How to add an app to the Xiaomi desktop: all ways to MIUI 12-15

Why apps are disappearing from Xiaomi desktop and how to fix it

Did you install a new app on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but didn't have a shortcut anywhere? Or did you lose all the icons from your desktop after the MIUI 14 update? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone owners — and it's not always due to system bugs. Most often the launcher settings or the MIUI shell features are to blame.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to add an app to Xiaomi desktop, from the standard method through menus to hidden features for power users. We will also discuss why some programs do not appear in the list of applications and how to return missing shortcuts after resetting. The instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12-15 and Android 11-14.

Before you move on to solutions, make sure that:

• 📱 The application is actually installed (check in Settings). → Annexes → Application management)
• 🔍 You do not use Second Space or Guest Mode
• 🔄 There are no active restrictions on smartphones through digital well-being

Method 1: Standard Addition through the Application Menu

This is the simplest method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, and is suitable for users who have not changed the launcher or disabled system features.

Instructions:

1. Tap the All Apps icon (usually at the bottom of the screen or swipe up).
2. Find the right app in the list.
3. Press the icon for 1-2 seconds until the vibration appears.
4. Drag the shortcut to the free desktop space.

If the app is not displayed in the menu:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes helps with cache glitches.
• 📂 Check the Hidden Apps folder in the menu (if any).
• 🔧 Make sure that the Easy Mode mode is not activated in the settings.

Make sure the app is installed | Check for free screen space | Turn off "Second Space" |Reboot phone in case of glitch-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI for the European region, drag and drop function is disabled. In this case, use Method 2 via shortcut settings.

Method 2: Through the context menu of the application (for MIUI 14+)

The newer versions of MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 have an alternative way to add shortcuts over long presses, a technique that is particularly useful if standard drag and drop doesn't work.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the All Apps menu.
2. Find the right application and pinch its icon.
3. In the menu that appears, select Add to the main screen.
4. If there is no option, tap the Application Information, then Open by default → Add to the main screen.

This method also allows you to create shortcuts for specific functions of the application (for example, direct calling a taxi to Yandex Go or creating a note in Google Keep).

• 📌 Press the app icon on your desktop.
• 🔧 Select shortcuts (if option is available).
• 🎯 Specify the desired action from the list.

Method 3: Through Launcher Settings (for Power Users)

If standard methods don’t work, the problem may lie in the settings of the com.miui.home system launcher, which requires access to hidden settings.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate the debugging option via USB.
5. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell pm grant com.miui.home android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

After that:

• 📱 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
• 🔄 Enable the option to Show all apps (if it was disabled).

⚠️ Note: Change settings through ADB It can cause unstable launcher or widget reset. Before executing commands, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.

Method 4: Using widgets for hidden applications

Some system applications (e.g. Security, Themes, or Game Turbo) are not displayed in the menu, but can be added via widgets.

How to do this:

1. Hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Pick the Widgets.
3. Scroll through the list to the Tools or Systems section.
4. Find the App Shortcuts widget (may be called App Shortcuts).
5. Drag it to the screen and select the desired app from the list.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔓 Works for applications hidden by device policies.
• 📱 Allows you to add system utilities (for example, Developer Mode).
• 🔄 The widget can be renamed (click). → Amend the title).

Limitations:

• ❌ Not all applications support this function.
• ❌ The widget takes up more space than the standard shortcut.

💡

If the app you want isn’t on the widget list, try installing a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher) that often shows hidden system programs.

Method 5: Recovering missing labels after resetting

Once you reset your settings or update your firmware from your Xiaomi desktop, all shortcuts often disappear, and you can restore them without manually adding each application.

Automatic recovery:

1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select Restore the Default layout.
3. Confirm the action – the system will return the standard shortcuts (Phone, Messages, Camera, etc.).

Manual recovery from backup:

• 📱 Connect to the Mi Account that was used before the reset.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.
• 📂 Select the last backup and click Restore.
• 🎯 Check the main screen data.

If there is no backup:

• 🔄 Use Method 1 or 2 to add labels manually.
• 📁 Create folders for frequently used applications (click the icon) → Create a folder).
• 🔧 Set up gestures in Settings → Additionally. → Gestures for quick launch.

💡

Backups of MIUI save not only shortcuts, but also the location of widgets, wallpapers and theme settings. Regularly create backups before updates!

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after completing all the instructions, some users encounter problems, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods helped:

• 🔄 Check if the beta version is installed. MIUI (They often contain launcher bugs).
• 📱 Install an alternative launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).
• 🔧 Perform a reset of the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Reset.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions