How to find the app shortcut on the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone: hidden folders, search and recovery

Looking for an app shortcut on your Xiaomi Redmi, but it has gone missing from the home screen somewhere?This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone users - especially after a MIUI update or accidental deletion. Unlike an iPhone or "pure" Android, the MIUI shell has its own nuances of desktop organization that are often confusing.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can find a lost shortcut, from basic (search menus and folders) to advanced (launcher settings and ADB recovery), and learn why apps disappear from the screen, how to bring them back, and what to do if standard methods don’t work, and how to avoid similar situations in the future.

If you are in a hurry, use the quick menu:

• 🔍 Search through the panel MIUI — quickest
• 📁 Checking hidden folders - where "hidden" labels
• ⚙️ Launcher settings – if the application is hidden by the system
• 🔄 Resetting screen settings – when nothing helps

1. Search through the MIUI panel: a universal method

The first thing you should do is use the built-in MIUI search bar, which indexes all the apps you've installed, even those that don't show up on your desktop. Here's how it works:

1. Swipe your finger down the main screen to open the search bar.
2. Enter the name of the application in a line (for example, Telegram or Gallery).
3. If the application is found, click on the result and hold the icon to drag it to the desktop.

⚠️ Note: If the search does not find the application, it may mean that it:

• 🗑️ Removed (check in Settings) → Annexes → Application management).
• 🔒 Hidden by the system (see section about launcher settings).
• 📱 Installed on a different user profile (relevant for devices with multiple accounts).

If the search gives you a result, but the shortcut does not appear on the screen after dragging and dropping, try rebooting your smartphone – sometimes this solves the launcher cache problem.

2. Check hidden folders and "Other Applications"

The MIUI shell automatically sorts shortcuts by folder if there are too many, often overlooking how the app moves to one of the standard folders:

• 📂 The Others folder – rarely used programs are included here.
• 🎮 Games – if the application is defined as a game (e.g. Brawl Stars or Genshin Impact).
• 🛠️ Tools – system utilities like Calculator or flashlight.
• 📱 Mi Apps – Xiaomi branded services (Mi Home, Mi Fit, etc.).

To find these folders:

1. Scroll through all the desktop screens left/right.
2. Pay attention to the folders with the captions (they can be folded into a small icon with a number inside).
3. Open the folder and hold the right shortcut to drag it to the main screen.

💡 Tip: If there are too many folders, use the pinch gesture (mixing two fingers on the screen) - this will reduce the scale and show all screens at the same time.

3. Launcher settings: Returning hidden applications

MIUI has a feature to hide applications from prying eyes, and if the shortcut has gone missing without a trace, it may have been hidden through the launcher settings, to check this out:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. Select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings, depending on the MIUI version).
3. Go to the Hidden Applications section.
4. Remove the tick from the desired application so that it again appears in the menu.

Also check the Protected Application section – there may be programs blocked by a password or fingerprint.

⚠️ Note: In some Xiaomi firmware (for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with the MIUI 14) the Hidden Apps section can be called Private Mode or Second Space. If you can't find it, search the settings.

Make sure the app is not hidden|Check the "Others" folder"|Clear the launcher's cache|Update MIUI last-minute-->

4. Resetting desktop settings

If previous methods didn't work, try resetting the launcher settings, which will return the desktop to factory status, but won't delete the applications or data themselves.

1. Click the blank space on the screen and select Screen Settings.
2. Scroll down and click Reset settings (or Restore by default).
3. Confirm action. After rebooting, all labels will return to their original state.

Important: After reset, all folders and widgets will be deleted, and application shortcuts will return to the first screen in alphabetical order. If you need to keep the current arrangement, take screenshots before reset.

🔧 Alternative: If the reset via the menu does not work, use Safe Mode (Safe Mode):

• Press the off button and hold the power off until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears.
• In Safe Mode, reset the launcher settings (as described above).
• Restart your phone in normal mode.

5. Recovery through ADB: for advanced users

If the shortcut is lost due to a system failure (for example, after a failed update), it can be returned using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for power users, since it requires a connection to a PC.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on Redmi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

adb shell pm list packages | grep "application name" # Find the full package name


adb shell cmd shortcut create-home -p "name package" -a "main activity"

Example for Google Chrome:

adb shell cmd shortcut create-home -p com.android.chrome -a com.google.android.apps.chrome.Main

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you are not sure about your actions, contact the Xiaomi service center.

💡

Before working with ADB, back up your data via Settings → About Phone → Backup. This will take 5-10 minutes, but save your files in case of an error.

Reinstallation of the annex: the last resort

If none of these methods worked, you can reinstall the application, which is guaranteed to return the shortcut to the desktop, but delete all the program data (e.g., cache, settings, save games).

How to reinstall:

1. Remove the application through Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Download it again from Google Play or Mi App Store.
3. After installation, the shortcut will automatically appear in the application menu.

📌 Exceptions: Some system applications (Call, Messages, Settings) cannot be removed by standard methods:

• Reset your phone to factory settings (loss of all data!).
• Or flash the device through Fastboot (for power users only).

If you’re talking about Xiaomi branded software (such as Mi Video or Mi Music), try updating it through the Mi App Store – sometimes it restores lost shortcuts.

7.How to prevent labels from disappearing in the future

To prevent labels from disappearing again, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions, bugs with launcher are corrected.
• 📱 Do not use third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Apex) unless you are prepared for possible conflicts.
• 🔒 Turn off optimization. MIUI Frequently used applications (Settings) → Battery → Charge optimization).
• 📂 Create backup copies of the screen arrangement through Settings → Topics → Backup.

It's also useful to know:

• Annexes to the Convention SD-The map may disappear when it is removed.
• Some games (like PUBG Mobile or Free Fire) only create shortcuts after the first launch.
• If you are using Second Space or Private Mode, check the shortcuts in both profiles.

💡 Gamer’s Tip: If the game shortcut is playing, try running it through Game Turbo (Settings) → Special facilities → Game Turbo. Sometimes it restores the icon on the desktop.

💡

The most common reason for shortcuts to disappear is automatic MIUI optimization, and disable it for important applications to avoid problems.

FAQ: Frequent questions about shortcuts on Xiaomi Redmi