Fixed apps in Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide to using

If you own a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone and notice that some apps on the home screen behave differently than others, don’t rush to remove them. Chances are you have encountered the feature of fixed applications, which appeared in the firmware of MIUI since version 12. This option radically changes the logic of working with icons, offering users advanced management of frequently used services.

Fixed applications (or "fixed" as they are sometimes called in localized versions of the shell) are not just shortcuts on the desktop. They are integrated into the system launcher at a deeper level, allowing them to stay in place even after resetting screen settings, updating firmware or accidentally removing. But how does this feature work in practice? And why do some users of the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9A or POCO X3 complain that they can't remove unnecessary fixed applications?

What are fixed applications and why do they need them

The application anchoring function in MIUI was introduced as a response to requests from users who wanted stable access to key services regardless of changes in the interface.

• 🔗 Linked to the system launcher and not removed when cleaning the cache or resetting the screen settings.
• 🔒 Can be protected from accidental deletion (option included in settings).
• 📱 Displays on all desktops if All Screens are activated".
• 🔄 Sync with your Mi Account when you restore data to your new device.

The main purpose of the feature is to optimize the user experience. For example, if you use Google Maps, Telegram and a banking application every day, fixing them will save you from having to search for them in the menu or restore them after a crash. However, there is a downside to the feature: some system applications (for example, Mi Browser or GetApps) are fixed by default and can not always be removed by standard methods.

It’s important to understand that fixed applications are not the same as fixed folders or widgets; they don’t take up extra space in memory, but they don’t support dynamic content updates (like a weather widget), they’re just pinned labels with extended rights.

How to fix the application on Xiaomi Redmi: step-by-step instructions

The application consolidation process takes less than a minute, but it has nuances depending on the firmware version. Consider the universal algorithm for MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the desired application and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. In the context menu that appears, select Secure (or Pin to Home Screen in English).
4. Drag the icon to the desired place on the desktop. the attached application will be marked with a small pin in the upper right corner.

On HyperOS (the new shell for the Redmi 13C, Redmi Note 13 and other models from 2026), the interface has changed a little:

• 📌 After holding the icon, a panel will appear with options: Add to the screen, Attach, Application Information.
• 🔧 To see the pin, you may need to enable the display of icons in the launcher settings (Settings) → Desktop → Application badges).

If the option to fix is inactive, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🚫 The app is already fixed (check the pin on the icon).
• 📵 Launcher operates in a restrictive mode (for example, parental control is enabled).
• 🔄 A third-party theme that conflicts with system functions is established.

How to remove or unplug the application: solutions for all cases

Here, users face a major catch: not all attached apps can be removed equally easily.

1. Standard removal (for user applications)

If you have secured an app yourself (such as WhatsApp or Spotify) to remove it:

1. Press the icon on your desktop.
2. Then, put it on the screen and put it on the screen.
3. Confirm the action if a request appears.

2. Removal of system fixed applications

With apps like Mi Browser, GetApps or Mi Video, they're all built by the manufacturer and don't have the standard uninstall option.

• 🛠️ Shutdown through ADB (requires a PC and USB-debugging):
• 📦 Install a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) that ignores system fixings.
• 🔧 Manual editing of launcher settings through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher (data reset).

3. Radical-method: resetting launcher settings

If nothing helps, return the launcher to the factory settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the launcher (or MIUI Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.

⚠️ Note: This method will remove all your desktop settings, including the location of icons, folders and widgets.

Table: Comparison of fixed and conventional applications

An important nuance: on HyperOS devices, attached applications can automatically group into the Favorites folder when you activate Smart Desktop mode. This feature is included in Settings → Desktop → Smart Grouping.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even this simple feature has bugs and unobvious features, and here are the most common questions users have about it:

1.Apps fixed disappeared after the update

After upgrading MIUI to a new version (for example, from 12 to 13), the attached applications can "fly" due to a change in the launcher structure.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📥 Restore Desktop Settings via Mi Account (Settings) → The phone. → Backup).
• 🛠️ Clear the launcher cache in the application settings.

2. The system application cannot be fixed

Some system utilities (e.g. Settings or Phone) do not support anchoring.

• 📌 Create a duplicate shortcut through the app menu (holding) → "Add it to the screen").
• 🔧 Use the app shortcut widget (available in the widget list).

3. The attached annex does not open

If nothing happens when you click on the icon:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📦 Check if the application itself has been removed (Settings) → Annexes).
• 🛠️ Unplug and fix the application again.

💡

If the attached app is delayed, clear its cache in settings (Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Storage → Clear cache) This often helps with brakes after the MIUI update.

Hidden Opportunities: What else can be done with fixed applications

Few people know, but the fixed applications in MIUI support several hidden functions that can be activated through settings or gestures:

• 🔐 Password protection: in MIUI 14th opportunity to put up a PIN-code to open fixed applications (for example, for banking services) Activated in Settings → Passwords and security → Application protection.
• 📲 Launch gestures: you can assign an up/down swipe to the icon for quick action (e.g. swipe up Camera opens selfie mode). → Additional settings → Gestures.
• 🎨 Change icons: fixed apps support changing icons through long press → Change the icon (not available on all models).
• 🔄 Automatic backup: attached applications to Mi Account are restored when you change device (for example, when you switch from Redmi Note 11 to Redmi 13 Pro).

HyperOS also has a feature called Dynamic Attached Applications, which analyzes your habits and automatically suggests you fix frequently used services. Disables in Settings → Desktop → Personalization → Application Recommendations.

💡

The fixed apps in HyperOS can automatically change order depending on the time of day, for example, in the morning the weather is the first place, and in the evening the YouTube is the first.

Security: Risks and How to Avoid Them

Despite the convenience, attached applications can become a vulnerability if the device falls into the wrong hands.

• 🔓 Quick access to confidential data: an attacker can immediately open a fixed banking application or messenger.
• 📱 Delete difficulty: System-based fixed applications (such as Mi Browser) may contain vulnerabilities, but they cannot be removed without root rights.
• 🔄 Antivirus conflicts: Some security programs (e.g. Avast) block changes to fixed applications, resulting in errors.

Safety recommendations:

• 🔒 Set up password protection for critical applications (see section above).
• 📵 Turn off the notifications display on the lock screen for fixed messengers.
• 🔧 Regularly check the list of attached applications for suspicious (Settings) → Annexes → Fixed).

⚠️ Attention: on devices with an unlocked bootloader (bootloader), attackers can ADB Get a list of all the fixed applications, including hidden system ones. If you sell or transfer a phone, complete a reset (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions