Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where, after updating the system or randomly sorting icons on the desktop, the desired shortcut disappears without a trace. In the Android operating system with a MIUI shell installed on Redmi 9, the search process may be different from the usual interface of pure Android. If you can not find an application, it does not mean that it has been removed, most often it is simply hidden or moved to the system folder.
There are several effective ways to get back access to a lost program without having to completely reset or reinstall the system. We'll look at the regular search tools, hidden security sections, and working with system files. Careful analysis of the current state of the desktop is the first step to solving the problem.
Using Global Search in MIUI
The fastest way to find a missing program is to use the built-in global search function. In Redmi 9, this tool is integrated deep into the system and indexes not only files, but also installed applications, even if their shortcuts are removed from the home screen.
Type the program name into the text box. If the application is installed on the system, it will appear in the results list with the corresponding icon. Clicking on the result will instantly start the program. This confirms that the application files are intact, and the problem lies solely in the absence of a shortcut on the desktop.
If the search results, but the program opens when you start, it is recommended to create a new shortcut manually. To do this, press your finger on the icon found in the search (if the interface allows), or go to the menu of all applications. In some versions of MIUI, a long tap on the search result allows you to add an icon to the desktop.
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Use voice input in the search bar if the name of the application is complex or long – the system recognizes speech and quickly returns the result.
It is worth noting that indexing can take some time after installing heavy games or updating the system.If the program is not immediately available, wait a few minutes and repeat the procedure.
Checking Hidden Applications in Security Mode
The MIUI has a powerful built-in security module that hides applications from prying eyes, a feature often used to protect personal data, but the user can forget that he activated it. Hidden programs are not displayed on the menu and on the desktop, you can find them only through a special login.
To check, open the standard Security app (lightning icon or shield icon). From the menu, select Hidden Apps. The system will ask you to enter a special gesture or password if it was set earlier. If the password is not set, you will see a list of all programs that are hidden from public access.
- 🔍 Click on the plus to add or remove the app from the list of hidden.
- 🔒 If you have a password, enter it to access the contents of the folder.
- 📱 To display the icon again on the desktop, just remove the tick from the program.
It is important to understand that hiding an application does not stop it from running in the background. background processes continue to consume resources, so checking this section regularly is useful for optimizing the battery.
How to set a password for hidden applications?
⚠️ Warning: If you forget the password from hidden apps, it may not be possible to restore access to them without resetting the security section data.
Analysis of the menu of all applications and folders
Often users lose shortcuts due to changing the desktop display mode. Redmi 9 can default to "No menu" mode, where all applications are scattered across screens, or the classic menu, called up by swipe. Check the current settings in the Settings section. → Desktop → Desktop mode.
Switching between modes can visually "return" missing icons, and it's also worth checking carefully all the folders you've created, sometimes when you accidentally drag and drop one folder over another, forming a nested structure that's hard to see the first time.
Inside folders, icons can be sorted by installation time or alphabet. Scroll through the contents of the folders to the end. If you've recently installed a lot of games, they could automatically be assembled into the Game folder or Tools.
You can use sorting to organize the space, press the empty space on your desktop, select Add widgets or sorting settings to line up the icons in logical order, and this will help you visually detect the missing link.
Search through Application Manager and Settings
The most reliable technical way to verify the availability of the program is to check the list of installed software in the system settings. This displays absolutely all applications, including system services and those that have removed shortcuts. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications.
In the list that opens, use the search bar at the top of the screen. Type the name of the program. If it appears in the list, it is precisely installed on the device. By clicking on the name, you will be taken to the control menu, where you can see the size, version, different memory.
| Status on the list | Meaning | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| There's a list. | Appendix installed | Create a label or check the restrictions |
| No, not on the list. | Appendix removed | Download again from the store |
| Grey name. | Systemic process | Don't delete, you can turn it off. |
| Requires an update | Unstable work | Update via Google Play |
You can check in the same menu if the app is disabled, and if the Enable button is active (instead of "Disable"), the program has been deactivated and is not displayed in the interface. Press it to return functionality.
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If the application is in the list of installed, but there is no shortcut - the problem is in the launcher (shell), and not in the program itself.
Working with the file manager and APK-file
Sometimes the shortcut disappears due to an indexing error, but the installation file (APK) or program data stays in memory. Standard File Manager will help locate files. Open the file manager and go to the Application or APK category.
You can find installation packages here. APK-The file of the desired program, which starts the installation or updating process, is useful if the system has lost communication with the executable file.
It's also worth checking the Android/data folder, which stores data from many applications, and if the folder with the program name exists, then the user data (save, cache) is in place, and the program can simply be reinstalled on top of it, saving progress.
- 📂 Use a file search inside the explorer by entering the extension.apk.
- 🗑️ Cleaning the cache of the conductor can help if it does not see new files.
- 📥 Installation from unknown sources must be allowed in the security settings.
Be careful when removing files from system folders. APK-The file won't delete the application itself, but it will clear the space.
Resetting launcher settings as a recovery method
If none of the ways helped find the application, the system launcher (desktop shell) may have crashed, resetting the launcher settings will return the icons to factory status, but will not delete your personal data or installed programs.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find the System Launcher (or System Launcher) in the list. Select Clean (or eraser icon) and click Clear All. After that, the desktop will reboot.
⚠️ Warning: Launcher reset will delete all desktop folders and widgets you created. App icons will be placed in a standard order, as when you first turn on your phone.
Once you reboot the interface, look carefully at the screens, and you'll likely see the missing app appear in the shared list or in the folder with the brand name, a radical but often the only way to work when MIUI glitches.