How to add a site to the desktop of Xiaomi phone: all ways

Do you want to quickly access your favorite site without opening your browser every time? On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, there are several ways to add a web page directly to the home screen — as a shortcut or as a full-fledged "web app" — convenient for frequently visited resources such as social networks, mail, news portals or corporate systems.

Unlike standard Android, the MIUI shell has its own features, such as some versions lack the Add to Home screen feature in the browser menu, and others have a shortcut created as a quick action system. We'll take a look at all the current methods for MIUI 12-15 and show you how to get around the limitations. Importantly, new models with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+) may have different algorithms, and we'll talk about that too.

If you've tried to create a shortcut before, but it opened in your browser instead of a separate window, or the icon disappeared after a reboot, here's a solution. We've tested everything on real devices, from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

1. Standard way through the Xiaomi browser

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Mi Browser browser (or Xiaomi Browser in newer versions), which is pre-installed on all the brand devices and supports shortcut creation. Here's how it works:

  1. Open Mi Browser and go to the desired site (e.g. vk.com or gmail.com).
  2. Press the badge. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
  3. In the menu, select Add to the main screen (on some firmware - Create a shortcut).
  4. If necessary, edit the name of the shortcut and click Add.

Now, there's an icon on the home screen that shows the site logo, and when you click it will open a page in the browser, but without the address bar, as if it were a separate application.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 14 this menu item may not be available. If you don't see an option, try updating your browser through Google Play or use alternative methods from the following sections.

The site is open in Mi Browser (not in Chrome!)

The address bar shows the correct URL (without redirects)

There is free space for the icon on the main screen.

Browser Updated to the latest version-->

2.Alternative: Google Chrome and "PWA"

If the standard Xiaomi browser does not offer the option of adding to the home screen, use Google Chrome. It supports PWA (Progressive Web App) technology, which allows you to install sites as full-fledged applications.

  1. Open your site in Chrome (download it from Google Play if you haven’t already installed).
  2. Press three points. ⋮ → Install the app (or Add to the main screen).
  3. Confirm the action. The icon will appear on the screen, and the site will open in a separate window without a browser interface.

The advantage of this method is that many sites (such as Twitter, Telegram Web or Trello) are optimized for PWA and work almost like native apps – with notifications and offline access.

If the Install app is inactive, the site does not support PWA, in which case Chrome will prompt you to create a regular shortcut.

Mi Browser (built-in)

Google Chrome

Firefox

Other-->

Creating a shortcut through “Fast Action” (MIUI 14+)

In newer versions of MIUI (starting with the 14th), the feature of adding sites to the home screen can be hidden in the Quick Action menu, which works even if the browser doesn't suggest creating a shortcut.

  1. Hold your finger on the empty spot on the main screen.
  2. At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel – select Widgets.
  3. Scroll down and find the Quick Actions (or Shortcuts) section.
  4. Drag the Browser element or Open the URL to the main screen.
  5. In the window that appears, enter the site address (for example, https://ya.ru) and keep.

This is a universal approach, but it has a drawback: the shortcut will open the site in the default browser, not in a separate window, but it works on all models, including the POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12 Pro.

What to do if there is no “fast action”?
Some firmware may call this section something else, like Tools or System Shortcuts. If you don't find it: 1. Try updating MIUI through Settings → About Phone → System Update. 2. Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that supports custom shortcuts. 3. Use the Chrome method from the previous section.

4. Applications for creating web-based labels

If the built-in methods don't work, third-party utilities will come to the rescue, and we tested a few and selected the most reliable ones.

  • 🔹 Hermit Lite – creates lightweight versions of websites as separate applications, supports ad blocking and traffic savings.
  • 🔹 Shortcut Maker – allows you to create shortcuts for any URL, Even if the site does not support PWA.
  • 🔹 Kiwi Browser – Chrome-based browser with installation function PWA front-screen.

The example of Hermit Lite:

  1. Install the app from Google Play.
  2. Open it and enter the site address in the search bar.
  3. Click Create a shortcut – the icon will appear on the home screen.

The advantage of such apps is that they often offer additional features, such as blocking notifications from the site or changing the user agent (useful if the site is not displayed correctly on mobile devices).

AnnexSupport for PWABlocking adsOffline mode.
Hermit Lite✅ Yes.✅ Yes.❌ No.
Shortcut Maker❌ No.❌ No.❌ No.
Kiwi Browser✅ Yes.✅ (expandable)✅ Partially.
Firefox✅ Yes.✅ (customized)✅ Yes.

💡

If the shortcut doesn’t open after you create it, try clearing the default browser cache. Go to Settings → Applications → App Management → Browser → Storage → Clear the cache.

5. Features on HyperOS (Xiaomi 14, 13T, etc.)

The new HyperOS firmware, which debuted on Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70, has changed the logic of working with shortcuts. Here the standard way through Mi Browser may not work, but there are workarounds:

  • 📱 Use Chrome – HyperOS is better integrated with the system and more reliable creates PWA-labels.
  • 🔧 Set up Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the version MIUI. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers, activate Installation from unknown sources (for third-party launchers).

In HyperOS, shortcuts created through Quick Action can automatically be grouped into the Tools folder. To avoid this, after creating a shortcut, pinch the icon and drag it to the right place on the screen.

Another feature: on HyperOS at the first opening PWA-The application may request permission to display notifications if the site supports push notifications (for example, VK or Web.Telegram, allow them – so you will receive alerts directly to the home screen, as in a regular application.

6. Problem Solving: The label doesn't work or goes missing

Sometimes, the shortcuts that are created are unstable, they don't open, they disappear after a reboot, or they open the wrong site, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

  • 🔄 The shortcut opens the wrong site – check if it redirects URL to another page (e.g. with m for mobile version). Try to enter the address manually when creating.
  • 🗑️ The label disappears after the update MIUI — Solution: Re-create the shortcut or use third-party applications (like Shortcut Maker).
  • 🚫 When you click, the browser opens with the address bar - so the site does not support PWA. Try a different browser (Chrome or Kiwi).