all widgets may disappear and you will have to configure them again. On Xiaomi 12T models and later, after resetting the launcher, navigation gestures are also reset, so they will need to be reconfigured.

If the launcher reset didn’t help, try disabling the protection of system applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Points (menu) → Special Access.
2. Select System Application Protection and disable the slider.
3. Try to delete the folder again.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling system application protection may lead to unstable operation MIUI, Especially if you remove critical components, and after the action, it's recommended that you turn back the protection.

Method 3: Delete through file manager (for link folders)

If the folder on the desktop is a label of the real directory (for example, downloads or images), it can not be removed directly - instead, you need to remove the shortcut.

1. Open a standard Files (or any other file manager, such as Solid Explorer).
2. Go to Categories → Internal Memory and find the folder that appears on the desktop.
3. Click on the three dots next to the folder and select Remove the shortcut from the desktop (do not Delete the folder!).

If this option is not available, then the folder is not a shortcut, but is part of the system interface, in which case only disabling the display through the launcher settings or using ADB will help (see the next section).

Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or custom builds) may have the option to Hide a folder in the context menu, which is safer than deleting, as it allows you to return the folder back through the launcher settings.

Method 4: Delete system folders via ADB (for experienced)

If the folder is not deleted by any of the above methods, the last option is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for system folders that are part of MIUI, but require a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

Warning: improper use of ADB can cause system failure.

• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%.
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
• 💻 Install. ADB Fastboot Tools on the computer.

Follow the instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, enter:

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i "launcher"

This will show the launcher packet name (usually com.miui.home). then use the command to delete the folder (replace). folder_name real-name):

adb shell am start -n com.miui.home/.launcher.UninstallShortcutActivity -e item_type folder -e item_title "folder_name"

For folders that are part of system applications (such as Mi Video), you may need to disable the application itself:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications through ADB may disrupt MIUI, especially if the application is integrated into the shell (for example, com.miui.gallery is responsible for the gallery).Be sure to back up via Mi Cloud before executing commands. TWRP.

If after deleting the folder through ADB, artifacts appeared on the desktop (empty spaces, inability to add new shortcuts), reset the launcher:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.home

Method 5: Recover deleted folders (if something went wrong)

If you lose access to files after deleting the folder or your desktop starts to glittle, don't panic, most of the data can be recovered.

• 🔄 Phone restart – sometimes after removing system elements, a restart is required MIUI, So the interface can be rebuilt.
• 📂 Check the Recycle Bin - open the Files app and go to the Recycle Bin. Remote folders are stored there for 30 days.
• ☁️ Recovery from the Cloud – If you have Mi Cloud sync enabled, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Restore.
• 🛠️ Launcher Reset – As described in Method 2, this will return standard folders to the desktop.

If the system folder (such as Camera) is missing and the photos are no longer displayed in the gallery, but the files are physically left on the phone:

1. Open Files → Internal Memory → DCIM → Camera
2. Make sure the files are in place (they can be hidden – turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings).
3. If there are files, but the gallery does not see them, clear the cache of the Gallery application in the settings.

You can use third-party utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (requires root rights) to recover deleted folders with files (if they are not in the recycle bin), but the chances of success depend on how long it has been since the deletion and how much memory the phone has been using.

💡

If you have an empty space on your desktop after deleting the folder that you can’t fill with new shortcuts, try resizing the launcher grid. Go to Settings → Desktop → Grid size and select another option (e.g. 5×6 instead of 4×5).

How to Prevent Unnecessary Folders in the Future

To avoid reappearing unnecessary folders on Xiaomi’s desktop, follow these tips:

• 📥 Turn off automatic application grouping in the launcher settings (Settings) → Desktop → Auto-sorting applications).
• 🚫 Remove unnecessary widgets immediately after installing apps (many programs, such as Booking.com or AliExpress, add their folders to the desktop).
• 🔄 Clean the launcher cache regularly (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📦 Use alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) where folder management is more flexible.

MIUI 15 has a Smart Grouping feature that automatically creates folders on your desktop based on your habits, to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Desktop → Smart grouping.
2. Turn off the slider Automatic folder creation.
3. In the Recommended folders section, uncheck the boxes from unnecessary categories (e.g. Social Networks or Games).

If you frequently install apps from APK or third-party sources, check permissions when installing. Some programs (such as third-party launchers) may add their folders to the desktop without your knowledge.

💡

Alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher) allow you to completely disable MIUI system folders without risking system stability.

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting folders on Xiaomi