How to add the application to the desktop Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all ways + secret MIUI chips

Have you just installed a new app on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, but you can’t see its icon anywhere? Or want to bring a frequently used service to the home screen so you don’t rummage through the menu every time? Adding shortcuts to the desktop in Xiaomi smartphones seems simple — until you encounter the nuances of the MIUI shell. In this article, we’ll look at all possible ways, from standard drag and drop and drop to hidden features for power users.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro (like other devices on MIUI 12/13/14) is flexible, but with some limitations. For example, some system applications cannot be removed from the screen in the standard way, and widgets require separate activation. We will show you how to get around these points, and also tell you what to do if the shortcut disappears after a reboot or does not appear correctly. At the end of the article, a table of compatibility of methods with different versions of the firmware and answers to frequent questions.

1. Standard method: Drag from the application menu

The most obvious method is to move the shortcut right from the installed list, and it works on all versions of MIUI, but there are nuances that few people know about.

To add an application to the desktop:

• 📱 Open the application menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen or tap on the icon "All applications").
• 👆 Find the desired application in the list and pinch its icon for 1-2 seconds.
• 🖥️ Without letting go of your finger, drag the icon to a free space on your desktop. The zone will be illuminated when you can "throw" the label.
• ✅ Release your finger – the application will be fixed on the screen.

If the label is not dragging, check:

• 🔒 Is there a screen editing mode (double tap on the free space on the desktop) → "Edit").
• 📛 Is the application system (for example, “Settings” or “Phone” – they can not be removed from the screen).
• 🔄 Is the security mode enabled in the security settings (can block interface changes).

Application menu open | Free screen space is | Editing mode is disabled | Application is not system-->

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12.5+ When holding the icon, you may see a context menu instead of dragging it. In this case, select "Add to the home screen".

2. Addition via the context menu of the application

Not everyone knows that MIUI has an alternative way of adding shortcuts, by long-clicking on an icon in the app menu, which is useful if standard drag and drop doesn't work.

Instructions:

1. Open the list of all applications (swipe up from the dock panel).
2. Find the app and hold the icon until the context menu appears (usually 1-1.5 seconds).
3. In the window that appears, select Add to Home Screen (or Create a Shortcut for some system utilities).
4. The label will automatically appear in the first free place.

This method is particularly relevant for:

• 🔧 Service utilities (e.g., "Developer Mode" or "Device Locator").
• 📱 Applications with a widget (allows you to add both a shortcut and a widget at the same time).
• 🔄 Programs that don’t appear in the main menu (such as some games from Xiaomi Game Turbo).

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If the context menu doesn't have "Add to the home screen," try dragging the icon to the desktop folder first and then pulling it out of there, which sometimes unlocks hidden options.

3. Creating a shortcut through the application settings

A little-known method is to add a shortcut through the "Application Management" section in the settings, which works even for programs that don't appear in the main menu.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the list, find the desired application and tap on it.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select "Create a label".
4. Confirm the action – the icon will appear on the desktop.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 It works for hidden system applications (for example, "MIUI Daemon or SecurityCore").
• 🛠️ Allows you to add a shortcut even if the application is frozen (but not removed).
• 🔄 You can create a shortcut for deactivated services (for example, “Google Play Music” if it is disabled).

⚠️ Note: Not all system applications support shortcut creation through this method, "MIUI Optimization" or "Device Test" may not display the "Create a shortcut" option".

4.Use widgets for quick access

If you want to add an app and make it as accessible as possible, consider a widget, such as the App Shortcuts widget, which allows you to place several links on the screen in a compact form.

How to add a widget with labels:

1. Go to the desktop editing mode (hold your finger in a free place → “Widgets”).
2. Scroll through the list to the Tools section and select Application Shortcuts.
3. Drag the widget onto the screen and select its size (e.g. 4×1 for 4 icons).
4. Slip on the widget to add the desired applications from the list.

The advantages of this approach:

• 📱 Save space – one widget replaces several separate shortcuts.
• 🔧 Flexible configuration – you can change applications in the widget without removing the widget itself.
• 🎨 Aesthetics – widgets look neater than chaoticly scattered icons.

Drag from the menu |Context menu |Through application settings |Widgets |Another way-->

5. Adding Website Shortcuts (PWA)

If you need to add a web page to your desktop, not an app (like a web version of Telegram or Google Docs), use the Progressive Web App (PWA) feature, which will create a “wrap” for the site that will work as a separate application.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro:

1. Open your site in Google Chrome or Mi Browser.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Add to the main screen".
3. If necessary, edit the name of the shortcut and click "Add".
4. Now the site will open in a separate window without an address bar.

Features of the PWA on the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🌐 It only works with sites that support PWA-technology (e.g. Twitter, Instagram, Gmail).
• 🔄 In Mi Browser, the option can be called “Install on the device".
• 📱 The shortcut will appear as a separate app in the menu and on the desktop.

⚠️ Attention: Some PWA-applications may not send notifications in the background. For full operation (for example, for Telegram Web), it is better to install a native application from Google Play.

6. Problem Solving: The label disappears or is not added

Sometimes, when you add a label, it disappears after you reboot it, or it doesn't appear on the screen at all, and let's look at the typical causes and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: The label disappears after the reboot

• 🔧 Cause: Launcher cache failure MIUI.
• 🛠️ Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher, press "Clear Cache" and restart the phone.

Problem 2: You can’t add a system application

• 🔒 Reason: Xiaomi blocks removal of some system shortcuts (e.g., Camera or Phone").
• 🔄 Bypass: Create a duplicate shortcut through the App Shortcuts widget or use a third-party launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher).

Problem 3: The label is displayed as “empty”

• 🖼️ Reason: Icon cache or theme is damaged.
• 🎨 Solution: Change the theme in Settings → Themes to standard and restart the device.

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If none of the methods work, check to see if Safe Mode is on (hold the power button when you boot) and all third-party labels are hidden.

7.Alternative launchers: Nova Launcher and others

If standard MIUI features don’t suit you, you can install a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which offer advanced desktop settings, including:

• 🔧 Change the size of icons and screen grid.
• 🎨 Hiding shortcuts without removing applications.
• 🔄 Gestures for quick start (such as swiping up to open the camera).
• 📱 Backup of the location of icons.

How to install Nova Launcher:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. After installation, click Home and select Nova Launcher as the default launcher.
3. Hold your finger on your desktop → “Nova Settings” for fine-tuning.

Advantages of third-party launchers for the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• ⚡ Speed – Many alternative launchers run smoother than standard launchers MIUI Launcher.
• 🛠️ Flexibility – you can customize animations, hide interface elements, change fonts.
• 🔄 Compatibility – widgets and shortcuts that don’t work in a standard shell are supported.

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In Nova Launcher, you can create a gesture to run applications in secret, like double tapping on the screen to open a flashlight or swiping down to run music.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)