How to open the application menu on Xiaomi: all the ways MIUI 12, 13 and 14

You just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone or updated your firmware MIUI, And suddenly, you find that the app menu has gone away, or maybe you just don't know how to open it properly, and that's a problem that many of the brand's users are familiar with. MIUI It changes regularly, and the classic “box” with programs appears on the main screen, then hides in the bowels of settings.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to call the application menu on Xiaomi, Redmi devices, POCO And Black Shark, from basic gestures to hidden firmware features, learn how to bring back a classic launcher, customize it, and even speed up access to frequently used programs, and we'll also tell you why menus sometimes go missing and how to fix them without resetting them.

It doesn't matter if you use it. MIUI 12, 13 or fresh 14 — the instructions below will work for all versions. the main thing is to keep an eye out for the nuances, because some features work differently on the Redmi Note 12 and, for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

1. Standard method: swipe up from the dock panel

The most obvious and versatile method is swipe gesture up from the bottom of the screen. It works on all modern Xiaomi smartphones with firmware. MIUI 12 and newer, unless the gesture settings have been changed.

How to do this:

• 📱 On the home screen or in any open application, swipe your finger up from the bottom edge (where the dock panel with frequently used programs is located).
• 🔍 If you have Full-screen gesture mode enabled, the swipe should be short and sharp – a long movement will open the notification panel.
• ⚡ In some models (for example, POCO F5) enough one touch of the icon of the "point" in the dock panel.

If the gesture doesn't work, check:

• 🔧 Is the launcher disabled in settings: Settings → Main screen screen → Main screen style.
• 🖼️ Are you using a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion) that overrides gestures.

On a firmware Redmi. MIUI for POCO (For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+) You might need a double swipe, first up to open the dock, then up again for the full menu.

2. Alternative method: button "All applications"

If gestures are uncomfortable or conflict with other features, you can return the classic All Apps button (similar to the box on old Android), which is suitable for users who are used to the interface of Samsung or Huawei.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open the Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Select the main screen style.
3. Activate the option with the dock panel (classic).
4. Return to the main screen – now the “All Apps” icon will appear in the dock panel (usually a square of dots or a grid icon).

Advantages of this method:

• 🎯 Quick access to the menu with one click (no gestures).
• 🔄 Compatibility with all versions MIUI, including MIUI 14.
• 🛠️ Ability to drag and drop icons directly from the menu to the main screen.

💡

If the button “All apps” does not appear, try to restart the smartphone or reset the launcher settings in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) When you turn on the classic style, the swipe up gesture may disappear. That's okay, now the menu opens only through a button.

3. Search for applications through the notification panel

Few people know, but in MIUI There's a built-in global search that allows you to find and run applications without opening the full menu, which is especially useful if you need to quickly open a rarely used program.

How to use:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. In the search bar (usually at the top), enter the name of the application.
3. Click on the desired result - the program will open immediately.

The function works even if:

• 🔍 App menu disabled or hidden.
• 📵 Third-party launcher installed.
• 🔄 The smartphone is in the mode of personal space (on the MIUI 13+).

On smartphones with firmware for the European market (EEA) Global Search is by default using Google Search, not Xiao AI. This can be changed in the settings: Settings → Annexes → By default. → Assistant and voice input.

4.Using the voice assistant Xiao AI

If you are too lazy to search for applications manually, you can delegate this task to the voice assistant Xiao. AI. He can not only open programs, but also perform actions inside them (for example, launch the camera in selfie mode or open a specific chat in Telegram).

How to set up:

1. Activate Xiao. AI through settings → Xiao AI → Voice assistant.
2. Assign a hot phrase (by default, “OK, Google” or “Hao Lei”) or enable the start by holding the power button.
3. Say the command of the form: "Open [app name]."

Examples of commands for Xiao AI:

• 🎵 «Turn on the music on Spotify»
• 📸 «Take a photo on the main camera»
• 📱 «Open the Wi-Fi settings»

⚠️ Note: On models for the international market (Global) ROM) Xiao AI It can be disabled by default. In this case, use Google Assistant, which supports the same features.

Voice launch is particularly convenient:

• 🚗 In the car (if the smartphone is connected to Android Auto).
• 🧹 When your hands are busy (such as during cooking or cleaning).
• 🔍 If you do not remember which folder the application is in.

5.Reset the launcher settings (if the menu is gone)

Sometimes the app menu disappears after updating or changing the launcher, and this is not a critical error, but usually helps to reset the shell settings.

Method 1: Through launcher settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Louncher (or) MIUI Launcher, POCO Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

Method 2: Through Safe Mode

• 🔄 Press the power button and select Reboot in Safe Mode.
• 🛠️ In Safe Mode, check if the menu appears. If so, a problem in a third-party app (remove recently installed launchers or widgets).
• 🔙 Reboot your smartphone in normal mode.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting the launcher will bring all the icons back to the home screen and reset the folders.

Make sure that no third-party launcher is installed|Check the gesture settings in the Settings → Main screen screen|Reset the launcher data via Settings → Annexes|Reboot your smartphone in safe mode|Update MIUI last-minute-->

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be the corrupted system files, and then you can:

• 🔄 Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📥 Manual flashing through the Mi Flash Tool (only for power users!).

6. Set up the application menu for yourself

The appendices menu MIUI It's not just a list of software, it's customizable to your needs:

Sorting and grouping:

• 🔤 Press on. ⋮ → Sort in the app menu to change order (by alphabet, installation date or manually).
• 📁 Create folders by dragging icons onto each other (hold your finger on the icon, then move it to another icon).
• 🔍 Use the search bar at the top of the menu for quick access.

Hiding unnecessary applications:

1. Open the app menu and click on ⋮ → Hide applications.
2. Select the programs you want to remove from the list (they will remain in the system, but will not be displayed).
3. To return hidden apps, repeat step 1 and uncheck the boxes.

Resizing the grid:

• 📏 Go to Settings. → Main screen screen → Main screen grid size.
• Select the number of rows and columns (for example, 5×6 for compact display or 4×5 big-icon).

Nana POCO-Smartphones have additional options available:

• 🎨 Color accents for folders (in) POCO Launcher).
• 🔄 Automatic sorting by category (games, social networks, tools).

7 Problems and Solutions: Why the menu doesn't open?

If none of the methods described here work, here are the common causes and solutions:

On Black Shark and some POCO-The menu models may not open in Shark Space to fix this:

1. Swipe down from the upper right corner to open the Control Center.
2. Turn off Game Mode or Shark Space.
3. Try opening the menu again.

⚠️ Note: On devices with unlocked bootloader and custom firmware (such as LineageOS), the application menu may work differently, in which case use your custom launcher settings (usually Trebuchet or Lawnchair).

💡

If the app menu is missing after the update MIUI, First, try to clear the launcher's data, and 90 percent of the time, it solves the problem without resetting the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the app menu on Xiaomi