Where to find an app shortcut on Xiaomi: A complete guide to MIUI

Did you install a new app on your Xiaomi, but its Suddenly icon disappeared from your desktop? Or did all the shortcuts disappear after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones - the MIUI interface sometimes "hide" app icons in unexpected places. Unlike "pure" Android, where all the programs are displayed by default in the menu, there are rules here.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to find a lost shortcut, from basic (checking the folder “All applications”) to advanced (setting up the launcher and resetting the cache). MIUI It automatically hides some icons after the system update, how to return icons to the screen and what to do if the application is installed but not displayed anywhere. MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS) and smartphone models – from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Checking the All Apps folder is the first step

The simplest solution is to open a full list of installed software. In MIUI, all programs are collected by default in a special menu, even if their shortcuts do not appear on the desktop.

How to get there:

• 📱 Swipe your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen (guest as to open the app menu on Android stock).
• 🔍 At the top of the screen will appear search bar – enter the name of the desired application.
• 📌 If the program is found, press its icon and drag it to the desktop.

If an application is not on this list, it is either not installed or hidden by the system, in which case move on to the next section.

2. Search through the MIUI system search engine

The built-in search in MIUI searches not only in the app menu, but also in settings, contacts, and even files. This is useful if the shortcut is lost after resetting settings or migrating data.

Instructions:

1. Swipe your finger down the desktop (guest to call a search).
2. Enter the name of the application in the search bar.
3. If the program is found, click on the result and hold the icon to add it to the screen.

⚠️ Note: If the search doesn’t find the app but you’re sure it’s installed, check Settings. → Annexes → Application management. It's possible that the software is disabled or blocked by security. MIUI.

On some models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi K60), you can call a search by swiping to the left of the home screen, which displays the App Search widget.

3. Recovery of shortcuts through launcher settings

Sometimes the problem is with the MIUI Launcher shell settings, for example, when you update the system, you reset the icon display settings to get everything back in place.

Steps:

• 🔧 Open the Settings. → Desktop.
• 📱 Select the Launcher Settings (on some firmware it is called Home Screen).
• 🔄 Check if the option Show app icons is enabled.
• 🔍 If the option is active, but shortcuts are not displayed anyway, click Reset Launcher Settings (this will not delete your data, only return the standard location of the icons).

Open the settings → Desktop

Find the section "Startup Settings"

Make sure icon displays are included

Reset the settings if the shortcuts do not appear-->

Nana POCO-Smartphones can use an alternative launcher POCO Launcher. It's going to be different. POCO Launcher → Screen settings → Reset the layout.

4. Check hidden and disabled applications

MIUI automatically hides some system programs (such as Mi Video, Mi Music or Cleaner) if they are not in use, and the user may accidentally disable the application manually.

How to get back the hidden labels:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps.
3. Find the program you want in the list and check its status: 🔄 If it says "Unplugged" - click "Include. 👁️ If there is a button Show on the desktop – press it.

⚠️ Note: Do not enable system applications with names like com.miui.analytics or com.xiaomi.ab, which are service components. MIUI, and their activation can cause failures.

5. Launcher cache reset and reboot

If the shortcuts disappear after a MIUI update or reboot, the problem may be a damaged shell cache, and cleaning the cache often solves the problem without resetting the settings.

Step-by-step:

• 🛠️ Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter Louncher (or POCO Launcher, if you have one. POCO).
• 🧹 Click Clear Cache (don’t click Clear Data – this will reset all your widgets and icon location!).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.

After the reboot, shortcuts should appear. If not, try removing the launcher updates (the Remove Updates button in the same menu) and this will bring back the standard shell version, which often works more stable.

💡

If you don't see any shortcuts after you cache, try changing the theme. Go to Themes → My Themes and choose the standard MIUI theme. Sometimes custom themes conflict with icon display.

6. Manual shortcut creation (for system and hidden applications)

Some programs (such as Developer Mode, Mi Share, or Game Turbo) don’t have standard shortcuts, but they can be added to the desktop via a widget.

How to do this:

1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop.
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets.
3. 🔍 Find the shortcuts widget (or shortcuts on English firmware) and drag it to the screen.
4. In the list, select the desired application (for example, Settings → Developer Mode).

This method works even for programs that don't appear in the All Apps menu, for example, by returning the shortcut to:

• 🎮 Game Turbo (Game Accelerator)
• 🔧 Second Space (second desktop)
• 📡 Dual Apps (Cloning of Applications)

7.Verification for viruses and conflicting programs

If labels are missing regularly, the reason may be:

• 🦠 Malware that removes or hides icons (often disguised as “optimizers” or “cleaners»).
• 🛡️ Xiaomi’s Antivirus or Security App that blocks “suspicious” programs.
• 🤖 Third-party launchers in conflict with MIUI (Microsoft Launcher or Action Launcher).

How to diagnose the problem:

1. Run virus testing through Security → Antivirus.
2. Open Security → Optimization → Autostart and check if Autostart is disabled for the desired applications.
3. If you use a third-party launcher, go back to the standard MIUI Launcher and check if shortcuts return.

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If the problem occurs after installing a new launcher or cleaner, remove it and restart the smartphone. 80% of the time, it restores the lost shortcuts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about missing shortcuts on Xiaomi