How to completely remove the folder from the desktop on Xiaomi Redmi: all ways

Why folders on Redmi are deleted differently than on other smartphones

Xiaomi Redmi owners often face a paradox: the folder on the desktop is deleted, but after a while it reappears, or its contents remain in the system, taking up memory. It's all about the features of the MIUI shell, which is integrated deeper than standard Android. Here, the folders on the screen are not just shortcuts, but part of the launcher's system cache tied to the Mi Account.

Unlike pure Android, where you just drag and drop a folder into your cart, Redmi (especially Note 10/11/12 and Redmi A/Redmi K series) makes the process more complicated because of:

• 🔄 Sync with Mi Cloud – folders can be restored after a reboot if backup is enabled.
• 📁 Dual file system: MIUI It separates user data and system shortcuts, creating the illusion of “unremovable” folders.
• 🔒 Accidental Deletion Protections: Some folders (such as Tools or Mi Services) are locked at the firmware level.

Another trap is that folders created by third-party launchers (such as POCO Launcher or Nova Launcher) can conflict with the native MIUI launcher, making them impossible to remove using standard methods.

Method 1: Standard removal by long pressing

Let's start with the most obvious method, which works 60 percent of the time, and it's suitable for user-generated folders (not system folders!).

1. Press and hold the folder on the desktop for 3-4 seconds until the context menu appears.
2. At the top of the screen, a basket icon (or "Delete" will appear. Drag the folder there.
3. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.

⚠️ Note: If the folder appears again when you turn on the phone after you delete it, it is linked to your Mi Cloud account.

Make sure the folder is not system (no gear icon)

Turn off screen sync in Mi Cloud

Close all background applications

Restart the phone after removal-->

Method 2: Delete via the Mi File Explorer file manager

If the folder is not deleted from the desktop, but you are sure that it is not a system, try to find it in the file system.

1. Open the Files app (the blue-background folder icon).
2. Go to Categories → Images / Documents (depending on the content of the folder).
3. Find the folder by name and click on three dots next to it → Delete.

🔍 Important: Desktop folders are stored along the way /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/desktop, If the Mi File Explorer does not show hidden files, use a third-party manager (for example, Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer). FX File Explorer with root rights.

💡

If the folder is not in the file manager, but is visible on the desktop, it is not a file, but a launcher shortcut. Try resetting the launcher settings to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear the data.

Method 3: Disable synchronization with Mi Cloud

One of the most common reasons for "returning" remote folders is automatic sync with the Xiaomi cloud, and even if you delete the folder locally, it can recover the next time you connect to the Internet.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Scroll down and find the Synchronization section.
3. Turn off the slider opposite the desktop (or Home Screen in English).
4. Return to the desktop and re-delete the folder (see Method 1).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling desktop sync will result in the loss of all your shortcuts and widgets after resetting your phone.

Method 4: Reset the launcher settings (without data loss)

If the folder doesn't get deleted because of a MIUI Launcher malfunction, you can reset the folder without affecting the rest of the phone's data. This method helps 80 percent of the time with the folders that are hanging.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Launcher (or MIUI Launcher) in the list and select it.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
4. The phone will reboot and the desktop will return to factory settings (all folders and shortcuts will disappear).

⚠️ Note: After resetting the launcher, you will have to reconfigure the desktop (location of icons, widgets, etc.) save a screenshot of the current screen in advance or make a backup through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

💡

Resetting a launcher is the most reliable way to remove system folders (such as Tools or Mi Games) that are not deleted by standard methods.

Method 5: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If all the previous methods didn't work and the folder is in the way, you can delete it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and click on it 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
4. Enter the commands in order: adb devices adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.home The last command will remove launcher updates, which can help reset problematic folders.
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot.

🔧 Technical detail: If you want to delete a specific folder, first find it ID team:

adb shell dumpsys activity recents | grep "mPackageName=com.miui.home"

Then use adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.DELETE -d "package:name packet" -n com.miui.home/.launcher.UninstallActivity.

Method 6: Completely reset your phone (last chance)

If the folder is not deleted by any means and clearly interferes with the work (for example, blocks access to settings or occupies all the screen space), the last option is hard reset.

1. Back up important data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After the reboot, the phone will be like new – without any extra folders.

⚠️ Note: Redmi models with unlocked bootloader may require re-authorization in Mi Account after reset. If you don't remember the password, the phone may lock! email/phone.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When deleting folders on Xiaomi Redmi, users often make common mistakes that lead to the opposite result.

• 🔄 Removing only the contents of the folder, not the folder itself. It doesn't free up space on the desktop, the label stays.
• 📱 Using third-party launchers without disabling the native one, creates conflict, and folders are duplicated.
• 🔒 Attempting to delete system folders (such as Google or Mi Services) without root permissions.
• ☁️ Ignoring sync with Mi Cloud, even after local deletion, the folder will return the next time you log in.

Expert advice: If the folder is not deleted and you are not sure of its origin, check it with an antivirus (for example, Mi Security or Malwarebytes).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions