How to launch an app without a shortcut on Xiaomi: full instructions

When the icons of familiar programs disappear from the Xiaomi home screen after updating the firmware or accidentally resetting them, users are often confused. In fact, the files themselves have not gone anywhere - they still occupy space in the device's memory, it is just that the MIUI or HyperOS shell system has stopped displaying them visually, this can happen due to a launcher error, the inclusion of the Pocket Mode mode, or even after installing a dubious optimizer.

Fortunately, the Android operating system on which Redmi and Poco are based provides many ways to access functionality, bypassing the standard desktop. System applications such as Phone or Messages cannot be removed by standard methods, so access to them can always be restored. In this article, we will discuss all possible methods, from simple gestures to the use of engineering consoles.

Before you start to make complex manipulations, it is worth checking the basic display settings. Sometimes the problem is solved by simply switching the menu view. However, if standard methods do not help, you will have to use deeper navigation tools that are hidden from the eyes of the average user by default.

Using Built-in Search and Global Search

The fastest way to run a program that has been missing from the desktop is to use system search. MIUI has a powerful mechanism for indexing installed software that works even when the icon is hidden, without having to go deep into the settings, just swipe down the center of the screen or click on the search bar if it is displayed on the home screen.

Type in an application name, like Calendar or Explorer, and the system will prompt you to run it directly from the drop-down line, and if the application is system-based and hasn't been removed through ADB, it's sure to be there, and this method is especially convenient when you need to call or open settings urgently, and the desktop is completely empty.

It's worth noting that Google's global search and Xiaomi's search are different functions. If one doesn't find the program, try switching to the other. In search settings, you can activate the display of results not only from the Internet, but also from the internal resources of the device.

⚠️ Note: If the search results but the application does not open or closes immediately, its cache files may be damaged, in which case you need to clear the data through the application management menu.

For more advanced users, you can customize search widgets, you can put a search bar on your desktop that will only search for installed programs, ignoring web queries, which greatly speeds up the process of finding lost shortcuts in the future.

Access through the menu of all applications and system settings

Unlike standard Android, where all applications are located on desktops, MIUI has the default App Menu mode, a separate screen where swipe up opens the full list of all installed software. If you lost the desktop shortcut, check this list — most likely, the icon just “flew” from the home page, but remained in the general registry.

If there is no icon in the app menu, then we'll go to system settings. Settings path → Applications → All applications lead to the full list of installed software. It shows all programs, including system services and components that are usually hidden. Once you find the desired application in the list, you can click on it and select the "Run" button.

The same menu also has an important permissions and notifications management feature, and it often happens that an app doesn't show its icon because it has notifications disabled or is in "sleep" mode to save battery, and a forced start from here can reactivate it.

There is also a hidden test menu available through a code set in the “caller.” By typing ##6484##, you’ll be taken to the CIT engineering menu. Although it’s designed to diagnose iron, some firmware versions can access system logs and run certain test utilities that don’t have shortcuts.

Creating shortcuts through third-party launchers

If Xiaomi’s standard launcher doesn’t work properly and hides icons, the best solution is to install an alternative shell: Programs like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher have their own databases of shortcuts and often see applications that the system interface has “lost”.

Once you install a third-party launcher, it will suggest you create a copy of all the shortcuts on the new desktop, which will instantly solve the problem of missing icons, and in fact, in the settings of such launchers, there is a feature called Hidden Applications, where you can check if your program accidentally hit this list.

The advantage of third-party shells is the flexibility of the setup, you can create a System Apps folder and manually drag and drop all the important but invisible programs there, and many launchers allow you to create shortcuts for specific actions within applications, which can be useful for frequently used functions.

• 📱 Nova Launcher – allows you to create shortcuts for any activity of the application, even if they do not have a main icon.
• 🎨 Lawnchair is a lightweight launcher that integrates perfectly with the system and sees all installed packages.
• 🔒 Calculator Vault is a dedicated launcher storage that can hide applications, but also helps to find those that have been hidden by other programs.

It's important to understand that when using a third-party launcher, some MIUI features, such as gestures or themes, may work differently, but this is often the only effective way to restore access to applications.

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Use the Backup feature in the Nova launcher settings to keep all icons in place. When you reset the system, you can quickly restore your desktop.

Starting through ADB command line and debugging over USB

For advanced users who are not afraid of a computer, the most powerful tool is USB debugging and the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) console, which allows you to run any application knowing its batch name, even if it is completely hidden from the interface.

First, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI build number seven times. After you become a developer, go to Advanced Settings → For Developers and turn on USB debugging.

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings

This command will run the standard settings. If you know the batch name of the application you want (e.g. com.miui.calculator for the calculator), you can create a similar command. A list of all the packages can be obtained by the adb shell pm list packages command.

Using ADB also allows you to not only run, but also restore remote system applications if they have been deactivated but not physically erased. cmd package install-existing command can return the shortcut to the system.

Table of comparison of launch methods

To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have systematized methods by complexity and effectiveness, each with its own advantages depending on the specific situation with your device.

As you can see from the table, for most users, the best solution is to use search or install a new launcher, and the ADB method is recommended only in extreme cases when other methods have not worked.

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The safest and fastest way to restore access is to install a third-party launcher that will automatically scan the system and create new shortcuts.

Search for hidden applications in the “Second Space” mode

There's a unique feature called Second Space in the MIUI shell, which is a separate user profile with its own set of apps and passwords, and sometimes users accidentally move shortcuts there or hide them, thinking they've deleted them.

Check for the second space in the settings. If it's active, switch to it and check for missing programs. Also, the security settings have a section called "Hidden Apps" that you can access, a gesture made in the Gallery or Explorer app (usually a two-finger extension in album mode).

Some viruses or ad modules may disguise themselves as system processes and hide their labels. If you see strange activity but can't find the source, check the list of running processes in the developer menu.

It is important to regularly check the list of applications with administrator rights, and malware can use these rights to block the removal or concealment of its components.

Resetting launcher settings and restoring shortcuts

If none of these methods worked, the launcher's cache may have been damaged, which is the system component that displays the desktop, and resetting it will bring all the screen settings back to factory settings, which often returns the missing icons to their places.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find System Launcher (or MIUI Home) in the list. Click on it and select Clean → Clear All. The screen will blink and the desktop will reboot.

⚠️ Warning: After the launcher is reset, all widgets and icons on the desktop return to factory appearance. You will have to reconfigure wallpaper and arrange widgets, but missing apps should appear.

This method is the "heavy artillery" of software solutions, it is safe for your personal data (photos, contacts), but changes the appearance of the interface, and after restarting the launcher, the system will re-scan all installed packages and create shortcuts for them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)