How to add an application to the Xiaomi desktop: detailed instructions for MIUI

Adding apps to Xiaomi’s desktop seems like a simple task, but MIUI users often face nuances: some icons don’t appear in the menu, and others disappear after a system update. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to anchor applications on the home screen, including hidden shell features and solutions for cases when the standard method does not work.

The difference between MIUI and pure Android is its customized launcher, which offers advanced icon management capabilities, such as creating folders with apps, resizing icons, and even hiding system utilities, but these same features sometimes complicate basic actions – which is why we have prepared a universal guide that is relevant to all versions of the firmware (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15) and models from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Important: If you use an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion), the instructions will be different, in which case go to the third-party shell section below.

1. Standard method: via the application menu

The most obvious method is drag and drop icons from the general list of programs. It works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the MIUI version, but there are a few pitfalls to be aware of.

To add an application to the desktop:

1. Tap the All Apps icon** (usually located in the dock panel at the bottom of the screen or available by swipe up from the bottom border).
2. Find the app you want in the list (use the search bar at the top if it’s not on the first page).
3. Press the icon with your finger for 1-2 seconds until it “sticks” from the background.
4. Drag it to a free space on the desktop or in the dock panel (lower quick access panel).

⚠️ Note: If the app does not appear in the All Apps menu, check if it is hidden in the launcher settings:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → select Settings.
2. Go to Hidden Apps and uncheck the box.

Also note that some system utilities (such as Mi Remote or Game Turbo) may be hidden in the Tools folder – check its contents before searching.

The icon is not blocked in the launcher settings|App is not hidden in the menu "All applications"|There is a free space on the desktop (maximum) 5×5 icon)|The system is not in power saving mode (can block changes to the interface)-->

2. Adding through the application settings

If the standard method didn’t work (for example, due to a launcher failure), you can pin the icon through the program information menu, which is especially useful for system applications that don’t appear in the general list.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app you want in the list (use the search at the top).
3. Slip on it → Select Add to desktop (or Create a shortcut in older versions of MIUI).

💡 Useful Tip: If the option Add to desktop is inactive, try clearing the launcher cache first:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher (or “MIUI Launcher”) → Clear the cache

Then restart the device and try again, which solves the gray button problem 90 percent of the time.

3. Creating a shortcut through widgets

For applications that don’t want to drag and drop in the standard way (like Google Assistant or Mi Fit), you can create a shortcut through widgets. This method works even for hidden or uninstalled programs (if they have one). APK-files remain in the system).

How to do this:

1. Click the empty space on the desktop → select Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the App Shortcuts section (or App Shortcuts in English firmware).
3. Select the desired application → tap on it to create an icon.

⚠️ Note: Some app widgets (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may offer not only a shortcut, but also quick action (such as New Chat or Camera).

4. Use of alternative launchers

If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Hyperion Launcher), the process of adding icons will be different, and the main advantage of such shells is the flexibility of settings, but there are also disadvantages: some MIUI features (such as Second Space or App Lock) may not work properly.

General instructions for most launchers:

1. Open the app menu (usually swipe up).
2. Press the icon → drag to the desktop.
3. If you want to create a shortcut for a system application, use the Actions option in the launcher settings.

🔧 Technical nuance: Nova Launcher to display hidden apps MIUI necessary:

1. Go to Settings Nova → Apps and widgets → Hidden applications.
2. Remove the boxes from the programs that need to be made visible.

Warning: After returning to the standard MIUI launcher, all third-party shell settings will reset and icons may disappear. To avoid this, export the launcher configuration to the file (Option Backup in its settings).

Standard. MIUI Launcher|Nova Launcher|Lawnchair|Hyperion|Other-->

5. Problem Solving: The icon has disappeared or is not added

If an application suddenly disappears from the desktop or doesn't want to be added, the reasons can vary from a launcher bug to firmware limitations. Consider typical scenarios and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The icon disappeared after the MIUI update.

⚠️ Note: After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the system can reset the user settings of the launcher to return the icons:

1. Check the Remote folder in the application menu (casually deleted shortcuts fall there).
2. If the icon was in the dock panel, try dragging it back from the All Apps menu.
3. In extreme cases, reset the launcher settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear data.

Problem 2: You can’t add a system app icon (e.g. Mi Video or Calculator).

In some MIUI firmware, system utilities are blocked from creating shortcuts.

• 📱 Install Activity Launcher from Google Play (application to access hidden features).
• 🔍 Find the right application in it. → Choose Open or MainActivity.
• 🖼️ Create a shortcut on your desktop through the context menu.

Problem 3: The app is added but not opened when you click.

This is typical of cloned applications (created through Dual Apps) or programs with corrupted data.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🗑️ Clear the problem app's cache in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔧 If it is a clone, delete and recreate it through Settings. → Dual Apps.

💡

If none of these methods worked, try rolling the launcher back to factory settings through Settings → Applications → Launcher → Clear the data. This will delete all custom icons and folders, but will bring the system back to work.

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

Despite the common MIUI platform, some Xiaomi models have unique nuances when working with icons, due to different firmware versions, the presence of Second Space or special modes (for example, Game Turbo).

For POCO and Black Shark:

• 🎮 These devices often come with customized launchers (e.g, POCO Launcher? To bring back the standard MIUI Launcher, install it APK from an official source (for example, a forum) MIUI).
• 🔥 In Black Shark, game icons are automatically grouped into the Game Center folder. To pull the game to the desktop, press the icon in this folder and drag it out.

For Redmi with MIUI Lite:

• 📱 The lighter version of the firmware restricts customization, for example, you can't resize icons or use themes here. But adding shortcuts works in the standard way.
• ⚙️ To unlock additional features, upgrade the firmware to the full version MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

For devices with Second Space:

• 🔒 Icons added in the main space will not appear in the second, and vice versa. To sync desktops, use the Import/Export option in Second Space Settings.
• 🔄 Applications installed in only one space won't be available in another. Install them again or use the Clone Apps feature.

💡 Advice for owners of Xiaomi Pad: on tablets with MIUI For Pad, the desktop supports horizontal orientation. To keep icons from moving when you turn the screen, lock them in position: pinch the empty space. → Settings → Fix the layout.

7 Automation: How to add icons in a package

If you need to migrate dozens of applications to your desktop (for example, after resetting your settings), manual drag and drop will take too long, in which case automation through ADB or specialized utilities will help.

Method 1: Using Tasker or MacroDroid

These applications allow you to create macros to add shortcuts. For example, in Tasker:

1. Create a new task (Task → + → Plugin → Launcher Shortcut).
2. Select the app from the list.
3. Add the Create Shortcut action and specify the coordinates on the desktop.

Method 2: ADB teams

For advanced users, there is the option to add icons through ADB. Example of the command to create a Chrome shortcut:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT \


-n com.android.launcher3/.ShortcutInstallActivity \




-e intent_uri "intent:#Intent;action=android.intent.action.MAIN;category=android.intent.category.LAUNCHER;launchFlags=0x10000000;component=com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main;end"

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB requires on-set debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version number → Return to the Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB). Wrong commands can disrupt the launcher!

Method 3: Backup and Recovery

If you reinstall firmware frequently, save the current desktop layout:

1. Install Lawnchair Launcher (supports export settings).
2. Export the configuration to the file via Settings → Backup.
3. After resetting, import the file back.

💡

Before adding icons to the table, take a screenshot of your current desktop (click Power + Volume Down) to help you quickly reset your location if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Frequent questions