How to Add a File to Xiaomi’s Home Screen: 5 Ways to Work

File placement on Xiaomi’s home screen is a challenge that many users face when they switch brands. Unlike Samsung or Huawei, where document shortcuts are created in two clicks, MIUI has traditionally hidden the feature deeper in settings, due to the shell features and the manufacturer’s desire for minimalist interfaces.

In this article, you’ll find 5 proven ways to add a file to your desktop, including standard MIUI tools and third-party workarounds. We’ll take a look at the nuances for different firmware versions (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), and also warn against the common bugs that make shortcuts disappear after a reboot. If you’re looking for a way to quickly access PDF, APK or media, you’re on the right track.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a “Add to Home Screen” feature?

Users switching from other Android devices are often surprised by the lack of a direct option to host files on the desktop, the reason being the MIUI Launcher philosophy:

• 📱 Minimalist interface: Xiaomi aims to avoid cluttering the home screen by offering widgets and folders instead.
• 🔄 Alternative solutions: Instead of file shortcuts, the system offers Quick Settings or Favorites in the file manager.
• 🛠️ Technical limitations. Some versions MIUI (particularly MIUI 12.5) did not support the creation of shortcuts for arbitrary files due to the peculiarities of working with permissions.

But that doesn't mean it's impossible. There are both built-in workarounds and third-party tools that we'll look at later. Importantly, on devices with MIUI 14 and later, adding file shortcuts through the standard file manager has finally become available by default -- but only for select formats (PDF, APK, images).

Method 1: Through a standard file manager (MIUI 14 and later)

If your smartphone is running MIUI 14 or HyperOS, the process is as simple as possible.

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the folder with the desired file (for example, Downloads or Documents).
3. Press and hold the file, then in the context menu select Add to the main screen.
4. Confirm the action - the label will appear on the desktop.

This method works for the following formats:

⚠️ Warning: If the option Add to the main screen is inactive, check if it is disabled MIUI Launcher as the default application. Go to Settings for that. → Annexes → By default. → Launcher and select MIUI Launcher.

Method 2: Creating a shortcut through Favorites (for MIUI 12–13)

On older versions of firmware, there is no direct method, but you can use the Favorites function:

• 📁 Open the files and find the required document.
• 🔖 Click on three dots next to the file → Add to the select few.
• 🏠 Return to the main screen, make a long press in a free place. → Widgets → Find the widget Favorite from the Files application.
• 📱 Drag the widget on the screen - it will display all the files from the favorites.

This method is suitable for all formats, but has a limitation: the widget shows all the favorite files, not a specific document. If you want a shortcut for a single file, read on.

Make sure the file is not in cloud storage (download it locally)

Check that MIUI Launcher is installed as the default launcher

Update the Files app to the latest version on Google Play

Restart the device if the option is not displayed-->

Method 3: Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

If the built-in methods don’t work, third-party launchers offer flexible solutions, such as Nova Launcher, which allows you to create shortcuts for any file:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Assign it as the default launcher in the settings.
3. Click and hold the free space on the screen → Shortcuts → Files.
4. Select the file through the built-in conductor.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔧 It works on all versions. MIUI, including.
• 📄 Supports all file formats (including: TXT, DOC, ZIP).
• 🎨 Allows you to customize label icons.

⚠️ Note: When returning to standard MIUI Launcher all shortcuts created will disappear.To save them, export the Nova Launcher settings to backup (More) → Backup).

Method 4: Convert a file to a Note (for text documents)

If you need to place a text file (.txt,.doc) on the screen, you can go for a trick - convert it into a note:

1. Open the file through Files → Open with → Notes.
2. Copy the contents into a new note.
3. Save a note and click on three dots → Add to the main screen.

This method is suitable for:

• 📝 Text files (.txt,.docx).
• 📋 Shopping lists or reminders.
• 🔠 Code Snippets (if you are a programmer).

Limitation: Formatting the source document may not be saved, and for PDF or tables (.xlsx), this is not the right way to do it.

💡

If you need to work with text files often, install QuickEdit or Jota+ – these allow you to create shortcuts to edit files directly from the home screen.

Method 5: Use the Quick Action widget (for APKs and installers)

If you need to install it quickly APK-Files from the main screen, use the widget Quick Actions:

1. Download. APK-file in the download folder.
2. Press and hold the free space on the screen → Widgets.
3. Find the Quick Action widget (from the system) and drag it to the screen.
4. In the widget settings, select Install Packages.
5. Now, when you click on the widget, a list of downloaded APKs will open.

This solution is convenient for:

• 📦 Frequently install apps outside of Google Play.
• 🔄 Testing of beta versions of programs.
• 🔧 Modified installations APK (Like Lucky Patcher).

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK Before adding the widget, enable the option Unknown sources in Settings. → Annexes → Special access → Install unknown applications and select a browser or file manager.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you add files to the home screen, you're going to see some common errors.

If none of these methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Are there any administrator restrictions (for example, in corporate devices).
• 🔄 Is optimization offline? MIUI in the battery settings for the Files application.
• 📱 Is the child mode or guest profile used.

💡

If you often work with files on the home screen, consider using an FTP-enabled file manager (such as Solid Explorer) to access files through a browser on a PC without connecting your phone via cable.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions