How to Find an App on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide

Why apps are disappearing on Xiaomi and how to get them back

Did you download an app but can't find it on the screen? Or did it suddenly disappear after a system update? App search is one of the most common complaints Xiaomi users have, especially after switching to a new version. MIUI. It’s not always about crashes: often apps are simply hidden in folders, disabled by the optimizer or hidden in the All Apps menu».

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to find any application on a Xiaomi, Redmi or smartphone. POCO — From basic to advanced. You'll learn how to search through system search, settings, and MIUI, Google Play and even with the help of ADB-And if the application is removed, we'll show you how to restore it without losing data.

Important: Some methods only work on certain versions MIUI (For example, the search for gestures appeared in MIUI 12, and hidden applications - in MIUI We noted such nuances in the instructions.

Method 1: Search through the main menu MIUI

The fastest way is to use built-in search, which not only scans the apps you have installed, but also your settings, contacts, and files.

How it works:

• 🔍 Swipe your finger down the main screen (or tap the magnifying glass in the dock panel).
• 📝 Enter the name of the application (for example, “Telegram” or “Gallery»).
• 📱 The results will show an app icon – click on it to open it.
• 📌 To secure the app on the home screen, hold its icon and drag it to the right place.

If the search does not find the application, check:

• ⚙️ Is it not in the settings? → Annexes → Application management.
• 🗑️ Is it removed (check Google Play in the Installed section»).
• 🔒 Is it hidden in the "Second Space" (Settings) → Special facilities → Second space).

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If the search doesn’t work, reboot your phone – sometimes the system cache gets knocked down after updates.

Method 2: View all installed applications

V MIUI There's a hidden menu with all the programs installed, including the system ones, and even those apps that don't show up on the home screen get in there.

How to open it:

1. Click on the All Apps icon** (usually in a dock panel or swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen).
2. Scroll down the list – all apps, including hidden ones, are displayed here.
3. To find a specific one, use the search bar at the top.

If the app is on the list but does not open:

• 🔄 Try restarting it: hold the icon → «Information on the annex» → «Forced to stop» → «Open up».
• 📥 Update it via Google Play (sometimes apps break down after an update) MIUI).

Method 3: Searching through Google Play

Google Play stores the history of all installed apps, even if they were removed from the phone.This is useful if you don't remember the name or it "disappeared" after resetting.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Click on the profile icon (in the upper right corner) → «Application and device management».
3. Go to the “Installed” tab – here you will see all the apps that are currently on the phone.
4. To search for remote applications, select the Library tab.

If the application is found but not installed:

• 🔒 Check if the installation is blocked from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications).
• 📶 Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (sometimes Google Play won’t update the list due to poor connectivity).
• 💾 Free up space on your phone – you need at least 500 MB of free space to install.

Once a week.

Once a month

Very rarely.

Never lost.-->

Method 4: Find hidden and disabled applications

V MIUI There is a function to hide applications (for example, for a second space or by mistake), and the system can disable underutilized programs to save battery life.

How to find hidden applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → “Show all apps”.
3. Scroll through the list – disabled applications will be marked in gray.

To return the hidden app:

• 🔓 If it is disabled: click on it. → «Turn on».
• 👁️ If it is hidden in the "Second Space": Settings → Special facilities → Second space → Remove space (data will be saved).
• 📂 If it is in the folder: on the main screen, expand all the folders (with two fingers, “broaden” the folder to the sides).

Make sure the application is not disabled in the settings

Check out "Second Space"

Deploy all folders on the main screen

View the "Application Archive" (if any) MIUI)-->

V MIUI 14+ There's an Application Archive, where rarely used programs automatically move there, and to return them, open the archive (the icon in the All Apps menu) and click Restore».

Method 5: Search through the file system (for power users)

If the application is installed but not displayed in the menu, it can be found manually through the file manager.This method is suitable for system applications or those installed manually (via the file manager). APK).

Where to look:

To open system folders:

1. Use Root Explorer or Solid Explorer (with superuser rights).
2. Or connect your phone to your PC and use it. ADB: adb shell ls /data/app/

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Without root rights, you can’t view folders. /data/ and /system/. If the application is missing after the update MIUI, Try resetting your settings through Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings (data not deleted).

Method 6: Recovering Remote Applications

If the app has been removed, it can be restored without re-installation – if you have a backup or it is saved to a Google Account.

Recovery options:

• 🔄 Google Play: Open your profile → «Application management» → «Established» → Find the application and click “Install».
• 📦 Backup copy. MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Backup → Restore (select backup where the app was).
• 💾 Local copy: if you have a copy APK-file, install it manually (allow installation from unknown sources).
• 🔧 Through ADB (For system applications: adb install -r name appendix.apk

If the application has been removed as “junk” by the optimizer MIUI:

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 12+ There's a Deep Clean feature that can remove unused applications. To turn it off, go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Optimization → Settings → Deep cleaning and deactivate the option.

Method 7: Use ADB Search for “invisible” applications

If the application is installed, but does not appear in the menu or in the settings, it can be found through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge is an advanced method for power users.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on PC (download from the official website).
2. Put the debugging on. USB on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times to become a developer) → Go back to "Settings» → «Additionally» → «For developers» → Turn on "Debugging by" USB».
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm list packages -f It will display a list of all installed packages with paths.
4. To find a specific application, use the filter: adb shell pm list packages | grep "part name" For example, to search Facebook: adb shell pm list packages | grep "facebook"
5. If the application is found but not opened, run it with the command: adb shell am start. -n name.packet/name.activity (you can find out the name of the activity through adb shell dumpsys package name.packet).

Example of team withdrawal:

package:/data/app/com.facebook.katana-1/base.apk=com.facebook.katana

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If ADB It does not find the application, but you are sure that it is installed, check if it is removed for the current user. MIUI Apps can only be removed for one profile (e.g., in the "Second Space»).

Common reasons for the “disappearance” of applications on Xiaomi

Before you look for an app, you should understand why it went missing.

If none of these methods helped, it may have been removed by a virus or incompatible with your version. MIUI. In this case:

• Check your phone for viruses (Google Play Protection or Malwarebytes).
• Update MIUI to the latest version.
• Contact Xiaomi Support (via the Feedback app).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions